AU2012203047A1 - A Notepad - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention concerns a notepad including a plurality of pages bound together along a common edge, each page configured to be non-permanently marked with a marker. 2F r 10 Figure 1

Description

1 A NOTEPAD TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present invention concerns a notepad. BACKGROUND The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an 10 acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. Notepads, also known as notebooks are books composed of pages. Notepads have various uses including list making, recording notes or memoranda, writing, drawing 15 and scrap booking. Often notepads are used to store temporary information such as 'to-do lists', shopping lists, telephone numbers and email addresses. Once the temporary information is no longer required, the relevant pages of the notepad storing the temporary information 20 are often torn out or marked-off. Users invariably find themselves with notepads possessing no clean pages when required which is highly undesirable. Thus, it is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an alternative notepad. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notepad including a plurality of pages bound together along a common edge, each page 30 configured to be non-permanently marked with a marker. In an embodiment of the present invention, information can be recorded on any page of the notepad in a non-permanent manner with a marker. Once the recorded 2 information is no longer required the page or pages of the notepad storing the information can be simply wiped clean thereby rendering the page or pages reusable. The notepad may be of any suitable size, shape and construction and formed from any 5 suitable material or materials. The notepad may contain any number of pages configured to be non-permanently marked with a marker. Preferably the notepad will contain five or six pages. Typically, the pages will be made out of acrylic plastic such as Poly(methyl methacrylate) ("PMMA"), commonly known as Plexiglass T M , Lucite TM or Perspex TM 10 Typically, the pages will be rigid (but able to flex slightly) and will be durable. Preferably, the pages will be durable enough to withstand the stresses of everyday use such as, for instance, being carried in a hand, handbag or briefcase. 15 The pages of the notepad may be lined. The notepad may further include an indexing system. The indexing system may include tabbed pages. One or more pages of the notepad may include an outwardly extending edge portion extending along a page edge other than the common edge. 20 Preferably, the outwardly extending edge portions are uniformly arranged down an open edge (i.e. the edge opposite the common edge) of the pages of the notepad to form a tabbed indexing system thereby allowing a user to readily navigate to an indexed pages of the notepad. 25 Alternatively, one or more pages of the notepad may include a recessed edge portion extending along a page edge other than the common edge. Preferably, each page other than final page of the notepad may include recessed edge portions. The recessed edge portions will preferably be uniformly arranged down the open edge of the pages. Preferably, the recessed edge portions on each page will align with 30 corresponding recessed edge portions on adjacent pages to form an inverted tab indexing system thereby allowing a user to readily navigate to an indexed page of the notepad.

3 Each page may have a bevelled, chamfered, or rounded or semi-circular edge profile. The edge profile may extend along all edges or it may only extend along edges other than the common edge. Preferably, the pages will have a rounded or semi-circular edge profile with the radius of the curvature of the rounded or semi-circular edge 5 profile being substantially the same for each page of the notepad. The pages of the notepad may be translucent. Preferably, the translucency of pages will allow a user to notice whether any of the adjacent pages are marked. 10 Each page of the notepad may have a thickness of 1 millimetre (mm) or more. Preferably, the pages will have a thickness of 3 mm. The notepad may further include fastening means for fastening the pages together. The fastening means may be of any suitable size, shape and construction to fasten the 15 pages of the notepad together. For instance, the fastening means may include a press stud or snap fastener, a strap and clasp, a strap and press stud/snap fastener, or simply a strap. The fastening means may be incorporated on each page such that each page may be 20 fastened to adjacent pages. Each page may be fastened to adjacent pages by means of a press stud or snap fastener. The notepad may further include a cover and a backing. A fastening means may fasten the cover to the backing to thereby fasten the pages together. The cover may 25 be fastened to the backing by means of a strap, a strap and clasp, a strap and press stud, or a strap and snap fastener. Preferably, the cover of the notepad is translucent. Preferably, the translucency of the cover will allow a user to identify, when the notepad is closed, whether any of the 30 pages are marked but the cover will not be translucent enough that the user can read or interpret any of the information recorded on the pages of the closed notepad. The cover of the notepad may further include a section to permanently label the notepad with, for instance, a title or name.

4 The notepad may further include a spiral ring binder for binding the pages together. The spiral ring binder may bind the plurality of pages together along the common edge. The spiral ring binder may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The spiral ring binder may further include a receiving and docking means for receiving and 5 docking a marker. The pages of the notepad may be of any suitable shape and construction. Preferably, the pages of the notepad have rounder corners, 10 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit including: a notepad according to the first aspect of the present invention; and a marker for marking pages in the notepad. Preferably, the marker will be a non-permanent ink marker. 15 The kit may further include an erasing means for erasing markings from the pages. The erasing means may be integrally formed with the marker. Preferably, the erasing means will be attached to an end of the marker. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be 25 regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary Of The Invention in an way. The detailed description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a forward perspective view of a notepad in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the notepad of figure 1; Figure 3 is sectional side view of the notepad of figure 1; 5 Figure 4 is a sectional end view of the notepad of figure 1; Figure 5 is a forward perspective view of part of the notepad of figure 1; 5 Figure 6 is a forward perspective view of a notepad in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 is an end view of part of a notepad in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a notepad 1 as shown in figures 1 to 5. The notepad 1 includes pages 2. The pages 2 are bound 15 together along a bound edge 4 (i.e. common edge) by a spiral ring binder 6. Each page 2 is configured to be non-permanently marked by a non-permanent ink marker 20 (e.g. a whiteboard marker). Information can be recorded on each page 2 with the marker 20 and then erased once the information is no longer required. 20 As shown in figures 1 and 2, the notepad 1 has a rectangular profile shape with rounded corners 3. The notepad 1 includes pages 2 bound together by the spiral ring binder 6 along the bound edge 4. The pages 2 are made out of an acrylic plastic that can be non-permanently marked with the marker 20. The notepad 1 includes a cover 8 and a backing 10 with a strap 11 and clasp 12, which extends between the cover 8 25 and the backing 10 to keep the notepad 1 closed when not in use. The cover 8 and the pages 2 are partially see-through (i.e. translucent). The cover 8 is partially see through in that any markings on the pages 2 within the notepad 1 are visible, when the notepad 1 is closed, but cannot be read or interpreted. Each page 2 is partially see through to the extent that markings on neighbouring pages 2 are visible. The cover 30 includes a section 5 which can be permanently marked with, for instance, a title or name. The pages 2 of the notepad I other than the last page 2 have one or more inverted tabs 14 (ie. recessed edge portions) uniformly arranged along the open edge 16 (i.e.

6 the edge opposite the bound edge). The inverted tabs 14 on each page 2 are aligned with corresponding inverted tabs 14 on the neighbouring pages 2. The inverted tabs 14 allow a user to readily open the notepad 1 to a specific page 2. 5 As shown in figures 1 and 2, the cover 8, backing 10, and pages 2 have pre-formed holes 16 along the bound edge 4 adapted to receive the spiral ring binder 6. Referring to figures 3 and 4, the pages 2 of the notepad 1 have a thickness of about 3 mm. The pages 2 have rounded edges 18 (i.e. rounded edge profiles). The rounded 10 edges 18 allow the pages 2 to be readily turned. As shown in figure 5, the spiral ring binder 6 is configured to receive and hold a marker 20 (i.e. receiving and docking means). 15 Another embodiment of the invention shown in figure 6 has generally the same mechanical construction as the notepad 1 of the embodiment shown in figure 1, although the notepad 1 including the pages 2, the cover 8, the backing 10 and spiral ring binder 6 is configured to be pocket sized. The spiral ring binder 6, as with the embodiment shown in figure 5 is also configured to receive and hold a marker 20. 20 In another embodiment of the invention shown in figure 7, the notepad 1 has generally the same mechanical construction as the notepads 1 of the embodiments shown in figure 1 and 6, although the pages 2 of the notepad 1 have bevelled edges 18. 25 In use, the notepad 1 of the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 5 and in figure 6, respectively, is used to record temporary information such as, for instance, notes, shopping lists, 'todo lists', telephone numbers and email addresses. The pages 2 of the notepad 1 can be non-permanently marked with a marker 20, which, when not in use, can be conveniently docked in the spiral ring binder 6. Once the temporary 30 information is recorded the notepad 1 can be fastened closed and carried in a pocket or stored safely in a bag. The rounded corners 3 and rounded edges 18 prevent the notepad 1 from snagging in a pocket, bag, or with other items in a bag.

7 The pages 2 of the notepad 1 are thick and rigid enough to allow a user to comfortably make notes in the notepad I while out and about without the use of a support surface such as a clip board or table. A user of the notepad 1 can, for example, whilst shopping mark-off items in a shopping list written in the notepad 1. 5 A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the notepad 1 of the embodiments 10 shown in figures 1, 6 and 7 may be configured to be marked with chalk as opposed to a non-permanent ink marker 20. The pages 2 of the notepad 1 may be made from a chalkboard material that can be non-permanently marked with chalk. The notepad 1 may further include a felt pad for erasing chalk markings. 15 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural of methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

Claims (20)

1. A notepad including a plurality of pages bound together along a common edge, each page configured to be non-permanently marked with a marker.

2. The notepad of claim 1, wherein one or more pages of the notepad include an 5 outwardly extending edge portion extending along a page edge other than the common edge.

3. The notepad of claim 2, wherein the outwardly extending edge portions are uniformly arranged down an open edge of the pages of the notepad to form a tabbed 10 indexing system.

4. The notepad of claim 1, wherein one or more pages of the notepad include a recessed edge portion extending along a page edge other than the common edge. 15

5. The notepad of claim 4, wherein the recessed edge portions are uniformly arranged down the open edge of the pages, said recessed edge portions on each page aligning with corresponding edge portions on the adjacent pages to form an inverted tab indexing system. 20

6. The notepad of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each page has an edge profile which is levelled, chamfered, rounded or semi-circular.

7. The notepad of claim 6, wherein the edge profile extends along all page edges other than the common edge. 25

8. The notepad of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein each page has a rounded or semi circular edge profile with the radius of the curvature of the rounded or semi-circular edge profile being substantially the same for each page of the notepad. 30 9. The notepad of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pages of the notepad are translucent.

9

10. The notepad of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each page has a thickness of 1 mm or more,

11. The notepad of any one of claims 1 to 10 further including fastening means for 5 fastening the pages together.

12. The notepad of claim 11, wherein the fastening means includes a press stud or snap fastener, a strap and clasp, a strap and press stud/snap fastener, or a strap. 10

13. The notepad of claim 11, wherein the fastening means is incorporated on each page such that each page may be fastened to adjacent pages, said fastening means being a press stud or snap fastener.

14. The notepad of any one of claims I to 13, further including a cover and a 15 backing.

15. The notepad of claim 14, wherein the cover is translucent.

16. The notepad of any one of claims I to 15, further including a spiral ring binder 20 for binding the pages together.

17. The notepad of claim 16, wherein the spiral ring binder is further configured to receive and obtain a marker. 25

18. The notepad of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the pages have rounded corners.

19. A kit including: a notepad according to any one of claims 1 to 18; and 30 a marker for marking pages in the notepad. 10

20. The kit of claim 19, further including an erasing means for erasing markings from the pages. Date: 24 May 2012