Patent Abstract:
A clipboard device having an elastic retainer member which is alternately deployable to hold papers or other items in place on the front or rear surface of the clipboard and related methods of manufacture and use.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/900,183 entitled Clipboard Device With Elastic Retainer filed Nov. 5, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to mechanical devices and more particularly to a clipboard device having an elastic retainer useable for securing papers and/or holding other articles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The prior art has included a number of clipboard devices having clips, clamps and other apparatus for holding papers and/or other articles (e.g., pens, pencils, envelopes, etc.) on the clip board. 
         [0004]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,616 (Lake) describes a clipboard comprising a planar board member with clamping mechanism that includes at least one biasing element and a clamping element. The clamping element has at least one paper clamp cooperating with a holding element. The planar board member has at least one slot for penetration of the paper clamp through the planar board member from the rear face of the planar board to the front face. A writing implement holder and a carrying handle may be incorporated into the clamping mechanism. Also, notches may be formed directly opposite one another in the side edges of the planar board, near its bottom end, for holding elastic bands such the elastic bands extend in parallel around the planar board member, near its bottom end. 
         [0005]    There remains a need in the art for the development of new clipboard devices having elastic retainer(s) which are designed to not only prevent wind from blowing papers that are attached to the clip board but also to facilitate attachment of other articles of varying width to the clipboard. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clipboard device which comprises a) a substantially planar board member having a top end, a bottom end, a right side edge, a left side edge, a front surface and a back surface, b) an elastic retainer member having first and second ends, the first and second ends of the elastic retainer member being anchored or attached to the board member at spaced-apart locations at or near the top end of the board member and c) an elastic retainer member engaging structure at or near the bottom end of the board member, a mid-region of the elastic retaining member being alternately engageable and disengageable with the engaging structure. When the mid-region of the elastic retaining member is engaged with the engaging structure, first and second portions of the elastic retaining member traverse substantially from top to bottom over the front or alternately the back surface of the board member, with said first and second elastic retainer member portions being closer together at the bottom than at the top of the board member. 
         [0007]    Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for using a clipboard device of the foregoing character by placing an article adjacent to either the front or back surface of the board member and causing the elastic retaining member to become engaged with the engaging structure and positioned such that the elastic retaining structure holds the article substantially in place. 
         [0008]    Still further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a method for storing an item on a clipboard device which comprises a substantially planar board member having a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom end, a top end and an elastic retaining member attached thereto, said method comprising the steps of a) deploying the elastic retaining member in a stretched configuration over either the front surface or back surface of the board member, b) engaging a mid-portion of the elastic retaining member with an engagement structure located at or near a bottom end of the board member such that first and second portions of the elastic retaining member traverse substantially from top to bottom over the front or alternately the back surface of the board member, with said first and second elastic retainer member portions being closer together at the bottom than at the top of the board member and c) causing paper or other article(s) to be positioned under either of both of the first and second portions of the elastic retaining member so as to hold the paper or other article(s) against the front or back surface of the board member. 
         [0009]    Further aspects and details of the present invention will be understood by those of skill from the accompanying drawings and detailed description set forth below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a clip board device of the present invention while its elastic retainer member is operatively deployed over the front surface of the clipboard. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  while its elastic retainer member is operatively deployed over the front surface of the clipboard. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  after movement of its elastic retainer member to an alternative position wherein it is operatively deployed over the back surface of the clipboard. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a label showing four non-limiting examples (Ex. 1 through Ex. 4) of ways in which the elastic retainer member of the clipboard device is useable. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment of a clip board device of the present invention while its elastic retainer member is operatively deployed over the front surface of the clipboard. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  while its elastic retainer member is operatively deployed over the front surface of the clipboard. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  after movement of its elastic retainer member to an alternative position wherein it is operatively deployed over the back surface of the clipboard. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of a top portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with its elastic retainer hanging in a disengaged position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged rear view of the area around one of two elastic retainer member engaging notches formed in the bottom edge of the clipboard showing optional grooves or depressions within which the elastic retaining member seats when it is engaged with the elastic retainer member engaging notches. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The following detailed description and the accompanying drawings to which it refers are intended to describe some, but not necessarily all, examples or embodiments of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The contents of this detailed description and the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0020]    The embodiment of the invention shown in accompanying  FIGS. 1-4  generally comprises a clipboard device  10  having a board member  12  with a clip  14  and an elastic retainer member  16 . The elastic retainer member  16  may be any suitable elastic cord, elastic band, elastic strand or other elongate elastic material. The board member  12  has a top end T, a bottom end B, a right side edge RS, a left side edge LS, a front surface FS and a back surface BS. The elastic retainer member  16  is attached to the device  10  and useable to hold down papers that are clipped to the board member by way of the clip  14  and/or for attaching ancillary articles (e.g., calculators, writing instruments, pens, pencils, high-lighters, markers, envelopes, folded papers, notes, cell phones, etc.). 
         [0021]    As shown, the first and second ends of the elastic retainer member  16  are anchored or attached to the board member  12  at spaced-apart locations at or near the top end T of the board member  12 . In this example, these first and second locations are separated by distance D1. At or near the bottom end B of the board member  12  is an engaging structure constructed to engage and hold the mid-region  16 mid of the elastic retaining member  16  when the elastic retaining member  16  is stretched downwardly and its mid-region  16  mid placed over such retaining structure. In the non-limiting example shown in the drawings, this engaging structure comprises a section of the board member  12  of width D2 located between first and second notches  20   a,    20   b  formed in the bottom end B of the board member  12 . It is to be appreciated that in other embodiments, this engaging structure may be any suitable hook, projection, tab, or other structure over which the elastic retaining member mid-region  16 mid may be passed. 
         [0022]    As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the elastic retaining member  16  is deployed adjacent to the front surface FS of the board member  12 , the mid-region  16 mid of the elastic retaining member  16  may be grasped, pulled downwardly and seated within notches  20   a,    20   b  such that the mid-region  16 mid extends around the back surface BS of the board member  12  between the notches  20   a,    20   b.  This holds the elastic retaining member  16  in a stretched state with first and second portions  16   a,    16   b  of the elastic retaining member  16  traversing substantially from top T to bottom B over the front surface FS of the board member  12 . These first and second elastic retainer member portions  20   a,    20   b  are closer together at their bottoms than at their tops, thereby forming a generally V shaped configuration over the front surface FS of the board member  12 . 
         [0023]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the elastic retaining member  16  may alternately be positioned to hold papers or articles adjacent to the back surface BS of the board member  12 . To accomplish this, with the mid-region  16 mid disengaged from notches  20   a,    20   b,  the elastic retaining member  16  is inverted over the top edge T of the board member  12  such that it becomes re-positioned adjacent to the back surface BS of the board member  12 . The elastic retaining member  16  is then stretched downwardly and its mid-region  16 mid re-engaged with the notches  20   a,    20   b  such that it extends around the front surface FS of the board member  12  between the notches  20   a,    20   b  in the manner seen in  FIG. 3 . This causes stretching of the elastic retaining member  16  such that first and second portions  16   a,    16   b  of the elastic retaining member  16  traverse substantially from top T to bottom B over the front surface FS of the board member  12 , with said first and second elastic retainer member portions  20   a,    20   b  being closer together near the bottom B than near the top T. This results in the elastic retaining member  16  being deployed in a generally V shaped configuration over the front surface FS of the board member  12 . The elastic retaining member  16  may be attached to the board member  12  in any suitable way. In the non-limiting example shown in the drawings, first and second apertures  18   a,    18   b  are formed at spaced-apart locations separated by distance D1, near the top edge T of the board member  12 . A first end of the elastic retaining member  16  extends, from front to back, through the first aperture  18   a  and a first anchor member  22   a  is formed on or attached to the first end of the elastic retaining member  16  to prevent it from being pulled back through the first aperture  18   a.  The opposite end (i.e. the second end) of the elastic retaining member  16  extends, from front to back, through the second aperture  18   b  and a second anchor member  22   b  is formed on or attached to the second end of the elastic retaining member  16  to prevent it from being pulled back through the second aperture  18   b.  The anchor members  22   a,    22   b  may be discs, balls, bulbs, bars, cross members, rings, knots, masses or any other suitable shapes or objects that are too large in cross dimension to pass through apertures  18   a,    18   b.    
         [0024]    Because the first and second elastic retaining member portions  16   a,    16   b  converge such that they are closer together at the bottom than at the top (e.g., forming generally a V shape), they may be used to hold articles of varying size or width. Also, they may be spaced far enough apart at the top (distance D1) to not obstruct the top half of a paper that is attached to the clipboard device  10  by clip  14  while converging inwardly so as to hold down the outer edges of the bottom portion of the paper, thereby preventing the paper from being blown by wind or otherwise inadvertently lifted away from the board member  12 . The inset within  FIG. 4  shows four (4) examples of the many possible uses of the elastic retaining member  16 , 
         [0025]    Example 1 (Ex. 1), seen in  FIG. 4 , depicts a front view of the device  10  with lined paper attached to the front surface FS of the board member  12  by the clip  14 , with the elastic retaining member  16  operatively deployed over the front surface FS of the board member  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . In this example the elastic retaining member  16  holds the edges of the lined paper firmly against the front surface FS of the board member  12 . Additionally, various other article(s) (e.g., calculators, writing instruments, pens, pencils, high-lighters, markers, envelopes, folded papers, notes, cell phones, etc.). may also be inserted under one or both stretched portions  16   a,    16   b  of the elastic retaining member  16  to hold such article(s) in contact with the device when desired, such as during storage, transport and the like. 
         [0026]    Example 2 (Ex. 2), seen in  FIG. 4 , depicts a rear view of the device  10  with the elastic retaining member  16  operatively deployed over the back surface BS of the board member  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . In this example, an envelope is positioned diagonally under the retaining member  16  such that the first portion  16   a  of the retaining member  16  holds the lower left corner of the envelope against the back surface BS of the board member  12  and the second portion  16   b  of the retaining member  16  holds the upper right corner of the envelope against the back surface BS of the board member  12 . In this manner the envelope is stowed and securely attached to the back surface BS of the board member while allowing a user to freely write on or read from any papers that may be attached to the front surface FS of the board member  12  by way of clip  14 . 
         [0027]    Example 3 (Ex. 3), seen in  FIG. 4 , also depicts a rear view of the device  10  with the elastic retaining member  16  operatively deployed over the back surface BS of the board member  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . In this example, a packet of adhesive note paper is held against the back surface BS of the board member  12  by way of the first portion  16   a  of the elastic retaining member  16  and a marker is separately held against the back surface BS of the board member  12  by he second portion  16   b  of the retaining member  16 . In this manner the packet of adhesive note paper and the marker are stowed and securely attached to the back surface BS of the board member while allowing a user to freely write on or read from any papers that may be attached to the front surface FS of the board member  12  by way of dip  14 . 
         [0028]    Example 4 (Ex. 4), seen in  FIG. 4 , also depicts a rear view of the device  10  with the elastic retaining member  16  operatively deployed over the back surface BS of the board member  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . In this example, a calculator is held against the back surface BS of the board member  12  by the lower aspects of both the first portion  16   a  and second portion  16   b  of the elastic retaining member  16 . In this manner the calculator is stowed and securely attached to the back surface BS of the board member while allowing a user to freely write on or read from any papers that may be attached to the front surface FS of the board member  12  by way of clip  14 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 5 through 9  show another embodiment of a clipboard device  10   a  of the present invention. This embodiment of the device  10   a  generally includes all of the same components and elements as described above with respect to the first embodiment of the device  10 . However, as explained in more detail below, this second embodiment of the device  10   a  additionally includes one or more of several optional features or components. These optional features or components include but are not limited to a) ergonomic shaping of the board member  12  to facilitate handling and function of the device  10   a,  a generally u-shaped curvature of the top edge T of the board member  12 , inclusion of a retractable/extendable hanger  15  and/or the inclusion of surface groove(s)  30  and/or  32  at specific locations such that the elastic retaining member  12  will seat within such groove(s) when the elastic member  12  is in one of its operative positions. 
         [0030]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 5 through 9 , in this embodiment, the board member  12  may be formed of a molded plastic material that does not deform or creep under the temperatures and conditions (e.g., indoor/outdoor, direct sunlight, ambient temperature variations, etc.) or any other suitable material. 
         [0031]    Also, in this non-limiting example, the elastic retaining member comprises a bunge-type cord and the anchor members  22   a,    22   b  comprise knots formed at either end of the cord. Optionally, concavities or recesses may be formed in the back surface BS of the board member  12  around the apertures  18  through which the elastic retaining member  16  extends so that, when the elastic retaining member  16  is pulled taught, the knots on either end of the retaining member  16  will seat within those concavities or recesses. 
         [0032]    Optionally, the back surface BS of the board member  12  may be concaved or otherwise ergonomically shaped with the side edges RS, LA (or possibly the entire periphery) of the back surface BS being sloped slightly inward (i.e., toward the front surface FS) so that when a user grasps board member  12  along one of the side edges RS, LS the user&#39;s fingers will rest on a slightly sloped region of the back surface BS. Also optionally, the top end T of the board member  12  may be curved in the manner shown so that the top end T is higher at its ends than at its middle. This allows the middle of the top end T to be near or flush with the top edge of the clip  14  while the apertures  18  through which the elastic retainer member  16  extends are situated above the top edge of any paper or other flat item clipped to the front surface FS of the board member  12  by the clip  14 . 
         [0033]    Also, optionally, an extendable/retractable hanger  15  may be extendable out of and retractable into the clip  14  or into the top end T of the board member  12  at the mid-point thereof to facilitate hanging of the clipboard device  10   a  on a hook, exposed nail or other projection. In embodiments that include the optional curvature of the top end T as well as this optional extendable/retractable hanger  15 , the hanger  15  may, when in its full extended position, protrude above the mid-region of the top end T, as may be appreciated from the showings of  FIGS. 5 and 8 . 
         [0034]    Also, optionally, as may be appreciated from the close-up view of  FIG. 9 , locator grooves  30  and/or  32  may be formed at specific locations in the front surface FS and/or back surface BS of the board member  12  such that portions of the elastic retainer member  12  will seat within such locator grooves  30  and/or  32 . In this manner, the optional locater grooves  30  and/or  32  may guide or retain the stretched elastic retainer member portions  16   a,    16   b  along the trajectories over the front and/or back surface of the board member  12  and/or may deter inadvertent slippage or disengagement of the mid-region of the elastic retainer member  16  from the notches  20   a,    20   b  during use. In the non-limiting example shown, vertical grooves  30  are formed in the front surface FS of the board member  12  extending in a generally vertical directions from the engagement notches  20   a,    20   b.  These optional vertical groves  30  ramp downwardly into the notches  20   a,    20   b  so that, when the mid-region of the elastic retaining member  16  is engaged within notches  20   a,    20   b,  the stretched right and left portions  16   a,    16   b  of the retaining member  16  with seat within those vertical locator grooves  30 . This helps to position and hold the right and left portions  16   a,    16   b  of the retaining member  16  on their desired angular trajectories from top to bottom over the front surface FS of the board member  12 , as shown, and additionally deters inadvertent slippage of the elastic retaining member  16  out of the notches  20   a,    20   b.  Alternatively or additionally, one or more horizontal locator groove(s)  32  may extend horizontally between the notches  20   a,    20   b  and may ramp downwardly into the notches  20   a,    20   b  so that, when the when the mid-region of the elastic retaining member  16  is engaged within notches  20   a,    20   b,  it will also seat within those horizontal locator groove(s)  30 . In this manner, the optional horizontal locator grove(s)  30  may deter inadvertent slippage of the elastic retaining member  16  out of the notches  20   a,    20   b.  Although the drawings show these optional locator groves  30 ,  32  formed in only the back surface BS of the board member  12 , it is to be appreciated that such locator groves  30  and/or  32  may additionally, or alternatively, be formed in the front surface FS of the board member  12 . 
         [0035]    It is to be appreciated that, although the invention has been described hereabove with reference to certain examples or embodiments of the invention, various additions, deletions, alterations and modifications may be made to those described examples and embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any elements, steps, members, components, compositions, reactants, parts or portions of one embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another embodiment or example, unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render that embodiment or example unsuitable for its intended use. Also, where the steps of a method or process have been described or listed in a particular order, the order of such steps may be changed unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render the method or process unsuitable for its intended purpose. Additionally, the elements, steps, members, components, compositions, reactants, parts or portions of any invention or example described herein may optionally exist or be utilized in the substantial absence of other elements, steps, members, components, compositions, reactants, parts or portions unless otherwise noted. All reasonable additions, deletions, modifications and alterations are to be considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments and are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8