WO2014070218A1

WO2014070218A1 - Portable multi-page document holder

Info

Publication number: WO2014070218A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/000247
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Alexander CALDER
Original assignee: Calder Michael Alexander
Priority date: 2012-10-30
Filing date: 2013-10-30
Publication date: 2014-05-08

Abstract

The instant invention is a computer accessory, as disclosed, comprising a portable multi-page document holder that can be conveniently affixed to a desktop computer monitor, laptop computer monitor, tablet, other type of screen display or a fixed stable structure. The invention makes it convenient for the computer user to have his documents held conveniently in a hands-free way while which frees the users' hands to accomplish other tasks such as work on the computer device, handling paper work, assembly work and other type of manual tasks.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Portable Multi-Page Document Holder

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Application No. 13/663,649 which was filed on 30-October-2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

N/A

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

N/A

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON

A COMPACT DISC

N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is that of a computer accessory. More specifically, the computer accessory is a portable multi-page document holder that can be conveniently affixed to a desktop computer monitor, laptop computer monitor, tablet, other type of screen display or a fixed stable structure such as a shelf or bookcase. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is a computer accessory comprising a portable multi-page document holder that can be conveniently affixed to a desktop computer monitor, laptop computer monitor, tablet, other type of screen display, or a fixed stable structure that allows the positioning of pages that are attached to the document holder, such that they are easily visible to the user while the user works at the computer. The invention makes it convenient for the computer user to have his documents held conveniently while the user works at the computer monitor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front view of the invention affixed to the monitor of a computer;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the invention affixed to the monitor of a computer;

Fig. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the invention having two arms and with arms extending to either side of the monitor of a computer;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the invention affixed to the monitor of a computer with a variant of the clamp having a cutaway portion to allow centering without covering a central webcam;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the invention affixed to the monitor of a computer with a variant of the clamp which has a larger space logo;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of Fig. 5 showing the invention affixed to the monitor of a computer;

Fig. 7 shows a clamp variant which has a recess surrounding it to allow the arms to be recessed or wrapped around the claim for portability; and

Figs 8A, 8B and 8C are three top views of the arm with the document clamp shown in two possible working positions (Figs. 8A and 8C) and an intermediate position (Fig. 8B). DETAILED DESCRD7TION OF THE INVENTION

Document Holder 10 is a portable, single or multi-page document-holder that can be mounted on a Computer Monitor 22 which can be a desktop or laptop using any types of mounting method (Clamps 12, magnets, adhesives, clips, etc.). Once affixed to the Computer Monitor 22, documents for use by the computer user can be affixed to the Document Holder 10 by any means of attachment (Clamp 14, clips, magnets, adhesives, or other means well- known in the art) on the Arm(s) 16.

Mounting Clamp 12 is a typical open/close spring clamp capable of opening wide enough and with enough closing strength to hold the Document Holder 10 firmly to the Computer Monitor 22 or laptop monitor 22 while still supporting the weight of any and all documents affixed to the Document Holder 10 with the Document Clamp(s) 14 (or magnets, sliders, clips, adhesives, pins, etc.). The Mounting Clamp 12 may have a Cutaway 24 to avoid obstructing a Webcam 24 that may be present on a Computer Monitor 22. The Mounting Clamp 12 can be unadorned or adorned on the front and/or back with a Message 30 for marketing/advertising purposes. Mounting Clamp 12 would typically be used to attached Document Holder 10 to a Computer Monitor 22, it can be used to affix Document Holder 10 to any other closely located fixed stable structure such as shelf or bookcase the might be located close enough to allow a Page 35 held by the Document Holder 10 to be easily visible to a user for any purpose, not just working on a computer.

Though Mounting Clamp 12 is described herein as a spring clamp, it is to be understood that any attachment mechanism recognized in the art could be used. This would include but not be limited to a screw clamp, a clamp which utilizes elastic bands, and a deformable plastic clip which could be force fit onto the Monitor 22.

Document Clamp 14 is a typical open/close spring clamp capable of opening wide enough with enough closing strength to hold multiple documents in position for easy reference by the user. (Alternatively, a clip, pin, adhesive or magnetic system may be used for document attachment). The Document Clamp 14 can be unadorned or adorned on the front and/or back with a Logo 30. Arm 16 is comprised of a flexible material strong enough to support the weight of any and all documents attached with the Document Clamps 14 and is affixed to the top of the Mounting Clamp 12 and to the base of the Document Clamp Pivot 18. The flexible Arm 16 allows the Document Clamp 14 and any attached documents to be positioned to the left of, to the right of, or above Monitor 22. Arm 16 can be formed of any standard flexible material which allows the Arm 16 to be bent and/or positioned to a desired and stable position. Such material could include, but not be limited to corrugated tubing and gooseneck tubing.

Document Clamp Pivot 18 is a standard type of rotating mechanism that is mounted to the top of the Arm 16 and is used to affix the Document Clamp 14 to the Arm 16. The Document Clamp Pivot 18 allows the Document Clamp 14 which is affixed to the Arm 16 to be rotated to hold any and all attached documents in the orientation desired by the computer user.

Monitor 22 is a common computer, tablet or laptop monitor of whatever type where the Document Holder 10 can either be affixed to the top or side of the Monitor 22 by the use of the Mounting clamp 12.

Webcam 24 is a camera which is often present on a common computer, tablet or laptop Monitor 22.

Logo 30 can be a trademark, logo, promotional indicia, any other text or graphic and/or other promotional message which could be affixed to various locations on the

Document Holder 10 for marketing, advertising or promotional purposes.

Page(s) 35 are one or more pages of documents or other material that need to be easily visible by someone working at the Monitor 22. Page 35 is affixed to Document Holder 10 by affixing them to Document Clamp 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front view of the Document Holder 10 having a single Arm 16, affixed to Monitor 22 of a computer or tablet. The Document Holder 10 is shown affixed to Monitor 22 with Mounting Clamp 12 at one end of the flexible Arm 16. At the opposite end of Arm 16 is Document Clamp 14 that is used to hold one or more hard-copy document pages in a fixed position.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the Document Holder 10 affixed to the Monitor 22 of a computer or tablet. The Document Holder 10 is shown affixed to the monitor with a Mounting Clamp 12 at one end of flexible Arm 16. At the opposite end of Arm 16 is Document Clamp 14 that is used to hold one or more hard-copy document pages in a fixed position. Shown mounted on Document Clamp 14 is Document Clamp Pivot 18 that allows the Document Clamp 14 to be rotated in different directions to re-position the documents held in Document Clamp 14, for better viewing by the user.

Fig. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the Document Holder 10 with two Arms 16 attached to Mounting Clamp 12 and extending to either side of the Monitor 22 of a computer. The Document Holder 10 is shown affixed to the monitor with a Mounting Clamp 12 in the approximate center of the Monitor 22. At the other ends of the flexible Arms 16, are Document Clamps 14 that can be used to hold one or more hard-copy document Pages 35 in a fixed position. Shown mounted on the Document Clamps 14 are Document Clamp Pivots 18 that allow Document Clamps 14 to be rotated 180 degrees in order to re-position the opposite side of the Page(s) so that it is facing the user. This enables the user to be able to view both sides of a double-side Page 35 simply by rotating Document Clamp Pivot 18 and not having to remove the Page 35 from the Document Clamp 14.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the Document Holder 10 affixed to the Monitor 22 of a computer with a variant of the Mounting Clamp 12 having a cutaway portion to allow centering the Mounting Clamp 12 without covering the usually centrally positioned Webcam 24. The Document Holder 10 is shown affixed to the monitor with a Mounting Clamp 12 at one end of the flexible Arm 16. At the opposite end of the flexible Arm 16 that has the mounting clamp 12, is Document Clamp 14 that is used to hold one or more hard-copy document Page(s) 35 in a fixed position. This variant of Document Holder 10 positions Page 30 above Monitor 22, as opposed to on either side of Monitor 22.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the Document Holder 10 affixed to the Monitor 22 of a computer with a variant of the Mounting Clamp 12 which has adequate space for Logo 30. This variant of the Mounting Clamp 12 also has the cutaway for the Webcam 24. The Document Holder 10 is shown affixed to the monitor with a Mounting Clamp 12 in the approximate center of the flexible Monitor 12. One end of each of the flexible Arms 16 is attached to Mounting Clamp 12. The opposite end of each of Arms 16 is affixed to

Document Clamps 14 that can be used to hold one or more hard-copy document Page(s) 35 in a fixed position.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of Fig. 5 showing Document Holder 10 affixed to the Monitor 22 of a computer.

Fig. 7 shows a Mounting Clamp 12 variant which has a recess around its periphery to allow the flexible Arm 16 to be recessed into the Mounting Clamp 12 for storage and portability.

Figs. 8A, B and C are three top views of the flexible Arm 16 with the Document Clamp 14 shown rotated in three possible positions on the Document Clamp Pivot 18. Fig. 8A shows the Document Clamp 14 rotated on the Document Clamp Pivot 18 to the left side of the flexible Arm 16, so that one side (the front side) of Page 30, that is affixed to

Document Clamp 14, is facing to the left. The directional arrow in Fig. 8A shows the direction that Document Clamp 14 can be rotated.

Fig. 8C shows the Document Clamp 14 rotated to right side of Arm 16. In this position the opposite (back side) of the Page 30 is now facing to left. This allows a user to view both the front and back side of Page 30 without removing it from Document Clamp 14. The directional arrow in Fig. 8C shows the direction that Document Clamp 14 can be rotated.

Fig. 8B shows Document Clamp 14 rotated to an intermediate position on the Document Clamp Pivot 18. From the position shown in Fig. 8B, Document Clamp 14 can be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 8A or the position shown in Fig. 8C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the instant invention is a computer accessory, as described herein, comprising a portable multi-page Document Holder 10 that can be conveniently affixed to a desktop Computer Monitor 22, laptop computer monitor, tablet, other type of screen display, or a fixed stable structure. The invention makes it convenient for the computer user to have his documents held conveniently in a hands-free way while he uses his hands to accomplish tasks on the computer device with the associated computer monitor 22 to which the documents are held by the Document Holder 10. In addition, Document Holder 10 can be used any time printed information is needed to be readily available such as the posting of job assignments, class schedules, train schedules, parts lists and other information.

Claims

CLAIMS I Claim

1. A portable document holder comprising:

a mounting clamp;

one or more flexible arms comprised of a flexible material having the first end of each flexible arm attached to the mounting clamp;

a document clamp attached to the second end of each flexible arm; and

the document clamp being adapted to hold one or more pages.

2. The portable document holder as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a document clamp pivot attached to the second end of each of the flexible arms and being adapted to allow the rotation of the document clamp.

3. The portable document holder as described in claim 1 wherein the mounting clamp is adapted to not obstruct a camera when attached to a computer monitor having a camera mounted on the periphery of the monitor.

4. The portable document holder as described in claim 2 wherein said document pivot is adapted to rotate the page attached to the document clamp so that both sides of the page may visibly positioned without removing the page from the document clamp.

5. The portable document holder as described in claim 1 wherein said document clamp

functions by way of a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a spring clamp, a clip, adhesive, magnets and pins.

6. The mounting clamp as described in claim 1 wherein said mounting clamp is selected from the group consisting of elastic bands, a screw claim and a deformable plastic clip.

7. The portable document holder as described in claim 1 wherein the mounting clamp and the document clamp are adapted to display a logo on both the front and back side of each clamp.

8. The portable multi-page document holder according to claim 1 wherein said mounting clamp has grooves completely around its circumference that allow said flexible arms to be wrapped around said mounting clamp circumference for storage.