Abstract:
A memo pad holder has a base having a storage chamber suitable to receive a memo pad, a cover attached to the base and movable between open and closed positions and a clip disposed on the cover. The clip may be used to hold papers or the like while the cover is in the open and/or closed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFEFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/371,521 filed Apr. 10, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to memo pad holders in general, and more particularly to a memo pad holder having a cover on which is provided a clip for retaining papers and the like.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Memo pad holders generally serve a single purpose, namely to hold a memo pad or sundry miscellaneous articles in a storage compartment. Thus, such holders function in a manner not unlike a standard storage box.  
           [0004]    Aware of the limitations of a standard storage box, the present inventor has devised an improvement to increase the functionality of a memo pad holder such that items may be held on the cover of such holder in addition to the storage compartment in which a pad or sundry articles are usually held.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A memo pad holder has a base having a storage chamber suitable to receive a memo pad, a cover attached to the base and movable between open and closed positions and a clip disposed on the cover. The clip may be used to hold papers or the like while the cover is in the open and/or closed position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the holder of the invention in the closed position.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is the memo pad holder of FIG. 1 in the open position.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a top view of the memo pad holder of FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the memo pad holder of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the memo pad holder of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the inventive holder in the open position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the memo pad holder of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    FIGS.  8 - 10  are perspective views of the holder of the invention with the cover partially open and with the clip in various positions relative to the cover.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the of the memo pad holder of the invention in the open position and holding a note.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the memo pad holder of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the memo pad holder of the invention in the closed position and holding a note. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.  
         [0018]    FIGS.  1 - 8  illustrate one embodiment of a memo pad holder of the present invention. While the holder is being described as a “memo pad” holder, it will be understood that other items may be held in such holder as desired. The memo pad holder  10  has a cover  20 , a base  30 , an opening mechanism  40  and a clip  50  having a clasp portion  55 . The base  30  preferably comprises non-slip pads or feet  38  for engagement with a support surface and to prevent undesired movement of the holder  10  relative to the support surface. The cover  20  has an outside surface  22  and an inside surface  26  and is rotatably pivotable about a hydraulic hinge  32  from an open position (FIG. 1) to a closed position (FIG. 2) along a path of movement illustrated by arrow  12 . The cover  20  is latched to the base  30  such that pressing down on the opening mechanism  40  releases the cover  20  from the base  30  and results in the cover  20  swinging from the closed to the open position, thereby revealing a storage chamber  34  for the reception of a memo pad or other various articles. The storage chamber  34  may be particularly dimensioned to hold a pad of the Post-It® variety, or it could be sized to hold other sizes or types of product as desired.  
         [0019]    The clip  50  can be removably positioned with respect to the cover  20  so that the clasp portion  55  can be arranged on the outside surface  22  or the inside surface  26  of the cover  20 . For example, the inside and outside surfaces  26 ,  22  of the cover  20  can be fitted with grooves in which the clip  50  slides and is releasably retained. Alternatively, the clip  50  may be pivotally attached to the cover  20  so that it is rotatable from a first position adjacent the outside surface  22  to a second position adjacent the inside surface  26  as shown in FIGS.  8 - 10 . Thus, when the pad holder  10  is in the closed position, the clasp portion  55  may be located along the outside surface  22  of the cover  20  so as to be used to hold a sheet of paper, card or the like  60  (FIG. 13). However, in the open position (FIGS. 2 and 11), the clip  50  may be moved (see movement arrow  14 ) so that the clasp portion  55  is located on the inside surface  26  to hold various articles  60  as desired (FIG. 11). Thus, the clasp portion  55  may be used while the memo pad holder  10  is in the open or closed positions. FIGS.  8 - 10  illustrate one method of operating the memo pad holder of the present invention, wherein the clip  50  starts to automatically rotate away from the outer surface  22  of the cover  20  upon activation of the opening mechanism  40  (FIG. 8), and then continues to flip all the way around so as to be adjacent the inner surface  26  of the cover  20  (FIG. 9 to FIG. 10) when the cover  20  is fully opened. Of course, rotation of the clip  50  relative to the cover  20  as illustrated in FIGS.  8 - 10  can occur manually as described herein.  
         [0020]    As noted above, the clip  50  may be attached to the cover  20  by various means. The clip  50  could also be attachable to both the inside and outside surfaces  26 ,  22  of the cover  20  separately, or jointly by straddling both surfaces in the nature of a paper clip attachment to a piece of paper. In other words, the clip  50  could be clamped onto an edge of the cover  20  and be provided with two clasps  55 , one clasp  55  positioned adjacent the outer surface  22  and one clasp  55  positioned adjacent the inner surface  26  as shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0021]    The clip could also be arranged so that a clasp portion  55  is provided on both the inside and outside surfaces  26 ,  22  of the cover at the same time, with each clasp portion  55  being rotatable with respect to such surfaces into an orientation suitable for holding articles while the memo pad holder is in the open or closed position. For instance, if the memo pad holder is in the closed position, a clasp portion  55  provided on the outside surface  22  (FIG. 13) might be rotated along rotation arrow  65  so that a piece of paper or the like  60  being held by such clasp portion  55  rests along the cover  20 . Similarly, if the memo pad holder is in the open position, the clasp holder  55  might be rotated so that a piece of paper or the like  60  can be held outward (see FIGS. 6 and 11) with respect to the cover  20 .  
         [0022]    While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.  
         [0023]    For instance, the memo holder can be molded into various geometric shapes or to resemble a particular product or product logo. It can also be formed from a variety or materials and colors. In addition, various actuating mechanisms can be employed for opening and closing the cover relative to the base. Furthermore, the clip and clasp portion may be arranged differently with respect to the pad holder, such that the clip is not necessarily positioned adjacent the opening mechanism as shown, or it may have a different appearance.