Abstract:
A clipboard may be assembled from a backboard and a clip assembly by sliding the clip assembly onto the top edge of the backboard. The clip assembly and the backboard are shaped so that the clipboard assembly has a substantially continuous contour along its top edge. Specifically, the top edge of the backboard is spaced away from the remainder of the top edge in the area where the clip assembly is attached. The amount of spacing away corresponds to the thickness of a lip that depends from the clip assembly and engages the top edge or the backboard in the area where the clip assembly is attached. The clip assembly is retained on the backboard by flanged rails that engage slots in the backboard and by ramped projections that engage detents and the backboard.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a clipboard assembly. More particularly, it relates to an easily, substantially permanently assembled clipboard. 
   Clipboards are well known. In a traditional clipboard, a spring-loaded clip assembly may be mounted to a rigid backboard using fasteners such as screws or, more commonly, rivets. In some more recent clipboard assemblies, the spring-loaded clip assembly may be snap-fit onto the backboard. However, these more recent clipboard assemblies have required the molding of somewhat complex structures onto the backboards, or the clip assemblies were clipped over the edge, so that they protruded from the edge. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an easily, assembled clipboard, providing a savings of labor during assembly. Nevertheless, the clipboard is substantially permanently assembled. 
   In accordance with the present invention a clipboard may be assembled from a backboard and a clip assembly by sliding the clip assembly onto the top edge of the backboard. The backboard preferably has a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart slots extending substantially perpendicularly from the top edge and the clip assembly preferably has a pair of rails that engage the slots. Flanges extending from the rails parallel to and behind the backboard prevent motion of the clip assembly perpendicular to the major plane of the backboard. Preferably, beads extend from the rails parallel to the flanges, but in front of the backboard. The backboard preferably is thus captured between the respective flange/bead pairs, to prevent undesirable flexing forward of the upper backboard portions outside the rails. 
   At least one detent, preferably in the backboard, mates with at least one locking projection, preferably in the form of a ramp, that preferably is on the clip assembly, to prevent motion of the clip assembly parallel to the major plane of the backboard in a disassembly direction. Alternatively, the detent may be in the clip assembly and the projection may be on the backboard. Although motion of the clip assembly parallel to the major plane of the backboard in the assembly direction is stopped when the flanges reach the ends of the slots, preferably there also is a lip extending substantially perpendicularly from the base of the clip assembly which engages the top edge of the backboard, also preventing motion of the clip assembly parallel to the major plane of the backboard in the assembly direction. The lip has a thickness parallel to the major plane of the backboard. The top edge of the backboard between the slots preferably is spaced inwardly from the top edge outside the slots by a distance substantially equal to the lip thickness, so that the lip and the top edge of the backboard outside the slots form a substantially continuous contour. 
   The major face of the backboard preferably is recessed inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the major face of the backboard, forming a recess that receives the base of the clip assembly, further stabilizing the clip assembly. The depth of the recess preferably is less than the thickness of the base of the clip assembly, so that the base protrudes above the recess for reasons discussed below. 
   The clip assembly preferably includes a base and a gripping member pivotably connected to the base (as by a hinge). A spring or other resilient element preferably urges a gripping edge toward the face of the backboard, preferably by outwardly urging an edge of the gripping member on the opposite side of the pivotable attachment from the gripping edge. The gripping member accordingly slopes downwardly from that opposite edge toward the gripping edge. 
   In order for the gripping edge to better grip any papers or other objects that a user may place under the clip, the gripping edge preferably should meet the clip assembly base along an area rather than along a line. Accordingly, the clip assembly base, which protrudes above the surface of the major face of the backboard as described above, preferably is beveled at an angle to match the contact angle of the gripping edge of the gripping member. Alternatively, the gripping edge itself may be beveled to meet the clip assembly base, or to meet the backboard itself if the clip assembly base does not protrude (e.g., because the recess is deeper and/or the clip assembly base is thinner), or both the base (if it protrudes) and the gripping edge may have complementary bevels. 
   Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clipboard assembly including a board member and a clip assembly. The board member has a board front face bounded by a board top edge, a board right edge, a board left edge and a board bottom edge, and a pair of substantially parallel slots extending from the board top edge in a direction substantially toward the board bottom edge. The board top edge between the slots is spaced away from the board top edge outside the slots, in a direction toward the board bottom edge, by a recess distance. The board member has a board thickness between the slots. The clip member has a clip base having a first major face and a second major face, and a gripping member pivotably connected to the first major face and having a gripping edge. A resilient element urges the gripping edge toward the first major face. The clip base has a clip base top edge having a lip thereon extending from, and substantially perpendicularly to, the second major face. The lip has a lip thickness, measured parallel to the first and second major faces, substantially equal to the recess distance. The base further has retention rails extending by a distance substantially equal to the base thickness from, and substantially perpendicularly to, the second major face. Each of the rails has a respective retention flange extending parallel to the second major face. The retention rails are inserted in the slots. A first one of the board front face between the slots and the second major face of the clip base has a locking projection thereon, and a second one of the board front face between the slots and the second major face of the clip base has a detent therein. The locking projection engages the detent to prevent removal of the clip member from the base. The lip and the board top edge form a substantially continuous contour. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages, will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a clipboard assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary rear view of the clipboard assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken from line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the clipboard assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary front view of the backboard of the clipboard assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 , taken from line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the clip assembly, taken from line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the underside of the clip base. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As seen primarily in  FIGS. 1-3 , a clipboard assembly  10  according to the present invention includes a backboard  11 , which provides the surface against which a user may write, etc., on any papers held in clip  12 . Clip  12  is the gripping member of a clip assembly  30 , which also includes a clip base  31 , to which clip or gripping member  12  is hingedly attached by base hinge portions  310  of clip base  31  and grip hinge portions  120  (see  FIG. 5 ) of gripping member  12 . Hinge portions  120 ,  310  preferably are integrally formed with gripping member  12  and clip base  31 , respectively, but may be affixed in any other suitable manner to gripping member  12  or clip base  31 . Springs  32 , which may be metallic or of any suitable resilient polymeric material, or any other suitable type of spring or other resilient element (e.g., resilient foam, etc.), preferably press outwardly on the portion of gripping member  12  on the opposite side of hinge  120 / 310  from gripping edge  50 , toward top edge  13  of backboard  11 , urging gripping member  12  into a closed position in which its gripping edge  50  can grip papers against backboard  11 . 
   In accordance with the invention, clip assembly  30  is secured to backboard  11  in such a way that, as seen in  FIG. 2 , clip base  31  does not protrude above the top edge or contour  13  of backboard  11 , but rather forms a substantially continuous or smooth contour  20  with contour  13 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , there are two substantially parallel slots  40  extending inwardly substantially perpendicularly from edge  13 . A pair of rails  51  depend from clip base  31 , and are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the major plane or face of clip base  31 . From the bottom edge of each rail  51 , a flange  60  extends substantially parallel to the major plane of clip base  31 . Preferably, each flange  60  extends outwardly—i.e., away from the opposite rail, but flange  60  could also extend inwardly—i.e., toward the opposite rail. Indeed, both flanges  60  could extend in the same direction, so that one flange  60  extends outwardly while the other extends inwardly. When rails  51  are inserted into slots  40 , flanges  60  preferably prevent motion of clip assembly  30  perpendicular to the major face or plane of backboard  11 . 
   Optionally, but preferably, a respective bead  61  also extends outwardly from the upper edge of each rail  51 , so that each respective bead/flange pair forms a channel  610  in which backboard  11  rests. This prevents undesirable forward flexing of the upper corner portions of backboard  11  outside slots  40 , to avoid breakage of those corner portions, and to prevent undesirable snagging of objects between those portions and clip assembly  30 . 
   Motion of clip assembly  30  parallel to the major face or plane of backboard  11  is prevented by several features. First, if a recess  32  is provided (as discussed below), edges  33  of recess  32  prevent lateral motion parallel to the major face or plane of backboard  11 , as well as motion downward from top edge  13  toward bottom edge  14  of backboard  11 . Second, the forward edges of rails  51 /flanges  60  encountering the ends of slots  40  also stops motion downward from top edge  13  toward bottom edge  14  of backboard  11 . Finally, the engagement of lip  53  of clip base  31  motion downward from top edge  13  toward bottom edge  14  of backboard  11 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 4 , edge  13  between slots  40  is spaced away from edge  13  outside slots  40  by a recess distance  41  substantially equal to thickness  530  of lip  53 . As a result, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , lip  53  and board top edge  13  form a substantially continuous contour  20 . In  FIG. 2 , the projection of the top edge of clip  12  is visible beyond edge  13 /contour  20 , but edge  13 /contour  20  is a substantially continuous contour. In addition, the projection  531  of lip  53  below clip base  31  preferably is substantially equal to the thickness of backboard  11  between rails  40  so that lip  53  preferably does not extend below the rear surface of backboard  11 . 
   The fourth component of motion of clip assembly  30  parallel to the major face or plane of backboard  11 —i.e., motion of clip assembly  30  away from bottom edge  14  so as to disassemble clipboard assembly  10 —is prevented by the interaction of one, or, preferably two, detents  42  with one or, preferably, two, ramps  62 . Preferably, each ramp  62  projects from the underside of clip base  31 , extending further as it approaches lip  53 , and presenting a substantially vertical wall  620  facing edge  13 /lip  53 . Similarly, a corresponding number of detents  42  are provided to engage with ramp(s)  62 , with each detent  42  presenting a substantially vertical wall  420  facing away from edge  13 . The interaction of walls  420  and  620  prevents motion of clip assembly  30  away from bottom edge  14  so as to disassemble clipboard assembly  10 . 
   Preferably, at least backboard  11  is made from a material that is sufficiently resilient so that it deforms as ramp or ramps  62  pass over the area between edge  13  and detent or detents  42 , but then resumes at least substantially its original shape so the walls  420  and  620  can interact as described. In particular, at least backboard  11 , and preferably all of clipboard assembly  10 , is made from a substantially rigid, but somewhat deformable plastic material such as high-impact polystyrene. However, many other plastics, as well as other materials, that have those characteristics could be used. 
   Preferably, each detent  42  has a ramp shape complementary to that of ramp  62 , becoming deeper in the direction of wall  420 . However, detent  42  could have any shape as long as it is at least as deep at wall  420  as the projection distance of wall  620  from clip base  31 . Thus, detent  42  could have a uniform depth, or could even be deeper further from wall  420 . 
   As mentioned above, a recess  32  preferably is provided in backboard  11  to receive clip base  31 . However, recess  32  is optional. If recess  32  is provided, the thickness of clip base  31  could be such that clip base  31  is flush with the surface of backboard  11  (not shown). In that case, beads  61 , if provided, preferably would extend from the first major face of clip base  31 . 
   Preferably, however, whether or not recess  32  is provided, the thickness of clip base  31  is such that it extends above the surface of backboard  11  (if there is no recess  32 , any thickness of clip base  31  will cause that result). Preferably, with clip base  31  extending above the surface of backboard  11 , clip base  31  is provided with bevel  311 , which preferably is bevelled at such an angle that gripping edge  50  is parallel to bevel  311  to provide a greater gripping area than a simple line of contact, to more securely hold papers, etc., under clip  12 . Alternatively (not shown), gripping edge  50  could be bevelled instead of clip base  31 , which would provide that larger gripping area whether clip base  31  extends above the surface of backboard  11  or is flush. As another alternative (also not shown), where clip base  31  extends above the surface of backboard  11 , both clip base  31  and gripping edge  50  could be bevelled, with the total bevel angle of clip base  31  and gripping edge  50  being substantially the same as the bevel angle of bevel  311 , to present a substantially equivalent gripping area. 
   Optionally, a hole  21  can be provided in backboard  11  between slots  40  and a corresponding hole  321  can be provided in clip base  31  so that holes  21  and  321  align to form a through hole in clipboard assembly  10  which can be used to hang clipboard assembly  10  on a hook or nail. Preferably, the hole is centered so that clipboard assembly  10  hangs straight. 
   As shown, flanges  60  protrude from the rear side of backboard  11 . Alternatively (not shown), there may be recesses in the rear side of backboard  11  adjacent slots  40  to receive flanges  60 , so that they do not protrude (in such an embodiment, flanges  60  would be thinner). In the embodiment shown, however, when clipboard assembly  10  is assembled, flanges  60  form feet that cause backboard  11  to stand away from any surface on which clipboard assembly  10  may be rested. This protects those portions of the rear side of backboard  11  that are held away from any such surface from being scuffed by that surface. The area between flanges  60  may be especially well-protected and may be a preferred place to have applied to it printed indicia. While indicia may be printed on any portion of backboard  11 , this particular portion—between flanges  60 —is preferred, insofar as any indicia would be better protected from scuffing than indicia printed on other portions. 
   One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.