Folding holder for an external hard drive

{
  "publication_number": "US11158354B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Folding holder for an external hard drive",
  "abstract": "The embodied invention is a bendable portable hard drive holder with four foldable arms, an adhering central element, a surface adhering element for attachment to a surface, and bendable metal in the 4 foldable arms. The invention is suited for portable use with a hard drive as the two adhering elements are separable, such as by use of a magnet or hook and loop attachment. The holder remains on the hard drive for improved convenience.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computer accessory suitable for temporarily holding an external computer hard drive on an external computer surface comprising: a. a flat folding holder frame further comprising: i. a central attaching surface that is substantially rectangularly shaped, ii. two horizontal folding arms that are substantially rectangularly shaped, a proximal end of each said horizontal folding arm is connected to an opposite side of said central attaching surface, iii. two vertical folding arms that are substantially rectangularly shaped, a proximal end of each said vertical folding arm is connected to an opposite side of said central attaching surface, and iv. all said folding arms include an embedded wireframe, b. said folding holder frame is between 1 and 3 mm in thickness inclusive, c. a frame connecting element that is bonded to said central attaching surface, d. a computer connecting element that is bonded to a computer surface, and e. said frame connecting element and said computer connecting element are temporarily joinable by either: i. a magnetic connection, or ii. a hook and loop connection, f. whereby said external computer hard drive is secured to said external computer surface when: i. said horizontal folding arms and said vertical folding arms are bent around said external computer hard drive, and ii. said frame connecting element is joined to said computer connecting element.",
    "2. The computer accessory according to claim 1, said horizontal folding arms are symmetric with respect to said central attaching surface, and said vertical folding arms are symmetric with respect to said central attaching surface.",
    "3. The computer accessory according to claim 2, wherein all said folding arms include a cutout.",
    "4. A computer accessory suitable for temporarily holding an external computer hard drive on an external computer surface comprising: g. a flat folding holder frame further comprising: i. a central attaching surface that is substantially rectangularly shaped, ii. two horizontal folding arms that are substantially rectangularly shaped, a proximal end of each said horizontal folding arm connected to an opposite side of said central attaching surface, iii. two vertical folding arms that are substantially rectangularly shaped, a proximal end of each said vertical folding arm connected to an opposite side of said central attaching surface, h. said folding holder frame is between 0.1 and 1 mm in thickness inclusive, i. a frame connecting element that is bonded to said central attaching surface, j. a computer connecting element that is bonded to a computer surface, and k. said frame connecting element and said computer connecting element are temporarily joinable by either: i. a magnetic connection, or ii. a hook and loop connection, l. whereby said external computer hard drive is secured to said external computer surface when: i. said horizontal folding arms and said vertical folding arms are bent around said external computer hard drive, and ii. said frame connecting element is joined to said computer connecting element.",
    "5. The computer accessory according to claim 4, said horizontal folding arms are symmetric with respect to said central attaching surface, and said vertical folding arms are symmetric with respect to said central attaching surface.",
    "6. The computer accessory according to claim 5, wherein all said folding arms include a cutout."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Not applicable.\n\nNot applicable.\n\nThis invention is directed toward computer accessories that provide certain enhancements when attaching a portable external hard drive to a laptop computer.\n\nComputers, especially laptops, utilize a permanent storage medium commonly called a ‘hard drive.’ The hard drive can be a spinning magnetic disk, or a solid state device that stores computer files and programs. Laptops typically have a hard drive storage located within an originally purchased case.\n\nComputer users desire to have an additional ‘external’ hard drive storage medium for additional file storage. This also has the benefit to allow the user to store files separately from the laptop computer in an office or home setting. This provides improved security in case the laptop is lost, and expanded storage for files that are large or infrequently used.\n\nIt is well known that computer programs are stored in the laptop main operating system files, but specialized programs related to security and file operations, can be stored on an external hard drive that is not part of the laptop operating system. These programs can take up significant file storage space. Additionally, a number of programs utilize large files that are infrequently needed, such as high resolution video editing, for example.\n\nGovernment Military personnel use external hard drives to manage secure information. The user may work with the files all day, and then put it in a safe for the night. The laptop will be available for other uses without worry that the secure files will not be misplaced or stolen.",
  "cpc": [
    "G11B 33/124",
    "G06F 1/1607",
    "G06F 1/1632",
    "G06F 1/18",
    "G11B 25/043",
    "G11B 33/025",
    "G11B 33/0494"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 1/16",
    "G11B 25/04",
    "G11B 33/02",
    "G11B 33/04",
    "G11B 33/12",
    "G06F 1/18"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Christian A. Goeller"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-02-20",
  "publication_date": "2021-10-26",
  "grant_date": "2021-10-26",
  "priority_date": "2019-02-28",
  "application_number": "US-202016796259-A",
  "family_id": "72236417",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}