GB2479353A

GB2479353A - Clipboard having clip located in top right hand corner of board

Info

Publication number: GB2479353A
Application number: GB1005678A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen David Laws
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-06
Filing date: 2010-04-06
Publication date: 2011-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-06
Also published as: GB201005678D0; GB2479353B

Abstract

A clipboard comprises a clip located in a top right hand corner of the board (Fig. 19). The clip comprises a clamping arm overlying a supporting member 1 wherein the clamping arm comprises a single metal rod shaped to form both an operating handle 6 and a gripping portion 4 of the arm whilst additionally acting as the pivot point between the supporting and gripping members 1, 4. There is provided springs (7, Fig.2) between the supporting and gripping members 1, 4 in order to compress the two together. The position of the clip in the top right hand corner of a rigid supporting board will allow the gripping arm 4 of the clip to be inserted into a pad of paper. By inserting the arm into the pad allows grip to be placed on the pads rigid card backing. Additionally, the clip may also be used for clamping loose sheets of paper.

Description

(0001) Title This invention provides a metal spring bound clipboard clip for clamping various types of A4 pads of paper as well as singular sheets of paper to a ridged supporting member.

(0002) Technical Field

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to stationary. The application has particular relation to the design and positioning of a metal clipboard clip on a rigid supporting member. The design particularly concerns the shape of the gripping arm and its ability to grip the rigid underside rigid card backing of a pad of paper. Additionally the location of this clipboard clip at the top right hand corner of the supporting member also forms a significant part of the design.

(0003) Background information

A disadvantage with the current design of clipboards is the limits the clip places on a pad of paper held within its grip. I have noticed that when a pad of paper is placed within the grip of a clipboard clip it is held in compression in its top central position. To remove or tare off a sheet of paper from the pad requires the compression from the clip to be released, allowing the paper in the pad to be to moved or removed. So, in summary, any sheet of paper attached within an A4 paper pad is obstructed in its use when held by a top centralized clipboard clip. This obstruction particularly applies to bound A4 pads of paper that are bound either along their long edge spine or shorter top edge.

(0004) Problems -and how they are addressed by this invention As detailed above, a clipboard clip located in the top middle position of a rigid supporting base will hinder a pad of paper when gripped. Moving the sheets of paper within the pad is awkward because the compressing force from the clip holds the sheets down. To move or remove a used sheet of paper from the pad of paper requires the compressing force of the clip's arm to be released. Once this force is release the entire pad of paper is no longer held stably on the rigid supporting member and becomes difficult to manage. Currently, the only option to move a completed sheet of paper from a pad held in a clipboard is by folding the paper over the top of the clipboard and the top central clip. This is only option available when using a top glue bound pad of paper. However, the problem is further enhanced when using a spine bound pad as the binded edge of the pad combined with compressing force of the clipboard clip makes it even more difficult to turn a used page.

The problem with this lack of flexibility of current clipboard clip design highlights how obstructive a clipboard clip can be. This has led me to design an improved clipboard clip.

To overcome these problems a new clipboard clip needs to allow pads of paper to work in the way they were designed. For example a pad of paper is held together by one of two methods, either by spiral wire bound or glue bound. Either way, the pad has been designed to hold the paper within, without the need of any additional support. Therefore, when placing a pad within a clipboard there should be no need to grip the paper within the pad. The only part of the pad that needs to be gripped is the structure of the pad itself; my new clipboard clip design does precisely this. By allowing the arm of the clip to be inserted into the pad to grip the rigid backing allows the pages within it to be free yet supported through the composition of the pad. Therefore the compressing force of the clipboard clip will be acting on the supporting rigid back board of the pad and not the paper sheets within. The sheets of paper are therefore supported but unobstructed.

Other problems I have discovered with the design of current clipboard clips include the operation of the clamping arm of a clipboard clip. A lifting force is required by some clipboard clips to release the compression of the arm against the base of the clipboard. This can be a difficult and fiddly process as it usually involves a person inserting their fingers or thumb underneath the metal arm to release the grip of the clip. Once that is done paper can then be either inserted or removed. A more user friendly clip would be a rocker handle that operated the pivot point of the arm.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the forgoing problems and seeks to provide an improved clipboard clip in which these problems are mitigated. The present invention also seeks to find an improved method of clamping pads and sheets of paper to a supporting board.

(0005) Solutions to the problems Considered broadly, a clipboard comprises of a supporting board to which a clamping member is attached that is usually located within the top central position. The clamping member comprises of a plate to which an arm is attached that is held in compression using a number of springs. The overlapping design of the supporting plate incorporates the pivoting arm and tension springs to provide the clamping force to bring the two together.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a design of a clipboard clip with clamping arm. The design of the arm is intended to work in two ways; firstly it will provide the ability to be inserted through the top right hand side of a pad of paper. It will clamp a pad of paper into position by gripping the pads rigid card backing. The force of the springs acting on the shaped arm will hold the pad of paper in position. The intention of inserting the arm through the pad is to grip the rigid backing card of the pad of paper, therefore not compromising movement of the pages within the pad. The paper contained within the pad is therefore secure through its own original composition.

Additional benefits of the shaped arm also include the ability to be flexible in its use. The new design will also allow the gripping am, to have the ability to be placed on the front face of a pad of paper held within the clipboard. This allows lose sheets, or pads of paper, to be gripped in a traditional manner, should the user require so. Furthermore, the shape of the arm is profiled to incorporate a handle to act as a leaver to release and apply the compressing force upon the paper or pad held within its grip. The entirety of the shaped arm will form both the pivot point and handle of the clip as well as the clamping arm. It will be made of one continuous rod of metal formed into the designed shape as detailed.

Furthermore the location of the clip will be in the top right hand corner of the supporting board, as opposed to the traditional top central position. By doing so allows the arm of the clip to be placed through a pad of paper and grip the rigid card backing. By locating the clip in this position it is arm able to be inserted into the appropriate position to clamp the rigid backing card of the pad of paper. However, the design of the shaped arm of the clip could be mirrored to grip the left had top side of a pad of paper. This could be necessary in some circumstances by allow a left handed person to operated the clip more easily.

The clamping force of a clipboard clip arm will be further enhanced by providing a rough patterned finish to the arm to allow extra grip to be achieved. The proportion of the new shaped arm containing this rough surface will extend only from the underside face of the arm that will contact with the pad of paper (e.g. the underside of the clipboard arm).

(0006) Key features The key features relating to my new design of a clipboard mainly relate to three key aspects of the design. Firstly the design of the arm allows for it to be inserted through a pad of paper and grip the rigid card backing. Secondly is the location of the clip in the top right hand corner of a rigid supporting board. And third is its flexibility that allows for the gripping arm to work in either of two ways, either gripping through or gripping on top of a pad of paper.

(0007) Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1. Top plan view of the present invention Fig 2. Underside view clip of the present invention Fig 3. Underside view of clip showing gripping arm of the present invention Fig 4. Rear elevation of the present invention Fig 5. Right elevation of the present invention Fig 6. Front elevation of the present invention Fig 7. Left elevation of the present invention Fig 8. Section A-A through the present invention Fig 9. Section B-B through the present invention Fig 10. Section C-C through the present invention Fig 11. Section D-D through the present invention Fig 12. Sectional plan E-E through the present invention Fig 13. Left elevation of clip attached to ridged supporting member (position 1) Fig 14. Left elevation demonstrating the gripping arm of clip (on backing card) Fig 15. Left elevation demonstrating the gripping arm of clip (top face) Fig 16. Clipboard clip gripping rigid backing card of a side glued pad Fig 17. Clipboard clip gripping front face of a side glued pad Fig 18. Clipboard and clip shown as a clipboard fo'der gripping a pad of paper Fig 19. Clipboard and clip shown as a closed folder Fig 20. Clipboard clip gripping the rigid backing card of a top glued pad Fig 21. Clipboard clip gripping front face of a side glued pad Fig 22. Clipboard clip gripping the rigid backing card of a side spiral bound pad Fig 23. Clipboard clip gripping the front face of a side spiral bound pad Fig 24. Clipboard clip gripping the rigid backing card of a top spiral bound pad Fig 25. Clipboard clip gripping the front face of a top spiral bound pad

(0008) Description of the intellectual property

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numerical 1-11 designates a clipboard, such, for example, as the type to which papers are clipped or clamped by means of a spring-actuated clip or clamp.

(0009) The Supporting Member The supporting member (1) is secured to the upper right edge portion of the rigid board (5) as by means of two rivets (8) and (9).

The supporting member (1) will be formed of sheet metal comprising of two spaced down turned flanges (2) and (3) at its upper end. The functions of these flanges will be presently described.

The inside space of the down turned flange (2) at its highest point provides fulcrum point A, the function of which will be presently described. The inside space of the down turned flange (3) at its highest point, provides the fulcrum point A for a like purpose.

(0010) The Arm Held within the down turned flanges (2) and (3) is the clamping or gripping member (4) formed from a single profiled rod of metal. Incorporated within the profile of this rod is the handle (6) to operate the gripping member (4) (see figure 1 and 2). Additionally the pivot point between the supporting member (1) and gripping member (4) is also anchored within the upper part of the supporting member (1) within the down turned flanges (2) and (3).

The lower part of the profiled rod will act as the gripping arm (4) whilst the upper portion of the profiled rod or gripping member will form the handle (6) that will control the gripping member (4).

The different proportions of which will be described below.

Beginning from top left -The handle (6) will continue straight (East) for approximately 3cm. This proportion of the arm will be anchored and housed within flange (2).

The formation of the push handle (6) subsequently begins through a 90 degree turn (North). From this point the profiled metal rod is exposed from within flange (2). This proportion of the arm will be angled approximately 45 degrees from the face of the rigid board (5) and will also incline away from the supporting member (1) this part of the handle will be approximately 2cm in length.

The formation of the handle (6) continues through a 90 degree turn (East). This proportion of the handle (6) will be approximately 2.5cm in length. This will form the push bar to operate the handle. At this point the push bar will be approximately 2cm away from the face of the supporting member (1).

The final part of the exposed handle (6) is formed through a 90 degree turn (South). This proportion of the handle will again be approximately 2cm in length and will decline back towards the supporting member (1) at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. This 45 degree decline will return the handle towards the face of the supporting member before entering flange (3).

Turning 90 degrees (East) forms the proportion of the arm will be anchored and housed within flange (3).

Upon exiting the East end of flange 3 the gripping arm (4) is once again exposed for approximately 0.5cm. The formation of the gripping arm continues through a 90 degree turn facing south for a distance of approximately 2.5cm. Throughout this length the arm declines in height to meet with the face of supporting member (1). The declining height will come from the pivot (A) point being higher than the face of the supporting member (1).

The formation of the arm (4) continues with a final 90 degree turn facing west. The length of this part of the gripping arm (4) will be approximately 9cm in length. This proportion of the gripping arm (4) will contrast in shape to the previous proportions of the arm and handle (6) described above. Its profile will be oval shape; this will be formed by compressing this portion of the rod in a vice beforehand. Additionally this proportion of the arm (4) needs to be less thick as it is to be minimally intrusive when inserted within a pad of paper. The underside of said arm will also differ in its texture when meeting with supporting member (1). A rough pattern will be embossed onto the underside to aid grip. Again, this will be applied before constructing the profiled arm (see figure 3).

By allowing the functional handle to be operated by hand allows the compressing force of the springs (7) connected with the arm (6) to be temporally released and reinstated. In turn the function of the two down turned flanges (2) and (3) will create the fulcrum or pivot point for the arm (4) whilst connecting the two together. Additionally the flanges (2) and (3) function as stops or gauges for the upper edges of sheets or pads paper which are to be clamped to the clipboard.

In summary, the break between the two down turned flanges (2) and (3) of the supporting member (1) will also allow for a handle to be exposed.

(0011) The Springs The device further includes four U-shaped springs (7) which are interposed between supporting member (1), gripping arm (6) and the rigid supporting board (5). Members (1) and (6), at the left end of the clip engage within flange (2). While the right end of the arm (6) engages within flange (3), to thereby retain the spring against displacement.

(0012) Assembly In assembling the members (1) and (6) together with the anchoring portions (2) and (3) interlock with one another, forming the fulcrum point (A).

They are formed in such a manner that when the member (6) is moved relatively to the member (1), the anchoring portions (2) and (3) create the fulcrum point (A). Pivotal movement is obtained about this fulcrum point without the use of pivot pins or other extraneous pivot means.

The interlocked engagement of the down turned flanges (2) and (3) housing is maintained by the springs (7).

Claims

Claims Connected with the description I claim the following: 1 A clipboard comprising of a board, with clip located in the top right hand corner of said board, said clip comprising of clamping arm overlying said supporting member with spring interposed between said members, said clamping arm comprising of a single metal rod shaped to form both the operating handle and gripping portion of the arm whilst additionally acting as the pivot point between the supporting and gripping member.
2. A clipboard clip arm member as described in claim 1, comprising of clamping arm formed from a single rod of metal, will operate in its ability to grip the top right hand area of a pad of paper or single sheet of paper or have the option to be inserted through the top right hand corner of a pad of paper enabling grip to be placed on the rigid card backing.
3. A clipboard clip supporting member, wherein two down turned flanges comprising of said supporting member are separate creating a break point that allows the operating handle of the gripping arm to be inserted through.
4. A clipboard clip supporting member, wherein the two down turned flanges of said supporting member consist of a pivot point about which said gripping arm moves, the gripping arm and supporting member are pivotally connected to one another with springs interposed between both.
5. A clipboard described in claim 1 comprising of a board, with clip located in the top right hand corner of said board, said clip comprising of clamping arm overlying said supporting member with spring interposed between said members, said clamping arm comprising of a single metal rod shaped to form both the operating handle and gripping portion of the arm whilst additionally acting as the pivot point between the supporting and gripping member the arch of which extends through at least 45 degrees.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims -Con nected with the description I claim the following: 1 A clipboard comprising a board and clip located in the top right hand corner of said board, said clip comprising a supporting member and a clamping arm overlying said supporting member with spring interposed between said supporting member and said clamping arm, said clamping arm comprising a single metal rod shaped to form an operating handle and a gripping portion; wherein said single metal rod comprises a first and second end, said first end acting as a pivot point between said supporting member and said gripping portion, and said second end comprising said gripping portion.2, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping arm to be pivotally connected to said supporting member by means of two down turned flanges formed from the supporting member.3, A clipboard as defined in claim 2 wherein said clamping arm to be held in place from its beginning point within the first of the two down turned flanges and continuing through to the second with the operating handle forming therebetween.4, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping arm will also operate in its ability to grip the front top right hand area of a pad of paper or singular sheets of paper.5, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping arm will pivot through at least degrees between itself and the supporting member.
6, A clipboard as defined in claim 2 wherein said clamping arm to U' turn back on itself after leaving the second of the down turned flanges and begin the gripping portion of the * : clamping arm.* 7, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said combined clamping arm will be pivotally connected to said supporting member with springs interposed between both.8, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said gripping portion of the clamping arm will run parallel along the length of the supporting member coming to a definite end and not returning to meet the beginning of the clamping arm.: *. 9, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said gripping portion of the arm will end opposite its start point of the clamping arm forming a break between the two.* 10, A clipboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said break point allowing the gripping portion of the clamping arm to have the ability to be inserted through or placed onto multiple sheets of paper or the rigid card backing of a pad of paper.