Abstract:
Improvements in the instruments for drawing lines using grooves providing the presentation of lines that may be drawn by placing a sheet of paper over the presentation and engaging the sheet of paper with the point of a writing tool with sufficient force to press the engaged part of the paper into a selected groove and then moving the writing tool point within the line, depositing pencil lead or ink from the end of the writing tool on the paper that is pressed into the selected groove to form a line on the paper. The improvements include the provision of registration marks on a clipboard which has the presentation of grooves for lines to be drawn on the upper side of the clipboard, the registration marks acting as guidelines for the precise placement of the sheet of paper on which lines are to be drawn and its retention in that placement by a clip attached to the end of the clipboard and engaging the end of the sheet of paper for such retention. This precise placement of the sheet of paper allows a sheet of paper that has had one or more lines drawn on it in the manner noted above to be removed and later replaced on the clipboard in precisely the same location as it had when the line or lines were earlier drawn on it, with the result that any additional lines to be drawn will be in perfect relation to the lines earlier drawn, and the later drawings and the earlier drawings appear to have been made just as if the sheet of paper had not been removed between such drawings. Various shapes of such marks may be employed. Another major improvement is the provision of a turntable as a part of the upper surface of the clipboard, with the presentation of the array of grooves being in the upper surface of the turntable, and the turntable may be rotated under the sheet of paper to allow the drawing of lines at different angles to each other. The amount of rotation of the turntable is limited to a desired amount of arcuate movement, within ranges of 90°, 180°, 270°, or 360°. Another improvement is the ability to use different turntables having different types of arrays of grooves which are easily substituted as desired, not requiring completely different clipboard assemblies.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/508,767, filed on Aug. 23, 2006, by the same inventors as named herein. That application contains some improvements to the invention disclosed and claimed in the Phillips patent noted in the BACKGROUND, below. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Aids for drawing straight lines or various curvilinear lines that improve hand sketching and drawing by providing cleaner and more precise lines than is usually obtainable when one hand sketches on a typical sheet of paper. The aids include a textured groove pattern surface over which the sheet of paper is precisely placed. The aids also provide for the relocation of a sheet of paper over the textured groove pattern surface, after it has been removed with at least one line having been drawn on it, over the aid having the textured groove pattern surface for aiding a person to draw lines, so that is precisely realigned with that aid and the earlier-drawn line or lines are back in the exact same position as they were when they were drawn. This permits other lines to be drawn on the sheet of paper in accurate relation to the earlier-drawn line or lines. The aids also make provision for drawing one or more lines at other specific acute or obtuse angles to another line or lines previously drawn, or to be later drawn, which could not be so otherwise easily drawn with the paper in place. This is accomplished by having an angle-indexed rotatable section, having the textured groove pattern surface thereon, located under the sheet of paper that is retained so that the lines being drawn by use of the aids may be drawn at various angles to lines that have been drawn before the rotatable section has been rotated, and that rotatable section may be oppositely rotated to return to the original position where the earlier line or lines were drawn and the rotatable section of the textured groove pattern is precisely aligned with the lines earlier drawn on the sheet of paper. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,964-Phillips, issued on May 28, 1968, shows a textured groove pattern surface on which a sheet of paper is placed, and drawings of lines, curves, etc., can be made, using a writing tool by pressing on the paper so that the writing tool writing end enters into and as moved passes along a line defined by the textured groove pattern surface pattern to draw a line, whether straight or curved in any manner, the line then appearing on the paper in accordance with the pattern of textured grooves or lines formed on the textured groove pattern surface. The above-noted pending patent application shows and claims some changes which are improvements to the arrangement disclosed in the Phillips patent. 
         [0004]    For the purposes of description in this document, the terms “sketch” and “drawing” are considered to be any marking made by a sketcher or draftsman or some other person on a paper sheet using any textured groove pattern, and do not preclude other markings also made on the paper sheet using a different manner of drawing or sketching. There is a deficiency of the Phillips patent in that after the top of the textured paper on which some but not all of a sketch or drawing has been made and the paper sheet is then removed from that textured groove pattern surface, and thereafter there is an attempt made to replace the paper sheet over the textured surface, it cannot be conveniently or easily relocated precisely to the position it was in when earlier drawings had been made over it. Returning the paper sheet to that position cannot be done without considerable difficulty, if it can even be done satisfactorily at all, because there are no accurate guides available for that purpose. There is also an inherent problem with the structure shown in the Phillips patent when someone who needs to draw angled lines angled at any degree of angle other than those permitted by the textured groove pattern that is under the paper sheet. It can be attempted after having removed the paper sheet from the textured pattern below it. Once that has been done, however, there is no assured precise re-registration capability shown or suggested by Phillips once the desired angled lines are earlier drawn, and the person doing the drawing desires to return the paper to its precise original registration to either add to the drawing or to rework the drawing at a later time and keep the additions or rework in proper registration relative to the textured groove pattern that was earlier used for drawing on the paper sheet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The basic concept of the above-noted Phillips patent is improved by the use of at least one of the features of the invention herein disclosed and claimed, providing one or more paper sheet registration marks or devices, located on the clipboard main body and near the textured groove pattern sheet, that will keep the paper sheet on which the sketching is done in a specific position both horizontally and vertically. Even though the paper with the sketch work on it is removed, it can be replaced on the textured groove pattern sheet so that it is in precisely the same registry position as it was during the earlier sketching, and any additions to the earlier sketch will be made with such precision that they will appear to be made at the same time as the earlier sketch. This may be repeated as many times as desired, and always with the same precise registry position result. The textured groove pattern sheet is preferably part of a clipboard, which provides a hard surface having the textured groove pattern lines for drawing being a part of that clipboard. 
         [0006]    The registry position of a sheet of paper is set by having devices, herein referred to as registration marks, by preferably providing at least one L-shaped corner that establishes the precise position of a sheet of paper relative to the textured groove pattern sheet so that when the corner of a sheet of paper on which drawing is to be done is located in the L-shaped corner, it is also precisely positioned on the textured groove pattern sheet both horizontally and vertically. There can be additional registration marks when desired. These can be in the form of one or more straight registration marks setting the position of one or both sides and thus positioning the paper sheet even more positively horizontally. One or more additional straight registration marks may be located at the required location of the bottom of the paper sheet, or at the top, or both, relative to the textured groove pattern sheet for more precise registration of the paper sheet relative to the textured groove pattern sheet. Other L-shaped corner registration marks may be used to define the registration of the paper sheet precisely on the textured groove pattern sheet. Any suitable combination of such registration marks may be used within the purview of the invention. While the registration marks may be printed, painted or on an adhesively-backed label, or otherwise placed on the clipboard body. While they may be effectively flat and thus in the same plane as the plane of the part of the clipboard body where they are placed, it is preferable that the registration marks have a height extending upwardly from the plane of the part of the clipboard on which they are located that is just sufficient to accommodate paper sheets of several different thicknesses so that when thicker paper sheets are to be used for drawing thereon, they are able to be precisely positioned as described. The registration marks do not have to be as high as the full thickness of a thicker sheet in order to function properly and fully. The registration marks shown in the drawing are integrally made with the part of the clipboard main body on which they are located, by molding them with the molding of the clipboard main body. Alternatively, they may be made separately and then attached to the clipboard main body by any suitable attaching means, being very sure that they are precisely located so as to properly perform their functions. 
         [0007]    The invention lying in a clipboard assembly includes an additional feature that is optional, but is much preferred. This feature comprising additional structure that will accommodate the drawing of acutely and obtusely angled lines relative to the horizontal or vertical orientation of the paper sheet being drawn upon. It includes a clipboard main body having the registration mark features noted above. The clipboard assembly also includes a rotatable disc portion on which the textured groove pattern is formed. The particular pattern that is most useful with the rotatable disc portion is that having a series of parallel lines extending vertically and another series of parallel lines extending at 90° thereto and intersecting the first series of parallel lines. Graph paper use such typical arrangements. That disc portion would preferably be injection molded with the desired textured groove pattern being a part of it. The surface of the part of that clipboard main body surrounding the rotatable disc portion and the textured groove pattern surface of the rotatable disc portion are located in the same plane so that the paper sheet on which the user will draw can lie flat so that it is engaging both portions of the clipboard assembly. The rotatable disc portion has indices such as one or more arrow points that can be aligned with a degree measurement scale on the fixed disc-receivable portion of the clipboard to allow for drawing accurate angles. The most important arrow point located on the rotatable disc portion is the one that is normally kept aligned with the 000° point of the fixed disc-receivable portion so that the vertical and horizontal grooves of the textured groove pattern are respectively aligned with the 000° point and the 090° point. This angular measurement scale can be as simple as identifying the cardinal and inter-cardinal angles at 000°, 045° and 090°. The angular measurement scale identifying the angles at which the rotatable disc portion may be rotated may be, and preferably are, indexed in greater detail. A detail like that on at 000° to 090°, as found on a typical protractor, is preferable. These are usually short, radially extending, lines, each line representing one angular degree, with somewhat longer lines for every fifth degree, and every tenth degree bearing its value. In this instance every tenth degree bearing its value would bear, in order, starting with the 000° point and proceeding to, in order, the points for 000°, 010°, 020°, 030°, 040°, 045°, 050°, 060°, 070°, 080°, and 090°. The cardinal and inter-cardinal points are included, even though the inter-cardinal point 045° is not one of the every-10° scale. Modifications if that scale can be made as may be appropriate without departing from the invention. 
         [0008]    In its preferred embodiment, the rotating disc portion has a pin which engages a stop provided which is on or an integral part of the clipboard main body, usually at the 000° and the 090° positions, which limits it rotation to 90° of clockwise movements from the usually upright position where its main arrow is pointing at 000° on the angle scale. Of course, it may be arranged to limit such rotation in a counterclockwise manner. This 90° of rotational movement is sufficient to allow for all angles to be drawn. If a greater rotational angle movement is desired, then the stops would be at the opposite ends of the range of such angle movement, except when the angle movement is a full 360°, when there would be no stops, and only detents as further described. 
         [0009]    This arrangement has an additional advantage in that there may be a series of rotatable disc portions usable with the same clipboard fixed portion which have differently arranged textured groove pattern surfaces, thus allowing a broader scope of drawings using curves and other configurations such as that shown and disclosed in the earlier noted patent to Phillips, and also a series of different allowed arcuate movement ranges as earlier mentioned. Other variations in the textured groove pattern surfaces include a variation to provide certain grooves that are wider than the others, allowing for making some heavier lines to be drawn. Still others may be grooved to draw certain shapes. In some engineering and architectural sketches, these shapes may be those accepted for electrical and plumbing drawings, building shapes, and even some circles, ovals, and polygons that are in addition to the typical square, rectangular and triangular shapes. A sketcher may even use more than one of the available different textured groove pattern disc portions with the same sheet of sketch paper, and the paper sheet will still be precisely placed relative to the particular textured groove pattern being used. When a sketcher is in a very specific technical area of endeavor, custom textured groove patterns fitting the special needs for that particular work may be provided. There may also be different clipboard main bodies for different widths of the paper sheets, as well as different lengths of the paper sheets. Because the clip main body made for use in the United States of America that is usually made to accommodate paper sheets that are 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches long, or for other countries using the A6 sized paper sheets that are somewhat narrower but a little longer, that may be the most common use for the countries using those sizes of paper sheets. Other countries may use still different sized paper sheets, usually measured using the metric system. In those countries, the most-used size would be appropriate for regular production. Those for other sizes would likely be made on an as-required basis, because relatively few of them are likely to be required. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a clipboard assembly that includes a clipboard having a turntable, which is the rotatable circular center section of the clipboard assembly. That turntable is textured on its upper side with a groove pattern section to provide guides for a writing tool that enables a sketcher to draw on a paper sheet placed over the textured groove pattern section and have the texture grooves guide the writing tool to make lines defined by the textures on the clipboard textured groove pattern section. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of the clipboard assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken in the direction of arrows  2 - 2  of that FIGURE. The two pieces are shown as being separated to better identify and describe their features. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows the clipboard assembly of  FIG. 1  with a sheet of paper in place so that it is precisely positioned by the registration marks located on the clipboard main body, that particular sheet of paper being in precisely the same location on the clipboard main body and engaging at least portions of the parts of the clipboard main body upper surface that are not under the turntable, as well as the upper surface of the turntable, whether that particular sheet of paper is there for the first time, or is there after having been removed from there one or more times with some sketch lines having been earlier made while it was in that position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a view of the underside of the clipboard turntable, taken in the direction of arrows  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view of the upper side of the part of the clipboard main body that normally underlies the clipboard turntable, taken in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , after the turntable is rotated clockwise 35° from its position shown in  FIG. 1  to the 045° 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , after the turntable is rotated clockwise 60° from its position shown in  FIG. 1  to the 060° position, thus showing the vertical lines of the textured groove pattern to be at 60° and 240° angular positions relative those groove pattern vertical lines shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , after the turntable is rotated clockwise 45° from its position shown in  FIG. 1  to the 045° position, thus showing the vertical lines of the textured groove pattern to be at 45° and 135° angular positions relative to those groove pattern vertical lines shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , after the turntable is rotated clockwise 150° from its position shown in  FIG. 1  to the 150° position, thus showing the vertical lines of the textured groove pattern to be at 150° and 330° angular positions relative those groove pattern vertical lines shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a clipboard assembly which is similar to the image of the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , but has the arced sections of the clipboard main body, which are under the turntable, on both sides of the clipboard assembly. This provides full support to the turntable when it is normally be turned in the either the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction from the 000° standard position through 360°, and still be fully supported by the arced sections that are on both sides of the clipboard main body. In this instance, the turntable has been rotated either counterclockwise 90°, or clockwise 270° from its 000° standard position, to the 270° position, thus showing the vertical lines of the textured groove pattern to be at 270° and 090° angular positions relative to those groove pattern vertical lines shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a clipboard assembly in which the clipboard main body is the reverse image of the one shown in  FIG. 1 . The view is taken after the turntable has been rotated counterclockwise 90° from its 000° standard position, similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , to the 270° position shown, thus showing the vertical lines of the textured groove pattern to be at 090° and 270° angular positions relative to those groove pattern vertical lines shown in  FIG. 1 . This clipboard assembly preferably allows the turntable to be moved in the counterclockwise direction through either a range of 90°, using a one-quarter circular groove, not further shown, that is the reverse image of the groove shown in  FIG. 5 , or a range of 180°, using reverse image, also not further shown, of the semi-circular groove shown in  FIG. 19 , with the range being centered on the cardinal angle of 270°. If, for any reason, the range of 180° is desired to be centered on the cardinal angle of 180°, then the semi-circular groove of  FIG. 19  would just be moved clockwise for 90°. If, for any reason, the range of 180° is desired to be centered on the cardinal angle of 000°, then the semi-circular groove of  FIG. 19  would just be moved counterclockwise for 90°. All of these location variations are considered to be within the purview of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 12 through 17  are plan views of clipboard assemblies similar to the clipboard assembly of  FIG. 1 , including a clip at the top and registration marks. However, they have no turntables that are textured with a groove pattern. As a result, they do not have the circular support area beyond the typical shape of a clipboard. Their textured groove pattern sections are on the upper surface of the clipboard body, and are in precise relation to the registration marks on the clipboard body. The registration marks preferably extend slightly above the plane of the upper surface of the clipboard body, but can be printed on that body if desired. These FIGURES show that the registration marks can be either two, three or four in number, and can be located on different parts of the clipboard body. There may be other arrangements of the registration marks than those typical ones shown, and still be within the purview of the invention. One common element is that at least one of the registration marks is a corner-positioned mark style, having two sections that are joined at a 90° angle. A modification of this corner-positioned mark is to have the two sections spaced from the actual corner yet sufficiently close to each other to act as a corner registration mark. The style of the registration marks are linear, corners, or may be only points marked by pins that extend vertically from the upper side of the clip assembly in the same manner as do the registration marks illustrated. The choices of the number, style and the location of the registration marks are also applicable to the clipboard assemblies of  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 - 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is a cross section view of the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 14 , taken in the direction of arrows  18 - 18  of that FIGURE. 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is a plan view of the part of the clipboard main body similar to the view shown in  FIG. 5 , but showing the groove in which the pin of the turntable is movable as the turntable is rotatable clockwise relative to the clipboard main body that as shown in  FIG. 9 . The groove is shown as being a semi-circular groove extending from the 000 position to the 180 position by way of the position 090. When this clipboard main body is reversed to be a mirror image of that shown in  FIG. 19 , so that the groove extends by way of the 270° position, the turntable is rotatable counterclockwise as is the case using the clipboard assembly shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  is a view of the clipboard main body upper surface when the clipboard assembly is that shown in  FIG. 10  is used. This view shows a circular groove. 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  is a schematic representation of a drawing tool, also referred to as a marking instrument. It may be a pen (usually a ball-point pen) or pencil that is more commonly used, provided it has a sufficiently fine point, or one that is specifically made for this use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    There are two groups of disclosure of the invention of a clipboard assembly. Each of these groups has variations of the details of the invention that are contained in the disclosures belonging to each of these groups. They may be referred to at times as a group including a turntable feature, and a group that does not include the turntable feature of the invention. Thus the group including the turntable feature builds on the other group and yet is all a part of the same invention that provides improvements over the Phillips patent. 
         [0027]    Both groups of disclosure of the invention use the feature of the same registration marks on a clipboard that are an integral part of the broad invention, and both groups use the textured groove patterns of the prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,964, issued on May 28, 1968 to R. E. Phillips, and may use other patterns as well. Therefore, both groups use inventive improvements to the disclosure of that patent that constitute various features of the invention herein disclosed and claimed. 
         [0028]    The first group of disclosures are provided in  FIGS. 1-11 ,  19  and  20 . It is the group that includes a turntable, and it is the group that is being first described below. The second group of disclosures are provided in  FIGS. 12 through 18 . These disclosures have all of the features of the invention except the turntable. The clipboard assembly  120  of these FIGURES illustrate a less complicated clipboard assembly that has embodiments of the invention herein disclosed and claimed, but omits the turntable of the first group.  FIG. 21  shows a drawing tool or instrument, in schematically simple form, that is used with each of the groups. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 1-11 ,  19  and  20  relate to the first group. Because the preferred version of the invention is the one in the first group, with much of the similar construction of the second group, the initial part of the description contains references to the showings in the drawing that relate to both groups. The second group is then described more specifically. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1-11  illustrate the clipboard assembly  20 , which is the preferred embodiment of the invention, and  FIGS. 12-18  illustrate a less complicated clipboard assembly  120  that is another embodiment of the invention that does not have some of the features of the clipboard assembly  20 .  FIGS. 6-11  show variations of the generic clipboard assembly  20 , primarily related to the restrictions regarding the amount of arc that the turntable may be rotated to provide various orientations of the grooves that are the textured groove pattern that is formed on the upper surface of the turntable. Because there are several common features that will be first described, using numbers below the 100 series to identify each part of clipboard assembly  20 , and using comparable numbers beginning in the 100 series when referring to the clipboards  120  of  FIGS. 12-18 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  19  and  20  relate to the various modifications of the upper surface of the clipboard main body portion that normally underlies and rotatably supports the turntable of any of the clip assemblies described in the descriptions of  FIGS. 1-11 . 
         [0032]    The clipboard assembly  20  and the clipboard assembly  120  each has a generally rectangular shape, with a lower end  22 ,  122 , and an upper end  24 ,  124 , with a spring-loaded clip  26 ,  126  extending across and being secured to the clipboard upper end  24 , 124  so that it is substantially parallel to the edge of upper end  24 , 124  of each of the clipboards  20 ,  120 . The clip  26 ,  126  is located between two registration marks  28 ,  128  and  30 , 130  that are on the clipboard assembly  20 ,  120 . The location and presentation of these two registration marks, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  6  through  11 , and also in  FIGS. 12-18 , are preferable. It is desirable to have at least both the registration marks  28 ,  128  and  30 ,  130 , but it is to be understood that the registration marks  30 ,  130  are not absolutely required. This is shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  15 ,  16  and  18 , for example. The registration marks  28  and  128 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  6 - 11 , and  12 - 17 , have two portions  32 ,  132  and  34 ,  134 , shown on the upper left corner of the clipboard  20 , 120 , and also on one or more other corners in  FIGS. 14-16 . These portions are at right angles to each other on each of these registration marks, so that the inner surfaces of  32 , 132  and  34 , 134  that join at the inner sides of those registration marks are in position to receive and engage a right-angled corner C 1  of a paper sheet P that is to be secured to the clipboard  20 ,  120  by the clip  26 ,  126 , so that the paper sheet P is at a precise position in relation th the textured groove pattern section  36 ,  136  of the clipboards  20 ,  120 , respectively. Instead of making the corner registration marks  28 ,  128  much like a very short piece of some angle iron, the two parts having the inner surfaces of  32 ,  132  and  34 , 134  may be spaced from the juncture of the two parts of the other corner ones shown, and still have the same function, and may be called open-cornered registration marks instead of linear registration marks  30 ,  130 , so long as they serve only one paper sheet corner such as corner C 1 . Such an open corner registration mark is shown in  FIG. 14  in the upper right corner of that FIGURE. The terms “corner-positioned mark”, “corner registration mark”, “open-cornered registration mark”, and “L-shaped registration mark”, whether being singular or plural, are all generically “corner registration marks” and sometimes simplified to just “corners.” 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows such a paper sheet P in place on the clip board assembly  20 . The paper sheet P can be drawn upon by using a drawing tool T while the paper sheet is retained in such precise position, and can be removed from the clipboard assembly  20 ,  120  by releasing the clip  26 ,  126 . It can later be re-mounted on the clipboard assembly  20 ,  120  and, by engaging its upper left corner C 1  with the side surfaces  38  and  40  of the two portions of the respective registration marks  28  and  128 , and be clipped to the clipboard to hold the paper sheet in place on the clipboards  20 ,  120 , with all of its drawings that were earlier made being in full registration location on their respective clipboards. When the linear style registration mark  30 ,  130  is used, also as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  6 - 8 , and  10 ,  11  and  14 , it is, or they are, each engaged with an edge E 1 , E 2 , E 3  or E 4  of the paper sheet P. It is important that at least one of the registration marks is the corner style such as are the registration marks  28 ,  128 . By requiring one such, the paper is quickly and easily at least initially located by placing one of its corners into the corner style registration mark, locating it between the ends of the clipboard main body  42  and also parallel to the sides  44  and  46  of the clipboard main body. If no corner registration mark should be available, then the paper P would have to be laid down on the clipboard body and aligned either leftward and rightward, and/or upward and downward, but is not so easily aligned in both directions at the same time as it is when having and using registration marks. Placing a sheet of paper P in the precise position required should be very easy, and become almost automatic to the sketcher, and yet always be the correct position. 
         [0034]    It is to be fully understood that a clipboard assembly  20 ,  120  embodying the invention can be made to accommodate any size of paper, with the most common ones being 8.5×11 inches, 8.5×14 inches, 11×17 inches, or A6 that is commonly used in Canada and some other countries, or any size that is likely to be used often by a sketcher. Since a clipboard assembly is usually carried by hand and used as needed, it should be of a size, shape and weight that it is easily so transported and used. 
         [0035]    The following descriptions relate specifically to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , with some comments also relating to the clipboard assemblies of  FIGS. 6-11  as part of one group, and the clipboard assemblies of  FIGS. 12 through 18  as part of another group. In all of the clipboard assemblies or parts thereof shown in  FIGS. 1-11 ,  19  and  20 , there is a clipboard assembly  20 . 
         [0036]    Turntable  48  has its upper surface  50  lying in the same plane as the clipboard parts  142  that are adjacent to the turntable. Turntable  48  is apart of the clipboard assembly  20 . The turntable  48  has the textured groove pattern section  36  on its upper surface  50 , instead of being on a continuous part of the upper surface  52  of the clipboard main body  42  of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 . The turntable  48  has subtle but definitely existing small grooves forming the textured groove pattern section  36 . These are not individually identified because they are small and narrow, and very numerous, as they are disclosed in the Phillips reference noted above. They must be able to be penetrated, even very slightly, with the point T 1 of the sketching tool T, as above noted, when sketches are being made. Turntable  48  also has an underside or lower surface  54 , further described below. 
         [0037]    Turntable  48  is rotatably movable under the paper sheet P so that lines may be sketched at angles to each other which may or may not be at right angles with each other. Lines are drawn on the upper surface of a paper sheet P with a writing or sketching tool T, schematically shown in  FIG. 21 , so that its point is also aligned with the same groove that guided the pointed end T 1  of the writing tool T in the desired direction. As is shown and described in the pending application cited, it must be able to push the part of the paper sheet P overlying a purposely selected groove of the textured groove pattern  36  into the selected groove and to deposit a material such as the graphite of a pencil, or the ink of a pen, on the paper sheet as the sketching tool point T 1  is moved along a selected groove, leaving a sketched linen the upper side of the paper. 
         [0038]    The basic concept to draw a line using a groove and a writing device, but not the provision of the turntable  48 , is also found in the cited patent to Phillips as well as in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/508,767 of which this application is a continuation-in-part, and need not be further described herein at this point. While this concept is not the invention herein disclosed and claimed, it is a basis from which the improvements constituting the claimed invention was conceived, albeit some forty years later during which time the present invention was not known or developed. 
         [0039]    As better seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the turntable  48  has a center recess  56  that receives the spindle  58  so that the rotating disc forming the turntable  48  is rotatable on the spindle  58 , also seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , that extends slightly upward from the portion  60  of the clipboard main body  42  that is normally underneath the turntable  48 . In its broadest sense, as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , this rotation of the turntable is permissible to the extent of a desired different degree, from 000° to 090° to the right to the left, or both, or 180° in either direction, or 270°, or even to a full 360° if need be. It is preferred that the arrangement shown in  FIG. 5  be used, with the rotation of the turntable being limited to 90° in the clockwise direction from the normal 000° position. That position and the range of positions between 000° and 090° is sufficient to make any other angled drawing lines, and it is more easily made 
         [0040]    The turntable  48  also has a saw-toothed or knurled outer edge surface  62  that permits the user to easily rotate the turntable  48 , using a finger or a thumb engaging the knurled edge  62  of the turntable that extends beyond the clipboard main body on the opposite side  44  from the side  46  thereof that is underneath the turntable  48  but outside of the standard rectangular shape of a clipboard, such a standard rectangular clipboard shape being shown in  FIGS. 11-18 . When the clipboard main body  42  is shaped as shown in  FIG. 10  as main body  68 , however, there are parts  70  and  72  of the clipboard main body  68  that extend arcuately on both sides, and directly support the turntable completely. The edge  62  of the turntable cannot then be easily accessed for the purpose of rotating the turntable  48 , so, the sketcher&#39;s finger or fingers are expected to be used to engage parts of the textured grove pattern  36  that are not covered by the paper sheet upon which a sketch is being made, and push it to rotate as desired. 
         [0041]    Partial rotation of the turntable  48  moves the turntable to the desired angle that the user wants to draw an angled line relative to another line that is not perpendicular to the angled line to be drawn. This desired angle may be any angle between the turntable limits of rotation, and not only the cardinal or inter-cardinal angles that are numerically identified. The turntable  48  can also be moved counterclockwise from an angled-line position so as to place it again at its normal rotated position, which is 000°, or to a different smaller angularly-selected position. 
         [0042]    It is to be noted at this point of the description that, while the turntable  48  can be so made that it can rotate only clockwise from its standard 000° position shown to a maximum of 090°, and afterward counterclockwise back as far as to its standard 000° position, the sketcher can still draw lines at any desired acute or obtuse angle or angles to the lines previously drawn. Whether the turntable  48  is permitted to rotate only in one direction from its standard 000° position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or to be able to rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction from that standard position as shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  19 , described below, stops  74  and  76  may be provided which are engaged once that maximum degree of rotation is attained, preventing the turntable  48  from rotating further. When the turntable  48  is to be allowed to rotate to a maximum of 090° position, there is a stop  76  preventing the turntable  48  from being turned beyond that maximum of 090° position. A stop  74  is also provided to prevent the turntable  48  from being returned rotationally beyond the standard position shown where all of the grooves are either vertical or horizontal grooves, when the turntable is allowed to rotate in a clockwise movement from its 090° maximum turning position. This is the preferred arrangement, with the stops being the semi-circular ends  74  and  76  of the groove  80  in which a pin  64  on the underside  54  of turntable  48  is moved as the turntable is rotated, as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]    That arrangement is shown in detail in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , on the underside or bottom surface  54  of the turntable  48  there is a small, preferably cylindrical, pin  64  extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface  54  of the turntable  48 . This pin  64  is located near but somewhat inward from the perimeter edge  62  of the turntable. Also as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , there is also a cylindrical recess  56  in the bottom of turntable  48 , with its opening  66  being in the plane of the bottom surface  54 . This opening  66  receives a coordinated support spindle  58  that extends upwardly from the upper surface portion  60  of the clipboard  20  that normally lies immediately under the turntable  48 , once that turntable is installed. The upper surface portion  60  has the spindle  58  extending from it is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . The spindle  58  is also cylindrical, and mates with the cylindrical recess  56  of the turntable so that the turntable may be rotated by the sketcher about the axis  78  of the spindle  58  and the coextensive axis of recess  56  when desired. The height of the spindle  58  from the clipboard upper surface portion  60  is preferably no more than the depth of the cylindrical recess  56  in the bottom surface  54  of the turntable  48 . It is preferred that the spindle  58  be very slightly less in height than the depth of the recess  56 , so that the lower surface  54  of the turntable  48  is actually touching the upper surface  52  of the portion  60  of clipboard  20  and therefore this surface engagement provides a relatively small, yet definite frictional drag against the rotation of the turntable  48  as it is moved by the sketcher to a suitable arcuate location. This drag makes it easy to keep the turntable  48  in its rotated position that the sketcher desires in order to draw one or more lines that are relatively acutely or obtusely angular to the earlier-drawn lines but not necessarily perpendicular to those lines. When the turntable  48  has been rotated to the maximum 090° position, of course any lines then drawn using the illustrated textured groove pattern section  36  of the turntable  48  would then drawn either perpendicular to or parallel to the earlier drawn lines. 
         [0044]    If it is desired to be able to rotate the turntable  48  both clockwise and counterclockwise from the standard position of 000°, the groove  82  may be rearranged to a semi-circular groove like that shown in  FIG. 19 , with the 090° position of the groove being moved arcuately 90°, thus making the groove then extend for 90° either side of the 000° position. In this event, or when the groove  82  is a semi-circle or greater, a pair of detents D 1  and D 2  are located on the bottom  86  of the arcuate groove  82  to be engaged by the turntable pin  64  indicate to the sketcher that the turntable is in the standard 000° position, but will permit the sketcher to move the turntable beyond the detents if that is his or her desire. Such detents may also be employed in other locations in other grooves similar to grooves  80 ,  82 , or  84 . 
         [0045]    The detents D 1  and D 2  may be small laterally extending bumps, located on the bottom of the curved groove or slot, such as grooves  82  and  84 , receiving the pin  64  and spaced just far enough apart to permit the pin  64  to first rise up slightly, causing the turntable  48  to also rise slightly, which can be felt by the sketcher as he or she moves the turntable. The turntable will then move back downward when the end of pin  64  has passed over the first detent D 1  of these detents, and will tend to settle in-between the two detents D 1  and D 2 , engaging both of them so that the location of the turntable  48  is precisely as desired. This will lightly hold the turntable  48  in the position associated with that pair of detents, yet being subject to more rotation, either clockwise or counterclockwise, as desired by the sketcher. If the sketcher wants to move the turntable  48  arcuately still further, it can be done by forcing the pin  64  to once again ride up over the secondly-engaged detent D 2 , and it will then be movable in the curved slot or groove  82  or  84  until it either reaches a stop  74  or  76  formed by an end of the curved slot or another set of detents D 1  and D 2 , which can be circumferentially located to indicate the next cardinal angle, for example. There can be as many pairs of detents D 1  and D 2  as it is desired to tend to have the turntable  48  stop, or at least signal the sketch operator that a particular arcuate position of the turntable has been passed. 
         [0046]      FIG. 19  illustrates the groove  82  provided in the upper surface of the clipboard  20  when the turntable  48  is able to rotate to any rotatable position between its standard 000° position and its clockwise position of 180°, passing the 090° position when it started at a larger degree than the 0900 position and also can be precisely positioned at its standard 000° position. The groove  82  is a semi-circular groove that has one extreme end  88  like that of the groove end  74  and the other end  90  like that of end  76 . The turntable&#39;s standard 000° position is therefore at one semi-circular end  88  and that end has a centerline  92 , and the turntable&#39;s standard 180° position is at the other semi-circular end  90 , which had a centerline  94 . When the pin  54  must pass over the location of the 090° position, there is a set of detents D 1  and D 2  positioned at that location which are like the set of detents D 1  and D 2  previously described. They provide a detent-caused warning that the pin  64  is over, then has passed beyond, the 090°position. It is understood that, because the turntable  48  is not fastened to the clipboard  20 , the turntable may be moved upward to a small extent that is about the height of the detents from the bottom of the groove at the location of the 090° position, so that the sketcher feels that movement upward over the first of the detents D 1  and then slightly downward, followed by another upward movement and then another downward movement as the pin  54  passes over and beyond the second detent D 2 , after which the sketcher either stops the turntable at the desired angle or returns it to the precise position of its standard 000° position. 
         [0047]    When the sketcher desires to draw one or more lines that are at angles other than 90°, he or she rotates the turntable, using a thumb or finger that engages the saw-toothed or knurled surface  44  on the side forming the edge of the turntable, setting the desired angle to an already-drawn line, and then draws that line or lines. Such angles may be either acute or obtuse, as desired by the user. As better seen in  FIG. 2 , the clipboard  20  has a center hole where the rotating disc forming the turntable  48  is rotated to a desired different degree, from 0° to 90° in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, or in both directions between 090° and 270° and including 000°. However, such rotations beyond the 090° point is really unnecessary when working with the straight lines in graphic form as shown in FIGS.  1 , 3 , and  6 - 8 . The turntable has subtle but definitely existing small grooves forming the textured groove pattern section. It also has the knurled edge surface  44  that permits the user to rotate the turntable  48  either clockwise or counter-clockwise to the desired angle that the user wants to draw an angled line relative to another line that is not perpendicular to the angled line to be drawn. The sketcher can also move the turntable and draw other lines at other angles to the extent desired. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  shows the upper surface of the clipboard assembly  20 , including the registration marks  28  and  30  as well as turntable  48 , when the turntable is to be arcuately movable only between the standard 000° position and the location of its maximum of the 090° position if being allowed to be rotatable clockwise from its standard 000° position. Here, it is shown as having been rotated counterclockwise from its standard 000° position to the 035° position. 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  shows the same view as seen in  FIG. 6 . However, in this FIGURE is shown as having been rotated counterclockwise from its standard 000° position to the 060° position. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  shows the upper surface of the clipboard assembly  20 , including the turntable  48 , when the turntable is to be arcuately movable though a semi-circular range between the standard 000° position and the location of its maximum 180° position to the 135° position when it is allowed to be rotatable clockwise from its standard 000° position. The groove controlling the range of movement of the turntable  48  to move in this manner is shown in  FIG. 19 . If the turntable is permitted to rotate through 360°, this same position can be reached by rotating the turntable in either direction. The groove  84  controls the range of movement of the turntable  48  to move in this manner, and is shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  shows the upper surface of the clipboard assembly  20 , including the turntable  48 , when the turntable is to be arcuately movable though a semi-circular range between the standard 000° position and the location of its maximum 180° position to the 150° position when it is allowed to be rotatable clockwise from its standard 000° position. The groove controlling the range of movement of the turntable  48  to move in this manner is shown in  FIG. 19 . If the turntable is permitted to rotate through 360°, this same position can be reached by rotating the turntable in either direction. The groove controlling the range of movement of the turntable  48  to move in this manner is shown in  FIG. 20 . While it would be somewhat unusual to allow a clockwise movement of the turntable  48  from the standard 000° position to the 270° position, it is within the bounds of the herein disclosed and claimed invention to do so, or even to some other range limit not shown in the drawing, although there is no readily apparent reason to do so, using a groove similar to the grooves  80  and  82  of  FIGS. 19 and 20 , extending through such a desired range limit, with whatever those desired range limits may be. 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  shows a modification of the clipboard main body in which the turntable is rotatable to points that, in the FIGS.  1 , 3 , and  6 - 9  would leave the left part, as viewed in those FIGURES, unsupported by an arcuate part of the clipboard main body. Instead of having a straight side  44  of the main body on the left side, there is another arcuate side  98  that supports the left outer part of the turntable  48  in the same manner that the similar arcuate side  96  shown in FIGS.  1 , 3  and  6 - 9 . This construction is used if the clipboard main body is to be supportive of the turntable  48  under all conditions of rotation. 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  shows a modification of the clipboard main body in which the turntable is rotatable to points that, in the FIGS.  1 , 3 , and  6 - 9  would omit the right part  96 , and use only the arcuate part  98 . This arrangement is in effect a mirror image of the shape of the clipboard main body shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  6 - 9 , with support by an arcuate side part of the clipboard main body being on the left side only, as seen in this  FIG. 11 . It would have a straight side  46  of the main body on the right side, and support only the left outer part of the turntable  48  instead of the right outer part of the of the turntable. This construction may be used for the same purposes as the assemblies of FIGS.  1 , 3 , and  6 - 9 , and would be likely to be used if the rotation of the turntable is permitted only from the standard 000° position to either the 270° position or the 180° position by way of the 270° position. Yet, even when the turntable is allowed to be rotated throughout 360°, or restricted to some other limit, there is no embracing need to use both arcuate parts  96  and  98 , or either of them. They are more protective of the turntable  48 , and that alone is usually a sufficient reason to use at least one of them, and preferably both of them, irrespective of the range of turntable rotation. Of course, both arcuate parts  98  will be able to have the grooves  80 ,  82  or  84  formed in the underside of the clipboard main body  42 , while with only one arcuate part, the use of groove  80  and  82  are usable. The use of groove  84  requires both arcuate sides  96  and  98  that are shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0054]      FIGS. 12 through 18  shows a more simple version of the clipboard than the one shown in the prior FIGURES. It is a clipboard  120  that has no turntable, and therefore is of a more standard form of clipboard. It has straight sides  156  and  158  that are parallel, and extend from the lower end  122  to the upper end  124 . It has the same vertical and horizontal grooves in its textured groove pattern  136 , and performs the same as does the clipboard  20  when that turntable  48  is in the standard 000° position shown. It is an illustration of using only one feature of the invention, namely the provision and use of the registration marks, together with the provision and use of a clip, to very precisely locate the paper sheet on which drawings are to be made, and make such precise location repeatable, which the Phillips did not have. 
         [0055]    More specifically,  FIG. 12  shows the basic clipboard  120 , with only one corner registration mark  150 . The paper sheet P is in place with its corner C 1  in contact with the two parts  152  and  154  of that corner registration mark. This use of the one corner mark is able to locate the paper sheet P, but not necessarily as easily and precisely when at least one additional registration mark is used that has an edge or the paper sheet P engaged, some distance away from the corner mark  150 . Several such corner mark arrangements are shown in the  FIGS. 13 through 17 . They are considered to be some samples of different ways in which the use of registration marks can be incorporated. They are not to be understood as limiting arrangements coming within the purview of the invention to just these arrangements. Still other arrangements using registration marks are included within the invention disclosed and claimed. 
         [0056]      FIG. 13  shows the basic clipboard  120 , with one corner registration mark  150 . The paper sheet P is in place with its corner C 1  in contact with the two parts  152  and  154  of that corner registration mark. It also shows a second registration mark  160 . This mark is a linear registration mark, and in this Figure it is engaged by the top edge E 1  of the paper sheet P that is in its desired position on the clipboard. This use of two registration marks, one of which is a corner registration mark, is very simple to use, and will result in the paper sheet P being in the precise position desired, whether it be the first time or a second or more times that it has had this desired position on clipboard  120 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 14  shows the basic clipboard  120 , with one corner registration mark  150  at the bottom of the paper sheet P is in place with its corner C 3  in contact with the two parts  152  and  154  of that corner registration mark. It also shows an open-cornered registration mark  170 , having its two the two sections  172  and  174  spaced from the actual corner yet sufficiently close to each other to act as a corner registration mark. In addition, a linear registration mark  160  is used to positively locate the edge E 4  of the paper sheet P, near the corner C 4  of the paper sheet P, acting together with the section  154  of the corner registration mark  150  located at corner C 3  of the paper sheet P, 
         [0058]      FIG. 15  shows the clipboard assembly  120  with two corner register marks  150  being used to precisely locate the paper sheet P. The upper one of the corner register marks  150  has its sections  152  and  154  in engagement with the corner C 1  of the paper sheet P. The lower one of the register marks  150  has its sections  152  and  154  in engagement with the corner C 3  of the paper sheet P. With this arrangement the paper sheet P is moved from the right to respectively engage its corners C 1  and C 3  with the respective parts  152  and  154  of the upper and lower corner register marks, and also to pass under the open clip  120 , which is then closed to hold the paper sheet P in its position. 
         [0059]      FIG. 16  illustrates another arrangement of the registration marks on the clipboard  120  having the paper sheet P&#39;s two corner registration marks  150 , located at diagonal corners C 1  and C 4 . This arrangement would assure that the paper sheet&#39;s corners are in the precisely correct location. 
         [0060]      FIG. 17  shows an arrangement of the registration marks on the clipboard  120  which is similar to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 13  in which one corner registration mark  150  is used, and the one other registration mark used is a linear registration mark  160 . However, this latter registration mark is at or at least very near the corner C 3  and is in engagement with the paper sheet&#39;s edge E 3  instead of its top edge E 1  when looking at  FIG. 13 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 18  shows a cross-section view of the clipboard of  FIG. 14 , taken in the direction of arrows  18 - 18  of that FIGURE. It shows the clipboard body  120  in cross-section, and the registration marks  150  and  160  located back of the cross-section plane where the view is taken, and therefore they are not in section. It also shows the paper sheet P in cross-section, lying on the top surface of the clipboard  120  where the textured groove pattern is located. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 19 and 20  are fully described above, and therefore no further descriptions of them are needed 
         [0063]      FIG. 21  schematically and in a very simple manner a drawing tool T that is used when drawing lines using the invention. It has a very fine point T 1  which is sufficiently small in size to push parts of the paper sheet P into one of the textured grooves as earlier described. It may be a pencil or have a nib or be a ball point pen, as is desired. 
         [0064]    One of the primary advantages of the invention herein disclosed and claimed it that, if at any time, the sketcher wants to remove the paper sheet P from the clipboard  20  or  120 , it is very simple to do so without fear that other lines may later be added to the sketch then on the paper sheet P without having a problem of re-aligning the paper sheet on the clipboard  20  or  120  so that any line later drawn so as to be complementary to one or more lines that had been previously drawn on the paper sheet P before the paper sheet was removed from the clipboard  20  or  120 . This is very easily accomplished by laying the paper sheet P back in position over the textured groove pattern section so that the appropriate paper sheet corners and edges are fitted to the inner surfaces of the paper sheet registration marks with the paper top end being under the clip  26 . Another primary advantage of the invention herein disclosed and claimed is the provision of the turntable, so that a clipboard with typical horizontal and vertical intersecting grooves can be used to draw lines at relative angles other than just 90°. A third primary advantage of this invention is the ability to change turntables quickly and easily so that different textured groove patterns may be used when desired. Instead of requiring several separate clipboards, only extra turntables are needed. This is both a convenience and expense advantage. 
         [0065]    There seems to have been no more advancements of the type of sketching shown by Phillips until the inventors named herein began to improve on Phillips&#39;s structure and in the process make additional inventions. The identical structure shown by Phillips, whose patent expired some twenty or more years ago, is still being marketed, with the patent number of the Phillips patent noted thereon, even though that patent expired some years ago, and that marketed device shows no improvements to subject matter of the Phillips patent. While it did, and still does, meet a need to some extent, the improvements made by the inventors named herein have vastly improved the meeting of that need.