US3754663A

US3754663A - Note-holding device

Info

Publication number: US3754663A
Application number: US00218709A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Bittner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-18
Filing date: 1972-01-18
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28

Abstract

A note-holding device including a horizontally elongated base member having a vertically extending planar surface, a substantially coextensive cooperating elongated member having upper and lower edge structures and a marble receiving cavity therebetween, the cooperating member being fixedly secured to the base member by end walls closing the marble cavity and spacing the upper and lower edge structures from the vertical planar surface of the base member to define horizontally elongated upper and lower note paper receiving slots, the cavity is substantially filled with a plurality of spherical glass marbles which engage a lower surface within the cavity disposed at a 45* angle with the vertical planar surface so that the weight of the marbles bias the same into point contact with the vertical surface, the arrangement permits the marbles to releasably hold note paper either in a depending relation from the lower slot or an upstanding relation from the upper slot, or both.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Bittner 1 NOTE-HOLDING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Richard W. Bittner, Box 57,

Sipesville, Pa. 15561 [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 218,709

[52] U.S. Cl. 211/89, 24/244 [51] Int. Cl A471 5/08, A47f 7/00 [58] Field of Search 211/89, 87, 50, 16, 211/69.1, 45; 24/244, 126 B; 248/205 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,092 2/1924 Rauchut 24/244 2,912,117 11/1959 211/89 3,148,777 9/1964 21l/69.1 3,168,954 2/1965 211/50 3,298,647 l/1967 Shepard... 211/89 X 3,399,429 9/1968 Goodman 211/50 X 3,458,946 8/ 1969 Lasswell 248/205 A X 3,675,782 7/1972 Dudley 211/89 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,219,678 12/1959 France 211/89 231,688 7/1944 Switzerland 24/244 Aug. 28, 1973 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-John W. Malley, Raymond F. Lippitt et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A note-holding device including a horizontally elongated base member having a vertically extending planar surface, a substantially coextensive cooperating elongated member having upper and lower edge structures and a marble receiving cavity therebetween, the cooperating member being fixedly secured to the base member by end walls closing the marble cavity and spacing the upper and lower edge structures from the vertical planar surface of the base member to define horizontally elongated upper and lower note paper receiving slots, the cavity is substantially filled with a plurality of spherical glass marbles which engage a lower surface within the cavity disposed at a 45 angle with the venical planar surface so that the weight of the marbles bias the same into point contact with the vertical surface, the arrangement permits the marbles to releasably hold note paper either in a depending relation from the lower slot or an upstanding relation from the upper slot, or both.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 NOTE-HOLDING DEVICE This invention relates to note-holding devices and more particularly to devices of this type embodying spheres such as marbles or the like which function as the releasable holding means for the paper on which notes and other material are written.

The broad idea of utilizing a spherical member or a plurality of spherical members as the releasable holding means in a note-holding device is known in the art. The present invention relates to improvements in such devices which render them more versatile in use, effective in operation, and simple in construction so, that they may be economically manufactured.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a note-holding device of the type described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, versatile in use and effective in operation. This object is obtained in accordance with the principles of the present invention by utilizing two main components in addition to conventional glass marbles as the spherical elements, which components are easily and economically fabricated and assembled into operative relation with the marbles, the arrangement in operative position providing spaced horizontally elongated upper and lower note paper receiving slots rendering the same set of marbles capable of functioning as the releasable holding means for note papers and the like either in a position extending downwardly from the lower slot or upwardly from the upper slot or both.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a note-holding device of the type described having means for receiving and supporting a writing instrument.

These and other objects will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein illustrative embodiments are shown.

In the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a note-holding device embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view takenalong the line 33 of FIG. 2; and I FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the device,.illustrating a modified form of connection between the base member and integral end walls of the cooperating member.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, there is shown therein a note-holding device, generally indicated at 10, which embodies the principles of the present invention. The device includes in general an elongated base'member 12, a generally coextensive cooperating elongated member 14, a series of marbles l6 and end wall means 18 for interconnecting the two

members

12 and 14 in operative relation with the marbles 16.

The base member 12 is provided with means for securing the same to a suitable support on which the device is to be stationed. Such means may take many forms including apertures for receiving fasteners, suction cups or the like, however, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-3, the support mounting means is preferably in the form of a pair of adhesive pads or strips 20 suitably secured to the back surface of the base member 12, as by an adhesive or the like, each adhesive pad 20 having an exposed adhesive surface protected by a peelable strip 22. In the embodiment shown, there are two adhesive pads 20 provided, one at each end of the elongated member 12 and each pad extending generally vertically and being formed of foamed plastic material. It will be understood that by peeling off the protective strips 22 and engaging the adhesive pads 20 to a vertical support surface, as for example a wall or the like, the base member 12 is fixedly supported in an operative position wherein the elongation of the base member 12 extends generally horizontally.

The base member 12 includes an exterior planar surface 24 which is disposed vertically when the base member is mounted in its operative position. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, the base member 12 is formed from a rigid plastic material although it will be understood that other rigid materials may be utilized if desired. Moreover, the preferred base member 12 shown in FIGS. 13 is formed as an extrusion and therefore has auniform cross-sectional configuration throughout which is essentially rectangular and elongated in the vertical direction.

The cooperating member 14 is formed with an upper edge construction, indicated at 26, a lower edge construction, indicated at 28, and an interior marblereceiving cavity 30 extending between the upper and

lower edge constructions

26 and 28. Here again, the member 14 is preferably made of a rigid plastic material, although other rigid materials may be utilized if desired. Again, the preferred embodiment of the cooperating member 14 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 is formed as an extrusion and has a uniform cross-sectional configuration throughout which is essentially L-shaped.

With the extruded

members

12 and 14 described above in connection with the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, the end wall means 18 by which two members are fixedly mounted in operative position with respect to the marbles 16, is in the form of a pair of separate end wall elements, each of which is made of a plastic material similar to the plastic material of the

members

12 and 14. The end wall elements are essentially triangular shaped and fixedly secured between opposite ends of the

members

12 and 14 by any suitable means, as for example, an appropriate cement or adhesive or by welding, such as solvent or sonic welding. It will be noted that the end wall elements 18 have their base surfaces fixed to the ends of the planar surface 24 of the base member and the surfaces of the legs thereof fixed to the interior surfaces of the member 14 defining the marble-receiving recess 30. The end wall elements 18 thus not only serve to interconnect the

main component members

12 and 14, but to enclose the ends of the cavity 30 which receives the marbles 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates certain variations in the construction of the

members

12 and 14, the end wall means 18 and their manner of assembly. In FIG. 4 the device is indicated generally at 10'. The base member of the device 10', which is indicated by the numeral 12', is substantially identical with the base member 12 previously described except that it is injection molded rather than extruded. Likewise, the device 10 includes a'cooperating elongated member, indicated at 14', which is like the member 14 previously described except that it, too,

is injection molded rather than extruded and has formed on the ends thereof as an integral part thereof end wall portions 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the base surface of each end wall portion 18' has integrally molded thereon a pair of vertically spaced male connector elements 32. The molded base member 12' has integrally molded therein spaced pairs of female connector elements 34 disposed in a position to receive the male connector elements 32. The connector elements may have any desired conventional configuration and, as shown, are preferably of snap-fit type. With this arrangement, after the cavity 30 of the member 14' has been filled with marbles 16, the base member 12' is simply snapped into operative position by interengagement of the male and

female connector elements

32 and 34.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the marbles 16 are preferably of conventional glass material and spherical in configuration. A preferred size is /8 inch diameter. The marbles 16 substantially fill the cavity 30 between the end wall elements 18, the cavity 30 providing a lower interior marble-engaging surface extending upwardly from the lower edge structure 28 in diverging relation to the exterior planar surface 24. The lower marbleengaging surface of the cavity 30 preferably diverges from the surface 24 at an angle of approximately 45. In this way, the marbles 16 will be biased by their own weight to contact the surface 24.

It will also be noted that when the

members

12 and 14 are fixed in their operative position by the end wall elements 18, the upper and

lower edge structures

26 and 28 are spaced slightly from the base member surface 24 so as to define upper and lower horizontally elongated slots for receiving vertically therethrough paper or other like sheet material desired to be releas ably held in the device for display.

While the present device is by no means limited in its use to releasably holding note paper, such use is primarily contemplated and as a further convenience means is provided in the device for supporting a writing instrument. In the preferred embodiment shown, the writing instrument supporting means is in the form of an aperture 36 formed in the upper portion of the member 14 at one end extremity thereof. As best shown in FIG. 2, the end extremity of the member 14 within which the aperture 16 is formed is disposed outwardly of the associated end wall element 18.

The preferred geometrical relationship of the marbles with respect to the surfaces engaged thereby of the

members

12 and 14 is particularly desirable in that it permits note paper and other sheet material to be both inserted and removed through either the upper slot or the lower slot provided. That is, with a 45 angle, and the use of glass marbles contacting plastic surfaces, no wedging action occurs in response to a downward movement of a paper engaged within the device. In essence, the releasable holding action of the marbles is accomplished by their weight, rather than any gripping action by virtue of the geometrical relationships involved. It will be understood, however, that while a wedging action is not intended, the upper and lower slot arrangement would readily provide for a more positive gripping action where desired enabling the paper to be released only by an upward movement through the upper slot, and likewise under such circumstances, a paper could not be conveniently or operatively engaged by movement downwardly through the upper slot. It should be noted, however, that in any event the dual slot arrangement permits the releasable holding of notes which extend both above the upper slot and below the lower slot, thus materially increasing the capacity of the device and rendering it more versatile in use. With the arrangement shown it is preferable to introduce papers to the device upwardly through the lower slot and to remove papers from the device upwardly through the upper slot.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described for the purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles of this invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A note-holding device comprising an elongated base member having an exterior planar surface, means for mounting said base member on a support in an op erative position wherein the elongation of said member extends generally horizontally and said exterior planar surface is disposed generally vertically, a generally coextensive cooperating elongated member having an upper edge structure, a lower edge structure and an interior marble-receiving cavity formed therebetween, end wall means closing the outer end portions of said cavity and fixedly connected with the outer end portions of said base member and said cooperating member, thereby mounting said cooperating member on said base member in an operative position wherein said upper and lower edge structures are spaced from said exterior planar surface throughout the longitudinal extent thereof between said end walls so as to define with said planar surface a pair of vertically spaced horizontally elongated slots of relatively narrow width for receiving note paper vertically therethrough, said marble-receiving cavity including an interior marbleengaging surface extending upwardly from said lower edge structure in diverging relation with respect to the planar surface of said base member and a multiplicity of spherical glass marbles substantially filling said cavity and supported therein by engagement with said interior marble-engaging surface and said exterior surface of said base member so that note paper or the like moved through said slots is engaged between said exterior planar surface and said marbles and retained therein a note-reading position extending either downwardly from the lower slot or upwardly from the upper slot.

2. A note-holding device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member has a vertically elongated rectangular cross-sectional configuration and said cooperating member has an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

3. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said members are extruded of plastic material, said end wall means being fixedly secured to said members.

4. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said members are injection molded of plastic material, said end wall means being formed integrally with said cooperating member.

5. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said end wall means includes mounting surwherein said spherical marbles have a diameter of approximately 5/8 inch.

8. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said marble-engaging surface extends at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to said exterior planar surface.

9. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes spaced adhesive strips fixedly secured to a surface of said base member remote from said planar surface having pealable backing strips covering the exposed adhesive surfaces thereof.

Claims

1. A note-holding device comprising an elongated base member having an exterior planar surface, means for mounting said base member on a support in an operative position wherein the elongation of said member extends generally horizontally and said exterior planar surface is disposed generally vertically, a generally coextensive cooperating elongated member having an upper edge structure, a lower edge structure and an interior marble-receiving cavity formed therebetween, end wall means closing the outer end portions of said cavity and fixedly connected with the outer end portions of said base member and said cooperating member, thereby mounting said cooperating member on said base member in an operative position wherein said upper and lower edge structures are spaced from said exterior planar surface throughout the longitudinal extent thereof between said end walls so as to define with said planar surface a pair of vertically spaced horizontally elongated slots of relatively narrow width for receiving note paper vertically therethrough, said marble-receiving cavity including an interior marbleengaging surface extending upwardly from said lower edge structure in diverging relation with respect to the planar surface of said base member and a multiplicity of spherical glass marbles substantially filling said cavity and supported therein by engagement with said interior marble-engaging surface and said exterior surface of said base member so that note paper or the like moved through said slots is engaged between said exterior planar surface and said marbles and retained therein a notereading position extending either downwardly from the lower slot or upwardly from the upper slot.

5. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said end wall means includes mounting surfaces for engaging said exterior planar surface of said base member adjacent opposite end portions thereof, said end wall means having male connector elements extending from said mounting surfaces, said base member having female connector means detachably fixedly receiving said male connector elements.

6. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said cooperating member extends outwardly beyond the end wall means at one end thereof and having an opening formed in the upper portion thereof for receiving and supporting therein a writing instrument or the like.

7. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said spherical marbles have a diameter of approximately 5/8 inch.

8. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said marble-engaGing surface extends at an angle of approximately 45* with respect to said exterior planar surface.