BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to clipboards adapted to hold spine bound pages such as those commonly seen in magazines, books and brochures.
Clipboards are exceedingly useful articles. They hold papers, documents and sometimes books and magazines. Spine bound materials are useful articles, too. They allow a user to turn pages at will to a desired pair of pages. Clipboards and book holders have in past required the user to choose a pair of pages that will be locked down for review.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,989, 5,067,682 and 5,797,578 show devices that are capable of holding books or magazines by using an rearward inclined plane and a bottom edge ledge to form a back support for a book, in combination with mechanisms at that bottom edge for holding the pages open. The rather obvious disadvantage of these devices is that text or graphics is blocked and obscured on the page where the hold down mechanism contacts the page.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,129 shows a book holder that uses side wire bails on right and left sides of the inclined plane that does not necessarily obscure the pages. However, turning a page requires release of a page from on wire bail, turning the page to the other side, lifting the other wire bail and tucking the page under that other wire bail.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,623 shows that a bottom edge flange can rotate about the bottom edge up to the bottom of pages of a spine bound set of pages, although the problem of obscuring and the necessity of lifting page securing means, turning a page and resetting the page securing means remains a problem with this and other prior art devices.
There is a need for a device that allows the user to secure spine bound pages to an inclined plane but that will allow the user to be free of the release securing means and reset securing means steps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a clipboard having a support back with a clip at the top of the support back where a center and forward cut away or recessed portion of the clip is removed leaving two extension legs that are adapted to hold down at least the outside covers of a number of spine bound pages. The invention provides a user with the capability of holding open and supporting on the support back the collection of spine bound pages while making it very easy for the user to turn the pages of the spine bound pages back and forth to view the contents thereon.
The present invention also comprises a support lip at the bottom edge of the support back so that a bottom edge of the spine bound pages rest on that lip, especially the bottom end of the spine of the spine bound pages. In a preferred embodiment, a top end of the spine of the spine bound pages is located close to and almost underneath or slightly underneath an uppermost edge of the cut away portion of the clip and the bottom end is located on the support lip. The overall structural effect of the clipping action of the legs and bracing of the spine ends provides a surprisingly effective means for page turning about the axis of the spine. The primary invention effect is enhanced by providing sliding means among a back part of the clip and the support back so that the clip is capable of being secured in more than one position along the line intended for location of the spine of the spine bound pages. Moving the clip up or down along that line permits the user to more closely effect the preferred structure of the relationship between the support lip and the invention clip.
The present invention also comprises means for support of the support back at an acute angle to a tabletop or horizontal surface so that the user of the support back may more easily view the contents of the pages of the spine bound pages. The support back has attached to it by a hinge structure to a support frame adapted to make the entire structure free standing. The hinge structure is located at the top of the support back on its back side so that the support frame may rotate from a position flat against the support back to a position at an acute angle away from the support back, thereby allowing the user to rest the bottom edge of the support back and a bottom edge of the support frame on a tabletop or generally horizontal surface. Any papers or pages clipped to the front side of the support back may then be viewed by the user at the more convenient angle. In a preferred embodiment, the support frame is relatively narrow and is adapted to, in a latched position, lie near the edges of the support back, where the support frame is formed with an L. shaped cross-section. For the support frame, one edge of the L. shaped cross-section is intended to lie flat or close to the back side of the support back, that leg of the L. shaped cross-section lining closest to the edge of the support back. The other leg of the L. shaped cross-section extends toward the center portion of the back of the support back, thereby forming an center directed overhang held up with a peripheral wall. A substantial opening is defined by the support frame in a latched position against the support back, whereupon is attached by Velcro or other appropriate means a flexible sheet in a manner adapted to contain sheets of paper which the user may desire to store on the back side of the support back instead of under the clip of the clipboard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a generalized view normal to a top piece of the invention clip holding in place spine bound pages.
FIG. 2 is a side view of three components of an invention clip, the top piece, a bottom piece and spring means.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the components of FIG. 2 in an assembled clip.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a clip similar to that of FIG. 3, however having a reduced radius of rotation as to the top piece and the bottom piece.
FIG. 5 is a side view of a clip similar to that of FIG. 3, however having a modified contact leg.
FIG. 6 is a side view of clip similar to that the FIG. 3, however having a thumb depressing flange replaced by means to lift the clip.
FIG. 7 is a side you of the clip similar to that the FIG. 3, however having a thumb depressing flange non planar with the contact legs.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a clipboard according to the invention with a support back about the size of a standard clipboard.
FIG. 9 is the view of and the device of FIG. 8 retaining spine bound pages in a manner that permits some free pages to be turned from side to side.
FIG. 10 is the cross-section AA of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is the device of FIG. 8 and the view of FIG. 8 incorporating sliding means for the invention clip.
FIG. 12 this section BB of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is section CC of FIG. 11.
FIG. 14 is a cut away view of the device of FIG. 11 showing the bottom piece of the clip in relation to slots on the support back.
FIG. 15 is a top view of the bottom piece of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the bottom piece of FIG. 14.
FIG. 17 is a side view of the bottom piece of FIG. 14.
FIG. 18 shows the back side of a support back with a hinged support frame defining opening through to the support back where on is located a means for retaining sheets of paper for storage.
FIG. 19 is a side view of the device of FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is a side view of the device of FIG. 19 in an opened position adapted to be rested on a tabletop or horizontal surface.
FIG. 21 is the cross-section DD of FIG. 18.
FIG. 22 is cross-section EE of FIG. 18.
FIG. 23 is cross-section FF of FIG. 18.
FIG. 24 is the device of FIG. 18 showing a flexible sheet of the means for retaining sheets of paper flexed outward for receiving a sheet of paper.
FIG. 25 is the FIG. 18 showing the flexible sheet of the means for retaining sheets of paper by attachment of the flexible sheet to the back side of the support back thereby retaining one or more sheets of paper within those means.
FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 are respectively cross sections CC, BB and manipulated BB for an alternate embodiment of the slidable assembly of the invention.
FIGS. 29 and 30 are respectively bottom and top views of a top surface plate for the embodiment of FIGS. 26-28.
FIG. 31 is either a top or bottom view of a bottom surface plate for the embodiment of FIGS. 26-28.
FIGS. 32 and 33 are respectively front and side views of a backside of a clipboard for an alternate embodiment of the device of FIG. 18-23, without the hinged legs.
FIGS. 33-40 are respectively front, section GG, rear, section KK, detail J, detail 1, section HH, and detail J views of the hinged legs for the embodiment of FIGS. 32 and 33.
FIG. 41 shows the clipboard of FIGS. 32 and 33 and the hinged legs of FIGS. 33-40 engaged and moved apart to rest at their lowest edges on a substantially horizontal surface.
FIG. 42 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 32.
FIGS. 43 and 44 respectively show the clipboard of FIGS. 32 and 33 attached in a closed position with the hinged legs of FIGS. 33 and 34 in broken lines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is now discussed with reference to the Figures.
FIG. 1 shows the invention assembly 100 in a view normal to the angled top piece of clip 101 so that the plane of support back 102 will be seen at an angle slightly out of the page. Although support back 102 is shown with extensive broken line dimensions in FIG. 1, a critical function to the invention clip is to provide opposing surfaces 103 for the contact legs 105 of clip 101 so that at least the front and back covers of spine bound pages 107, as in FIG. 9, may be captured between them. It will be appreciated that a cutout portion 106 provides the effective departure from the prior art with respect to a standard clipboard design facilitating the invention function of securing the covers and/or one or more pages adjacent to them.
The invention clip 101 comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, a top piece 109 that is attached at and rotates against spring resistance about holes 114 held by pins in connection with holes 116 of bottom piece 110. Bottom piece 110 is attached or is molded with support back 102. Spring means 118 in FIG. 2 is shown apart from pieces 109 and 110 and typically comprises a leaf spring, wound wire spring or other such prior art spring means for clipboards. Top piece 109 comprises a thumb depression portion 112, two rotation extensions 113 having axis holes 114, and legs section 111. Bottom piece 110 comprises to rotation extensions 116 having axis holes 117, and a support back attachment portion 115. FIG. 3 shows the assembled top piece 109, bottom piece 110, and spring means 118 attached to support back 102 having a support lip 108 for a spine end of spine bound pages. The device of FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention clip with a maximum height arising from the can attachment of the top piece to the bottom piece at holes 114 and 117. The device of FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment to that shown in FIG. 3 where the rotation extensions of the top piece and the bottom piece are shorter than those shown in FIG. 3 resulting in a path of the clip of FIG. 4 being capable of restraining fewer pages than the device of FIG. 3. The device of FIG. 5 is substantially fat shown in FIG. 3 although the legs portion 111 is modified at the legs 105 so that the plane of legs portion 111 is dog laid down at portion 119 and extends at a different angle through portion 120, whereby the bottom surface 121 of portion 120 is adapted to press substantially flatter against spine bound pages 107 than the legs 105 of the device of FIG. 3. The device of FIG. 6 comprises an invention clip with no some depressing section 112, it's lifting function replaced by a finger clip 123 on legs portion 111. The device of FIG. 7 is substantially that shown in FIG. 3 although the some depressing section 112 is that a substantially different angle band that of the plane of the legs portion 124. The several embodiments of the invention clip shown in FIGS. 2 through 7 demonstrate that the objects of the invention in effectively restraining the pages of spine bound pages 107 may be accomplished with one of several forms of the invention clip.
FIG. 8 shows a support back 102 having the approximate size of a standard prior art clipboard adapted to hold papers about 8½ inches by about 11 inches, where the invention clip 101 is shown in FIG. 8 with its top piece plane parallel to the surface of the page. Top piece 109, as described above, in FIG. 8 comprises a cut out portion having a cut out height of 106/a and a width of 106/b. In a preferred embodiment, height 106/a is from about ¼ of an inch to about four inches, so that the top of the spine of spine bound pages 107 as in FIG. 9 is located preferably near the top of height 106/a. Width 106/b is preferably between about 1 inch and about 6-7 inches, although a more preferable with 106/b is between about 2 to 4 inches. FIG. 9 shows spine bound pages 107 located in the device of FIG. 8 so that retained pages 126 are captured between legs 105 and the top surface of support back 102, where the bottom of the spine of spine bound pages rests supportively against support lip 108. Free pages 125 rotate freely about the spine of spine bound pages 107 in FIG. 8 separated from retained pages 126 by legs 105, whereby free pages 125 are capable of lying substantially entirely toward the plane of one set of retained pages 126 or the other without being urged upward due to the restraint of pages 126. FIG. 10 shows cross section M of FIG. 9 such that free pages 125 may be lifted somewhat above retained pages 126 by the effect of those three pages 125 rising above legs 105 of invention clip 101.
The invention further comprises adaptation of the bottom piece of the invention clip and the support back so that the entire invention clip is movable up and down the length of the support back, where the invention clip is capable of being secured at one or more positions in that up or down track for the invention clip. This clip moving embodiment permits to the use of the invention clip with spine bound pages having widely varying spine lengths. A set of spine bound pages having a short spine may be effectively engaged with the invention clip and supported by the support lip upon a much longer support back by placing the bottom end of the spine of the spine bound pages against the support lip and moving downward for effective page retention function the invention clip until the top part of height 106/a is about at the top of the spine of the spine bound pages. It is intended that the embodiments of FIGS. 11 through 13 achieve the objects of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, the although it is clear that the invention shown in FIG. 11 is movable up and down with respect to slots 133 on support back 102. FIG. 11 shows clip 101/a path in a top or upper most position while clip 101/b is in a lower most position for a shortest spine length for a set of spine bound pages. The means for sliding and retaining in position the invention clip in positions at and between clips 101/a and 101/b as shown in FIG. 11 comprise to sliding slots 133 and a notch portion 128 on support back 102, while the bottom piece 110 is adapted to have for extensions 130 adapted to retain bottom piece 110 against the front surface of support back 102 by secure engagement of extensions 130 in slots 133 and where bottom piece 110 is further adapted to have a notch portion 134 adapted to slidably engage notch portion 128 on support back 102. If FIGS. 12 and 13 respectively show cross sections BB and CC so that positions 101/a and 101/b may be appreciated from inside view whereby the upper most portion of height 106/a may be appreciated as being movable from the upper most to lower most positions relative to support back 102. Thus the embodiments of FIGS. 11 through 13 permit a longest length 131 for a set of spine bound pages or a shortest length 132 for a set of spine bound pages or any length in between to be accommodated and supported between the invention clip and support lip 108, while leaving free pages turnable without being urged unduly in a direction undesired for the user.
FIGS. 14 through 17 show the bottom piece 110 of clip embodiment of FIGS. 11-13 apart from the top piece for appreciation of the structure and relative motion of the support back 102 and that bottom piece 110. FIG. 14 shows the top piece in broken lines. Notch portion 134 is formed in relation to extensions 130 and slots 133 so the forced motion of portion 134 over 128 will provide a ratcheting securement of the invention clip in positions 101/a through 101/b. Other means such as removable pins in through holes may be provided to accomplish this securing and movability functions.
FIGS. 18 through 25 show an embodiment of an invention for the back surface of support back 151. Support back 151 is adapted to have a frame 160 hingedly attached to a top end of support back 151. Frame 160 allows the user to lift the bottom side 163 away from support back 151 (as shown in FIGS. 22 and 20 respectively) so the user can support the device on a substantially horizontal surface like a tabletop. However, frame 160 defines an opening comprising the inside edges of sides 161-163 where most of the back surface of support back 151 can be accessed. The present invention provides for storage of paper or other sheet material as sheets 167 against the back surface of support back 151 whereby a removable flexible sheet 164 provides for facial and top and bottom edge restraint for sheets 167 and where lateral restraint for sheets 167 is provided by concave portions of edges 161. The embodiment so formed thus allows the user multiple functions for what is typically just the back side of a clipboard adapted only to lay flat against a horizontal surface or hung against a vertical surface.
FIG. 18 shows that frame 160 has pieces shown as sides 161, 162 and 163 having a substantially inverted L-shape cross section (as seen in FIGS. 21 through 23). That shape is adapted to provide means for restraining the edges of sheets 167 (as in FIG. 25) facially held below the upper inverted lip of the L-shape sides by flexible sheet 164. The opening defined by sides 161, 162 and 163 generally allows flexible sheet 164 to lift away from the back side of support back 151 at a top edge 166, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, so that sheets 167 can be inserted or removed from between flexible sheet 164 and the back side of support back 151 to provide storage of such sheets when they are not being used by the user or have been removed from clipping attachment to the front side of support back 151. FIG. 18 shows slots 133 and extensions 130 are operable together for the functions of the device shown in FIG. 11 without interfering with the storage of sheets 167 between flexible sheet 164 and the back side of support back 151.
Flexible sheet 164 comprises top edge Velcro tabs 156 and bottom edge Velcro tabs 157, whereby tabs 156 permit securable attachment of top edge 166 against the back side of support back 151 and tabs 157 permit securable to attachment of bottom edge 167 against the back side of support back 151 to thereby secure flexible sheet 164 to add a position slightly elevated but substantially parallel to the back side of support back 151 to permit storage of sheets 167 therein. Tabs 156 and 157 comprise mateable pieces, such as 156/a and 156/b, of Velcro to with adhesive backs, where in such backs are adhered to opposing services of flexible sheet 164 and the back side of support back 151.
It is preferred that support back 151 and frame 160 be adapted to be releaseably latchable against one another with flashing means such as extension 153 from the edge of support back 151, where such extension of 153 comprises a lip extension that will engage notch 171 at an opposing edge of frame 160. Flexible sheet 164 has sighed edges 165 the top edge 166 and bottom edge 163. The width 172 of flexible sheet 164 is adapted to be effectively less than width 173 in the opening of frame 160 so that as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, flexible sheet 164 at its top edge 166 may be releaseably drawn away from support back 151 at tabs 156 without having to disturb frame 160 when it is latched against support back 102. Side edges 170 of sheets 167 are restrained from sliding out from under sheet 167 by the concave overhang of sides 161. Top edges 168 of sheets 167 are restrained from sliding from under sheet 167 by the concave overhang of side 162 and/or tabs 156. Bottom edges 169 of sheets 167 are restrained from sliding from under sheet 167 by the concave overhang of side 163 and/or tabs 157.
Referring to FIGS. 18 and 23, the hinge attachment of frame 160 to support back 151 may be appreciated as comprising a pin extension from piece 154 into a pin and hole means 155 so that side 162 is adapted to rotate about the axis formed by pin and hole means 155. Broken away section 168 more clearly shows the pin from extension 154. FIG. 19 shows a broken line section 158 on the front side of support back 151 where would be typically located the invention clip and/or a prior art clip.
The with of sides 161 and/or 163 may be increased so that the See with a removable or hinged door may be located thereover so that articles such as pens and pencils may be stored in those cavities and secured therein by closure of the doors were covers.
An alternate embodiment is now described for the slidable assembly as shown FIGS. 11-13. FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 are respectively cross sections CC, BB and manipulated BB for an alternate embodiment of the slidable assembly of the invention. It can be appreciated that FIG. 11 shows piece 101 substantially covering the piece to which it is mounted for rotation and spring opposition. In FIGS. 12 and 13, piece 110 is shown having an attachment means to board 151 that are flanged extensions that extend through slots 133. The embodiment of FIGS. 26-28 provides a bottom side plate 174 with holes 175 aligned to holes 177 of extension 175 from plate 173, thus to permit connection of the plates 173 and 174 by screws, rivets of other connection means. This connection improves the sliding stability of the slidable assembly, although other embodiments for such connection are within the invention. A further means for engaging and releasing the slidable assembly from the notches 134 are shown in FIGS. 27-30. Plate 173 has at an upper end extensions 178 and 179 capable of releasably holding a writing instrument. However, mating notches are provided on the underside of plate 173 to provide securement means for the slidable assembly only to the extent that they may be effectively released from securing interface 180a as in FIG. 27 to releasing interface as in FIG. 28 by upward direction 182 finger pressure. Thus, extension 179 provides for an easily releasable means for moving the slidable assembly from one height on the invention clipboard to another with direction 182 finger pressure.
Now an alternate embodiment of the device of FIG. 18-23 is discussed. FIGS. 32 and 33 are respectively front and side views of a backside of a clipboard for an alternate embodiment of the device of FIG. 18-23, without the hinged legs. It will be appreciated that many of the structures are equivalent in function to those of FIGS. 18-23. A clipboard 150a has a flat plate 151a with extensions 153 to releasably latch the hinged legs in a closed position, although the hinge means for the legs are now extensions 188 with holes therethrough adapted to receive the prongs 189 shown in FIGS. 33-38. Plate 151a is adapted to have holes 186 to permit easy carrying and the overall shape is adapted to have a pleasing look. Flexible sheet 164 is adapted to have adhesive attachment means 157a to the lower portion of plate 151 in a manner the reduces the overall profile of the sheet 164 above the backside of plate 151a, thereby making possible smooth and secure latching of the legs to extension 153 even with papers secured between sheet 164 and the backside of plate 151a. Extension 187 is substantially normal to the top edge of plate 151a so that the entire assembly lying with the legs in a closed position on a table surface will be substantially parallel with that surface and permit easy writing on documents on the front side of plate 151a.
FIGS. 33-40 are respectively front, section GG, rear, section KK, detail J, detail 1, section HH, and detail J views of the hinged legs for the embodiment of FIGS. 32 and 33. The hinged legs of this embodiment are functionally equivalent to those of previous embodiments, as shown in the open position assembly of FIG. 141. It can be readily appreciated from FIG. 36 that the concavity forming features of leg sides 161 and 163 (side 162 is eliminated in this embodiment, its structure being functionally equivalently replaced with the prongs 189 and extension 188 combination) are preserved with the side wall 161a extending up and inward toward a center portion of plate 151a when the legs are hingedly attached to board 150a. FIG. 41 shows the clipboard of FIGS. 32 and 33 and the hinged legs of FIGS. 33-40 engaged and moved apart to rest at their lowest edges on a substantially horizontal surface. FIG. 42 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 32 in a manner indicating the absence of interference with retained papers under sheet 164 by the up and down motion of plate 174 against the backside of plate 151a. FIGS. 43 and 44 respectively show the clipboard of FIGS. 32 and 33 attached in a closed position with the hinged legs of FIGS. 33 and 34 in broken lines.
The invention comprises, with reference to the features analogously described above, a method for using a clipboard for securing and viewing spine bound pages on an inclined plane so that a user will not have to release a clip means to turn each page comprising:
(a) the spine bound pages comprise multiple pages bound along a common edge to form a straight spine with an upper spine end and a lower spine end, where the spine bound pages are adapted to lie in a stack when the spine bound pages are in a closed position and may be turned page by page by a user for viewing each page when a user grasps a free page edge at a page edge distal to the straight spine and intermediate pages are located between a front page and a back page;
(b) a flat, generally rectangular board plate with dimensions less than or equal to eleven inches wide by fifteen inches long, inclining the board plate along its length to between about thirty degrees to about eighty degrees so that an upper surface of the board plate presents an inclined plane;
(c) a lower edge of the board plate comprises a ledge extending generally upward and normal to the inclined plane and adapted to support the lower spine end and bottom page edges of pages extending laterally from the bottom edge of spine bound pages so that the spine bound pages cannot slide off of the inclined plane when the spine bound pages are placed on the inclined plane;
(d) a clip means for securing top edges the front page and back page near the spine upper spine end onto the inclined plane leaving at least most intermediate pages free to be turned page by page by the user, where clip means are movable with hand motion from a top position near the top of the inclined plane to a lowest position about halfway down the inclined plane and are adapted to be releasably secured at several intermediate positions between the topmost position and the lowest position;
(e) clip means further comprise a sliding plate slideably engaged in a slot extending from the top position to the lowest position and a pivoting plate is connected by a pivot to the sliding plate, whereby the pivoting plate is urged by a spring so that ends two legs of the pivoting plate extend down from the pivot to press on the inclined surface to hold down respectively the first and second pages, where a generally arcuate cutout is defined by a space the two legs so that the ends of the two legs are at least three inches apart;
(f) opening the spine bound pages, laying the first and second pages on the inclined plane, abutting the lower spine end and bottom page edges against the ledge, moving clip means from the top position toward the top spine end and elevating and releasing the ends of the legs from the surface of the inclined plane to capture the first and second pages respectively so that a topmost part of the arcuate cutout does not lie above any page, and a user turns at least most of the intermediate pages back and forth while the first and second pages are captured beneath the leg ends.
The invention also comprises a structure where the topmost part of the arcuate cutout lies always at least about 2.5 centimeters above the surface of the inclined plane.
The invention also comprises a structure where leg ends are separated by the arcuate cutout by at least 5 centimeters.
The above design options will sometimes present the skilled designer with considerable and wide ranges from which to choose appropriate apparatus and method modifications for the above examples. However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained by that skilled designer applying such design options in an appropriate manner.
Patent Application
20060186299
