GB2319214A

GB2319214A - An illuminated clipboard with light integral with clip

Info

Publication number: GB2319214A
Application number: GB9623867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Heath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-11-15
Filing date: 1996-11-15
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Also published as: GB9623867D0

Abstract

The clip of a clipboard comprises a light source 12 associated with one of the jaws 3 operable to retain sheets of paper on the board. The light source includes a housing moulded integrally with the jaw and a lens 13. The light source may extend the full width of the board.

Description

"An illuminated clipboard" THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or relating to clipboards. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lighting clip for a clipboard, an illuminated clipboard incorporating a lighting clip and a clipboard light for attachment to a clipboard.

There are many occasions when there is insufficient ambient light for the user of a clipboard to be able to read or write. A person such as a guide on a tour bus at night, a doorstep canvasser working in the evening or a student in a darkened lecture room who needs to make notes requires some form of illumination device to provide sufficient lighting in order to read and write.

The use of torches or small flashlights to provide extra light is, of course, known. However, one hand must be used to hold the torch or flashlight, so it is difficult also to hold a clipboard and to write since only one hand is left free.

In an attempt to solve this problem, various kinds of illuminated clipboards have been proposed. One known illuminated clipboard utilises a transparent board and a light source either within the board or along one edge of the board so as to produce an illuminated backing to any sheets of paper held on the board by a separate clip.

Another known type of illuminated clipboard incorporates a stem projecting from the clipboard upon which a light source may be mounted and directed to illuminate any papers on the board. In a further known illuminated clipboard, a strip light is provided along a longitudinal edge of the clipboard for shining light across the clipboard.

It is an object of the present invention to provide illumination for a clipboard in a compact and convenient manner.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a lighting clip for a clipboard comprising a pair of spring-biased jaws operable to clip on to an edge of a board so as to retain sheets of paper on the board between the board and one of the jaws, which jaw is provided with a light source to illuminate a surface of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

A further aspect of the present invention provides an illuminated clipboard comprising a board and a spring biased jaw mounted at an edge of the board and operable to retain sheets of paper on the board between the board and the jaw, which jaw is provided with a light source to illuminate a surface of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a clipboard light comprising a light unit for insertion between a board and a spring-biased clip which is mounted on the board and has a jaw to retain sheets of paper on the board, a first surface of a housing of the light unit presenting locating means to receive a part of the jaw and a second surface of the housing opposite the first surface presenting gripping means to retain sheets of paper on the board between the gripping means and the board, the housing containing a light source for illuminating a surface of the board and any sheets of paper on the board through a window in a third surface of the housing extending between the first and second surfaces of the housing.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a lighting clip embodying the present invention gripping onto one end of a board; FIGURE 2 is a side view of one end of a clipboard incorporating a lighting clip and embodying the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a side view of a clipboard light embodying the present invention in combination with a conventional clipboard, only one end of the clipboard being shown; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the clipboard of Figure 2; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another clipboard embodying the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a lighting clip 1 embodying the present invention is shown clipped on to one end of a writing tablet or board 2.

The clip 1 comprises a pair of substantially flat, plate-like jaws 3,4 which are joined together by respective end arms 5,6 of a helical torsion spring 7.

The jaws 3,4 are mounted on the helical torsion spring 7 such that respective ends 8 of the jaws 3,4 close together. The other ends 9 of the jaws are biased into an open condition.

The closed ends 8 of the jaws 3,4 are each provided with a serrated edge 10,11 which serve to grip onto the board 2.

The closed end 8 of one of the jaws 3 carries a light unit 12. The light unit 12 comprises a housing 12A having a front wall formed with a window fitted with a lens 13. The housing 12A contains a light source (not shown), such as one or more small light bulbs or light-emitting solid state devices, and a battery (not shown) for energising the light source upon actuation of a switch 14 of the light unit 12. The housing 12A is preferably formed integrally with the jaw 3, for example by moulding the jaw 3 and the housing 12A from plastics material, but may be formed as a separate component secured to the jaw 3 by fasteners or adhesive. A part (not shown) of the housing 12A may be detachable from the rest of the housing to provide access to the interior of the housing and thereby enable replacement of the light source and battery when necessary.

The light unit 12 extends along the edge 10 of the closed end 8 of the jaw 3 and the lens 13 similarly extends along the length of the light unit. The lens 13 serves to direct light emerging through the window in the front wall of the housing from the light source along the board 2 so that substantially all of the top surface 2A of the clipboard 2 is illuminated. The switch 14 is a simple toggle switch which, in the embodiment of the clip shown in Figure 1, is located at one end of the light unit 12.

Preferably, the housing 12A of the light unit 12 is provided with a further gripping edge or rib 15 which extends along a bottom surface of the light unit 12 for contacting the upper surface 2A of the board 2 so as to retain sheets of paper or the like between the clip 1 and the board 2.

In use, sheets of paper or the like are laid on the top surface 2A of the board 2 and the jaws 3,4 of the clip 1 are opened and placed on one edge of the board 2 so as to sandwich the sheets of paper or the like between the clip 1 and the board 2. The switch 14 may then be used to turn on the light source and thereby illuminate the top surface 2A of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

The same reference numerals are used to denote like components in other embodiments of the invention.

A second embodiment of the present invention comprises an illuminated clipboard in which a lighting clip is formed as an integral part of the clipboard. Referring to Figure 2, a clipboard embodying the present invention comprises a clip 1 mounted at one end of a top surface 2A of a board 2. The clip 1 comprises a single jaw 3 which is hingedly mounted to one arm 6 of a helical torsion spring 7. The other arm 5 of the helical torsion spring 7 is fixed to the top surface 2A of the board 2 by a rivet or the like.

The helical torsion spring 7 biases one end 8 of the jaw 3 toward the board 2. The other end 9 is a free end which is used as a lever arm to pivot the end 8 away from the board 2 against the return force of the helical torsion spring 7.

A light unit 12 is carried by the jaw 3 at the end 8 thereof which is biased towards the board 2. As in the case of the clip of Figure 1, the light unit 12 comprises a housing 12A having a front wall formed with a window fitted with a lens 13. The housing 12A, which may be formed integrally with the jaw 3 or as a separate component secured to the jaw 3, contains a light source (not shown) and a battery (not shown). A switch 14 serves to control the energisation of the light source and a detachable part (not shown) of the housing 12A provides access to the interior of the housing to enable replacement of the light source and battery when necessary.

The light unit 12 extends along the closed end 8 of the jaw 3 and the lens 13 similarly extends along the length of the light unit. The lens 13 serves to direct light emerging through the window in the front wall of the housing from the light source along the board 2 so that substantially all of the top surface 2A of the clipboard 2 is illuminated. The switch 14 is a simple toggle switch which, in the embodiment of the clip shown in Figure 2, is located at one end of the light unit 12.

Preferably, the housing 12A of the light unit 12 is provided with a gripping edge or rib 15 which extends along a bottom surface of the light unit 12 for contacting the upper surface 2A of the board 2 so as to retain sheets of paper or the like held between the clip 1 and the board 2.

In use, the jaw 3 of the clip 1 is opened and sheets of paper or the like are laid on the top surface 2A of the board 2 under the jaw 3. The jaw 3 is released and the helical torsion spring 7 forces the jaw 3 down on to the top surface 2A of the board to sandwich the sheets of paper or the like between the clip 1 and the board 2. The switch 14 may then be used to turn on the light source and thereby illuminate the top surface 2A of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

A perspective view of the clipboard embodying the present invention and illustrated in Figure 2 is shown in Figure 4. A sheet of paper 20 or the like is shown gripped between the clip 1 and the board 2 on the top surface 2A of the board.

Referring to Figure 3, a conventional clipboard is shown provided with a clipboard light 12 embodying the present invention. The clipboard light 12 comprises a light unit 12 similar to the light units of the lighting clip and clipboard described previously and shown in Figures 1 and 2, but formed as a separate component. The conventional clipboard comprises a clip 1 mounted at one end of a first or top surface 2A of a board 2. The clip 1 comprises a single jaw 3 which is hingedly mounted to one arm 6 of a helical torsion spring 7. The other arm 5 of the helical torsion spring 7 is fixed to the top surface 2A of the board 2 by a rivet or the like.

The light unit 12 is located between the clip 1 and the board 2. Specifically, the light unit 12 is located under the closed end 8 of the jaw 3 which is received in a groove 16 formed in a top surface of the light unit 12. The groove 16 comprises the means by which, in use, the light unit 12 is located relative to the end 8 of the jaw 3.

Preferably, the light unit 12 is provided with a gripping edge or rib 15 which extends along a second or bottom surface of the housing 12A for contacting the upper surface 2A of the board 2 so as to retain sheets of paper or the like held between the clip 1 and the board 2.

The lens 13 extends along the length of the light unit. The lens 13 serves to direct light emerging through the window in the front wall of the housing 12A from the light source along the board 2 so that substantially all of the top surface 2A of the clipboard 2 is illuminated. The switch 14 is a simple toggle switch which, in the embodiment of the clip shown in Figure 2, is located at one end of the housing 12A.

In use, the jaw 3 of the clip 1 is opened and sheets of paper or the like are laid on the top surface 2A of the board 2 under the jaw 3. A clipboard light 12 embodying the present invention is located between the clip 1 and the board 2 with the lens 13 directed along the board 2. The jaw 3 is then released and the helical torsion spring 7 forces the jaw 3 down on to the top surface of the clipboard light housing 12A to sandwich the sheets of paper or the like between the clipboard light 12 and the board 2.

The switch 14 may then be used to turn on the light source and thereby illuminate the top surface 2A of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

Referring to Figure 5, another embodiment of a clipboard embodying the present invention is shown. This clipboard is similar to the clipboard of Figures 2 and 4 but incorporates an extended light housing 12A and correspondingly extended lens 13. As can be seen in Figure 5, the light housing 12A extends either side of the clip 1 across substantially the width of the board 2. The extended light housing 12A can be used with the other embodiments of the invention described above.

Additionally, it is envisaged that the clip 1 may extend across substantially the width of the board such that an associated extended light housing 12A is supported across substantially the width of the board 2.

Claims

1. A lighting clip for a clipboard comprising a pair of spring-biased jaws operable to clip on to an edge of a board so as to retain sheets of paper on the board between the board and one of the jaws, which jaw is provided with a light source to illuminate a surface of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

2. An illuminated clipboard comprising a board and a spring biased jaw mounted at an edge of the board and operable to retain sheets of paper on the board between the board and the jaw, which jaw is provided with a light source to illuminate a surface of the board and any sheets of paper on the board.

3. A clip or clipboard according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source is provided in a light unit which is mounted on an end of the jaw.

4. A clip or clipboard according to Claim 3, wherein the light unit includes a lens to direct light from the light source along the board so that substantially all of the top surface of the board is illuminated.

5. A clip or clipboard according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the light unit has a housing which is formed integrally with the jaw.

6. A clipboard light comprising a light unit for insertion between a board and a spring-biased clip which is mounted on the board and has a jaw to retain sheets of paper on the board, a first surface of a housing of the light unit presenting locating means to receive a part of the jaw and a second surface of the housing opposite the first surface presenting gripping means to retain sheets of paper on the board between the gripping means and the board, the housing containing a light source for illuminating a surface of the board and any sheets of paper on the board through a window in a third surface of the housing extending between the first and second surfaces of the housing.

7. A clipboard light according to Claim 6, wherein the locating means comprises a groove formed in the first surface of the housing of the light unit.

8. A clipboard light according to Claim 6, wherein the gripping means comprises a rib formed on the second surface of the housing of the light unit.

9. A clipboard light according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the window in the housing of the light unit includes a lens to direct light from the light source along the board so that substantially all of the top surface of the board is illuminated.

10. A clip, clipboard or clipboard light according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source extends across substantially the width of the board.

11. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1.

12. A clipboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

13. A clipboard light substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 3.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.