Patent Publication Number: US-6662733-B1

Title: Multi-leaf organizer

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosures herein relate generally to organizers and more particularly to a multi-leaf organizer with surfaces for retaining items such as a writing pad or documentation capable of being folded between a closed, compact position and a self-supported open position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Organizers of various types are known. These various types of organizers allow an organizer user to secure items such as checklists, schedules, address/phone directories, reference materials and other similar types of documentation within the organizer. Many such organizers also provide one or more substantially rigid support surfaces for enabling notations to be made on a document or sheet of paper with a writing instrument. Although most organizers are used on a conventional surface, such as a desk or table, many can also be held by the user or rested on the user&#39;s knee when a conventional surface is not available to support the unit. Some relevant suppliers of commercially available organizers include Saunders Office Products (www.saunders-usa.com), Day-Timer (www.daytimer.com) and Mead Corporation (www.mead.com). 
     One specific type of organizer is an organizer intended to be mounted on and/or attached to an appendage of a person, article or other type of body, in cases where a desk or other conventional surface is not available or desirable to support the unit. These types of organizers may include some type of structure for enabling the organizer to be mounted on and, in some cases, securely attached to an appendage of a body. An aviator kneeboard is an example of such an organizer capable of being mounted on and/or attached to the appendage of an aviator&#39;s body. In this example, a structural element having an arched surface may be used to engage the aviator&#39;s thigh and a retaining strap may be used to secure the organizer to the aviator&#39;s thigh. Various types of aviator kneeboards are commercially available from sources such as Aviation Supplies &amp; Academics Incorporated (www.asa2fly.com), Jeppesen Sanderson Incorporated (www.jeppesen.com), Sportsman&#39;s Market Incorporated (www.sportys.com), Cencal Aviation Products (www.cencal.com), and LC Flight Products (www.lcflight.com), Flyboys (www.flyboys.com) and Harper Aviation (www.harper-aviation.com). Some of the commercially available kneeboard designs are derived from conventional office products such as clipboards, personal organizers and forms holders. 
     An organizer having a conventional construction suffers from one or more drawbacks. A multi-leaf organizer having a conventional construction is referred to herein as a conventional organizer. Examples of drawbacks associated with conventional organizers include but are not limited to one or more of the following limitations. A first limitation is associated with the difficulty of providing a horizontal working surface without directly supporting each of its leaves. A second limitation is associated with the difficulty of ensuring easy access and rapid closure of the organizer leaves. A third limitation is associated with the inability to flip through the contents of a ring-type binder and leave a third leaf unobstructed for viewing or jotting notes. A fourth limitation is associated with the difficulty of expanding or contracting the overall size of the unit to accommodate space available and functions required. A fifth limitation is associated with the cumbersome nature of holding, carrying or storing the unit. A sixth limitation is associated with the cumbersome use of the unit on a desktop when a base is employed. A seventh limitation is associated with the inability to add advanced organizer functionality to a standard ring-type binder. 
     Accordingly, a multi-leaf organizer capable of at least partially overcoming these drawbacks is useful. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view depicting a multi-leaf organizer in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosures herein, wherein the multi-leaf organizer includes a first leaf having a second leaf and a third leaf pivotally attached thereto. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the multi-leaf organizer depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the multi-leaf organizer depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the second leaf and the third leaf are each in an open position with respect to the first leaf. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the multi-leaf organizer depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the second leaf is in an open position with respect to the first leaf and the third leaf is in a closed position with respect to the first leaf. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmented cross-sectional view depicting an aperture in the first leaf of the multi-leaf. 
     FIG. 6 is a end view depicting a multi-leaf organizer in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosures herein, wherein a first leaf of the multi-leaf organizer is substantially ajacent to a second leaf of the multi-leaf organizer. 
     FIG. 7 is an end view depicting a multi-leaf organizer in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosures herein, wherein a first leaf and a second leaf are both substantially rigid and a third leaf is substantially compliant. 
     FIG. 8 is an end view depicting a multi-leaf organizer in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosures herein, wherein a first leaf and a second leaf are both substantially rigid and wherein functionality of a third leaf is and a document binding device are provided via mounting of a discrete document binding assembly on the first leaf. 
     FIG. 9 a cross-sectional view taken along the line  9 — 9  in FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 9 depict various aspects of a multi-leaf organizer according to various embodiments of the disclosures made herein. Such various aspects of a multi-leaf organizer provide advantageous results, capabilities and characteristics relative to a conventional organizer. The organizer described herein at least partially overcomes the limitations of conventional organizers as outlined previously. Specific examples of advantages over conventional organizers disclosed herein include but are not limited to one or more of the following advantages. A first advantage is associated with the ease of providing a horizontal working surface without directly supporting each of its leaves. A second advantage is associated with the ease of ensuring easy access and rapid closure of the organizer leaves. A third advantage is associated with the ability to flip through the contents of a ring-type binder and leave a third leaf unobstructed for viewing or jotting notes. A fourth advantage is associated with the ease of expanding or contracting the overall size of the unit to accommodate space available and functions required. A fifth advantage is associated with the ease of holding, carrying or storing the unit. A sixth advantage is associated with the ease of using the unit on a desktop when a base is employed. A seventh advantage is associated with the ability to add advanced organizer functionality to a standard ring-type binder. 
     With respect to the first advantage disclosed above, organizer according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein are capable of providing a horizontal and rigid work surface comprising any or all of its leaves while only requiring the user to support one of its leaves, such as the first leaf disclosed herein. This is accomplished through the use of hinges on the first leaf, which are folded back onto themselves in the self-supported open position, limiting the range of motion for the second and third leaves. One example of this approach provides a rigid, near horizontal work surface for all three leaves, while only requiring support under the first leaf. This is especially important when a desk or other conventional surface is not available to support the entire organizer and an appendage of a person, article or other type of body must be used to hold or support the organizer instead. 
     With respect to the second advantage disclosed above, organizers according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein have the ability to be rapidly closed or opened due to the hinged approach above. This aspect may be critical in the example of a pilot using an organizer as a kneeboard where space in the cockpit is at a premium and control items may be blocked by an organizer in its fully open position. In this case, the pilot may need to quickly flip one of the organizer leaves closed or out of the way to access a switch, lever or other aircraft control item otherwise obscured by the leaf, then quickly return it to the fully open position for further use. 
     With respect to the third advantage disclosed above, organizers according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein have the potential for derivative designs involving locations of various organizer functions that may not have been practical previously. For example, one such organizer can be configured such that a ring-type binder could be used to flip through documents on two adjacent leaves, providing the user unobstructed access to a writing pad on another leaf. In cases where the organizer is to be used on a pilot&#39;s knee for example, conventional organizers require the writing pad to be supported directly by the knee, which would require the binder contents to obscure the writing pad, or the user may forgo the use of a standard binder for managing documents. 
     With respect to the fourth advantage disclosed above, organizers according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein are capable of providing ease of contracting or expanding the size of the organizer to accommodate the space available. For example, one such organizer can be used in its fully open position as described in the previous paragraph. It can also be completely closed and used as a clipboard. It can be partially closed, so that the outer cover is used as a clipboard, while the writing pad folded out for jotting notes or holding additional documents. In another embodiment, the unit could be partially opened revealing the ring-type binder and its contents, but the writing pad could be closed, under the ring-type binder contents. 
     With respect to the fifth advantage disclosed above, organizers according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein are capable of providing ease of holding, carrying and storing the unit. For example, one such organizer possesses a contour around the ring-type binder and a corresponding contour in the arch of the base, which makes the unit easy to grip with one hand for use or for carrying. The compact design in this embodiment made possible, in part through the use of the contour around the ring-type binder makes the unit compact when closed relative to the documents intended to be stored therein. The strap, which may be used in this embodiment to secure the organizer to ones&#39; thigh, can also be used to secure the unit in the closed position for easy storage in a flight bag for example. 
     With respect to the sixth advantage disclosed above, organizers according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein are capable of providing the ease of using the unit on a desktop when a base is employed. For example, one such organizer possesses a base with an arch intended to engage the thigh of the user when a desk or other conventional surface is not available or convenient to support the unit during use. While a base with an arch is not uncommon for this type of application, typical designs which employ a base with an arch can be quite unstable when used on a desktop or other conventional surface because the base is usually only slightly wider than the arch to allow for the base material to be attached by outward flange to the unit. 
     The approach taken in this example makes a typical organizer with a base, top heavy and slightly pointed on the bottom, which can cut into a desktop surface if not protected. This approach extends the base outward near the extents of the first leaf and utilizes an inward flange to attach the base to the first leaf. This provides a wider, more stable platform for the unit if used on a desk. Additionally, because the rivets attaching the base to the first leaf are now concealed, there is less chance of inadvertent contact with other objects such as a human hand. The flat surface created at the bottom of the base can also be covered in foam to ensure that the unit does not mar the desktop surface when used in that mode. 
     With respect to the seventh advantage disclosed above, organizers according to at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein have the ability to add advanced organizer functionality to a standard ring-type binder assembly. For example, a standard ring-type binder assembly may be inserted into an adapter of sorts, which might add to the binder, a base to engage one&#39;s thigh and a leaf, which might include a writing pad. This would compliment the standard ring-type binder assembly, which would already possess the binder ring, cover and possibly already contain personal documents. A user could attach one such adapter to a personal binder when these advanced features were needed. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a multi-leaf organizer  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosures herein is depicted. The multi-leaf organizer  10  includes first leaf  12 , a second leaf  14  and a third leaf  16 . The first leaf  12 , the second leaf  14  and the third leaf  16  are substantially rigid. The second leaf  14  and the third leaf  16  are disposed adjacent to a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, respectively, of the first leaf  12 . Forming the leaves  12 ,  14 ,  16  from a material such as a sheet of aluminum having a thickness of between about 0.020″ and 0.080″ is an example of providing leaves that are substantially rigid. Leaves may be made from other substantially rigid materials such as extruded plastic or made from rigid materials and covered with other materials such as leather, rubber or synthetics. 
     A base  18  is mounted on a first surface  20  of the first leaf  12 . A document binding device  21  is attached to the second surface  22  of the first leaf  12 . The base  18  includes an arched portion  23  for engaging a portion of an appendage of a body. A compliant material  24 , such as for example foam, is attached to the arched portion  22  of the base  18 . A commercially available multi-ring binding device assembly having a standardized ring format is an example of the document binding device  21 . 
     As depicted in FIGS. 2-5, the base  18  is attached to the first leaf  12  through inward facing flanges  25  attached via fastening members  27 . Inward facing is defined herein to mean that the flanges  25  each extend toward the arched portion  22  of the base  18 . Rivets, threaded fasteners and the like are examples of the fastening members  27 . The implementation of the inboard facing flanges  25  enables the base  18  to be wider for a given width of the first leaf  12  relative to a base with outward facing flanges. Furthermore, the fastening members  27  are concealed under the base, limiting the potential for being snagged on items and being damaged. 
     The second leaf  14  is attached to the first leaf  12  in a manner allowing the second leaf  14  to be moved between a self-supported open position O 1 , FIGS. 3 and 4, and a closed position C 1 , FIGS. 1 and 2, with respect to the first leaf  12 . The third leaf  16  is attached to the first leaf  12  in a manner allowing the third leaf  16  to be moved between a self-supported open position O 2 , FIG. 3, and a closed position C 2 , FIGS. 1,  2  and  4 , with respect to the first leaf  12 . 
     The term self-supported open position as used herein refers to an open position in which further movement of a leaf away from the respective closed position is precluded and in which support for the leaf is obtained through an adjacent leaf, rather than by a surface or structural element directly underneath (i.e. the leaf is self-supported in the open position). It should be understood that when a leaf is in its respective self-supported open position, the leaf is not necessarily locked in place in the open position. 
     The closed position C 1  of the second leaf  14  and the closed position C 2  of the third leaf may fall within a range of closed positions. For example, the closed position C 2  of the third leaf  16  may be slightly different when the second leaf  14  is in the closed position C 1  or in the open position O 1 . Similarly, the closed position C 1  of the second leaf  14  and the closed position C 2  of the third leaf  16  may be slightly different depending on the quantity of documents (i.e. a stack of documents) attached to the document binding device  21 . 
     The second leaf  14  includes a support surface  26  capable of retaining items such as a writing pad or documentation  26 , FIGS. 3 and 4, and the third leaf  16  includes a support surface  28  capable of retaining items such as a writing pad or documentation, FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 . It is contemplated and disclosed herein that the second leaf  14  is advantageously capable of being positioned such that the support surface  26  of the second leaf  14  is in a substantially side-by-side relationship with the second surface  22  of the first leaf  12  when the second leaf  14  is in the self-supported open position O 1 . It is also contemplated and disclosed herein that the third leaf  16  is advantageously capable of being positioned such that the surface for retaining items such as a writing pad or documentation  28  of the third leaf  16  is accessible when the third leaf  16  is in the closed position C 2 . Document retaining devices  29  are mounted on each the surface  26  of the second leaf  14  and on the surface  28  of the third leaf  16 . A spring-loaded clamp is an example of the document retaining device  29 . 
     The second leaf  14  is positioned between the first leaf  12  and the third leaf  16  when the second leaf  14  is in its closed position C 1  and the third leaf  16  is in its closed position C 2 . The second leaf  14  configured and/or attached in a manner such that the second leaf  14  is positioned substantially adjacent to the first leaf  12  when the second leaf  14  and the third leaf  16  are each in their respective closed positions (C 1 , C 2 ). 
     A first hinge assembly  30  is attached between the first leaf  12  and the second leaf  14 . In at least one embodiment of the first hinge assembly  30 , the first hinge assembly  30  is capable of enabling the second leaf  14  to be moved between the self-supported open position O 1  and the closed position C 1 . It is contemplated and disclosed herein that the first hinge assembly  30  may be constructed and/or installed in a manner such that the first hinge assembly  30  is capable of retaining the second leaf  14  in the self-supported open position O 1  in essentially the same plane or a substantially parallel plane as the first leaf  12 . A multi-part metal hinge made from discrete metallic components is one example of the first hinge assembly  30 . It is contemplated and disclosed herein that the first hinge assembly  30  may also be fabricated using known multi-durometer extrusion techniques. 
     The first leaf  12  and the second leaf  14  each include a first flange  32  (also referred to as a first pair of flanges  32 ). The first leaf  12  and the second leaf  14  are pivotally attached to each other adjacent to the first pair of flanges  32 . In at least one embodiment of the first pair of flanges  32 , the first pair of flanges  32  is capable of retaining the second leaf  14  in the self-supported open position O 1 . 
     A second hinge assembly  34  is attached between the first leaf  12  and the third leaf  16 . In one embodiment of the second hinge assembly  34 , the second hinge assembly  34  is capable of enabling the third leaf  16  to be moved between the self-supported open position O 2  and the closed position C 2 . It is contemplated and disclosed herein that the second hinge assembly  34  may be constructed and/or installed in a manner such that the second hinge assembly  34  is capable of retaining the third leaf  14  in the self-supported open position O 2 . 
     One advantageous aspect of organizers associated with at least one embodiment of the disclosures herein is the relationship of the second leaf  14  and the third leaf  16  with respect to the base  18 . Specifically, the second leaf  14  and/or third leaf  16  (or portions of the hinges thereof) extend into engagement with the base  18  when in their respective self-supported open positions (O 1  and O 2 , respectively). Accordingly, the second leaf  14  and the third leaf  16  are capable of providing a stable platform for writing or managing documents thereon. 
     The first leaf  12  and the third leaf  16  each include a second flange  36  (also referred to as a second pair of flanges  36 ). The first leaf  12  and the third leaf  16  are pivotally attached to each other adjacent to the second pair of flanges  36 . In at least one embodiment of the second pair of flanges  36 , the second pair of flanges  36  is capable of retaining the third leaf  16  in the self-supported open position O 2 . 
     The third leaf  16  includes a trough-like portion  38 . At least a portion of the document binding device is positioned within the trough-like portion of the third leaf  16  when the third leaf  16  is in the closed position C 2 . The trough-like portion  38  of the third leaf  16  is positioned between the surface for retaining items such as a writing pad or documentation  28  of the third leaf  16  and the second hinge assembly  34 . A step  40  is defined between the trough-like portion  38  and the surface for retaining items such as a writing pad or documentation  28  of the third leaf  16 . 
     A retaining strap  42  extends through apertures  19  in the base  18 . The retaining strap  42  is capable of being secured around an appendage of a body for securing the base  18  in engagement with the appendage. The retaining strap  42  is also capable of being fastened around the leaf assembly for securing the second leaf  14  and the third leaf  16  in their respective closed positions C 1  and C 2 . 
     The retaining strap  42  includes a strap  43  (e.g. a braided polymeric strap) having a buckle  44  at a first end thereof and a wrappable hook and loop segment  45  at a second end thereof. It is contemplated and disclosed herein that the step  40  defined between the trough-like portion  38  and the support surface  28  of the third leaf  16  provides a relief for receiving the buckle  43 , thus contributing to a low-profile or the multi-leaf organizer  10 . It is also contemplated and disclosed herein that a quick-release buckle could also be used for this purpose. Various embodiments of the retaining strap  42  are commercially available from Velcro USA. 
     The arched portion  23  of the base  18  is essentially abutting the first surface  20  of the first leaf  12 . The first leaf  12  includes an aperture  46  adjacent to the arched portion  23  of the base  18 . A portion of the retaining strap  42  extends at least partially through the aperture  44 , FIG.  5 . 
     Although not shown, it is contemplated and disclosed herein that the multi-leaf organizer according to one embodiment of the disclosures herein includes a lighting device capable of illuminating at least a portion of one or more surfaces of the various leaves of the multi-leaf organizer. Positioning a battery case of the lighting device between the first leaf  12  and the base  18  is one example of a mounting arrangement of the lighting device. In at least one embodiment of the lighting device, the lighting device includes an articulating portion capable of being manually positioned relative to one or more surfaces of the various leaves of the multi-leaf organizer. A multi-member arm and a flexible pipe are examples of the articulating portion of the lighting device. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosures herein, a multi-leaf organizer  100  is depicted in FIG.  6 . The organizer  100  includes a first leaf  112 , a second leaf  114  and a third leaf  116 . The first leaf  112 , the second leaf  114  and the third leaf  116  are each substantially rigid. The second leaf  114  and the third leaf  116  are each pivotally attached to the first leaf  112 . The second leaf  114  is substantially adjacent to the first leaf  112  when the second leaf  114  is in its closed position C 11 . Accordingly, a stack of bound documents are capable of being positioned between the second leaf  114  and the third leaf  116  when the second leaf is in its closed position C 11  and the third leaf  116  is in its closed position C 12 . 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosures herein, a multi-leaf organizer  200  is depicted in FIG.  7 . The organizer  200  includes a first leaf  212 , a second leaf  214  and a third leaf  216 . The second leaf  214  and the third leaf  216  are each pivotally attached to the first leaf  212 . The first leaf  212  and the second leaf  214  are each substantially rigid. The third leaf  216  is substantially pliable. Cordura brand nylon available from Dupont, leather, and other compliant materials are examples of materials from which the third leaf  216  may be made. 
     A multi-leaf organizer  300  in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosures herein, is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. The organizer  300  includes an organizer adapter  302  and a standard or proprietary document binding assembly  304 . The document binding assembly  304  includes a first cover  306 , a second cover  308  and a document binding device  310 . The organizer adapter  302  includes a first leaf  312 , a second leaf  314  and a means for enabling a standard or proprietary document binding assembly  304  to be mounted on the organizer adapter  302 . The first leaf  312  and the second leaf  314  are each substantially rigid. 
     By mounting the document binding assembly  304  on the organizer adapter  302 , a third leaf  316  is defined by the second cover  308 . The third leaf  316  may be rigid or substantially pliable depending on the type of document binding assembly used. A commercially available ring-type binder assembly is one example of the document binding assembly  304 . An Airway Manual commercially available from Jeppesen Sanderson Inc is another example of the document binding assembly  304 . 
     The second leaf  314  and the third leaf  316  are each pivotally attached to the first leaf  312  via a first hinge  318  and a second hinge  320 , respectively. A plurality of engagement members  322  are attached to the first leaf  312  and are capable of retaining the first cover  306  of the document binding assembly  304 . The plurality of engagement members  322  is an example of the means for enabling the document binding assembly  304  to be mounted on the multi-leaf organizer adapter  302 . 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. To avoid unnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.