Patent Abstract:
A clipboard for keeping lists of items for purchases is described. The clipboard includes a dry-erase board, a paper pad, a holder for a dry-erase marker, a holder for an ink pen, a plurality of magnets for holding the clipboard to a ferro-magnetic surface, and a folding board having a clip for attaching to the clipboard to a shopping cart handled. The clip is configured to enable tilting the clipboard with mounted on a shopping cart handle. The clipboard can be moved from a refrigerator, carried to a store, and then clipped onto a shopping cart.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to note-taking devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dry-erase board/paper pad for facilitating listing and purchasing of grocery items and that is movable from ferro-magnetic surfaces to a grocery cart handle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many households employ a variety of different methods of keeping track of items to be purchased at a grocery store. Some people rely upon a detailed list kept on a piece of paper. However, such paper can be easily lost or misplaced. Others rely upon memory, which leads to purchasing items that are not needed or forgetting to purchase items that are. Others rely on dry-erase boards that are kept in the kitchen and which allow adding items to be purchased to a list. However, dry-erase boards usually require a shopper to transfer notes to a piece of paper before going to the store. This obviously takes additional time and can result in transcription errors. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which grocery store lists can be easily updated at home then used at the store. Preferably such a means would be directly movable from a fixed location such as on a refrigerator onto a shopping cart. Ideally a device would not require memory, would not require re-writing items to be purchased, would provide a stable writing surface, and could simply be wiped clean when done or as items are collected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a dry-erase board with a paper pad that can be easily updated at home and then used at the store. The dry-erase board with a paper pad can be directly moved from a fixed location such as on a refrigerator onto a shopping cart. The dry-erase board with a paper pad does not require memory, does not require re-writing items to be purchased, provides a stable writing surface, and can simply be wiped clean when done or as items are collected. 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a clipboard having both a dry-erase board and a pad of paper and which is held within a frame. The clipboard incorporates magnets for sticking to a ferro-magnetic surface such as a refrigerator and a shopping cart clip for attaching to the handle of a shopping cart. The frame has a slot for a conventional dry-erase marker and another for a pen or pencil. A user writes down grocery items that need to be purchased during the next store visit either on the dry-erase board or on the pad of paper. When going shopping the clipboard is removed from the metallic surface, carried to a store, and then snapped onto the handle of a common shopping cart using the shopping cart clip. The shopping cart clip is configured to rotate on the shopping cart handle from ninety to one hundred-eighty degrees (90°-180°). As the user collects items on the list the items can be crossed off or erased. 
     A clipboard that is in accord with the present invention includes a dry-erase board having a retention clip, an upper board connected to the dry-erase board by a board hinge, a holder on the dry-erase board for retaining a marker, a cart clamp attached to the top of the upper board, a cart clamp magnet mounted to the cart clamp, and a central magnet that is attached to the rear of the dry-erase board. The central magnet is located and configured such that it sticks to the cart clamp magnet when the upper board is pivoted fully backward on the board hinge. 
     Beneficially the retention clip retains at least one (1) piece of paper; the marker holder is beneficially comprised of back-to-back tubular members and includes a holder for retaining an ink pen. Preferably the dry-erase board includes a plurality of rear surface magnets. Also preferably the upper board is trapezoidal-shaped, the cart clamp includes a stationary clamping jaw, a movable clamping jaw that is attached to the stationary clamping jaw by a clamp hinge, and at least one (1) clamp spring that biases the movable clamping jaw toward the stationary clamping jaw. The clamp spring may be an internal torsion spring while the cart clamp may include an integral cart clamp actuator for rotating the movable clamping jaw away from the stationary clamping jaw. The clamping jaws should have inner gripping surfaces and the movable clamping jaw and the stationary clamping jaw may be dimensioned to clamp onto a shopping cart handle. 
     An alternative clipboard that is in accord with the present invention includes a dry-erase board having a board clip for retaining at least one (1) piece of paper, an upper board that is connected to the dry-erase board by a board hinge, a marker holder that is attached to the dry-erase board, a cart clamp that is attached to the top of the upper board, a cart clamp magnet that is mounted on the back of the cart clamp, and a central magnet attached to the rear of the dry-erase board. The central magnet is located and configured such that the central magnet sticks to the cart clamp magnet when the upper board is pivoted fully backwards. 
     Beneficially the marker holder is beneficially comprised of back-to-back tubular members that are dimensioned to retain a dry-erase marker and an ink pen. Preferably the dry-erase board includes a plurality of rear surface magnets. Also preferably the upper board is trapezoidal-shaped, the cart clamp includes a stationary clamping jaw, a movable clamping jaw that is attached to the stationary clamping jaw by a clamp hinge, and at least one clamp spring that biases the movable clamping jaw toward the stationary clamping jaw. The clamp spring may be an internal torsion spring while the cart clamp may include an integral cart clamp actuator for rotating the movable clamping jaw away from the stationary clamping jaw. The clamping jaws may be dimensioned to clamp onto a shopping cart handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an clipboard  10  that is in accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a side view of the clipboard  10  shown in  FIG. 1  on a refrigerator  95 ; 
         FIG. 2   b  is another side view of the clipboard  10  shown in  FIG. 1  but attached to a shopping cart handle  100 ; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a rear view of the clipboard  10  of  FIG. 1  configured to attach to a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a rear view of the clipboard  10  configured to attach to a shopping cart handle  100 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a cart clamp  44  used with the clipboard  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up view of the cart clamp  44  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 clipboard 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 dry-erase board 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 paper clip 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 actuator lever 
               
               
                   
                 25a  
                 marker holder 
               
               
                   
                 25b 
                 pen holder 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 marker 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 pen 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 pad of paper 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 upper board 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 board hinge 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 cart clamp 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 first clamp jaw 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 second clamp jaw 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 gripping surface 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 cart clamp actuator 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 spring 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 cart clamp hinge 
               
               
                   
                 60a  
                 cart clamp magnet 
               
               
                   
                 60b  
                 central magnet 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 surface magnet 
               
               
                   
                 95 
                 refrigerator 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 shopping cart handle 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
       FIG. 1  presents a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an attachable clipboard  10 . The clipboard  10  can be selectively configured to attach to a refrigerator or other ferro-magnetic surface and to a shopping cart  100  (see  FIG. 5 ). The clipboard  10  provides both a flat dry-erase board  20  and a pad of paper  31 . As notations to purchased items can be made to either or both the dry-erase board  20  and the pad of paper  31  the clipboard  10  is highly useful for facilitating the purchasing of groceries and the like. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the clipboard  10  also includes a dry-erase marker  27  and an ink pen  29 . The dry-erase marker  27  and the ink pen  29  respectively attach to the dry-erase board  20  via a marker holder  25   a  and a pen holder  25   b . The marker holder  25   a  and the pen holder  25   b  are attached to the outer edge of the dry-erase board  20  and are beneficially configured as back-to-back plastic tubular members that are dimensioned to respectively hold the marker  27  and the pen  29  until needed. In practice the marker holder  25   a  and the ink holder  25   b  will be adhesively bonded to or otherwise permanently affixed to the outer edge of the dry-erase board  20 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the clipboard  10  includes a hinged, trapezoidal-shaped upper board  40  that is hinged to the dry-erase board  20  by a board hinge  42 . The board hinge  42  is configured such that the upper board  40  can fold back to meet with the dry-erase board  20 . As described in more detail subsequently the upper board  40  is configured to enable quick conversion from a refrigerator-mounted device to a shopping cart attachable device. 
     Turn now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a , and  3   b , respectively two side views, a rear view, and a front view of the clipboard  10 . As shown the upper board  40  includes a cart clamp  44  having a cart clamp magnet  60   a  on its rear surface. The dry-erase board  20  includes a central magnet  60   b  that is located on the back of the dry-erase board  20 . The cart clamp magnet  60   a  and the central magnet  60   b  are located and configured such that when the upper board  40  is folded all the way back on the board hinge  42  that the cart clamp magnet  60   a  sticks to the central magnet  60   b . In addition, the dry-erase board  20  includes a plurality of surface magnets  62  that are located around the outer edges of the dry-erase board  20 . The magnets  60   a ,  60   b ,  62  provide coincident magnetic adhesion to an existing refrigerator  95  or other ferro-magnetic surface. 
     During use, a user magnetically attaches the clipboard  10  to the refrigerator  95  using the magnets  60   a ,  60   b ,  62  to enable listing various grocery or other store items to be purchased on the dry-erase board  20 . When a user goes to the store the clipboard  10  is removed from the refrigerator  95 , the upper board  40  is pivoted back on the board hinge  42  until the cart clamp magnet  60   a  and the central magnet  60   b  stick together. This retains the upper board  40  such that the integral cart clamp  44  is behind the dry-erase board  20 . The clipboard  10  is then taken to the store and attached to the handle of a shopping cart  100  using the cart clamp  44  (described in more detail subsequently). After shopping the clipboard  10  is wiped clean and the process starts over again. The magnets  60   a ,  60   b ,  62  are preferably adhesively bonded to the clipboard  10 . 
     The clipboard  10  also enables a user to create a written grocery list using the pen  29  and the pad of paper  31 . To that end the clipboard  10  includes a metal or plastic paper clip  22  that is integrally-molded or otherwise permanently attached to the front of the dry-erase board  20 , just below the upper board hinge  42 . The paper clip  22  can clamp a single sheet or an entire pad of paper  31 . This allows a user to make notes of items in a similar manner as the previously described dry-erase board  20  and marker  27 . The paper clip  22  uses a common spring-type hinge and has an outwardly-extending paper clip actuator lever  23  which enables loading/unloading the paper  31 . 
     The dry-erase board  20  and the upper board  40  are envisioned as being made using injection-molded plastic materials and plastic or metal clamps and hinges. The dry-erase board  20  and the upper board  40  are envisioned as being available in various attractive colors. Beneficially the dry-erase board  20  is approximately twelve inches (12 in.) wide and eighteen inches (18 in.) long. Furthermore, while the previously approximated size of the clipboard  10  is preferred it should be understood that the dry-erase board  20  and the upper board  40  may be made available in various length and width sizes. Thus the preferred size should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the clipboard  10 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  provide close-up views of the cart clamp  44 . The cart clamp  44  is a spring-loaded clamping device having an arcuate first clamp jaw  46  and a second clamp jaw  47 . The first clamp jaw  46  is a stationary-mounted member that is beneficially integrally-molded with the upper board  40 . The second clamp jaw  47  is a rotating member that is affixed to the first clamp jaw  46  by a joining cart clamp hinge  54 . The cart clamp hinge  54  is biased-closed via at least one (1) internal torsion spring  53 . The cart clamp  44  may be opened by a user by applying force to the protruding integral cart clamp actuator  52 . This causes the second clamp jaw  47  to rotate away from the first clamp jaw  46 , allowing the cart clamp  44  to attach to a shopping cart handle. 
     The jaws  46 ,  47  of the cart clamp  44  have inner gripping surfaces  49  (see  FIG. 5 ) beneficially comprised of an adhesively bonded rubber or soft plastic textured contact layer that provides a high-friction grip for the cart clamp  44  on the shopping cart handle. The cart clamp  44  may be selectively rotated on the shopping cart handle  100  during installation prior by releasing the cart clamp actuator  52 . This can be used to provide a desired viewing or writing angle, reference  FIG. 4 . As the user walks through the store he simply marks off shopping items as they are added to the cart. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and while only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by a common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the clipboard  10  it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
     The method of installing and using the clipboard  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the clipboard  10  having a desired color and a dry-erase board  20  with a desired size; pivoting the upper board  40  to an upward and coplanar position; attaching the clipboard  10  to a refrigerator  95  using the magnets  60   a ,  60   b ,  62 ; installing the marker  27  and pen  29  into the respective holders  25   a ,  25   b ; noting various grocery and other items which need to be purchased on the dry-erase board  20  using the dry-erase marker  27 ; removing the clipboard  10  from the refrigerator  95  by detaching the magnets  60   a ,  60   b ,  62 . 
     Next, preparing the clipboard  10  for attachment to a handle by pivoting the upper board  40  back and down until the cart clamp magnet  60   a  and the central magnet  60   b  stick to each other; pressing the cart clamp actuator  52  to open the cart clamp  44 ; lowering the jaws  46 ,  47  of the cart clamp  44  around the handle; pivoting the clipboard  10  upward and downward to obtain a desired writing/reading angle of the dry-erase board  20 ; releasing the cart clamp actuator  52  to secure the clipboard  10  to the handle; checking-off or erasing items written upon the dry-erase board  20  as they are added to the cart until all items have been gathered. 
     The method of using the paper  31  and ink pen  29  of the clipboard  10  to create a hand-written list may be achieved by performing the following steps: securing paper  31  onto the dry-erase board  20  by inserting and clamping the paper  31  into the paper clip  22 ; affixing the clipboard  10  to the refrigerator  95  as previously described; writing down various grocery and other items onto the paper  31  using the pen  29 ; removing the clipboard  10  from the refrigerator  95 ; and, using the clipboard  10  on a cart handle to enhance shopping as previously described. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1