Carrying cases having adjustable compartments for use with portable electronic devices and related methods

Abstract

According to various embodiments, a carrying case may be configured with an internal compartment adapted to receive a laptop computer, netbook, tablet computer, touch screen, multimedia projector, mobile telephone, and/or other portable electronic device. The dimensions of a compartment may be adapted for a specific device by moving adjustable cushions from a side spacing orientation to a base spacing orientation. According to one embodiment, a compartment may include adjustable cushions configured to be placed within the compartment in a side spacing orientation or outside the compartment in an external orientation. Additionally, a carrying case may include an instruction icon illustrating methods for using adjustable cushions within a compartment.

1 . A carrying case for a portable electronic device comprising:
 an internal compartment comprising:
 a front panel; 
 a rear panel opposing and spaced apart from the front panel; 
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposing one another and joined to the front and rear panels along corresponding side edges of the front and rear panels; 
 a base panel joined to each of the front panel, rear panel, first sidewall, and second sidewall along a base edge of each of the front panel, rear panel, first sidewall, and second sidewall; and 
   a first adjustable cushion attached to the compartment at a first attachment region;   a second adjustable cushion attached to the compartment at a second attachment region; and   wherein the first and second adjustable cushions are configured to move between a first orientation and a second orientation; and   wherein in the first orientation, the first adjustable cushion extends substantially parallel to an interior surface of the first sidewall and the second adjustable cushion extends substantially parallel to an interior surface of the second sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second adjustable cushions comprise substantially compliant structures configured to absorb energy from impact so as to protect a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The carrying case of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially compliant structures comprise a polymeric foam material. 
     
     
         4 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein, the first adjustable cushion comprises a first connector and the compartment comprises a second connector configured to cooperate with the first connector to selectively retain the first cushion in the first orientation; and
 wherein the second adjustable cushion comprises a third connector and the compartment comprises a fourth connector configured to cooperate with the third connector to selectively retain the second adjustable cushion in the first orientation.   
     
     
         5 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second adjustable cushions are configured to pivot about the first and second attachment regions, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment region is adjacent the location the first sidewall panel is joined to the base panel;
 the second attachment region is adjacent the location the second sidewall panel is joined to the base panel; and   wherein in the second orientation, the first and second adjustable cushions are adjacent to an interior surface of the base panel and extend substantially parallel thereto.   
     
     
         7 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment region is located at an end of the first sidewall opposite the base panel;
 the second attachment region is located at an end of the second sidewall opposite the base panel; and   wherein in the second orientation, at least a portion of the first adjustable cushion and a portion of the second adjustable cushion are exterior to the compartment.   
     
     
         8 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , further comprising an instruction icon including representative illustrations of at least three permutations of the first adjustable cushion and the second adjustable cushion in the first and second orientations. 
     
     
         9 . A carrying case for a portable electronic device comprising:
 an internal compartment comprising:
 a front panel; 
 a rear panel opposing and spaced apart from the front panel; 
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposing one another and joined to the front and rear panels along corresponding side edges of the front and rear panels; 
 a base panel joined to each of the front panel, rear panel, first sidewall, and second sidewall along a base edge of each of the front panel, rear panel, first sidewall, and second sidewall; and 
   a first adjustable cushion configured to move between a first orientation and a second orientation and attached to the compartment at a first attachment region;   a second adjustable cushion configured to move between a first orientation and a second orientation and attached to the compartment at a second attachment region; and   wherein the first adjustable cushion includes an extension and a notch located on an end opposite the first attachment region and the second adjustable cushion includes a corresponding extension and a notch located on an end opposite the second attachment region; and   wherein the extension of each of the first and second adjustable cushions is aligned with the notch of the other adjustable cushion, such that in the second orientation the first and second cushions are positioned adjacent to an interior surface of the base panel and extend substantially parallel thereto.   
     
     
         10 . The carrying case of  claim 9 , wherein in the first orientation, the first adjustable cushion extends substantially parallel to an interior surface of the first sidewall and the second adjustable cushion extends substantially parallel to an interior surface of the second sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying case of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second adjustable cushions comprise substantially compliant structures configured to absorb energy from impact so as to protect a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying case of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially compliant structures comprise a polymeric foam material. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying case of  claim 9 , wherein, the first adjustable cushion comprises a first connector and the compartment comprises a second connector configured to cooperate with the first connector to selectively retain the first cushion in the first orientation; and
 wherein the second adjustable cushion comprises a third connector and the compartment comprises a fourth connector configured to cooperate with the third connector to selectively retain the second adjustable cushion in the first orientation.   
     
     
         14 . The carrying case of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second adjustable cushions are configured to pivot about the first and second attachment regions, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The carrying case of  claim 9 , further comprising an instruction icon including representative illustrations of at least three permutations of the first adjustable cushion and the second adjustable cushion in the first and second orientations. 
     
     
         16 . A carrying case for a portable electronic device comprising:
 an internal compartment comprising:
 a front panel; 
 a rear panel opposing and spaced apart from the front panel; 
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposing one another and joined to the front and rear panels along corresponding side edges of the front and rear panels; 
 a base panel joined to each of the front panel, rear panel, first sidewall, and second sidewall along a base edge of each of the front panel, rear panel, first sidewall, and second sidewall; and 
   an adjustable cushion comprising:
 a base portion configured to extend substantially parallel to the base panel; 
 a first side portion configured to move between a first orientation and second orientation, wherein in the first orientation the first side portion extends substantially parallel to an interior surface of the first sidewall; and 
 a second side portion configured to move between a first orientation and second orientation, wherein in the first orientation the second side portion extends substantially parallel to an interior surface of the second sidewall. 
   
     
     
         17 . The carrying case of  claim 16 , wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are attached to the base portion. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying case of  claim 17 , wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are attached to the base portion via living hinges. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying case of  claim 16 , wherein the first side portion, the second side portion, and the base portion are formed from a unitary piece of material. 
     
     
         20 . The carrying case of  claim 16 , wherein the adjustable cushion comprises a substantially compliant structure configured to absorb energy from impact so as to protect a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         21 . The carrying case of  claim 20 , wherein the substantially compliant structure comprises a polymeric foam material. 
     
     
         22 . The carrying case of  claim 20 , wherein, the first side portion comprises a first connector and the compartment comprises a second connector configured to cooperate with the first connector to selectively retain the first side portion in the first orientation; and
 wherein the second side portion comprises a third connector and the compartment comprises a fourth connector configured to cooperate with the third connector to selectively retain the second side portion in the first orientation.   
     
     
         23 . The carrying case of  claim 16 , wherein in the second orientation, the first side portion and the second side portion are adjacent to an interior surface of the base portion and extend substantially parallel thereto. 
     
     
         24 . The carrying case of  claim 20 , wherein in the second orientation, one of the first side portion and the second side portion overlap the other of the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         25 . The carrying case of  claim 16 , further comprising an instruction icon including representative illustrations of at least three permutations of the first side portion and the second side portion in the first and second orientations.