Checkbook recording device

A checkbook using conventional, standard bank checks and preprinted record keeping sheets in booklet form where the data written on the check is simultaneously transferred onto one of the preprinted recording sheets. A first template, insertable in an inner pocket, has opposed outer guides for receiving slides of a cooperating second template, which cooperating second template has an elongated window and is movable along the guides of the first template for positioning its window in registry with a blank transaction line on the preprinted sheet, whereby upon the placement of a check over the cooperating second template and the writing of the check, data is simultaneously transferred onto the preprinted sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a conventional checkbook used by individuals or 
businesses for issuing negotiable checks provided by financial 
institutions where the checking account is held, and keeping a record of 
such transactions. In particular, a device is used to bring into registry 
an available blank space on a record register in order to simultaneously 
transfer some or all of the written data of each check in the record 
register for easy recording and balancing of the account. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Organizations, such as banks and/or savings and loan associations, usually 
provide a supply of specially printed checks to their checking account 
customers. These checks are normally in pads of about 25 single checks. A 
register containing a record of items for the transactions is also 
provided along with a checkbook folder which retains the unused checks and 
the transaction register record. In checkbooks of this type, the check pad 
is retained on one side of the folder, and the register record, normally 
in booklet form, is retained on the other side thereof, where the data for 
each issued check is entered on the record register separately by the 
checkbook user prior to or after a check has been written for record 
keeping purposes. This procedure for keeping track of the monies going out 
of the checking account lends itself to duplication of data recording 
which may result in omissions and errors since the information for 
balancing of the account has to be written twice; once on the face of the 
check; and once on the record register. 
Several checkbook and/or record keeping devices have evolved. One attempt 
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,061. This device is for writing a 
negotiable instrument, such as a check, with several identical 
non-negotiable slips which are distributed as desired to the interested 
parties. These duplicate data slips contain either a carbon sheet 
therebetween or each slip is coated with a reproducing media so that the 
data written on the top slip is transferred to the remaining copies of 
slips. Each slip is similar in format in that they each contain a columnar 
area on the left hand side for recording the charges, and a middle section 
with indicia lines for filling in such information as the date, the payee, 
the amount, and the signature of the payer. A cut-out section for the 
signature for the negotiable slip appears on the topmost slip of the 
packet for signature verification purposes. This device is mainly employed 
by a group of individuals, belonging to an association or organization. 
Another attempt for writing a check and having the pertinent information 
automatically transferred onto a register record without the need for 
writing the information twice appears in U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,553. 
Disclosed herein is a devise for holding a stack of checks on one side of 
the folder and a pad of record forms on the other side of the folder. The 
record forms may be made of a self-marking pressure sensitive duplicating 
paper which is folded over to be inserted beneath a negotiable check so 
that the printed information is transferred onto the record form. 
In both these above mentioned patents, a transaction involving the writing 
of a check is transferred onto a form greatly resembling the face of the 
check. Since this is the case, at the present time no means are provided 
which pre-registers an empty space on a record register form of the type 
containing several lines for the several transactions, which preprinted 
forms in booklet form are commonly provided for the use of the individual 
or business by the financial institutions servicing checking accounts. 
In spite of the foregoing disclosures, therefore, there remains a need for 
an improved device for registering a transaction occurring in the form of 
check writing onto a preprinted form at the same time the check is being 
written, which preprinted forms provide for the recording of several such 
transactions on a single sheet instead of a stub or facsimile for each 
transaction which must be diligently kept in one's files. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has met the above described need. In one of the 
preferred embodiments a registering device for a checkbook comprises a 
template slideable along guides where one of the preprinted record sheets 
is inserted beneath the slideable plate, having a window whose opening 
extends across an area for recording the written information. A check is 
placed on top of the slideable plate with the payee and the amount lines 
of the check positioned directly over the window. Either through the 
employment of pressure sensitive, self-marking preprinted record sheets, 
or a carbon leaf, this information is transferred onto the record sheet 
beneath the slideable plate in the area outlined by the window. Several 
transactions can be consecutively entered on this record sheet, which 
contains several entry lines, simply by sliding the template down to the 
next blank space on the record sheet and placing the check directly over 
the template such that the data which is to be transferred upon the 
writing of the check is in registry with the window area. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a registering mechanism 
for recording several transactions on a single sheet of a record register 
by economical and efficient means. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a registering 
mechanism which is easily adaptable to existing checkbook folders. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a checkbook device 
which can easily transfer several transactions in one compact area for 
easy record keeping and balancing of an account. 
These and other objects of the present invention will be more fully 
appreciated and understood when the following description is read along 
with the drawings which are as follows:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Some of the pertinent facts regarding the writing of a check and a need for 
automatically recording and transferring data onto a secondary source for 
its retention for record keeping purposes is found in the above '553 
patent, which is incorporated herein by reference mainly to give a better 
explanation of the background of the present invention. 
Referring to the Figures, particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a 
conventional style of pocket checkbook 10, issued by financial 
institutions for use by those holding checking accounts therewith. 
As particularly shown in FIG. 1, checkbook 10 is in the form of a folder 
which may be made of material, such as leather or vinyl. On the upper 
portion inside the front cover 12 of the folder is a supply of blank 
checks 14 in pad form, and on the lower portion inside the back cover 16 
of the folder are several preprinted record sheets, (one of which is 
shown) which are usually in booklet or tablet form comprising a record 
register, which is a standard item supplied to an individual by the 
financial institutions. Front cover 12 has an inner pocket 18 for 
receiving the backing board of the pad of checks 14, and likewise, back 
cover 16 has an inner pocket 20 for receiving the record register, which 
shows a single sheet 22 of the register extending out of and laying over 
pocket 20, more about which is said shortly. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the record register is inserted and 
retained in inner pocket 20 (FIG. 1) along with a registering or sliding 
mechanism 24 of the present invention, where single sheet 22 is shown in 
phantom to indicate its positioning prior to its placement between 
registering mechanism 24. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, and particularly in FIG. 3, registering 
mechanism 24 comprises two templates 26 and 28. Template 26 consists of an 
intermediate section 30, opposed cut out sections 32 located alongside 
intermediate section 30, and opposed projections or sliding guides 34. 
These features and components of template 26 cooperate with each other to 
act like a clip for its retention in inner pocket 20 in that intermediate 
section 30 is inserted in inner pocket 20 while sliding guides 34 remain 
out of and over pocket 20 (FIG. 1). When inserting template 26 into inner 
pocket 20, the register record is already in inner pocket 20 and template 
26 is placed over the register record in pocket 20. Single sheet 22 of the 
register record is kept out of inner pocket 20, and folded over the 
portion of template 26 sticking out of inner pocket 20 and made to lay 
over pocket 20, as particularly shown in FIG. 1. Sliding guides 34, as 
mentioned earlier, extend out of and over inner pocket 20 alongside single 
sheet 22 of the record register. 
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown rectangular template 28 
which cooperates with template 26, which template 28 is shown to be 
smaller than template 26, but which if preferred may be substantially the 
same size as a standard check. Template 28 consists of two opposed hinges 
of slides 36, which as shown in FIG. 3 are hollow so as to fit over 
sliding guides 34 of template 26 in order for template 28 to be in a 
slideable position over single sheet 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
Slides 36 are generally in a flat oval disposition relative to sliding 
guides 34 and are generally made an integral part of template 28. 
Preferably, both templates 26 and 28 are made of a relatively rigid 
plastic which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture. As particularly 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, template 28 also consists of an elongated 
rectangular window 38, which extends a substantial distance across the 
width of template 28, and when positioned in checkbook 10, window 38 
exposes an area of single sheet 22. 
On a typical single sheet 22, which is preprinted according to a desireable 
format, there may be as many as six columns for receiving pertinent data 
of a transaction. Column 1 is for recording the number of the check; 
column two for recording the date; column three for recording the name of 
the payee; column four for recording the amount of the check; column five 
for recording deposits; and column six for balancing the account. For the 
purpose of further explaining the present invention, single preprinted 
sheet 22 is shown to contain an area for entering the name of the payee 
and the amount of the check across from the payee's name on the same 
transverse line. 
In using registering mechanism 24, template 28, through its slides 36 is 
slid along sliding guides 34 of template 26. Ideally, each preprinted 
sheet to be inserted between templates 26, 28, as is single sheet 22, of 
the record register is a pressure sensitive, ink processed paper available 
on the market. Instead, carbon sheet may be placed under template 28 on 
top of preprinted sheet 22, whereupon a check is then placed. In using 
checkbook 10, a check is placed over registering mechanism 24 in a manner 
that the check is exactly on top of template 28 as shown in FIG. 4. For 
easy registry of the check over template 28, template 28 may be the same 
size as a standard check whereupon the area containing the payee's name 
and the amount of the check is exactly over the window 38 of the template 
28. 
As particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the format of a standard check 
consists of an amount line located to the right, and a line for the name 
of the payee located to the left of the amount line in the same line 
relative to each other. Upon placing the check on template 28, the user as 
shown in FIG. 4, will make certain that the line on the check containing 
the payee's name and the amount is directly over the window 38 and on top 
a blank space on single sheet 22. In writing the check, the amount and the 
payee's name are automatically transferred to the respective columns on 
single sheet 22. The ability to do this saves valuable time on the 
individual's part in recording information since it need only be written 
once. It is also to be appreciated that since this transaction becomes a 
part of a permanent record, the likelihood of making errors in balancing 
the account are substantially reduced or eliminated, which errors can lead 
to the account being overdrawn. If additional information is to be 
recorded, it can be added separately to single sheet 22 at a later time, 
or depending on the format of the check and/or the format of each single 
sheet 22 of the record register, this information can be recorded 
simultaneously with the issuing of the check. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a second preferred embodiment which may be a type of 
checkbook 40 used by a business. As shown, the registering mechanism 42 is 
retained on the left side, while the checks in rows of three and in tablet 
form are retained on the right side of checkbook 40 in FIG. 5. 
In this embodiment of FIG. 5, opposed sliding guides 44 are affixed through 
suitable means at their upper portions to the inside of the checkbook 40 
as shown at 46. Template 48 is similar to template 28 in both its design 
and function. Even though the guides 44 are two pieces unconnected to each 
other, a template similar to template 26 of FIGS. 1-4 can also be used; in 
which case, the intermediate portion of this template may or may not 
extend the full length of checkbook 40, but be long enough to be 
adequately retained in the pocket of checkbook 40. 
The registering mechanisms 24, 42 of the present invention can cheaply be 
manufactured and easily supplied together with the checkbook, or they can 
be supplied as a unit separate from the checkbook. 
Referring again to FIG. 3, template 26 has at the bottom of its sliding 
guides 34, an extended flexible portion 50 which stops the movement of 
template 28 along sliding guides 34 for the retention of template 28. 
These portions or stops 50 are flexible enough that guides 36 of template 
28 can easily be slid past stops 50 upon the template 28 reaching the 
bottom portion of the record register i.e. the bottom of the checkbook, or 
for the removal of template 28 from template 26. These stops 50 are shown 
to be an integral part of template 26, but can be made to be fixedly 
attached to guides 34 of template 26, in which case these stops 50 would 
be mounted on guides 34 after template 28 is assembled to template 26. 
As explained above, template 28 may or may not be the same size as a 
standard check for its proper functioning. Also, the registering 
mechanisms 24, 42 of the present invention can be used with record keeping 
devices other than that disclosed herein. 
While the present invention has been described in connection with the 
preferred embodiments thereof, as alluded to above, it should be 
understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope 
and spirit of the present invention as described by the following claims. 
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained 
the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and 
described what I consider to represent the best embodiments thereof.