Clipboard device with elastic retainer

A clipboard device having an elastic retainer member which is alternately deployable to hold papers or other items in place on the front or rear surface of the clipboard and related methods of manufacture and use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mechanical devices and more particularly to a clipboard device having an elastic retainer useable for securing papers and/or holding other articles.

BACKGROUND

The prior art has included a number of clipboard devices having clips, clamps and other apparatus for holding papers and/or other articles (e.g., pens, pencils, envelopes, etc.) on the clip board.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,616 (Lake) describes a clipboard comprising a planar board member with clamping mechanism that includes at least one biasing element and a clamping element. The clamping element has at least one paper clamp cooperating with a holding element. The planar board member has at least one slot for penetration of the paper clamp through the planar board member from the rear face of the planar board to the front face. A writing implement holder and a carrying handle may be incorporated into the clamping mechanism. Also, notches may be formed directly opposite one another in the side edges of the planar board, near its bottom end, for holding elastic bands such the elastic bands extend in parallel around the planar board member, near its bottom end.

There remains a need in the art for the development of new clipboard devices having elastic retainer(s) which are designed to not only prevent wind from blowing papers that are attached to the clip board but also to facilitate attachment of other articles of varying width to the clipboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clipboard device which comprises a) a substantially planar board member having a top end, a bottom end, a right side edge, a left side edge, a front surface and a back surface, b) an elastic retainer member having first and second ends, the first and second ends of the elastic retainer member being anchored or attached to the board member at spaced-apart locations at or near the top end of the board member and c) an elastic retainer member engaging structure at or near the bottom end of the board member, a mid-region of the elastic retaining member being alternately engageable and disengageable with the engaging structure. When the mid-region of the elastic retaining member is engaged with the engaging structure, first and second portions of the elastic retaining member traverse substantially from top to bottom over the front or alternately the back surface of the board member, with said first and second elastic retainer member portions being closer together at the bottom than at the top of the board member.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for using a clipboard device of the foregoing character by placing an article adjacent to either the front or back surface of the board member and causing the elastic retaining member to become engaged with the engaging structure and positioned such that the elastic retaining structure holds the article substantially in place.

Still further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a method for storing an item on a clipboard device which comprises a substantially planar board member having a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom end, a top end and an elastic retaining member attached thereto, said method comprising the steps of a) deploying the elastic retaining member in a stretched configuration over either the front surface or back surface of the board member, b) engaging a mid-portion of the elastic retaining member with an engagement structure located at or near a bottom end of the board member such that first and second portions of the elastic retaining member traverse substantially from top to bottom over the front or alternately the back surface of the board member, with said first and second elastic retainer member portions being closer together at the bottom than at the top of the board member and c) causing paper or other article(s) to be positioned under either of both of the first and second portions of the elastic retaining member so as to hold the paper or other article(s) against the front or back surface of the board member.

Further aspects and details of the present invention will be understood by those of skill from the accompanying drawings and detailed description set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description and the accompanying drawings to which it refers are intended to describe some, but not necessarily all, examples or embodiments of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The contents of this detailed description and the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the invention in any way.

The embodiment of the invention shown in accompanyingFIGS. 1-4generally comprises a clipboard device10having a board member12with a clip14and an elastic retainer member16. The elastic retainer member16may be any suitable elastic cord, elastic band, elastic strand or other elongate elastic material. The board member12has a top end T, a bottom end B, a right side edge RS, a left side edge LS, a front surface FS and a back surface BS. The elastic retainer member16is attached to the device10and useable to hold down papers that are clipped to the board member by way of the clip14and/or for attaching ancillary articles (e.g., calculators, writing instruments, pens, pencils, high-lighters, markers, envelopes, folded papers, notes, cell phones, etc.).

As shown, the first and second ends of the elastic retainer member16are anchored or attached to the board member12at spaced-apart locations at or near the top end T of the board member12. In this example, these first and second locations are separated by distance D1. At or near the bottom end B of the board member12is an engaging structure constructed to engage and hold the mid-region16mid of the elastic retaining member16when the elastic retaining member16is stretched downwardly and its mid-region16mid placed over such retaining structure. In the non-limiting example shown in the drawings, this engaging structure comprises a section of the board member12of width D2 located between first and second notches20a,20bformed in the bottom end B of the board member12. It is to be appreciated that in other embodiments, this engaging structure may be any suitable hook, projection, tab, or other structure over which the elastic retaining member mid-region16mid may be passed.

As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, when the elastic retaining member16is deployed adjacent to the front surface FS of the board member12, the mid-region16mid of the elastic retaining member16may be grasped, pulled downwardly and seated within notches20a,20bsuch that the mid-region16mid extends around the back surface BS of the board member12between the notches20a,20b. This holds the elastic retaining member16in a stretched state with first and second portions16a,16bof the elastic retaining member16traversing substantially from top T to bottom B over the front surface FS of the board member12. These first and second elastic retainer member portions20a,20bare closer together at their bottoms than at their tops, thereby forming a generally V shaped configuration over the front surface FS of the board member12.

As seen inFIG. 3, the elastic retaining member16may alternately be positioned to hold papers or articles adjacent to the back surface BS of the board member12. To accomplish this, with the mid-region16mid disengaged from notches20a,20b, the elastic retaining member16is inverted over the top edge T of the board member12such that it becomes re-positioned adjacent to the back surface BS of the board member12. The elastic retaining member16is then stretched downwardly and its mid-region16mid re-engaged with the notches20a,20bsuch that it extends around the front surface FS of the board member12between the notches20a,20bin the manner seen inFIG. 3. This causes stretching of the elastic retaining member16such that first and second portions16a,16bof the elastic retaining member16traverse substantially from top T to bottom B over the front surface FS of the board member12, with said first and second elastic retainer member portions20a,20bbeing closer together near the bottom B than near the top T. This results in the elastic retaining member16being deployed in a generally V shaped configuration over the front surface FS of the board member12. The elastic retaining member16may be attached to the board member12in any suitable way. In the non-limiting example shown in the drawings, first and second apertures18a,18bare formed at spaced-apart locations separated by distance D1, near the top edge T of the board member12. A first end of the elastic retaining member16extends, from front to back, through the first aperture18aand a first anchor member22ais formed on or attached to the first end of the elastic retaining member16to prevent it from being pulled back through the first aperture18a. The opposite end (i.e. the second end) of the elastic retaining member16extends, from front to back, through the second aperture18band a second anchor member22bis formed on or attached to the second end of the elastic retaining member16to prevent it from being pulled back through the second aperture18b. The anchor members22a,22bmay be discs, balls, bulbs, bars, cross members, rings, knots, masses or any other suitable shapes or objects that are too large in cross dimension to pass through apertures18a,18b.

Because the first and second elastic retaining member portions16a,16bconverge such that they are closer together at the bottom than at the top (e.g., forming generally a V shape), they may be used to hold articles of varying size or width. Also, they may be spaced far enough apart at the top (distance D1) to not obstruct the top half of a paper that is attached to the clipboard device10by clip14while converging inwardly so as to hold down the outer edges of the bottom portion of the paper, thereby preventing the paper from being blown by wind or otherwise inadvertently lifted away from the board member12. The inset withinFIG. 4shows four (4) examples of the many possible uses of the elastic retaining member16.

Example 1 (Ex. 1), seen inFIG. 4, depicts a front view of the device10with lined paper attached to the front surface FS of the board member12by the clip14, with the elastic retaining member16operatively deployed over the front surface FS of the board member12in the manner shown inFIG. 1. In this example the elastic retaining member16holds the edges of the lined paper firmly against the front surface FS of the board member12. Additionally, various other article(s) (e.g., calculators, writing instruments, pens, pencils, high-lighters, markers, envelopes, folded papers, notes, cell phones, etc.). may also be inserted under one or both stretched portions16a,16bof the elastic retaining member16to hold such article(s) in contact with the device when desired, such as during storage, transport and the like.

Example 2 (Ex. 2), seen inFIG. 4, depicts a rear view of the device10with the elastic retaining member16operatively deployed over the back surface BS of the board member12in the manner shown inFIG. 3. In this example, an envelope is positioned diagonally under the retaining member16such that the first portion16aof the retaining member16holds the lower left corner of the envelope against the back surface BS of the board member12and the second portion16bof the retaining member16holds the upper right corner of the envelope against the back surface BS of the board member12. In this manner the envelope is stowed and securely attached to the back surface BS of the board member while allowing a user to freely write on or read from any papers that may be attached to the front surface FS of the board member12by way of clip14.

Example 3 (Ex. 3), seen inFIG. 4, also depicts a rear view of the device10with the elastic retaining member16operatively deployed over the back surface BS of the board member12in the manner shown inFIG. 3. In this example, a packet of adhesive note paper is held against the back surface BS of the board member12by way of the first portion16aof the elastic retaining member16and a marker is separately held against the back surface BS of the board member12by the second portion16bof the retaining member16. In this manner the packet of adhesive note paper and the marker are stowed and securely attached to the back surface BS of the board member while allowing a user to freely write on or read from any papers that may be attached to the front surface FS of the board member12by way of dip14.

Example 4 (Ex. 4), seen inFIG. 4, also depicts a rear view of the device10with the elastic retaining member16operatively deployed over the back surface BS of the board member12in the manner shown inFIG. 3. In this example, a calculator is held against the back surface BS of the board member12by the lower aspects of both the first portion16aand second portion16bof the elastic retaining member16. In this manner the calculator is stowed and securely attached to the back surface BS of the board member while allowing a user to freely write on or read from any papers that may be attached to the front surface FS of the board member12by way of clip14.

FIGS. 5 through 9show another embodiment of a clipboard device10aof the present invention. This embodiment of the device10agenerally includes all of the same components and elements as described above with respect to the first embodiment of the device10. However, as explained in more detail below, this second embodiment of the device10aadditionally includes one or more of several optional features or components. These optional features or components include but are not limited to a) ergonomic shaping of the board member12to facilitate handling and function of the device10a, a generally u-shaped curvature of the top edge T of the board member12, inclusion of a retractable/extendable hanger15and/or the inclusion of surface groove(s)30and/or32at specific locations such that the elastic retaining member12will seat within such groove(s) when the elastic member12is in one of its operative positions.

Referring specifically toFIG. 5 through 9, in this embodiment, the board member12may be formed of a molded plastic material that does not deform or creep under the temperatures and conditions (e.g., indoor/outdoor, direct sunlight, ambient temperature variations, etc.) or any other suitable material.

Also, in this non-limiting example, the elastic retaining member comprises a bunge-type cord and the anchor members22a,22bcomprise knots formed at either end of the cord. Optionally, concavities or recesses may be formed in the back surface BS of the board member12around the apertures18through which the elastic retaining member16extends so that, when the elastic retaining member16is pulled taught, the knots on either end of the retaining member16will seat within those concavities or recesses.

Optionally, the back surface BS of the board member12may be concaved or otherwise ergonomically shaped with the side edges RS, LA (or possibly the entire periphery) of the back surface BS being sloped slightly inward (i.e., toward the front surface FS) so that when a user grasps board member12along one of the side edges RS, LS the user's fingers will rest on a slightly sloped region of the back surface BS. Also optionally, the top end T of the board member12may be curved in the manner shown so that the top end T is higher at its ends than at its middle. This allows the middle of the top end T to be near or flush with the top edge of the clip14while the apertures18through which the elastic retainer member16extends are situated above the top edge of any paper or other flat item clipped to the front surface FS of the board member12by the clip14.

Also, optionally, an extendable/retractable hanger15may be extendable out of and retractable into the clip14or into the top end T of the board member12at the mid-point thereof to facilitate hanging of the clipboard device10aon a hook, exposed nail or other projection. In embodiments that include the optional curvature of the top end T as well as this optional extendable/retractable hanger15, the hanger15may, when in its full extended position, protrude above the mid-region of the top end T, as may be appreciated from the showings ofFIGS. 5 and 8.

Also, optionally, as may be appreciated from the close-up view ofFIG. 9, locator grooves30and/or32may be formed at specific locations in the front surface FS and/or hack surface BS of the board member12such that portions of the elastic retainer member12will seat within such locator grooves30and/or32. In this manner, the optional locator grooves30and/or32may guide or retain the stretched elastic retainer member portions16a,16balong the trajectories over the front and/or back surface of the board member12and/or may deter inadvertent slippage or disengagement of the mid-region of the elastic retainer member16from the notches20a,20bduring use. In the non-limiting example shown, vertical grooves30are formed in the front surface FS of the board member12extending in a generally vertical directions from the engagement notches20a,20b. As shown in the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 9A, optional vertical groves30ramp downwardly into the notches20a,20bso that, when the mid-region of the elastic retaining member16is engaged within notches20a,20b, the stretched right and left portions16a,16bof the retaining member16with seat within those vertical locator grooves30. This helps to position and hold the right and left portions16a,16bof the retaining member16on their desired angular trajectories from top to bottom over the front surface FS of the board member12, as shown, and additionally deters inadvertent slippage of the elastic retaining member16out of the notches20a,20b. Alternatively or additionally, one or more horizontal locator groove(s)32may extend horizontally between the notches20a,20band may ramp downwardly into the notches20a,20bas shown in the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 9Bso that, when the when the mid-region of the elastic retaining member16is engaged within notches20a,20b, it will also seat within those horizontal locator groove(s)30. In this manner, the optional horizontal locator grove(s)30may deter inadvertent slippage of the elastic retaining member16out of the notches20a,20b. Although the drawings show these optional locator groves30,32formed in only the back surface BS of the board member12, it is to be appreciated that such locator groves30and/or32may additionally, or alternatively, be formed in the front surface FS of the board member12.

It is to be appreciated that, although the invention has been described hereabove with reference to certain examples or embodiments of the invention, various additions, deletions, alterations and modifications may be made to those described examples and embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any elements, steps, members, components, compositions, reactants, parts or portions of one embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another embodiment or example, unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render that embodiment or example unsuitable for its intended use. Also, where the steps of a method or process have been described or listed in a particular order, the order of such steps may be changed unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render the method or process unsuitable for its intended purpose. Additionally, the elements, steps, members, components, compositions, reactants, parts or portions of any invention or example described herein may optionally exist or be utilized in the substantial absence of other elements, steps, members, components, compositions, reactants, parts or portions unless otherwise noted. All reasonable additions, deletions, modifications and alterations are to be considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments and are to be included within the scope of the following claims.