Abstract:
A reminder kit and method is disclosed having a pocket portion with an opening for receiving cards. The cards are used to write notes such as class homework assignments by subject. The pocket portion may be attached to a bag such as a backpack or purse for transport. The cards may be rewritable for reusing the cards as needed on subsequent occasions. The cards may be made of plastic which allows notes to be written or erased by an erasable marker. A sleeve added to the pocket portion can carry the marker or other writing implement.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to task reminder devices and methods and more particularly to a system for reminding people of daily assignments and tasks. The invention is applicable for use by students to remind them of daily homework assignments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Every day people are taking on responsibilities and tasks that need to be completed for work, school, home and other places. Whether the tasks relate to simple household chores, homework assignments or work tasks, remembering the myriad of “things to do” can be challenging. Such daily requirements furthermore fall on everyone in society, including children, students and adults alike. A variety of visual devices and methods have been developed for the purpose of reminding one to complete their tasks. Writing a list on a piece of paper is probably the most common manual method of recording tasks, with an electronic memo pad such as a PDA or computer calendaring system representing the most complex. 
         [0003]    In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,714 to Womack discloses a reminder board made of magnetic sheet material that may be placed on a metal surface such a refrigerator. Smaller pieces of the same material have chores or duties written on them. The smaller pieces are placed under a heading of “Please do” and then moved to an area that says “Thank You” as the chore is completed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,796 to Gurda discloses another board reminder apparatus with a coin reward dispenser for completed tasks. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0089562 A1 discloses a compact case for holding repositionable notes including a plastic case with an integrally hinged lid. The compact case allows the repositionable note paper and other items to be carried in a shirt pocket, wallet or the like without flexural damage or soiling. U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,622 to Clark discloses a two panel folder, each panel having a set of pockets with a number of tickets or cards with meals or medications written on them. This reminder system assists a patient with diabetes to plan meals with different foods allowed and to meet a medication schedule. U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,961 to Patino et al. discloses a calendar display board with a number slots that are assigned a number indicating a particular day of the month. Envelopes with bills monthly bills to be paid are placed in a slot corresponding to the date on which the bill is to be paid. U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,974 to Su discloses a card file device having a base board, jacket, envelopment and plurality of envelopes. This card file device can be folded or extended for display purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,204 to Paulo discloses a calendar organizer having pockets representing the days of the month, the pockets receiving documents or tasks that need to be completed. 
         [0004]    These described reminder devices are for the most are large and bulky. There remains a need for a reminder device and methodology that is easily transportable. It would also be advantageous to have portable reminder device that is reusable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention broadly provides a reminder system including a pouch with a pocket and one or more cards that are sized to be inserted into the pocket of the pouch. The card has a place to write notes thereon, such as tasks or assignments, for example Furthermore, one or more of the cards may have pre-printed subject matters. Lines may also be pre-printed on the cards. Also, as an additional feature, the cards may be made of material which facilitates the writing of erasable notes such as by a pencil or erasable marker. In a preferred embodiment the card material may be plastic. 
         [0006]    Other additional features may be added to the pouch. The pouch may include a sleeve for holding a writing implement such as a pen, pencil, erasable marker or the like. Also, the pouch may include a mechanism for attaching the pouch to another object for transport, such object which may be a backpack or a purse. For example, a clip may be attached to the pocket. As another alternative, Velcro may also be used. 
         [0007]    The construction and use of preferred embodiments of a reminder device and method may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the pocket portion of the reminder kit in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a back view of the reminder kit; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a number of possible cards or tags for the reminder kit; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the pocket portion of the reminder kit with a card inserted; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the pocket portion including a clip; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a back view of the pocket portion of the reminder kit with a Velcro patch affixed thereto; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the pocket portion of  FIG. 5  with a sleeve for holding a writing implement; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the pocket portion of  FIG. 7  with a writing implement inserted into the sleeve and two note cards inserted in the pocket portion; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9   a  is a front view of a card being written with notes; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9   b  is a front view of the pocket portion with card being inserted or withdrawn from the pocket portion, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9   c  is a front view of a card with the notes being erased. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a preferred embodiment of the reminder kit  10  in accordance with the principles of the invention including a pocket portion  12  with front panel  14  and back panel  16  with an opening  18 . While the pocket portion  12  may be of a variety of shapes and sizes, the front panel  14  and back panel  16  are shown in this embodiment as rectangularly shaped forming a bottom edge  20 , side edges  24  and  26 . The top edges  30  and  32  of the front panel  14  and back panel  16  are preferably spaced apart making notes cards (to be described below) more accessible to grasp by the fingers of a hand for insertion and removal. The front panel  14  and back panel  16  may be made of any materials, such as synthetic fabric materials. In this example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the back panel  16  is a solid flexible planar material (see  FIG. 2 ) while the front panel  14  may a similar be a similar solid flexible planar material as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the front panel  14  maybe a mesh material as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example. 
         [0020]    The reminder kit  10  includes one or more cards  40  as shown with more particularity in  FIG. 3 . Four cards  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  are illustrated in this example. The cards  40  may have subjects  45  pre-printed thereon, such as class subjects which on card  41  is “MATH”, card  42  “LANGUAGE ARTS” and card  43  “SCIENCE”. The cards  40  may also have pre-printed lines  46  making it easier to writes notes on the cards. Cards  40  may also be blank as illustrated by card  44 , on which any subject matter or notes or other written matter can be transcribed thereon as desired by the user. Notes or other written material can also be attached to cards  40  such as by repositionable notes such as Post-it® notes available from the 3M Company, for example. 
         [0021]    The cards  40  themselves may be made of any material suitable for recording written notes or symbols. A pen, pencil, marker or other writing implement may be used as the note writing medium for the cards. Preferably, the cards  40  may be made of plastic material suitable for using an erasable marker or grease type pencil. Accordingly, notes can be written on a card and later wiped off or erased from the card and other material then written or drawn onto the card. The material for the cards may also be chosen to be a stiff material which facilitates making notes in various environments or conditions. While the cards maybe of any size and shape, cards  40  are rectangularly shaped to fit in the rectangularly shaped pocket portion  12  described above. One end  48  of the cards  40  may have a hole  49 . Card  41  is shown inserted into pocket portion  12  in  FIG. 4 . With the spaced top edges  30  and  32  of the front and back panels, the end of the card  41  will stick out from and above front panel  14  of the front pocket portion  12 , making it easier to grasp, which facilitates insertion and removal. 
         [0022]    The pocket portion  12  may also be attached to a variety of items such as a backpack or purse, for example, by a variety of means. Simple attachment mechanisms include common items such as pins, bobby pins, clips for example. In  FIG. 5  a clip  50  is attached by a ring  52  to a hole  54  in the top portion  56  of the back panel  16  of pocket portion  12 . The clip may readily be attached to other items such as a D-ring or strap of a backpack or purse, or even a belt loop in a pair of pants, for example (not shown). Another attachment mechanism as shown in  FIG. 6 , could be a patch of Velcro  60  which is affixed to the back surface  62  of back panel  16 . A corresponding mating patch of Velcro is affixed to another item such as a backpack or purse. The pouch can easily be attached and separated as desired by means of the Velcro. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 7 , a sleeve  70  is added to the front panel  14  of the pocket portion  12 . The sleeve is sized and shaped to receive a writing implement  72  such as a pencil, pen, marker, erasable marker or grease pencil, for example. The sleeve  70  may be made of any suitable material, but preferably is made of an elastic material formed into a cylindrical shape which resiliently holds a writing implement facilitating transport thereof. A preferred embodiment including the sleeve  70  and clip  50  with two note cards  40 , namely cards  42  and  43  inserted is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Grasping the front card  42  with the hole  49  by the end  48  of card, the card  42  can be removed for note taking, viewing or erasing and re-writing. This reminder kit  10  is advantageously very transportable and simple to use. Everything desired for reminder note taking is carried with the kit. 
         [0024]    In  FIGS. 9   a - c  there is shown a front view of the reminder kit  40  illustrating its methodology in use. In  FIG. 9   a , the user by means of his hand and fingers (not shown) using a selected writing implement  92 , writes notes  94  on one of the cards  41 , for example. In this example, the card  41  with the pre-printed subject “MATH” thereon has notes added stating “problems 19, all” on one of the lines ( 46 ) and “read Chapter 10” on a second line. While a card with pre-printing subjects and lines may be preferred for known subjects, blank cards such as card  44  may also be use. Card  41  is then hand inserted into the opening  18  of the pocket portion  12 , as shown in  FIG. 9   b . One or more cards  40  may be employed, card  44  shown already seated in the pocket portion. Card  41  or  44  may likewise be removed from the pocket  12  by hand for writing, viewing or other reasons. In  FIG. 9   c , the eraser portion  93  of writing implement  92  is shown erasing the written notes  94  described above. This simple reminder methodology makes the reminder kit desirable for use by people of all ages. 
         [0025]    There has thus been described a reminder kit and method that is flexible and can be applied to a variety of situations. Various modifications to the reminder kit and its method will occur to persons skilled in the art without involving any departure from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.