Abstract:
An apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material that includes a channel for receiving paper or printed material. The channel may include a flanged opening and off-centered members to better receive the paper or printed material. The apparatus may be fastened to a flat surface such as a bulletin board, tack board, or the like. The apparatus allows one to easily and safely add and remove papers from a bulletin board or tack board without piercing the paper by use of a tack or similar object. The apparatus further reduces clutter on a bulletin board or tack board by spatially organizing papers and printed materials on said bulletin board or tack board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional patent application Serial No. U.S. Ser. No. 60/575,685 filed on May 28, 2004.  
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to an apparatus for holding printed material on a surface, and more particularly to an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     The prior art has disclosed various devices for securing printed material to a cork board, bulletin board, tack board, or other flat surface. Push pins, tacks, and staples are commonly used devices that have existed for many years. These devices are pushed through the printed material and into the cork board, bulletin board, tack board, or other flat surface. Tacks, push pins, and staples, when used in such a manner, pierce a hole through the printed material. While often times this is not objectionable, at times damaging the printed material with a pierced hole is not desirable. For example, it is usually undesirable to pierce holes through historic documents, photographs, valuable papers, and the like.  
         [0006]     Bulletin boards, tack boards, and cork boards are commonly used in public places for advertising. It is common for such a board to contain numerous business cards and advertising flyers. When push pins, tacks, or staples are used on such a board, there is little or no ability to organize the printed material on the board. When an individual desires to add or remove printed material to the board, frequently the board is so cluttered with printed material that some items fall to the floor unintentionally. In addition, often times multiple printed articles are held in place with one push pin, tack or staple. This practice makes the insertion and removal of a tack, pushpin or staple physically difficult, and represents an enormous challenge to those with disabilities.  
         [0007]     Pushpins, tacks and staples are sharp objects, and are not commonly used in applications that involve young children or disabled individuals. In these applications, tape is often times used. Tape is not always a preferred fastener, as it will frequently damage the paper or the surface that the paper is attached to. In addition, at times tape will not properly fasten the paper to a desired surface.  
         [0008]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device that retains printed material without damaging the printed material. It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for retaining printed material that is easy to use and requires minimal hand strength or coordination. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that retains printed material that is safe for use by small children and the disabled. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device that organizes and neatly retains printed material.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     An apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material comprising a channel having a first member and a second member whereas the width of said second member is less than the width of said first member and whereas said first member and said second member are elastically connected, a flanged edge connected to said second member, and a fastening means for attaching said apparatus to a surface.  
         [0010]     The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a back plan view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of two apparatuses for retaining and organizing printed material that are interconnected as a system;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates the use of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a slip board. 
     
    
       [0020]     The present invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an apparatus  100  for retaining and organizing printed material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus  100  is rectangular in shape, and contains a channel  14 . The channel  14  has a first member  16  and a second member  17  that, in some embodiments, are elastically connected together. The first member  16  and the second member  17  make contact, but can be separated by inserting paper or other printed matter into the channel  14 . When paper or other printed matter is inserted into the channel  14 , the elastic connection between the first member and the second member provides inward force that acts to draw the first member  16  and the second member  17  together, thus retaining paper or other printed material. In some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus  100  is extruded from a rigid vinyl such as Geon 2188. The use of a rigid vinyl provides for a moderately stiff yet elastic structure that does not exhibit a memory effect. In plastics, a memory effect relates to a material property where a plastic, upon being deformed in some way, memorizes or retains the shape that the plastic was deformed to. When paper or printed material is inserted into the channel  14 , it is undesirable for the channel  14  to deform while the paper or printed material is inserted into the channel  14 , and not return to it&#39;s original dimensions when the paper or printed material is removed. In other embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus  100  may be made from another plastic such as polypropylene, or may be made from a metal such as brass, stainless steel, or the like. In other embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus  100  may be made from wood, fiberglass, or rubber.  
         [0023]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first member  16  and the second member  17  are made from a single piece of material, and form a channel  14 . In such an embodiment, the joining of the first member  16  and the second member  17  creates an elastic connection similar to a hinge.  
         [0024]     In some embodiments of the present invention, the width of the second member  17  is less than the width of the first member  16 , as can be clearly seen in  FIG. 1 . This asymmetric spacing makes it easier to insert paper or printed material into the channel  14 .  
         [0025]     In some embodiments of the present invention, a flanged edge  15  is connected to the second member  17  to make it easier to insert paper or printed material into the channel  14 . The flanged edge  15  serves to guide paper or printed material into the channel  14 . The flanged edge  15  may be more clearly seen in  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the first member  16  is connected to a flanged edge  15 .  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  100  may, in some embodiments, contain a flat end  11  with a hole  12  to allow for mounting the apparatus  100  with a thumbtack, pushpin, or the like. The flat end  11  may also be used to interconnect multiple apparatuses  100 , as will be more clearly seen later in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0027]     The apparatus  100  may be manufactured in any length to suit the application. The apparatus  100 , in a preferred embodiment, is extruded from a rigid vinyl or other plastic. Extrusion of plastics is well known to those skilled in the art. After extruding, the raw stock material is cut to a desired length. Once cut to the desired length, the flat ends  11  are formed by machining or cutting a portion of the second member  17  away on either end of the cut stock material. Once a portion of the second member  17  is removed on either end of the cut stock material, a punch is used to create a hole  12  and, in some embodiments, to round the corners of the flat end  11 .  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a back plan view of an apparatus  100  for retaining and organizing printed material is shown. The back of the apparatus  100  for retaining and organizing printed material may, in some embodiments, contain a retention strip  13 . The retention strip  13  may, in some embodiments, be a magnet or a magnetic strip that allows for the mounting of the apparatus  100  on a magnetic surface without the use of thumbtacks, pushpins, or the like. In other embodiments of the present invention, the retention strip  13  may be an adhesive strip, a hook and loop fastener, or the like.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side elevation view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material  100  is shown.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material  100  that more clearly shows the flanged edge  15  that is used to guide paper or printed material into the channel  14 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  is the shape of the channel  14  according to one embodiment of the present invention, and the surfaces that contact paper or printed material, causing said paper or printed material to be retained by the apparatus  100 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material  100  that shows the use of thumb tacks  50  to retain said apparatus  100  to a bulletin board, cork board, or the like. The thumb tacks  50  are inserted through the holes  12  that are contained on each flat end  11 .  
         [0032]     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a system for retaining and organizing printed material  600  is depicted. The system  600  includes at least two apparatuses  100  for retaining and organizing printed material that are interconnected end to end by overlapping the flat end  11  of adjacent apparatuses  100 , and placing a thumbtack or pushpin  50  through adjacent holes  12 , as is clearly shown in  FIG. 6 . The ability to interconnect multiple apparatuses  100  for retaining and organizing printed material allows one to create long paper retention structures that conform to a specific size bulletin board or a specific application.  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates the use of an apparatus  100  for retaining and organizing printed material  100  on a bulletin board  75 . The apparatus  100  is securely held to the bulletin board  75  using tacks or pushpins  50 . Also shown in  FIG. 7  by way of example, and not limitation, is the organized retention of business cards  70  and paper  90  using the apparatus  100  mounted to a bulletin board  75 . Also illustrated by way of  FIG. 7  is a system for adjusting the position of an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material. The system is depicted to the left side of  FIG. 7  and includes two vertical rails  710  that are attached to a bulletin board  75  with tacks or pushpins  50 . The vertical rail  710  is essentially an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material  100  that is used to receive the flat end of a horizontally mounted apparatus  100  for retaining and organizing printed material. This system eliminates the need to remove and reinsert tacks or pushpins  50  when changing the vertical location of an apparatus  100  for retaining and organizing printed material.  
         [0034]     Lastly,  FIG. 8  shows a slip board  800 . A slip board  100  is similar to a common clip board. The slip board includes a printed material retainer  80  that is similar to the apparatus  100 , is rectangular in shape, and contains a channel  14 . The channel  14  has a first member  16  and a second member  17  that, in some embodiments, are elastically connected together. The first member  16  and the second member  17  make contact, but can be separated by inserting paper or other printed matter into the channel  14 . When paper or other printed matter is inserted into the channel  14 , the elastic connection between the first member and the second member provides inward force that acts to draw the first member  16  and the second member  17  together, thus retaining paper or other printed material. The use of the printed material retainer  80  is an improvement over a common clipboard in that paper can be inserted and removed from the printed material retainer  80  without the need for depressing a spring actuated lever, as is commonly used in clipboards. This improvement makes it easier for the disabled, small children, and the elderly to insert and remove paper. The slip board  100  further includes a writing surface  85  that is connected to the printed material retainer  80  using glue, screws, rivets, or the like.  FIG. 8  shows papers  90  being held firmly in place on the slip board  800 .  
         [0035]     It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, an apparatus for retaining and organizing printed material. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.