Patent Publication Number: US-2012025513-A1

Title: Device for holding a fillable form

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of portable writing boards. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable writing board for holding a fillable form as the form is being filled out by, for example, a law enforcement officer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A first responder is a member of an emergency service who is the first to arrive on the scene of a conflict, accident, or emergency. A first responder may be a law enforcement officer, fireman, an emergency medical technician, and so forth. Typically when a first responder arrives at the scene of conflict, accident, emergency, and so forth, the first responder may fill out a form with basic information identifying the individual or individuals present at the scene. For example, a law enforcement officer may stop and question one or more subjects (known as a field interview) when the officer has reasonable suspicion that the subject or subjects may have committed, may be committing, or may be about to commit a crime; when the officer believes the subject may be a hazard; and/or when the officer believes that an interview may have a preventive effect. Under such circumstances, a law enforcement officer will typically complete a fillable form, known as a field interview card, for each subject questioned. 
     A typical field interview card has fillable sections for location and/or circumstances calling for the field interview, residence information, vehicular information, subject&#39;s appearance such as gender, race, weight, height, eye color, hair color, build, hair length, facial hair, complexion, attire, marks, tattoos, and so forth. Information from the hand-written field interview cards may eventually be entered into a computer system. Alternatively, the field interview cards may be submitted for review by a supervisor, detective, a criminal investigations division, and so forth. Therefore, it is crucial that the hand-written information be legible and easily read and understood by others. 
     A law enforcement officer may fill out an individual field interview card for multiple subjects. Thus, the officer may have a stack of field interview cards, may be required to question multiple subjects, may have to copy information from multiple drivers&#39; licenses, and so forth. Under such circumstances, the multiple cards can become awkward to manipulate and hold. In addition, the stack of field interview cards may not be sufficiently rigid to write on while standing at the scene. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a device for holding a fillable form in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the device with a fillable form placed on a writing tray of the device; 
         FIG. 3  shows an edge view of a lower wall of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an edge view of an upper wall of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows an edge view of a side wall of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the device; 
         FIG. 7  shows an enlarged sectional side view of a portion of the device along section lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6   
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the device being used by a right-handed individual; and 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the device being used by a left-handed individual. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention entail a device in the form of a writing board that may be used to hold one or more fillable forms and provide a rigid support upon which a user may fill out the forms. The writing board is particularly suitable for situations in which one is not assured of finding a good writing surface, where the individual may need to fill out multiple forms, and/or where the individual may need to refer to additional documentation such as drivers&#39; licenses, identification cards, insurance cards, and so forth. In an embodiment, the device may be used by a law enforcement officer who is filling out field interview cards while conducting field interviews of one or more subjects. The device is suitable for either right-handed or left-handed use, can support one or more identification cards, and can readily fit in an officer&#39;s breast pocket for easy access. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a device  20  for holding a fillable form in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  shows a top view of device  20  with a fillable form  22  placed on a writing tray  24  of device  20 . Device  20 , referred to hereinafter as a writing board  20 , can be used by an individual to rigidly support a stack of fillable forms  22 , while the individual writes on the topmost form  22  with the other hand. 
     In an embodiment, writing board  20  is sized to accommodate fillable form  22 , known as a field interview card, used by law enforcement officers. Accordingly, fillable form  22  will be referred to hereinafter as a field interview card  22 . Law enforcement jurisdictions typically use field interview card  22  that is approximately three inches by five inches so that it fits into a law enforcement officer&#39;s breast pocket and can be readily accessed. Field interview card  22  includes a number of sections that are filled out with information pertinent to each subject being questioned. A law enforcement officer typically carries a stack of field interview cards  22  so that one card can be filled out for each subject questioned. Writing board  20  readily accommodates a stack of field interview cards  22 , provides a rigid surface for writing, can temporarily retain an identification card when transferring information from the identification card to the field interview card, and writing board  20  fits into a law enforcement officer&#39;s breast pocket for easy access. Although writing board  20  is discussed in connection for use with field interview cards  22 , writing board  20  can be readily adapted to hold other fillable forms  22  of various sizes and shapes, such as citations, traffic violation tickets, accident reports, and the like. 
     Writing board  20  includes a writing tray  24  having a planar surface  26  adapted for placement of field interview card  22 . Walls, referred to herein as an upper wall  28 , a lower wall  30  spaced apart from upper wall  28 , a first side wall  32 , and a second side wall  34  spaced apart from first side wall  32 , collectively define a perimeter of planar surface  26 . In an embodiment, upper and lower walls  28  and  30 , respectively, exhibit a length  36  and first and second side walls  32  and  34  exhibit a width  38 . In an embodiment, length  36  of upper and lower walls  28  and  30 , respectively, may be approximately equivalent to or slightly longer than a length  40  of field interview card  22 . Similarly, width  38  of first and second side walls  32  and  34  may be approximately equivalent to or slightly wider than a width  42  of field interview card  22 . Thus, field interview card  22  fits on planar surface  26  of writing tray  24  but is limited in its ability to slide about on planar surface  26 . 
     A card holder  44  is formed in at least one of walls  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . In an exemplary embodiment, card holder  44  includes a first groove  46  extending inwardly from upper wall  28  into a body  48  of writing tray  24 . Additionally, card holder  44  includes a second groove  50  extending inwardly from lower wall  30  into body  48  of writing tray  24 . First and second grooves  46  and  50 , respectively, are configured to hold an edge portion of an identification card (discussed below) in a press fit engagement. That is, grooves  46  and  50  are relatively narrow so that the edge portion of the identification card fits tight enough to hold the identification card in place while the remainder of the identification card is located outside of grooves  46  and  50 . Thus, information on the identification card is visible to the officer. Although writing board  20  is shown with both first and second grooves  46  and  50  of card holder  44  formed in respective upper and lower walls  28  and  30 , it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, card holder  44  may only include a single groove in one of upper and lower walls  28  and  30 , or in first side wall  32 . 
     Writing board  20  further comprises an edge ridge  52  formed along at least one of walls  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  and extending above planar surface  26  of writing tray  24 . In an embodiment, edge ridge  52  is formed along upper wall  28 , first side wall  32 , and lower wall  30 , and edge ridge  52  is absent along second side wall  34 . In a further embodiment, edge ridge  52  extends a distance  54  along each of upper and lower walls  28  and  30  that is less than length  36  of upper and lower walls  28  and  30  such that edge ridge  52  is discontinued at an intermediate location  56  along each of upper and lower walls  28  and  30 . Edge ridge  52  may optionally include a downwardly tapered region  57  ending at intermediate location  56 . Although writing board  20  is shown with edge ridge  52  formed along three walls  28 ,  32 , and  30 , in alternative embodiments, edge ridge  52  may only be formed on a single wall (e.g., lower wall  30 ) or on two walls (e.g., lower wall  30  and first side wall  32 , lower wall  30  and upper wall  28 , and so forth). 
     Edge ridge  52  facilitates the retention of field interview card  22  on writing tray  24  so that card  22  is less likely to slide off of writing tray  24 . In addition, the discontinuation of edge ridge  52  on lower wall  30  and the absence of edge ridge  52  allows for comfortable placement of the user&#39;s hand while the user writes on field interview card  22 . Writing board  20  is adapted for use by either right-handed or left-handed users. Accordingly, edge ridge  52  is symmetrical on upper and lower walls  28  and  30 , so that a left-handed user can simply reorient writing board  20  for his or her comfort. When used by a left-handed writer, writing board  20  can be flipped so that upper wall  28  becomes a lower wall, and second side wall  34  faces leftward. Accordingly, the absence of edge ridge  52  on second side wall and the discontinuation of edge ridge  52  on upper wall  28  allows for comfortable placement of a left-handed user&#39;s hand. 
     In an embodiment, writing board  20  further includes at least one notch  58  formed in at least one of walls  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  and extending into writing tray  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, writing board  20  includes multiple notches  58 , some of which extend through edge ridge  52  and into upper wall  28 , lower wall  30 , first side wall  32 , and second side wall  34 . In some instances, an officer may wish to secure multiple field interview cards  22  to writing tray  24  without excessively covering fillable sections of a top one in the stack of field interview cards  22 . Notches  58  are configured to accommodate placement of a resilient band  60  (shown in FIG.  7 ), sometimes referred to as a rubber band, surrounding at least a portion of writing tray  24  to retain field interview cards  22  on writing tray  24 . The presence of multiple notches  58  allows a user to place and/or relocate resilient band  60  in a desired position in order to fill out field interview cards  22 . It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, writing board  20  can include any number of notches  58  positioned in various locations on writing board  20 . In still other embodiments, writing board  20  need not include any notches  58 . 
     Writing board  20  may further include a concave indentation  62  formed in second side wall  34  and extending into writing tray  24  such that a portion of concave indentation  62  underlies field interview cards  22  when one or more field interview cards  22  are placed on planar surface  26  of writing tray  24 . Again, writing tray  24  can accommodate a stack of field interview cards  22 . Concave indentation  62  facilitates removal of one of cards  22  from the top of the stack of cards  22  by pinching the stack of cards between user&#39;s thumb and index finger at concave indentation  62  and using the thumb to slide the top card  22  from the stack. 
     It should be recalled that in an embodiment length  36  of upper and lower walls  28  and  30  is slightly longer than length  40  of field interview cards  22 . For example, length  36  may be approximately one eighth inch longer than length  40 . Thus, a small portion  64  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ) of planar surface  24  near concave indentation  62  formed in second side wall  34  is not covered by the stack of field interview cards  22 . In use, an individual may slide the completed field interview card  22  from the top of the stack of cards  22 , and subsequently, catch it on portion  64  of planar surface  24  to slide the completed card  22  to the bottom of the stack of cards  22  thus exposing another field interview card  22  for use. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5  in connection with  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  shows an edge view of lower wall  30  of writing board  20 .  FIG. 4  shows an edge view of upper wall  28  of writing board  20 , and  FIG. 5  shows an edge view of first side wall  32  of writing board  20 . It should be recalled that first and second grooves  46  and  50 , respectively, of card holder  44  are configured to hold the edge portion of an identification card in press fit engagement. First groove  46  has first and second facing walls  66  and  68 , respectively. Similarly, second groove  50  has first and second facing walls  66  and  68 , respectively. 
     Elongated projections  70  are formed on first and second facing walls  66  and  68  of each of first and second grooves  46  and  50 . Elongated projections  70  extend into respective first and second grooves  46  and  50 . A length  72  of each of elongated projections  70 , corresponding to the depth of grooves  46  and  50 , is oriented approximately perpendicular to a length  74  of each of first and second grooves  46  and  50 . In an embodiment, elongated projections  70  may be spaced along first and second facing walls  66  and  68 , respectively, so that they are alternately displaced along facing walls  66  and  68  (best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In other words, elongated projections  70  are displaced such that they do not directly oppose one another on facing walls  66  and  68 . 
     The presence of both first and second grooves  46  and  50  enable placement of an identification card in either of upper and/or lower walls  28  and  30 . This enables right-handed and left-handed use. In addition, elongated projections  70  form narrower regions in each of first and second grooves  46  and  50  relative to the surrounding portions of grooves  46  and  50  to enable a tighter fit between card holder  44  and an identification card (discussed below). This tighter fit created by the presence of elongated projections  70  additionally enables placement of multiple identifications concurrently in both of first and second grooves  46  and  50 , respectively. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , card holder  44  may further include a first support member  76  extending from upper wall  28  and oriented substantially parallel to planar surface  26  of writing tray  24 . First support member  76  is located between first groove  46  and a back surface  78  of writing tray  24 , wherein back surface  78  is in opposing relationship with planar surface  26 . Similarly, card holder  44  may include a second support member  80  extending from lower wall  30  and oriented substantially parallel to planar surface  26  of writing tray  24 . Second support member  80  is located between second groove  50  and back surface  78  of writing tray  24 . 
     First and second support members  76  and  80  extending from respective upper and lower walls  28  and  30  facilitate the quick placement of an identification card into either respective first and second grooves  46  and  50 . Support members  76  and  80  facilitate quick placement because an officer can more readily locate either of first groove  46  or second groove  50  when he or she contacts either first support member  76  or second support member  80  with the identification card. Additionally, support members  76  and  80  can provide at least some support to the back side of the identification card to more securely hold it in place. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ,  FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of writing board  20 , and  FIG. 7  shows an enlarged sectional side view of a portion writing board  20  along section lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . In some instances, an officer may wish to secure multiple field interview cards  22  to writing tray  24  without excessively covering fillable sections of a top one in the stack of field interview cards  22 . In lieu of securing field interview cards  22  using resilient band  60 , an officer may instead secure field interview cards  22  to writing board using a conventional binder clip  82  (shown in  FIG. 9 ). Accordingly, in some embodiments back side  78  of writing board  20  may include an irregular surface  84 . By way of example, irregular surface  84  may include indentations  86  that are formed during manufacturing through a molding process and/or a machining process. 
     The inclusion of irregular surface  84  facilitates non-sliding engagement of binder clip  82  to writing tray  24 . As such, a user can place and/or relocate binder clip  82  in a desired position in order to fill out field interview cards  22 . Although irregular surface  84  is formed during fabrication by creating indentations  86  in back side  78  of writing tray  24 , those skilled in the art will recognize that irregular surface  84  may be formed in back side  78  by roughening back side  78  or by forming any of a variety of shapes, sizes, and locations of indentations  86  or raised bumps. 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of writing board  20  being used by a right-handed individual  88 . As shown, one or more field interview cards  22  is loaded onto writing tray  24 . Edge ridge  52  formed along upper wall  28 , first side wall  32 , and lower wall  30  facilitates proper placement of cards  22  on writing tray  24  and resilient band  60  secures field interview cards  22  in place. An edge portion  90  of an identification card  92  is held in first groove  46  of card holder  44 . Accordingly, a remaining portion  94  of identification card  92  is located outside of first groove  46 . Thus, right-handed individual  88 , using a pen  96  or pencil, can readily copy information from identification card  92  onto pertinent sections of field interview card  22 . Although not shown for visibility, right-handed individual  88  may optionally and comfortably lay a portion of his or her hand on writing tray  24  near second side wall  34  due to the absence of edge ridge  52  along second side wall  34 . Individual  88  can additionally move resilient band  60  to various notches  58 , horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, to reveal sections of the underlying field interview card  22  when filling it out. 
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of writing board  20  being used by a left-handed individual  98 . As shown, writing board  20  has been flipped to accommodate left-handed individual so that second side wall  34  faces leftward and first side wall  32  faces rightward. In addition, upper wall  28  is now positioned as a lower wall, and lower wall  30  is now positioned as an upper wall. Edge ridge  52  formed along upper wall  28 , first side wall  32 , and lower wall  30  facilitates proper placement of cards  22  on writing tray  24  and binder clip  82  secures field interview cards  22  in place. 
     Since card holder  44  includes both first and second grooves  46  and  50 , identification cards  92  (of which two are shown) can be placed in either of first and second grooves  46  and  50 . Note that elongated indentations  70  provide sufficient pressure so that only a corner edge portion  100  one of identification cards  92  is engaged with the bottom most groove, i.e., first groove  66 , in this flipped configuration. Although, only a single identification card is shown in each of first and second grooves  46  and  50 , it should be understood that each groove  46  and  50  can hold more than one identification card  92 . Thus, card holder  44  is adapted to retain multiple identification cards  92  in multiple positions and locations so that the officer has easy access to identification cards  92  when interviewing a number of subjects. 
     Although not shown for visibility, left-handed individual  98  may optionally and comfortably lay a portion of his or her hand on writing tray  24  near second side wall  34  due to the absence of edge ridge  52  along second side wall  34 . Individual  98  can additionally move binder clip  82  to various locations, horizontally or vertically, to reveal sections of the underlying field interview card  22  when filling it out. 
     In summary, the present invention teaches a device, in the form of a writing board, that may be used to hold one or more fillable forms. The device includes a rigid writing tray that is partially surrounded by an edge ridge for facilitating proper placement of the fillable forms. The fillable forms may be secured onto the writing tray using, for example, a resilient band or a binder clip. The device further includes a card holder adapted to retain one or more drivers&#39; licenses, identification cards, insurance cards, and so forth. The device is especially suitable for use by a law enforcement officer who is filling out field interview cards while conducting a field interview of one or more subjects. Additionally, the device is configured to accommodate either right-handed individuals or left-handed individuals. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.