Abstract:
The clamping clip construction of a clip board is improved by changing the clamping member to provide an offset flange formed with a shelf-like tray at the end, thereby to shorten the clip and enlarging the available space on the board, and shortening the distance to the pivot axis to increase the clamping force, and to provide an enlarged paper engaging surface to safeguard the papers on the board. Retention means are also provided which, together with the tray, form a snap-in detent so that elongated objects such as pens and pencils may be stored and retrieved directly on the clip construction of the clip board.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to clip boards and more particularly to an improved clip, or clamping, construction for use at one end of a stiff, rectangular board so that elongated objects such as pencils, pens, marking instruments may be employed by the user with great facility when the clip board is being used as a portable writing surface. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Clip boards are generally so well known in the art that they are defined in the dictionary as comprising a stiff rectangular board having at one end a clip for holding paper, a writing pad, or the like, and serving as a portable writing surface. 
     The usual form of commercially available clip board satisfying that definition provides a wooden or plastic or composition board on which is mounted a metal clip construction featuring the employment of a base member secured to the board, a pivot axis rod, a spring unit and a pivotally movable clamping member. 
     The clamping member usually takes the form of a flat metallic plate having intermediate offset arms connected to the base member by a spring biased hinge. The pivot axis rod is biased by the spring unit so that the upper part of the plate on one side of the pivot axis functions as an actuating handle. The lower end of the plate on the other side of the pivot axis is spring loaded downwardly against the writing surface of the board. The free end of the plate takes the form of a laterally extending clamping edge which serves to hold paper sheets, or a writing pad, or a collection of loose papers on the board. Thus, the board serves as a portable writing surface for the user who wishes to enter notations on the paper articles clamped by the clip. 
     Pencil holders have been provided on clip boards of the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,062 utilizes a spring pencil holding finger to hold a pencil longitudinally of the clip board. U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,279 has a pencil holder which extends through a slot and overlies the biasing spring on one side of the slot while providing a portion overlying the clamp plate on the other side of the slot for clamping a pencil. U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,402 provides a plurality of spring fingers on the edge of the clamping plate so that the user may insert the end of a pencil under one or more of the spring fingers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,541 utilizes an elastic band which may be stretched to accept a pencil or other object under the band. U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,242 provides a separate pen holder which is detachably attached as an accessory to the clip board for holding a pen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,215 has a clipboard with molded indentations in the shape of a writing utensil in which the utensil may be locked in place with compressive force. U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,250 uses an apertured edge in the clamping member to capture a writing instrument disposed longitudinally relative to the board to assist in retention of papers on the board. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Since clip boards are highly portable, they are particularly suited for employment by persons recording data in the field, i.e., in a form of usage requiring intermittent use at changing locations. Hence, a special problem which oftentimes plagues the user of a clip board is that the writing or marking instrument utilized to mark the materials on the board will be misplaced, or set down. Consequently, there is a need for an improved form of convenient retention means suitable for receiving and retaining elongated objects, such as pencils and pens. Such retention means should be integrated with the clip board in an unobtrusive manner without impairing the normal functioning of the clip board and without necessitating the use of dangling strings, elastic bands or separate detachable holding accessories, or without the necessity of altering the basic characteristics of the board itself. 
     It is contemplated by the present invention to form a clamping plate for a clip board in such a manner that there is defined a laterally extending shelf-like tray at the terminal edge closely adjacent the writing surface of the board. Such tray may be rounded in the shape of a curve to form a cradle, if desired. In any event, the lower surface of the tray forms an enlarged surface contact with the paper articles inserted beneath it. By virtue of such provision, the paper articles are clamped and supported at a location closer to the pivot axis of the clip, increasing the force applied to the board or its contents. 
     The profile of the tray also provides an area contact with the paper articles, rather than a line contact as occurs in prior art devices, and is thus less damaging to delicate or important documents being processed by the user. Further, the usable area of the board is increased in the clamping area. 
     The upper surface of the shelf-like tray forms a receptacle receiving and seating elongated objects. It is further contemplated that a supplemental locking means may be provided which forms together with the tray a snap-in detent or retention lock. Thus, a pencil, or a pen, or a marking device, may be conveniently inserted into the tray when not in actual use for quick and convenient retrieval on demand by the user of the clip board. 
     Various species embodying the generic concept of this invention are disclosed so that artisans may be given their choice of options in constructing a clip board in accordance with this invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view, and partially exploded, showing a clip board assembly provided in accordance with one form of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the form of the invention of FIG. 1, and showing in fragmentary cross-section a complete clip board assembly in accordance with this invention, and with an elongated hexagonal object retained in the clip, or clamping structure. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a working article on the board clamped by the clip and showing an elongated cylindrical object retained on the clip. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan elevational view of another form of the invention utilizing a supplemental spring loading retainer. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clip board of FIG. 4 showing a writing instrument locked in retention on the clip board. 
     FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of a clip board assembly utilizing the form of the invention referred to in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but showing another form of the invention wherein a spring construction of a different configuration effects a connection of inserted articles with the clip board. 
     FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the clamping member of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the spring utilized in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a cylindrical object retained on the clip board. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan elevational view of the clip board construction of FIGS. 7-10 to show additional details of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is particulary directed at improvements to the upper clamping portion of a clip board utilized by many users as a portable writing surface. In the environment of a clip board, there is customarily provided a stiff rectangular board having at one end a clip construction with a spring loaded hinge for holding paper, or a writing pad, or the like. 
     Such a board is shown at  10  and may be made of a flat wooden board, or of plastic or pressed paper board. The clip construction usually includes a flat metallic stamping forming a base  11  connected in firm assembly with the board  10  by means of fasteners such as rivets  12 , or other suitable fastening means. The base  11  has a pair of laterally spaced apart upwardly projecting arms  13  apertured as at  14 , (FIG. 2) thereby to mount a pivot pin  15  which may take the form of a rigid metal rod extending between the arms  13  to establish a pivot axis  16 . 
     In accordance with this invention, there is provided a clamping member  20 . The clamping member  20  is conveniently formed as a metal stamping having two arms  21  offset from an intermediate portion of the article and which arms  21  are disposed to be complemental to the arms  13  on the base  11 . The arms  21  are each apertured as at  22  so that the clamping member  20  is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin  15  for movement towards and away from the surface of the board  10 . 
     A coil spring means  30  is provided. In conventional practice, the spring means  30  will have one or more coils of wound spring wire carried on the pivot pin  15  and operatively anchored against the base  11  and engaged with the clamping member  20  so as to continuously torque load the clamping member  20  relative to the pivot axis  16 . Thus, the clamping member  20  will be angularly moved so that the portion of the clamping member  20  on the lower side of the pivot axis  16  will engage the board  10  in such a manner that it will be spring loaded to grip and retain papers, or note pads, or working documents firmly on the board  10 . 
     In the usual prior art form of clip board, the clamping member will have an upper portion forming an actuating arm  23  disposed on the upper side of the pivot axis  16 . By pressing down on the arm  23  to overcome the bias of the spring means  30 , the clamping arm  20  may be pivotally rotated to lift the lower end of the clamping member  20 , thereby releasing the objects clamped thereby. 
     Since clip boards are particularly suited for providing a portable writing surface, they are most frequently employed in working environments where the user depends on the portability convenience. However, the writing instruments used to mark or inscribe the papers on the clip board are loose and are frequently misplaced or set down, thereby frustrating the efficient use of the clip board. 
     By this invention, we have provided advantageous changes to the clamping member  20  and improved writing instrument retention means. The clamping member  20  has the usual actuating arm  23  shown in FIG. 1 as constituting a somewhat arcuate section with a center opening  24  extending there through. The opening  24  may be used for storing and suspending the clip board from a hook, if desired. 
     Extending away from the arcuate portion and disposed inwardly of the arms  21  is a flat body portion  25  which in customary prior art devices terminates in an offset rim providing an elongated edge for engaging the board  10 , or paper objects inserted beneath the edge in line contact therewith. The usual embossed strengthening ribs are formed in the body portion  25  as shown in FIG. 1 at “R.” 
     According to the present invention, the flat body portion  25  is offset at a bend line  26  so that a widened flange  27  extends through an offset plane in the direction of the board  10 . At the end of the flange there is formed by bending and shaping a shelflike tray  28  which extends laterally from side to side of the flange  27 . Referring to the profile shape of the tray  28  as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the tray  28  may be formed in a curved configuration to form what could be analogized to a cradle which functions as a receptacle. The bottom, or lower surface of the tray  28  forms an engagement surface  29  for engaging paper objects on the board  10 . By virtue of such profile, the tray  28  and its engagement surface  29  supports the papers, or contents, of the board  10  closer to the pivot axis  16 , thereby increasing the force applied to the board  10  and its contents. Moreover, the curved engagement surface  29  avoids a sharp damaging line contact with delicate, or otherwise important, papers and is shaped so as to provide what is essentially area contact with the board  10  and its contents. The useable area on the board  10  is also increased. 
     It will also be apparent that the upper surface  31  of the tray  28  forms a receptacle  35  for receiving elongated objects such as pens and pencils, or the like. In order to keep such elongated objects integrated with the receptacle  35  and with the clip board  10 , we have additionally provided improved retention means on the clamping member  20  itself. 
     In the form of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, it will be noted that the clamping member  20  is provided with a flat body portion  25  having a struck-out band or tongue  36  which projects forwardly the full extent of the clamping member  20 . The band or tongue  36  is preferably reversely curved at its endmost extremity to form a finger  37  overlying the receptacle  35 . Together with the tray  28 , the band or tongue  36 , and its finger  37 , form a snap-in detent which operates as a catch, or lock, to keep the elongated object seated and retained in the receptacle  35  until the user desires to retrieve it, whereupon, it may be quickly, easily and conveniently be removed from the receptacle  35  for further use. 
     The retention means of FIGS. 1-3 accommodates objects of different size quite readily. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, an elongated object  38  having a hexagonal crosssection and of relatively smaller size is readily retained in the receptacle  35 . In FIG. 3, there is shown an elongated object  38   a  of cylindrical cross-section. It, too, is readily accommodated with a snap-in fit, even when the clamping member  20  is simultaneously grasping and effectively clamping a pad of paper P. (FIG. 2) 
     In FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 , a clamping member  20   a  is modified to provide a lanced port  50  formed in the flat body portion  25   a . The port  50  receives and seats in locked relationship the opposite ends of an elongated spring wire  51 . The intermediate portions of the spring wire  51  are formed in a U-shape so that a bight portion shaped to provide an engagement finger  32   a  which cooperates with the tray  28   a  to retain elongated objects in the receptacle  35   a . Parts similar to corresponding parts in the form of FIGS. 1-3 are designated with the same numeral plus the suffix “a.” 
     In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 inclusive, instead of a single lanced port  50  to accommodate both ends of the spring wire  50 , there are spaced apart lanced ports  60  and  61  through which a corresponding end  62  and  63  of a wire  65  passes. Note that the lanced ports  60  and  61  are conveniently struck, or lanced, simply by inwardly offsetting an intermediate part of the bending creases  66  and  67  on opposite sides of the clamping member  20   b , i.e., at the upper end of each of the arms  20   b . Sufficient relief  68  is also provided in the bend line  26   b  between the widened body  25   b  and the flange  27   b  at each respective arm  20   b  so that a leg  65   a  at one end of the wire  65  and a leg  65   b  at the other end of the wire  65  extends forwardly in the creases  66  and  67  respectively and project forwardly of the body portion  25   b  superjacent the receptacle  35   b.    
     The wire  65  has two arms  65   c  and  65   d . Each arm  65   c  and  65   d  is offset angularly to extend laterally inwardly and forwardly as shown in FIG.  5 . At the centermost inner portion the arms  65   c  and  65   d  join one another at a rearwardly extending center U-shaped finger  65   e . The finger  65   e  has parallel spaced apart legs  65   f  and  65   g  joined by a center bight portion  65   h.    
     In bending and shaping the wire  65 , the legs  65   f  and  65   g  of the finger  65   e  may be offset out of a common plane as depicted in FIG. 8 so that when an object such as a writing instrument is inserted between the finger  65   e  and the receptacle  35   b , the finger  65   e  will be displaced upwardly, thereby exerting a locking bias to firmly retain the writing instrument in the receptacle  35   b.    
     In all forms of the invention, the improved clamping members afford the advantages of improved force distribution, tray profile and increased board space, and the addition of retention means affords the convenience of keeping writing instruments in an accessible quickly retrievable location. 
     Although minor modifications might be suggested by those artisans skilled in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within our contribution to the art.