U.S. patent application number 09/756584 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-10 for document retaining system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Saunders Manufacturing Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Barker, Gene A., Kambouris, Thomas C..
Application Number | 20010000901 09/756584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22803494 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000901 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kambouris, Thomas C. ; et
al. |
May 10, 2001 |
Document retaining system
Abstract
A document retaining system for retaining documents in a
protected manner while allowing easy and convenient access to the
documents. The inventive device includes a base having a pair of
opposing slots, and a cover having a pair of opposing pins that are
slidably positioned within the slots. The cover is formed to
removably fit within the interior cavity of the base and for
removably covering the interior cavity of the base. Various
documents may be stored and utilized within the base and the cover
along with various auxiliary devices such as clamps and partition
members.
Inventors: |
Kambouris, Thomas C.;
(Jackson, WY) ; Barker, Gene A.; (Wayne,
ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael S. Neustel
Suite No. 4
2534 South University Drive
Fargo
ND
58103
US
|
Assignee: |
Saunders Manufacturing Company,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22803494 |
Appl. No.: |
09/756584 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09756584 |
Jan 8, 2001 |
|
|
|
09215570 |
Dec 16, 1998 |
|
|
|
6196405 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
206/214; 220/812; 248/451; 281/45; 312/190; G9B/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1626 20130101;
G06F 2200/1633 20130101; B65D 43/164 20130101; G11B 31/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
220/812; 206/214; 281/45; 312/190; 248/451 |
International
Class: |
B65D 043/14; A45C
011/34 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A document retaining system having a closed position, an open
position and a compact open position, comprising: a base having a
floor and a pair of first side walls extending from said floor on
opposing ends of said base; a pair of slots extending through said
pair of first side walls; a cover pivotally and slidably positioned
within said base between said pair of first side walls; and a pair
of hinge pins attached to said cover, wherein said pair of hinge
pins are pivotally and slidably positioned within said pair of
slots.
2. The document retaining system of claim 1, wherein said hinge
pins have flanged ends.
3. The document retaining system of claim 2, wherein said cover is
comprised of an upper plate and a plurality of second side walls
extending from the outer portion of said upper plate.
4. The document retaining system of claim 3, wherein said base
includes an end wall extending between said pair of first side
walls, wherein said end wall is shorter in height than said pair of
first side walls.
5. The document retaining system of claim 4, wherein said pair of
slots are parallel to one another.
6. The document retaining system of claim 5, wherein said cover
includes three second side walls forming a U-shaped structure with
said pair of hinge pins attached to said second side walls in
opposition to one another adjacent the closed portion thereof, and
wherein said base includes an extended side wall that extends
between said pair of first side walls opposite of said end
wall.
7. The document retaining system of claim 6, wherein said three
second side walls are orthogonally attached to said upper plate,
and wherein said pair of first side walls and said extended side
wall are orthogonal with respect to said floor.
8. The document retaining system of claim 7, wherein said cover and
said base both include auxiliary devices for retaining documents
within.
9. The document retaining system of claim 8, including a pair of
locking grooves extending downwardly from the distal ends of said
slots for catchably receiving said hinge pins when said cover is
within a compact open position.
10. The document retaining system of claim 9, wherein said cover
includes a lip portion that extends past said extended side wall
when in said closed position and extends past said end wall when in
said compact open position.
11. A document retaining system having a closed position, an open
position and a compact open position, comprising: a base having a
floor and a pair of first side walls extending from said floor on
opposing ends of said base; a pair of slots extending through said
pair of first side walls, wherein each of said pair of slots
extends along a substantial portion of each of said pair of first
side walls; a cover pivotally and slidably positioned within said
base between said pair of first side walls; and a pair of hinge
pins attached to said cover, wherein said pair of hinge pins are
pivotally and slidably positioned within said pair of slots.
12. The document retaining system of claim 11, wherein said hinge
pins have flanged ends.
13. The document retaining system of claim 12, wherein said cover
is comprised of an upper plate and a plurality of second side walls
extending from the outer portion of said upper plate.
14. The document retaining system of claim 13, wherein said base
includes an end wall extending between said pair of first side
walls, wherein said end wall is shorter in height than said pair of
first side walls.
15. The document retaining system of claim 14, wherein said pair of
slots are parallel to one another.
16. The document retaining system of claim 15, wherein said cover
includes three second side walls forming a U-shaped structure with
said pair of hinge pins attached to said second side walls in
opposition to one another adjacent the closed portion thereof, and
wherein said base includes an extended side wall that extends
between said pair of first side walls opposite of said end
wall.
17. The document retaining system of claim 16, wherein said three
second side walls are orthogonally attached to said upper plate,
and wherein said pair of first side walls and said extended side
wall are orthogonal with respect to said floor.
18. The document retaining system of claim 17, wherein said cover
and said base both include auxiliary devices for retaining
documents within.
19. The document retaining system of claim 18, including a pair of
locking grooves extending downwardly from the distal ends of said
slots for catchably receiving said hinge pins when said cover is
within a compact open position.
20. The document retaining system of claim 19, wherein said cover
includes a lip portion that extends past said extended side wall
when in said closed position and extends past said end wall when in
said compact open position.
Description
Cross-Reference to Related U.S. Patent Application
1. I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code,
Section 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/215,570 filed
Dec. 16, 1998 entitled Personal Organizer Case System. This
application is a continuation-in-part of the Ser. No. 09/215,570
application. The Ser. No. 09/215,570 application has received a
Notice of Allowance mailed Oct. 10, 2000 and is currently pending
as of the filing of this application. The Ser. No. 09/215,570
application is hereby incorporated by reference into this
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
2. 1. Field of the Invention
3. The present invention relates generally to document holder
devices and more specifically it relates to a document retaining
system for retaining documents in a protected manner while allowing
easy and convenient access to the documents.
4. Individuals in various professions and industries commonly
utilize document holder devices to retain various types of
documents. Unfortunately many of these document holder devices are
not comprised of a suitable compact structure during usage by an
individual making them difficult to manually support and utilize.
Hence, there is a need for a document retaining system that
performs all of the functions of conventional document retaining
systems in a convenient manner.
5. 2. Description of the Prior Art
6. Document holder devices have been in use for years. Conventional
document holder devices typically include but are not limited to
form holders, work boxes, clipboards, clipboards with writing
plates, sheet holders, drivers log book covers, portfolios, ring
binders, and citation holders. Conventional document holder devices
typically are constructed to retain and protect documents such as
papers, forms, tablets and other items. Conventional document
holder devices having two or more pivotally attached door members
(or flaps) are common in the industry that expand outwardly in a
wing-manner when the user desires to access the documents contained
within. Conventional document holder devices often times have a
storage area along with a writing plate.
7. The main problem with conventional document holder devices is
that they are cumbersome to utilize. Another problem is that
conventional document holder devices are difficult to physically
support and write upon for many individuals because of the
pivotally attached doors. Conventional clipboards are easy to
utilize, however they do not protect documents from being damaged
or visually seen by unauthorized individuals.
8. While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose
to which they address, they are not as suitable for retaining
documents in a protected manner while allowing easy and convenient
access to the documents. Conventional document retaining devices
are bulky and awkward to utilize. In addition, conventional
document retaining devices generally have a lid or cover that is
pivoted outwardly that interferes with usage.
9. In these respects, the document retaining system according to
the present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an
apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of retaining
documents in a protected manner while allowing easy and convenient
access to the documents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
10. In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of document retaining devices now present in the prior art,
the present invention provides a new document retaining system
construction wherein the same can be utilized for retaining
documents in a protected manner while allowing easy and convenient
access to the documents.
11. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
document retaining system that has many of the advantages of the
document retaining devices mentioned heretofore and many novel
features that result in a new document retaining system which is
not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by
any of the prior art document retaining devices, either alone or in
any combination thereof.
12. To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
base having a pair of opposing slots, and a cover having a pair of
opposing pins that are slidably positioned within the slots. The
cover is formed to removably fit within the interior cavity of the
base and for removably covering the interior cavity of the base.
Various documents may be stored and utilized within the base and
the cover along with various auxiliary devices such as clamps and
partition members.
13. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto.
14. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of
the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention
is not limited in its application to the details of construction
and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the
following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention
is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried
out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of
the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
15. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
document retaining system that will overcome the shortcomings of
the prior art devices.
16. An object of the present invention is to provide a document
retaining system that retains documents in a protected manner while
allowing easy and convenient access to the documents.
17. Another object is to provide a document retaining system that
allows document to be easily accessed.
18. An additional object is to provide a document retaining system
that does not interfere with normal usage of the documents.
19. A further object is to provide a document retaining system
wherein during usage the cover is not significantly exposed and
does not interfere with the individual utilizing the document
retaining system.
20. Another object is to provide a document retaining system that
is lightweight.
21. An additional object is to provide a document retaining system
that effectively protects documents from damage.
22. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects
and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
23. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
24. Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes
better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
25. FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in
the closed position.
26. FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
being opened.
27. FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
with the cover positioned in the normal open position with respect
to the base.
28. FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in
the normal open position with the partition member pivoted
upwardly.
29. FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
showing the base being slid about the cover from the normal open
position into the compact open position.
30. FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
showing the cover compactly positioned within the base in the
compact open position.
31. FIG. 7 is a top view of the present invention in the normal
open position.
32. FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention illustrating the locking
grooves.
33. FIG. 9 is an end view of the alternative embodiment in the open
position showing the locking groove within the slot.
34. FIG. 10 is an end view of the alternative embodiment in the
compact open position showing the pins catchably retained within
the locking grooves.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
35. Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
view, FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a document retaining system 10,
which comprises a base 20 having a pair of opposing slots 28a-b,
and a cover 30 having a pair of opposing pins 40a-b that are
slidably positioned within the slots 28a-b. The cover 30 is formed
to removably fit within the interior cavity of the base 20 and for
removably covering the interior cavity of the base 20. Various
documents may be stored and utilized within the base 20 and the
cover 30 along with various auxiliary devices such as clamps 70, 72
and partition members 74. The base 20 and cover 30 may be
constructed of various materials such as but not limited to
aluminum, steel or plastic.
36. The base 20 and cover 30 have three basic positions with
respect to one another. Utilizing these three positions of the
document retaining system 10, a user is able to conveniently store
and access documents within a single compact structure that does
not interfere with their usage.
37. The first position of the document retaining system 10 is
comprised of the "closed" position as illustrated in FIGS. 1. The
closed position provides protection of documents contained within
the document retaining system 10.
38. The second position of the document retaining system 10 is
comprised of the "open" position as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7
of the drawings. The open position is simply the cover 30 rotated
180 degrees with respect to the base 20.
39. The third position of the document retaining system 10 is
comprised of the "compact open" position as illustrated in FIGS. 5
and 6 of the drawings. The compact open position is wherein the
cover 30 is slid into the base 20 (or the base 20 slid about the
cover 30) from the open position as best illustrated in FIG. 5 of
the drawings. Only the documents attached within the interior
portion of the cover 30 are accessible when the document retaining
system 10 is positioned within the compact open position.
40. The base 20 is preferably comprised of a rectangular or square
shape as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. As best shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the base 20 is comprised of a floor
22, three first side walls 24 forming a U-shape about the perimeter
of the floor 22, and an end wall 26. The end wall 26 is lower in
height than the first side walls 24 as best illustrated in FIGS. 2
and 6 of the drawings.
41. The first side walls 24 are preferably constructed of an
approximately equal height with respect to the floor 22. The first
side walls 24 and the end wall 26 preferably extend orthogonally
from the outer portion of the floor 22. It can be appreciated that
the base 20 may be comprised of various other structures and
designs to accomplish the desired functionality of the present
invention.
42. As best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a pair of opposing
slots 28a-b extend through two of the opposing first side walls 24.
The slots 28a-b extend along a significant portion of the opposing
first side walls 24 as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The
slots 28a-b are preferably parallel to the floor 22, however angled
slots 28a-b may also be utilized to accomplish various
functions.
43. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, a cover 30 is
provided that is both pivotally and slidably positioned within the
base 20. The cover 30 is formed to fit substantially within the
cavity of the base 20 defined by the first side walls 24 when in
the compact open position as best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.
44. The cover 30 is comprised of an upper plate 32, and three
second side walls 34 extending from the outer portion of the upper
plate 32 similar to the first side walls 24. Two of the second side
walls 34 are in opposition to one another with the remaining second
side wall 34 extending between the opposing second side walls 34
forming a U-shaped structure similar to the first side walls 24.
The two opposing second side walls 34 are spaced together closer
than the opposing first side walls 24 to allow the second side
walls 34 to be positioned between the opposing first side walls 24
as shown in FIGS. 2 through 7 of the drawings. The second side
walls 34 are preferably constructed of an approximately equal
height with respect to the upper plate 32. It can be appreciated
that the cover 30 may be comprised of various other structures and
designs to accomplish the desired functionality of the present
invention. A portion of the upper plate 32 preferably extends past
the first side walls 24 forming a lip 36 that is easy to engage by
a user.
45. As shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 of the drawings, a pair of pins
40a-b are attached to the two opposing second side walls 34 of the
cover 30. The pins 40a-b are slidably and pivotally received within
the corresponding pair of slots 28a-b as further shown in FIGS. 3
through 7 of the drawings. The pins 40a-b are preferably comprised
of a flanged end structure to prevent accidental removal from the
slots 28a-b. The pins 40a-b are preferably located adjacent the
second side wall 34 positioned between the opposing second side
walls 34 opposite of the lip 36 of the upper plate 32 as best
illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.
46. Various auxiliary devices may be secured within the base 20 and
the cover 30 for securing and supporting various documents. For
example, a gripping clamp 70 may be secured to the upper plate 32
of the cover 30 for removably securing documents and other items.
In addition, a partition member 74 may be pivotally attached to one
of the second side walls 34 by a hinge 76 or other means for
separating documents and providing a writing surface for documents
during usage as further shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 of the drawings.
A plate clamp 72 may be secured to the floor 22 of the base 20 for
retaining documents and other items as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7
of the drawings. It can be appreciated that various other auxiliary
devices may be utilized within the base 20 and cover 30 with
various combinations capable of being utilized.
47. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 of the
drawings, a pair of locking grooves 29a-b extend orthogonally
downwardly from the end of each of the slots 28a-b. The hinge pins
40a-b removably catch upon the locking grooves 29a-b when the cover
30 is in the compact open position for preventing movement of the
cover 30 while the user is manipulating documents within the
document retaining system 10 as is best illustrated in FIG. 10 of
the drawings.
48. In use, the user positions the document retaining system 10
within the open position thereby exposing both the base 20 and the
cover 30. The user then inserts the desired documents and other
materials within the base 20 and cover 30 as desired utilizing
various auxiliary devices to retain the same. The user then rotates
the cover 30 180 degrees with respect to the base 20 so that the
cover 30 substantially encloses the cavity of the base 20 thereby
forming the "closed" position. The documents and other materials
within the document retaining system 10 are thereafter properly
protected from various damaging events. The closed position of the
document retaining system 10 both stores and protects valuable
documents contained within while simultaneously providing a compact
structure to transport and store. When the user desires to access
the documents contained within the document retaining system 10,
the user simply engages the lip 36 of the cover 30 and rotates the
cover 30 away from the base 20 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
The user continues rotating the cover 30 until approximately 180
degrees wherein the outer surface of the upper plate 32 engages the
end wall 26 thereby supporting the cover 30 in a substantially
parallel position with respect to the base 20 forming the "open"
position as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The
user may then access documents within either the base 20 or the
cover 30 as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. If the user
desires to utilize the documents contained only within the cover
30, the user then may slide the cover 30 into the base 20 as best
illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. When the U-shaped structure
of the second side walls 34 engages the corresponding U-shaped
structure of the first side walls 24 the document retaining system
10 is positioned within the compact storage position as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The user is then free to access the
documents within the cover 30 and utilize the various auxiliary
devices contained within. When the user is finished accessing the
documents within the document retaining system, the user simply
reverses the above procedure until the cover 30 is substantially
enclosing the cavity of the base 20 thereby forming the closed
position.
49. As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation
of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the
above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to
the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
50. With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
51. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *