Patent Publication Number: US-6209246-B1

Title: Card assembly for use with a computer display device

Description:
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/539,325, filed Oct. 4, 1995 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,456 on Oct. 13, 1998. 
     The present invention is directed towards a card assembly for use with a computer display device. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often, computer users place utilitarian objects in their field of view near the display screen. Some examples of these useful items include handwritten notes and manufacturer supplied instruction guides that set forth software commands. In addition, as computer users spend countless hours facing their display screens, they often surround their display screens with decorative items that enhance the aesthetic quality of their environment. 
     Furthermore, in the prior art there exists several devices that allow utilitarian or decorative items to be attached to the computer display device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,087 discloses a note/memo board that surrounds a computer display device on three sides. This board attaches to the display housing with angled brackets backed with VELCRO™ material that mate with VELCRO™ material strips on the sides and top of the display. Unfortunately, however, this note/memo board is out of the field of the user&#39;s focus as it mounts to the display device behind the plane of the display screen. Moreover, the amount of utilitarian or decorative items that can be attached to, or written on, this board is confined to the limited surface area of this board. 
     Under another prior art approach, a frame (such as the screen frame sold under the brand name Screenies) is detachably affixed to more than one side of a display screen. The computer user can then use this frame for utilitarian or decorative purposes. Unfortunately, the limited surface area of this prior art device also provides a limited amount of space for attaching or writing utilitarian or decorative items. Consequently, there is a need in the art for an apparatus that enables a computer user to position a maximum amount of utilitarian and decorative items in her field of view near the display screen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a card assembly for use with a computer display device. The card assembly includes at least one card and a card holder for holding the card. In addition, the card assembly also includes a mounting unit that connects to the card holder. This mounting unit attaches the card holder to the computer display device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 presents a frontal view of one embodiment of the card assembly of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of one embodiment of a card holder and a mounting unit of the card assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 presents a cross-sectional view of the card holder and mounting unit of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 presents a perspective view of the card assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 presents a perspective view of the mounting unit rigidly and detachably attaching the card assembly of FIG. 1 to a screen frame. 
     FIG. 6 presents a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the card holder of the card assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 presents another embodiment of the mounting unit. 
     FIG. 8 presents yet another embodiment of the mounting unit. 
     FIG. 9 sets forth one manner of utilizing one embodiment of the invention&#39;s card assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a card assembly for use with a computer display device. In the following description, numerous details are set forth for purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details. 
     One embodiment of the invention&#39;s card assembly includes at least one card and a card holder for holding the card. The card assembly also includes a mounting unit that connects to the card holder. This mounting unit affixes the card holder to a computer display device. For example, some embodiments of the mounting unit (such as the embodiment set forth in FIGS. 2 and 3) indirectly couple to a display device, by coupling to a rigid mating surface (such as a screen frame sold under the brand name Screenies) which attaches to one or more sides of the display device. On the other hand, alternative embodiments of the mounting unit (such as the embodiment set forth in FIG. 7) directly couple to the display device. Still other embodiments of the mounting unit (such as the embodiment set forth in FIG. 8) attach either (1) directly to the display bezel, or (2) indirectly to the display bezel through a rigid mating surface affixed to one or more side of the display bezel. 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a frontal view of one embodiment of the invention&#39;s card assembly. As shown in this figure, card assembly  100  includes at least one card ( 105 ) and at least one card holding unit ( 110 ). Card holding unit  110  can have a variety of embodiments. FIGS. 2 and 3 set forth one embodiment of card holding unit  110 . As shown in these figures, card holding unit  110  includes card holder  115  for holding cards and mounting unit  130  for attaching the card holder to the display device. 
     Card holder  115  includes semi-ring portion  120 , which holds a card for viewing and allows the user to turn the card to view its back side or a card that is positioned behind it. Card holder  115  also includes lip  125 , which (as shown in FIG. 4) passes through a hole in a card to enable the card to be inserted into the card holder&#39;s semi-ring portion. Lip  125  is a straight lip that extends from the semi-ring portion at ninety degrees. One of ordinary skill in the art would realize that, in alternative embodiments of the invention, lip  125  is not straight (as discussed below with respect to FIG. 6) and/or does not extend from the semi-ring portion at a ninety degree angle. 
     As mentioned before, card holding unit  110  also includes mounting unit  130  which, in the embodiment set forth in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a clamping jaw that rigidly and detachably affixes the card holder to a rigid mating surface (such as a screen frame) affixed to one or more sides of the display device. Clamping jaw  130  has an open end  135  and a closed end  140 . The clamping jaw further has planar body  145  and curved body  150 , which couple to each other at the closed end of the clamping jaw. In addition, towards the open end of the clamping jaw, surface  150  slightly bends towards surface  145 , in order to rigidly (and yet detachably) engage the screen frame that is inserted through the open end of the clamping jaw. In other words, the inside surfaces of planar body  145  and curved body  150  define a camming surface that resiliently (1) bends away from curved body  145 , when a screen framed is inserted into the clamping jaw, and then (2) bends back to rigidly hold onto the frame. This rigid and detachable engagement is shown in FIG.  5 . Finally, lip  125  of card holder  115  and the back side of curved body  150  define an aperture  155  for allowing the cards to be inserted into card holder  115  through lip  125 . 
     Numerous alternative embodiments of card holder  115  and mounting unit  130  exist. For instance, FIG. 6 presents a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the card holder. Card holder  160  is identical to card holder  115  in that it includes a semi-ring portion ( 165 ) and a lip ( 170 ) and it connects to a clamping jaw ( 175 ), except that it has an “L” shaped lip as opposed to a straight lip. Even though this shape of lip  170  makes inserting a card into semi-ring portion  165  more difficult than when a straight lip is utilized, the use of this “L” shaped lip is advantageous in that this shape also makes it more difficult for a card to eject accidentally from the card holder. 
     Furthermore, an alternative embodiment of card holder  115  utilizes a lip that has a blocking-end affixed to it (e.g., a ball-end threadedly affixed to it) after the cards have been inserted into the semi-ring portion. Yet another embodiment of card holder  115  does not have a lip but rather utilizes an injection molded hinge clip that (1) at one end affixes to the semi-ring portion, and (2) at the other end detachably affixes either to the computer bezel or to the mounting unit. Still another embodiment of card holder  115  does not include a semi-ring portion and a lip, but rather simply includes an enclosed ring portion; the cards are inserted into this ring portion prior to its enclosure. 
     FIG. 7 presents another embodiment of the mounting unit. As shown in this figure, mounting unit  180  directly affixes card holder  185  (which is similar to card holder  115  of FIG. 2) to the housing of a computer display device. In other words, this mounting unit replaces the clamping jaw and provides a mechanical connection between card holder  185  and display screen housing  200 . This mounting unit includes planar body  190  and hook and loop fasteners  195  (such as VELCRO™ strips). Planar body  190  connects on its front side to card holder  185  and connects on its rear side to fastener  195   a . One embodiment of fastener  195   a  adhesively attaches to the rear surface of planar body  190 . Fastener  195   a  then attaches to corresponding fastener  195   b  which, in one embodiment, adhesively attaches to the display bezel  200 . The use of hook and loop fasteners  195  permits one card holder to be easily replaced by another. 
     FIG. 8 presents yet another embodiment of the mounting unit. This embodiment of the mounting unit can attach its card holder either (1) directly to the display bezel, or (2) indirectly to the display bezel through a rigid mating surface (e.g., a screen frame) affixed to one or more side of the display bezel. More specifically, mounting unit  205  is a clamping jaw with an open end  210 , a close end  215 , planar body  220 , and curved body  225 . The curved body connects to planar body  220  at closed end  215 , and slightly bends body  220  towards open end  210 . 
     In addition, mounting unit  205  also has adhesive strip  230  attached to the back side of curved body  225 . Adhesive strip  230  has a plastic strip covering it when it is not being used. By removing the plastic strip covering the adhesive strip, and by pressing the uncovered adhesive strip against the display bezel, card holder  235  directly couples to the display bezel. However, if a rigid mating surface (such as a screen frame) is already attached to one or more sides of the display device, mounting unit  205  can indirectly couple card holder  235  to the display device by causing its two bodies  220  and  225  to clamp the rigid mating surface. Thus, mounting unit  205  can couple the card holder to the display bezel either directly and permanently or indirectly and detachably. Finally, alternative embodiments of the mounting units permanently attach a card holder to the display housing through the use of screws or the like. 
     FIG. 9 sets forth one manner of utilizing one embodiment of the present invention&#39;s card assembly. As shown in this figure, three individual card assemblies of the invention can be affixed to three sides of a display screen. Each of these card assemblies includes several cards, which are held by two card holding units affixed directly or indirectly to the display screen. 
     As apparent from the discussion above, the present invention is advantageous because it maximizes the amount of utilitarian and decorative items that a user can place in her field of view near the display screen, by allowing the user to position a large number of cards around the display screen. For example, by utilizing the invention to post numerous reference cards next to the display screen, a user can have a large amount of software short cuts, commands, and tips instantly available at her workstation without taking up any valuable desk space or computer memory. 
     In this manner, a user can instantly access answers to frequently asked questions and thereby increase her knowledge and proficiency. Moreover, the invention provides a natural, user-friendly way to integrate new knowledge while working. Alternatively, by using the invention to post numerous decorative cards next to the display screen, a computer user can create various decorative configurations to enhance the aesthetic quality of her working environment. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.