Abstract:
An apparatus for displaying cards and papers in the workplace includes a central shaft portion having a pair of ends, with each end including a generally semicircular ring portion adapted to capture the slots of one or more cards. The central shaft portion may be releasably captured in a channel of a universal mount or a single- or double swing arm portion. Removal of the shaft portion from the channel permits the shaft portion to be split open along a break, thereby opening the rings along breaks in the manner of a split-ring binder. Alternatively, the shaft portion may be used alone (without a mount or swing arms) to hold a quantity of cards. The swing arms may be hinged upon a base portion and attached to the chassis or peripheral surface surrounding a computer video monitor, so that the swing arms and shaft portion can swing forward and around to fit the user&#39;s viewing preferences. When affixed to a monitor, the semicircular rings facilitate easy installation and flipping of slotted cards and/or papers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/042,483, filed 24 Jan. 2005, entitled, Hinge and Binding Apparatus for Displaying Procedural Information Cards in the Workplace, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/538,546, filed Jan. 22, 2004 Jan. 22, 2004, for an I-beam Hinge for Displaying Technical Instruction Cards on a Computer Video Monitor, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/579,503, filed Jun. 10, 2004 (Jun. 10, 2004), for a Hinge and Binding Apparatus for Displaying Procedural Information Cards in the Workplace, both by joint inventor herein, Russell J. Schwartz. 
     
    
     SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0003]     Not applicable  
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0004]     Not applicable.  
       THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT  
       [0005]     Not applicable.  
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC  
       [0006]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0008]     The present invention relates generally to information display devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for displaying procedural information cards on a computer video monitor or other piece of equipment, in a cashiering area or other workplace space.  
         [0009]     2. Discussion of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR § 1.97, 1.98  
         [0010]     Office workers, retail associates and other personnel routinely place instructional information in the immediate vicinity of their workstation. Commonly, such material includes personalized employer or manufacturer provided instructions regarding software use, policy, procedures, or other information. For the purposes of this disclosure, such material will be generally termed procedural information.  
         [0011]     The prior art includes numerous devices for attaching items to a computer display device. However, until the present inventor disclosed an inventive mounting apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,456, hereby incorporated by reference herein, there remained a need for an apparatus that enables a computer user to position a maximum amount of utilitarian and decorative items in his or her field of view near the display screen. The &#39;456 patent teaches a display card mounting device for attaching an instructional card holder directly to a front bezel surface of a computer display. The apparatus can be used in connection with attachable/detachable cards, for training personnel to use computers. The display cards may include tips and hints for using popular word processing programs, spread sheets, proprietary software programs, or other information pertaining to products and services. The display cards may include printed indicia showing, for example, a summary of useful software commands such as “short-cut” control sequences for triggering commands or scripts for customer service representatives.  
         [0012]     Typically, the cards and the mounting apparatuses are employed as training aids to assist personnel or students in learning new material. Without the benefit of the system of the &#39;456 patent, companies often trained personnel, and schools trained students exclusively by providing user manuals and requiring the personnel or students being trained to learn the software commands by directly consulting the user manuals. Such user manuals are expensive and need frequent replacement with each software upgrade. For proprietary software, such upgrades may be frequent and such user manuals may be quite expensive, resulting in significant costs. Also, when personnel are required to learn by consulting user manuals, the time required to effectively train the personnel may also be significant. In particular, the personnel may be reluctant to frequently consult a potentially cumbersome user manual which often is not easily accessible, and therefore may not learn the necessary new material quickly or efficiently. Hence, human trainers are often employed to expedite training, resulting in still further costs.  
         [0013]     With the system of the &#39;456 patent, display cards containing, for example, a summary of pertinent software commands, are provided for mounting directly to the computer display. To learn the pertinent procedures, personnel being trained merely consult the display cards. Depending upon the information provided on the display cards, it may be completely unnecessary to provide a separate user manual. Hence, the costs associated with providing new user manuals or providing supplements or inserts to existing user manuals are substantially avoided. Rather, only the costs associated with providing the relatively inexpensive display cards and the mounting apparatuses of the invention may be incurred. Such is particularly desirable when training personnel to use proprietary software subject to frequent upgrades which would otherwise require obtaining frequent, and possibly expensive, user manual updates. Moreover, by eliminating the need to consult cumbersome user manuals, personnel being trained may be trained much more quickly and efficiently, further reducing training costs. In many circumstances trainers may no longer be required.  
         [0014]     With the system shown in the &#39;456 patent, the display cards are mounted parallel with the display screen of the computer such that personnel being trained can easily reference information by simply glancing at the display cards. Hence, the speed by which new information provided on the cards can be consulted is greatly increased. Also, personnel being trained are simply more likely to consult reference information when such reference information is provided immediately adjacent to, and parallel with, the computer display, than when provided separately. Hence, training time can be significantly reduced.  
         [0015]     Depending upon the amount of information required to be summarized, several display cards may be provided to personnel or students. With the system of the &#39;456 patent, the display cards are tabbed and pivotally mounted such that personnel or students being trained can easily flip to the card containing the desired information. Also, the display cards are mounted to the display screen of the computer using semi-ring card holding members such that the cards can be quickly replaced with new cards to accommodate changes, or to add cards for new procedures. Cards may be replaced selectively either individually or several at a time, and this results in substantial savings if and as card content changes.  
         [0016]     Although the display card system described in the &#39;456 patent represented a significant improvement over predecessor systems, room for improvement remained, and the present inventor taught and disclosed such improvements in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,209,246 and 6,430,856, each of which were progeny of the originally filed disclosure for the &#39;456 patent, and each of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,246 discloses a card assembly for use with a computer display device which includes at least one card and a card holder for holding the card. In addition, the card assembly also includes a mounting unit that is connected to the card holder. This mounting unit rigidly and detachably affixes the card holder to the computer display device.  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,856 teaches a card assembly with a pocket for use with a computer display device. A variety of mounting systems are provided for mounting display cards, photographs, or other material to a computer display device of a computer system. The display cards may include printed indicia showing, for example, a summary of useful software commands for use with software programs running on the computer system. In one embodiment, a pair of mounting units or hinges are provided for pivotably mounting the display cards to the computer display device so that selected cards may be pivoted into a position adjacent to a front surface of the display screen for ease of viewing. In another example, a transparent pocket is provided for receiving the display cards, with the pocket being pivotably mounted to the display device via the mounting units. By providing a pocket, the display cards are protected while in use. Also, the display cards need not include any mounting holes or other attachment elements for direct attachment to the mounting units. Rather, any suitably sized and shaped display card, photograph, sheet of paper, or the like may be inserted within the pocket for pivotal mounting to the computer display device via the mounting hinges.  
         [0019]     As with the more recently issued &#39;246 and &#39;856 patents, the present invention is also directed to providing further improvements in the art.  
         [0020]     The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventors are aware. Reference to, and discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in discharging Applicants&#39; acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The present invention provides an apparatus for displaying cards or papers with optional capability to attach to a computer video monitor or other piece of equipment either in a cashiering area or any other workplace space. In a first preferred embodiment, the inventive apparatus includes a central shaft portion having a pair of ends, with each end including a generally semicircular ring portion adapted to capture two generally elongate slots formed in one or more cards or papers, much as those adapted for use with well-known comb-bound documents. The central shaft portion may be releasably captured in a channel of a universal mount or swing arm portion. Removal of the shaft portion from the channel permits the shaft portion to be split open along a longitudinal break, thereby opening the rings along breaks in the manner of a split-ring binder.  
         [0022]     Alternatively, the shaft portion may be used alone (i.e., without a mount or swing arm) to hold a quantity of cards. The ring portions can be hinged, spring-loaded, or otherwise adapted to be opened to accommodate the slots of procedural information cards in any other of a variety of ways. The swing arm may be hinged upon a base portion with attachment means for affixing the apparatus to the chassis or peripheral surface surrounding a CRT or LCD computer video monitor, so that the swing arm and shaft portion can swing forward and around, toward the middle of the screen. When affixed to a monitor, the semicircular rings facilitate easy installation and flipping of instructional cards of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,856. The universal mount could be used to affix the apparatus to any equipment or workplace surface.  
         [0023]     In yet another embodiment, the inventive apparatus includes multiple swing arms for increased adjustability of the display portion of the apparatus. Further, the central shaft portion comprises two side selectively and releasably combined with a latching mechanism, thus enabling use with or without a channel in a universal mount or swing arm. The latching mechanism facilitates one-handed separation of the central shaft portion sides, and the multiple swing arms articulate to a large number of substantially fixed positions to provide the user with an easy means of finding a comfortable and practical positioning for the cards or other reading material.  
         [0024]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for cards and other documents in the workplace environment.  
         [0025]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for adding and removing such cards and documents.  
         [0026]     A further object or feature of the present invention is a new and improved apparatus for flipping the cards so displayed.  
         [0027]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for positioning the cards relative to a computer monitor or other piece of equipment.  
         [0028]     Other novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. The invention resides not in any one of these features taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     The invention will be better understood and its objects and advantages will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a hinge and binding apparatus for displaying procedural information cards in the workplace of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 1B  is a rear perspective view of the hinge and binding apparatus of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a hinge and binding apparatus for displaying procedural information cards in the workplace of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view of the hinge and binding apparatus of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 2C  is an exploded front perspective view of the hinge and binding apparatus of  FIG. 2A , illustrating the splitting of the shaft portion to open the semicircular ring portions;  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a third preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on a flat panel monitor;  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing the essential structural and functional elements of the third preferred embodiment;  
         [0038]      FIG. 5B  is an exploded perspective view of the third preferred embodiment;  
         [0039]      FIG. 6A  is a front perspective view showing the separated right and left sides of the central shaft portion of the third preferred embodiment;  
         [0040]      FIG. 6B  is a rear perspective view thereof;  
         [0041]      FIG. 6C  is a rear perspective view showing the right and left sides of the central shaft portion coupled and the latching mechanism in a locked configuration;  
         [0042]      FIG. 6D  is a rear perspective view showing the sides of the central shaft portion beginning to separate as the button of the latching mechanism is moved toward the unlocked configuration;  
         [0043]      FIG. 6E  is a rear view in elevation corresponding to  FIG. 6C ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 6F  is a rear review in elevation corresponding to  FIG. 6D ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 6G  is a rear view in elevation corresponding to  FIGS. 6A and 6B ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 6H  is a side view in elevation of  
         [0047]      FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional side view in elevation of the central shaft portion of  FIG. 6B , taken along section line  6 H;  
         [0048]      FIG. 7A  is a top cross-sectional view of the document support of  FIG. 5B , shown along section line  7 A;  
         [0049]      FIG. 7B  is a side cross-sectional view of the document support of  FIG. 5B , shown along section line  7 B;  
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a side view in elevation of the swing arm of the third preferred embodiment; and  
         [0051]      FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of the swing arm of  FIG. 8 , shown along section line  8 A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0052]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A through 1B , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the views, there is illustrated therein first embodiment of a new and improved hinge and binding apparatus for displaying procedural information cards in the workplace, generally denominated  10  herein. These figures illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]     The inventive apparatus may be summarily characterized as a procedural information card hinge, and comprises a central shaft portion  12  having an upper end  14  and a lower end  16 . Each end includes a generally semicircular ring portion  18 ,  20 , adapted to capture the slots of one or more procedural information cards or other documents.  
         [0054]     The central shaft portion  12  may be releasably captured in channel  22  of universal mount  24 . Removal of the central shaft portion  12  from the universal mount  24  permits the shaft portion to be split open along longitudinal break  26 , thereby opening the rings along breaks  28 ,  30  in the manner of a split-ring binder. The shaft portion is prevented from inadvertent opening by snaps or tabs  31 , which are manually engaged and released with finger tip pressure. Alternatively, the ring portions  18 ,  20  could be hinged, spring-loaded, or otherwise adapted to be opened and closed to accommodate the slots of procedural information cards in any other of a variety of ways well known in the art.  
         [0055]     The rear surface  32  of the universal mount  24  includes attachment means  34  for affixing the apparatus to the chassis or peripheral surface surrounding a CRT or LCD computer video monitor, or other surface. Preferably the attachment means comprises double-sided adhesive material or hook-and-loop fastener, though any suitable affixation means is contemplated in the present disclosure. Accordingly, when affixed to a monitor, the semicircular rings  18 ,  20  facilitate easy installation and flipping of instructional cards of the type shown in FIG. 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,856.  
         [0056]      FIG. 2A through 2C  show a second preferred embodiment  50  of a hinge and binding apparatus for displaying procedural information cards in the workplace of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view, while  FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view, and  FIG. 2C  is an exploded front perspective view, illustrating the splitting of the shaft portion to open the semicircular ring portions.  
         [0057]     This second embodiment  50  of the hinge and binding apparatus comprises a central shaft portion  52  having a first end  54  and a second end  56 . Each end includes a generally semicircular ring portion  58 ,  60 , adapted to capture the slots of one or more procedural information cards.  
         [0058]     The central shaft portion  52  may be releasably captured in channel  62  of swing arm  64 . Removal of the shaft portion  52  from the swing arm  64  permits the shaft portion to be split open along longitudinal break  66 , thereby opening the rings along breaks  68 ,  70  in the manner of a split-ring binder. Alternatively, the ring portions  58 ,  60  could be hinged, spring-loaded, or otherwise adapted to be opened and closed to accommodate the slots of procedural information cards in any other of a variety of ways well known in the art.  
         [0059]     Swing arm  64  may include hinged connector  72 . The rear surface  74  of the hinged connector  72  includes attachment means  76  for affixing the apparatus to the chassis or peripheral surface surrounding a CRT or LCD computer video monitor, e.g., to the side of a monitor near the front edge. Preferably the attachment means comprises double-sided adhesive material or hook-and-loop fastener, though any suitable affixation means is contemplated in the present disclosure. Accordingly, when affixed to a monitor, the swing arm and shaft portion can swing forward and around, toward the middle of the screen, and the semicircular rings  58 ,  60  facilitate easy installation and flipping of instructional cards of the type shown in FIG. 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,856.  
         [0060]     As a further alternate application of the invention, the hinge and binding apparatus may be used independently of a computer monitor. For example, the universal mount of the apparatus could be placed on a desk, shelf, wall, or other surface, to provide a stand-alone display for procedural information cards, technical instruction cards, or other cards or material.  
         [0061]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-8A , a third preferred embodiment of the inventive hinge and binding apparatus is illustrated, and is generally denominated  100 . In this embodiment, the hinge and binding apparatus includes a central shaft portion  110  having upper and lower ends  120 ,  130 , at each one of which are disposed semicircular rings,  140 ,  150 , and a longitudinal break  160  bifurcating the shaft portion into a right side  170  and a left side  180 . The two sides of the central shaft portion are brought into register for coupling or combining by inserting male portions  190  of the right side into female slots  200  in the left side, as well as upper and lower male annular ring portions  195  in the left side into upper and lower annular female ring portions  205  in the right side. When combined, the annular male and female portions define generally semicircular ring portions disposed on the upper and lower ends of the central shaft portion.  
         [0062]     Each central shaft portion half is hollow in its medial portion  175 ,  185 , and when combined, the right and left sides define a interior void  115  into which a latching mechanism is disposed. This mechanism provides means for one-handed, rapid selective separation of the central shaft portion sides, and comprises a substantially flat slider  210  having an integral button  215  which is exposed for manual operation through an access slot  220  formed by recesses  230 ,  240  in the respective right and left sides when the sides are combined. The slider is retained in the left side of the central shaft portion by posts  265  which project into and move within longitudinal slots  265  in the body of the left side. The button may be moved longitudinally, its movement range limited by the post- and-slot elements.  
         [0063]     As the right side of the central shaft portion is combined with the left side, retention posts  250  disposed on the slider  210  engage and slide along ramps  245  formed on the surface of male portion  190 . As the longitudinal break of the right and left sides is approximated, the posts become aligned with slots  260  at the side of the ramps [ FIG. 6F ], thus enabling up and down movement of the slider by actuating the button  215 . Pushing the button into the locked configuration [FIGS.  6 C,  6 E] captures and retains the posts  250  in slots  260 .  
         [0064]     The central shaft portion right and left sides may be disengaged and released when the button and slider are moved in the opposite direction and into the unlocked configuration [FIG.  6 D].  
         [0065]     The third preferred embodiment further includes a support mount  270  having a front side  280  and a rear side  290 , and attachment means by which the mount may be affixed to any suitable surface, such as a flat panel monitor  300 , desk, shelf, wall, or other surface. As with the second embodiment, the attachment means may comprise an adhesive rear surface  310  for use on flat panel or other computer monitor chassis, or it can comprise any of a number of other well known fastening means.  
         [0066]     The front side  280  of the support mount includes an integrally formed support mount attachment structure  320 , which comprises a football-shaped partial barrel structure having several stacked and spaced-apart partial disks  330 , each with gear teeth  340 , and upper and lower cups  360 ,  370 .  
         [0067]     A first swing arm  380  is provided for pivotal attachment to the mount via the support mount attachment structure. The first swing arm includes an inboard end  390  and an outboard end  400 , the inboard end including inboard attachment structure comprising integrally formed fingers  410 ,  420 , each having inwardly pointing dome-shaped ball ends  430 ,  440 , which snap into the upper and lower cups  360 ,  370 , respectively, of the support mount attachment structure  320  to form a cup and ball hinge. The inboard end also includes an arcuate indexing edge  445  shaped to engage and track the gear teeth with tight tolerances to provide an axial positioning (indexing) mechanism which employs the gear teeth as radially arranged detents. Accordingly, the gear teeth capture and retain the indexing edge until a sufficient radial force is imparted to the swing arm, in which event it may be moved radially as it pivots on the cup-and-ball hinge in increments of clicks, one gear tooth detent at a time.  
         [0068]     The outboard end  400  of the first swing arm includes outboard attachment structure, including a football-shaped partial barrel structure  450  substantially identical to that disposed on the front side of the mount, including spaced apart stacked partial disks  460  having radially disposed gear teeth detents  470 , and upper and lower cups  480 ,  490 . This structure differs from that disposed on the front side of the mount in that each of the stacked disks preferably includes a larger sweep of arc as any attached structure is not limited by a flat front side, as is the case with the stacked disks disposed on the barrel of the mount.  
         [0069]     It will be appreciated that the stacked disks and detents do not comprise attachment structure per se, but rather provide the indexing mechanism disposed within the cup-and-ball hinge.  
         [0070]     A second swing arm  500 , identical to the first swing arm may also be provided, as may a third or fourth, and possibly more.  
         [0071]     Next, the third embodiment includes a document support  510 , which provides a stop and a support when cards or pages are turned either in a horizontal plane or in a vertical plane. The document support includes a front side  520  and a rear side  530 , the front side including two integrally formed walls  540 ,  550  forming a bracket for capturing and retaining the central shaft portion. The rear side of the document support includes opposing integral upper and lower fingers  560 ,  570  having ball ends  560 ,  570  for snapping into the upper and lower cups of a barrel structure on a swing arm.  
         [0072]     The elements of the third embodiment may be assembled into an adjustable arm extending a distance upwardly, sidewardly, and around a computer monitor  300 . In this manner, there is provided a secure support for card, papers, and other documents  580  that may be viewed concurrently with the use of a computer.  
         [0073]     The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.  
         [0074]     For instance, it will be appreciated to one having skill in the art that the elements providing pivotal connections between the swing arms, the support mount, and the document support, could be reversed, such that the support mount included opposing fingers with opposing balls, the inboard attachment structure included upper and lower cups, the outboard ends included fingers with opposing balls, and the document support included upper and lower cups.  
         [0075]     Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.