Patent Publication Number: US-RE38748-E

Title: Transportable note pad holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to note pad holders and, more particularly, relates to a transportable holder for non-permanently bound, self sticking note pad sheets such as those found in 3M Corporation&#39;s “POST-IT” brand note pads. 
     In the prior art, note pad holders are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,123, issued Jun. 17, 1997, discloses a cushioned note pad holder with an illuminating device. The integrated features of the note pad holder include a padded outer frame and a center webbing for supporting a note pad of the removable, self-stick variety. The not pad is held in place by ridges molded into the padded frame that protrude from the inner surfaces of the frame. The ridges allow the note pad to be securely maintained within the holder while providing access to the top surface of the note pad. The note pad holder also includes a notch for use in securing an illuminated writing device. The illuminated writing device allows a user to use the note pad while in the dark. 
     A further note pad holder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,178, issued Mar. 31, 1992, which includes a frame fitted with compressible elements that function to provide a side holding force to releasably retain a note pad of the removable, self-stick variety. The frame is provided with a frame mounting nut for use in attaching a variety of mounting hardware such as a spring clip or suction cup. To cover the mounting nut, a header piece is used that may carry advertising, a calculator, or a timepiece. In addition, the frame may include a hinged cover thereby providing a book-like format as well as a place on the inside of the cover to store written notes while exposing a new note surface. 
     While these note pad holders work for their intended purpose, a need exists for a note pad holder that is more convenient to transport. Furthermore, a need exists for a transportable note pad holder that is more esthetically pleasing, in particular, to children. Still further, a need exists for a transportable note pad holder having a means by which a user can be reminded to review its contents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with these needs, a note pad holder is provided that is especially adapted to be easily transported and useful as a means for reminding children to perform tasks, errands, etc. To this end, the note pad holder generally comprises a main body having a note pad well that is sized for carrying a note pad, preferably of the removable, fl self-stick variety. The main body is adapted to be removably carried within a sheath. The sheath includes a means for attachment to a bag strap. In particular, the sheath is provided with a pair of resilient arm clips that may be used to attach the sheath to a back pack strap or the like. In this manner, the sheath may be left attached to the back pack and the main body may be removed and inserted as desired. 
     To remind the user that a note carried within the main body is to be reviewed, the main body is also provided with an alarm. Preferably, the alarm is connected to a lamp that will draw the attention of the user to the note pad holder. The lamp may also be arranged to illuminate the interior of the main body in order to allow a user to read any notes carried thereby. 
     A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to a preferred embodiment shown in the following drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of transportable note pad holder constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the main body of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the note pad holder  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sheath of FIG.  1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is illustrated a transportable note pad holder  10 . The note pad holder  10  includes a main body  12  that is adapted to carry a node pad  14 . Preferably, the note pad  14  includes sheets of the removable, self-stick variety. The transportable note pad holder  10  further includes a sheath  16  that is adapted to removably carry the main body  12 . The sheath  16  includes a means by which the sheath  16  is attachable to a back pack strap or the like. In this manner, the main body  12  can be inserted into the sheath  16  attached to a back pack for subsequent transportation by a user. 
     For carrying the note pad  14 , the main body  12  includes a note pad holding well  18 . The note pad holding well  18  is preferably rectangular in shape and sized to fully accommodate a standard 3M Corporation&#39;s “POST-IT” brand note pad of the 2 inch×3 inch×0.375 inch variety. It will be appreciated, however, that these dimensions are not meant to be limiting and that the note pad holding well  18  can be provided with other dimensions and shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention. To further facilitate the carrying of the note pad  14  within the main body  12 , the bottom  18 a of the note pad holding well  18  is preferably provided with a smooth surface to which the bottom self-sticking sheet of the note pad  14  may adhere. Alternatively, means can be provided on the side walls  18 b/ 18 c of the note pad holding well  18  for use in frictionally engaging the note pad  12 . 
     To illuminate the interior of the note pad holding well  18  by which any messages written on the top sheet of the note pad  14  may be viewed, a light  20  is provided. Preferably, the light  20  is a light emitting diode (LED). The light  20  is powered by a battery  21  that is carried within the main body  12 . If it is desired that the battery be replaceable, the main body  12  can be provided with a door  23  by which access to the battery may be gained. To activate the light  20 , the light  20  can be connected to the battery by means of a timer activated switch. Alternatively, the light  20  can be connected to the battery by means of a user activatable switch connected to a push button  22  or the like. 
     To set the timer activated switch, a battery powered alarm clock  24  is provided. The clock  24  includes an alarm mode by which the user can set the time at which the light  20  is to illuminate. In this manner, at the designated time, the interior of the main body  12  would be illuminated by the light  20  to remind the user to view the note. It is contemplated that the light  20  would remain illuminated for a predetermined period of time after it is activated and/or turned off by the deactivation of the alarm, for example, by depressing the alarm button  24 a. It is also contemplated that the main body could be provided with a speaker for use in sounding an audible alarm when the designated alarm time is reacted. 
     For protecting the note within the main body  12 , the main body  12  preferably includes a lid  26  that is attached to the main body  12  by means of a hinge  27 . The lid includes apertures  28  and  30  for accommodating the user activatable switch push button  22  and clock  24 , respectively. For use in lifting the lid  26 , the lid  26  may be provided with a raised lip at its end by which the user can force the lid  26  upward. To allow the user to view the note within the main body  14  while the lid  26  is closed, the lid  26  is provided with a transparent or translucent portion  26 a that generally overlays that portion of the main body  12  in which the note pad holding well  18  is located. The transparent portion  26 a can be integrally formed with the lid  26  or can be separately attached thereto. To better draw the attention of the user when the time to read the note is arrived, the lid portion  26 a may be provided with a raised or domed shape as a means for increasing the visibility of the lid when effected by the illumination created by the light  20 . 
     To transport he main body  12 , the main body  12  may be removably inserted into the sheath  16 . The sheath  16  includes a pair of resilient tension arms  34 ,  36  that are used to carry the sheath  16  on a back pack strap or the like. More specifically, the sheath  16  is attached to the back pack strap as the back pack strap is trapped between the resilient tension arms  34 ,  36  and the underside of the sheath  16 . Once attached to the back pack strap, the main body  12  may be slid into the bottom opening formed in the sheath  16  to form the transportable note pad holder  10 . The main body  12  may be maintained in place within the sheath  16  by being trapped between the strap, that is being forced inward under the influence of the resilient tension arms  34 ,  36  and lip  38  formed around a substantial portion of the circumference of the open top of the sheath  16 . It will be appreciated that the resilient tension arms  34 ,  36  are preferably arranged so as to hold the main body  12  within the sheath without the requirement of a strap. Means for frictionally maintaining the main body  12  within the sheath  16  may also be provided, for example, by providing the sheath  16  with generally resilient sides  16 a,  16 b that are adapted to hold the main body  12  in pinched engagement therebetween. 
     When carried by the sheath  16 , the lip  38  formed on the sheath  16  also functions to protect the hinge  27  and to maintain the lid  26  in closed engagement with the main body  12 . For this latter purpose, the opening  40  defined by the lip  38  is sized to allow only a portion of the lid  26  to be visible therethrough. The size of the opening is, however, desired to be large enough to allow the user to view the transparent portion of the lid  26 a, to view and gain access to the clock  24 , and to gain access to the push button  22 . 
     To enhance the esthetic nature of the transportable note holder  10 , to make the note holder  10  more appealable to children, the various components that comprise the note holder  10  may be molded from colored plastics. Furthermore, to minimize the risk of injury of a child user, it is preferred that the note holder  10  be constructed so as to minimize sharp corners or edges. To this end, the bottom portion of the note holder  10  is preferably rounded. Additionally esthetic improvements to the note holder  10  can be achieved by, for example, placing decals upon the note holder  10  that depict logos from sports teams, cartoon caricatures or the like. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an improved note pad holder has been discarded. In particular, the subject note pad holder is adapted for ease of transportation. Furthermore, the esthetically pleasing arrangement of the components and the use of an illuminated interior is believed to encourage use by children. In this manner, the note pad holder provides an enhanced means by which a parent can remind a child of a task, errand, etc. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangement disclosed is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.