WO2016053353A1 - Clipboard with mounting accessories - Google Patents

Abstract

A clipboard having a board assembly (20) with a front face (30) and a rear face (50) that docks onto a docking assembly (140 or 160). A clip assembly (80) is mounted onto the board assembly (20) and has a docking station (98), a spring assembly (110), and a writing instrument holder (116).

Description

I. TITLE: CLIPBOARD WITH MOUNTING ACCESSORIES

II. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clipboards, and more particularly, to a clipboard with mounting accessories.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Applicant believes that the closest references correspond to:

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20100219312 Al , published on September 2, 2010 to Johnson, et al. for Item Holder. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030102341 Al , published on June 5, 2003 to Iitsuka for a mechanism for engaging portable equipment against a belt clip.

U.S. Patent No. 7832606 B2 (and Patent Application Publication No. 20080237282 Al , published on October 2, 2008), issued to Sin on November 16, 2010 for a belt clip for detachably fixing cellular phone.

U.S. Patent No. 6905051 B2 issued to Chee on June 14, 2005 for a protective case for use with a belt. U.S. Patent No. 6786372 B2 issued to Enkerlin, et al. on September 7, 2004 for a belt clip apparatus for portable electronic device. U.S. Patent No. 6578745 B l issued to Taylor, et al. on June 17, 2003 for a removable belt clip.

U.S. Patent No. 6520863 B2 issued to Porper on February 18, 2003 for a billiards chalk assembly.

U.S. Patent No. 5850996 B l issued to Liang on December 22, 1998 for a mobile telephone hanging device.

U.S. Patent No. 5597102 B l issued to Saarikko, et al. on January 28, 1997 for an attachment device for a mobile station.

U.S. Patent No. 4718586 B l issued to Hagino on January 12,

1988 for a swivel fastening device. U.S. Patent No. 4419794 B l issued to Horton, Jr., et al. on December 13, 1983 for a portable fastening device.

U.S. Design Patent Nos. D318608 B l issued to Schenker on July 30, 1991 for a fastening clip for planks, clipboards, or the like; U.S. Patent No. D301489 B l issued to Aquila, et al. on June 6,

1989 for a clipboard for shopping cart push bar; U.S. Patent No. D296156 B l issued to Deany, et al. on June 14, 1988 for a golf ball marker holder; and U.S. Patent No. D273002 B l issued to Schafer on March 13, 1984 for a note clipboard for an automobile visor.

GB Patent No. 2276348 issued to Starling on September 28, 1994 for a bracket-mounted clipboard.

Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is a clipboard comprising a board assembly having a front face and a rear face. A clip assembly is mounted onto the board assembly. The instant invention also comprises docking means to dock the board assembly onto a docking assembly. The front face is defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second lateral edges. The rear face comprises first and second lower interior channel guide edges and first and second higher interior channel guide edges. The board assembly tapers from the top edge towards the bottom edge. The first and second higher interior channel guide edges terminate forming a channel neck. The channel neck is a channel to receive the docking assembly. The rear face further comprises at least one grip section that extends from the first or second lateral edge. The front face further comprises a recessed face. The recessed face is defined by a recessed top edge, a recessed bottom edge, and first and second recessed lateral edges. The front face comprises a plurality of posts. The rear face comprises a plurality of post channels to receive a respective plurality of posts of another board assembly. The bottom edge is concave.

The clip assembly comprises a docking station. The clip assembly comprises a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second lateral edges. The clip assembly also comprises a front face having a hole, and a transparent window.

The docking assembly comprises a neck and a head. In one embodiment, the neck protrudes from a front wall. The docking assembly further comprises an adhesive rear wall, and the neck and the head comprises a hole. In an alternate embodiment, the neck protrudes from a tension arm. The clip assembly comprises a spring assembly and a writing instrument holder.

It is therefore one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a clipboard with mounting accessories that is volumetrically efficient for use, carrying, transporting, and storage. It is another object of this invention to provide a clipboard with mounting accessories that can be readily utilized without the need of any special tools. It is another object of this invention to provide a clipboard with mounting accessories, which is of a durable and reliable construction.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front isometric view of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a rear isometric view of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a front isometric view of a dock assembly of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a rear isometric view of the dock assembly of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a front isometric view of an alternate embodiment dock assembly of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a rear isometric view of the alternate embodiment dock assembly of the present invention. VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is a clipboard with mounting accessories and is generally referred to with numeral 10. It can be observed that it basically includes board assembly 20, clip assembly 80, dock assembly 140, and/or dock assembly 160. As seen in figures 1 , 2, and 3, board assembly 20 comprises front face 30, defined by top edge 22, bottom edge 24, lateral edges 26 and 28, and in a preferred embodiment, bottom edge 24 is concave, ergonomically designed to contour the leg or thigh area of a person wearing instant invention 10. Front face 30 comprises a plurality of posts 32 and recessed face 34. Protruding from front face 30 are clip assembly posts 44 for clip assembly 80 to mount thereon.

Recessed face 34 is defined by recessed top edge 36, recessed bottom edge 38, and first and second recessed lateral edges 40 and 42. Recessed face 34 can be of any size and dimension. As a first example, recessed face 34 is slightly larger than 8 1 /2 by 1 1 inches to accommodate letter size paper. As a second example, recessed face 34 is slightly larger than 5 by 8 inches to accommodate an alternate sized paper. As a third example, recessed face 34 is slightly larger than 3 by 3 inches to accommodate paper stationery. Clip assembly 80 comprises front face 90 defined by top edge 82, bottom edge 84, and first and second lateral edges 86 and 88. Front face 90 has hole 96, and transparent window 92. Inserted through slit 94, a business card, not seen, may be visible through transparent window 92. Hole 96 can be used to maneuver and/ or remove the business card therefrom. Clip assembly 80 further comprises docking station 98, defined as a channel to receive dock assembly 160. As best seen in figure 4, board assembly 20 tapers from top edge 22 towards bottom edge 24. Furthermore, clip assembly 80 comprises spring assembly 110. Spring assembly 110 comprises ends 112 and 114. Between ends 112 and 114, spring assembly 110 comprises writing instrument holder 116 having a first spring force. The first spring force causes writing instrument holder 116 to be biased against front face 30. Writing instrument holder 116 may secure a pen, pencil, marker, and/or other cooperatively shaped objects in place. Spring assembly 110 also comprises coiled section 118 having a second spring force. The second spring force causes bottom edge 84 to be biased against recessed face 34. Pin 120 secures spring assembly 110 to clip assembly posts 44 for clip assembly 80 to mount thereon.

As seen in figures 5 and 6, instant invention 10 further comprises docking means to dock board assembly 20 onto dock assembly 140 or 160. The docking means comprises first and second lower interior channel guide edges 56, and first and second higher interior channel guide edges 58 at rear face 50. The docking means further comprises first and second higher interior channel guide edges 58 terminating to forming channel neck 60, and defined at channel neck 60 is channel 62 to receive dock assembly 160. Rear face 50 further comprises at least one grip section 52 or 54 that extends from said first or second lateral edges 28 and 26 respectively. Rear face 50 further comprises fins 66, exterior top edge 55, and exterior lateral edges 51 and 53. Fins 66 provide structural integrity and stability for instant invention 10. Rear face 50 further comprises a plurality of post channels 64 to receive a respective said plurality of posts 32 of another board assembly 20 when stacking them as an example.

As seen in figures 7 and 8, dock assembly 140 comprises neck 146 and head 148. Neck 146 protrudes from front wall 142. Dock assembly 140 further comprises adhesive rear wall 144 and hole 150. In a preferred use, dock assembly 140 is mounted, with adhesive rear wall 144, onto any surface such as a wall or article of furniture. If desired, a screw, bolt, or other fastening means, not seen, may also be utilized through hole 150 for additional security when mounting dock assembly 140. It is noted that neck 146 and head 148 are of a cooperative shape and dimension to slide upon either first or second lower interior channel guide edges 56, first or second higher interior channel guide edges 58, channel neck 60, and finally channel 62.

As seen in figures 9 and 10, dock assembly 160 comprises neck 164 and head 166. Neck 164 protrudes from tension arm 162. In a preferred use, dock assembly 160 is mounted onto any waist band, belt, or structure able to receive tension arm 162. It is noted that neck 164 and head 166 are of a cooperative shape and dimension to slide upon either first or second lower interior channel guide edges 56, first or second higher interior channel guide edges 58, channel neck 60, and finally channel 62.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. VII. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is evident that an invention such as the clipboard with mounting accessories claimed in the present application is quite desirable because it is volumetrically efficient for use, carrying, transporting, and storage while it can be readily utilized without the need of any special tools. Also, the present clipboard with mounting accessories is quite desirable because it is of a durable and reliable construction, and it is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Claims

VIII. CLAIMS

What is claimed is: 1. A clipboard, comprising:

A) a board assembly comprising a front face and a rear face;

B) a clip assembly mounted onto said board assembly; and

C) docking means to dock said board assembly onto a docking assembly, said front face is defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second lateral edges, and said rear face comprises first and second lower interior channel guide edges and first and second higher interior channel guide edges, said first lower and higher interior channel guide edges terminating near one bottom corner of said rear face, and said second lower and higher interior channel guide edges terminating near said other bottom corner of said rear face, said first and second higher interior channel guide edges terminate near said top of said rear face forming a channel neck to receive said docking assembly.

2. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said board assembly tapers from said top edge towards said bottom edge.

3. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said rear face further comprises at least one grip section that extends from said first or second lateral edge.

4. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said front face further comprises a recessed face.

5. The clipboard set forth in claim 4, further characterized in that said recessed face is defined by a recessed top edge, a recessed bottom edge, and first and second recessed lateral edges.

6. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said front face comprises a plurality of posts.

7. The clipboard set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that said rear face comprises a plurality of post channels to receive a respective said plurality of posts of another board assembly.

8. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said bottom edge is concave.

9. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said clip assembly comprises a docking station.

10. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said clip assembly comprises a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second lateral edges.

11. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said clip assembly comprises a front face having a hole, and a transparent window.

12. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said docking assembly comprises a neck and a head.

13. The clipboard set forth in claim 12, further characterized in that said neck protrudes from a front wall, said docking assembly further comprises an adhesive rear wall.

14. The clipboard set forth in claim 12, further characterized in that said neck and said head comprises a hole.

15. The clipboard set forth in claim 12, further characterized in that said neck protrudes from a tension arm.

16. The clipboard set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said clip assembly comprises a spring assembly.

17. The clipboard set forth in claim 16, further characterized in that said spring assembly comprises a writing instrument holder.