U.S. patent application number 09/927670 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-13 for clipboard and reading stand with light and drawers.
Invention is credited to Young, Wei, Zeller, Noel E..
Application Number | 20030029985 09/927670 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25455069 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030029985 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zeller, Noel E. ; et
al. |
February 13, 2003 |
Clipboard and reading stand with light and drawers
Abstract
An adjuster selectively collapses a support relative to a base
so that the apparatus can support writing material and function as
a clipboard; or extends the support relative to the base so that
the apparatus can support reading material and function as a
reading stand. A stay arm extends between the base and the support
for holding the support at a desired angle relative to the base. A
light is provided for illuminating writing or reading material. The
light is on a stalk that can be pivoted and telescoped.
Inventors: |
Zeller, Noel E.; (Harrison,
NY) ; Young, Wei; (Long Island City, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald S. Dowden
Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
25455069 |
Appl. No.: |
09/927670 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F 9/004 20130101;
A47B 23/06 20130101; A47B 23/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/461 |
International
Class: |
A47B 097/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. Apparatus comprising: a base; a support connected to the base;
and an adjuster for selectively collapsing the support relative to
the base so that the apparatus can support writing material and
function as a clipboard; or extending the support relative to the
base so that the apparatus can support reading material and
function as a reading stand.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base is substantially
rectangular.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support is
substantially rectangular.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the adjuster comprises a
hinge for pivoting the support relative to the base.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the adjuster further
comprises a stay arm extending between the base and the support for
holding the support at a desired angle relative to the base.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the stay arm is pivotally
connected to one of the base and the support at a fixed position
and to the other of the base and the support at a position that can
be varied to adjust the angle of the support relative to the
base.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a device
connected to the apparatus for securing writing material.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the securing device
comprises a spring-loaded clip.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a light for
illuminating the writing or reading material.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a stalk
connected to the apparatus for mounting the light.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the stalk is pivotally
mounted on the apparatus.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the stalk is
telescoping.
13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the light is pivotally
mounted on the stalk.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a page holder
for holding reading material open at a desired page.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the page holder
comprises a pair of spaced-apart spring-loaded tabs engageable with
the reading material.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one
compartment for holding miscellaneous items.
17. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first
compartment for holding a writing implement and a second
compartment for holding paper.
18. Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising first and
second lids respectively closing the first and second compartments
and first and second hinges respectively mounting the first and
second lids and enabling opening of the first and second lids for
access to the first and second compartments.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to apparatus facilitating reading and
writing and, more particularly, to novel and highly effective
apparatus that facilitates reading and writing while lying in bed,
sitting, standing, walking, or traveling and under all conditions
of ambient light.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Since their invention thousands of years ago, reading and
writing have become two of the most basic skills of humans. A major
focus of early education is to impart these skills to children, and
the careers, travels, hobbies and recreation of nearly everyone
depend on their mastery.
[0005] Because of the importance of reading and writing, many aids
to their practice have been developed. While reading material is
often held in the hand, it is more comfortable to place such
material on a reading stand or similar support, leaving the hands
free to hold a drink or a sandwich, to gesture (as when speaking
publicly), or to underline passages of interest. Pens and pencils
have been developed to enable writing, but a hard support for the
paper or similar writing material is needed to enable the
application of enough pressure to write fluidly without puncturing
the writing surface.
[0006] In order to be equipped for both comfortable reading and
efficient writing, it has conventionally been necessary to have
both a reading stand for supporting reading (or sometimes writing)
material and a clipboard for supporting writing (or sometimes
reading) material.
[0007] Even these two pieces of equipment are not enough when the
ambient light is low. A flashlight can be carried to provide
illumination under conditions of low ambient light, but this
becomes a third piece of equipment to be carried, and it is awkward
to read or, especially, to write while holding a flashlight. Also,
pens, pencils, tablets of paper, erasers, paper clips, possibly a
miniature stapler, and a book, a pamphlet or other reading material
must be carried if one is to be fully equipped for reading and
writing while lying in bed, sitting, standing, walking, or
traveling. In conventional practice, all of these items must be
assembled separately, and the amount of equipment to be assembled,
carried and manipulated is excessive.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the invention is to remedy the problems of the
prior art noted above. In particular, an object of the invention is
to provide apparatus that facilitates both reading and writing
while lying in bed, sitting, standing, walking or traveling,
regardless of the ambient light.
[0009] The foregoing another objects are attained in accordance
with the invention by providing apparatus comprising a base, a
support connected to the base, and an adjuster for selectively
collapsing the support relative to the base so that the apparatus
can support writing (or reading) material and function as a
clipboard; or extending the support relative to the base so that
the apparatus can support reading (or writing) material and
function as a reading stand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING
[0010] A better understanding of the objects, features and
advantages of the invention can be gained from a consideration of
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments
thereof, in conjunction with the appended figures of the drawing,
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of apparatus constructed in
accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 1B is a view corresponding to FIG. 1A showing the
apparatus in a second configuration;
[0013] FIG. 1C is a view corresponding to FIG. 1A showing the
apparatus in a third configuration;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG. 1A;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.
2 but showing the apparatus in another configuration;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing
an open paper compartment; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing
the operation of a tab.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the invention
comprises a base 12, a support 14 connected to the base, and an
adjuster 16 for selectively collapsing the support 14 relative to
the base 12 so that the apparatus 10 can support writing (or
reading) material 18 and function as a clipboard; or extending the
support 14 relative to the base 12 so that the apparatus 10 can
support reading (or writing) material 20 and function as a reading
(or writing) stand.
[0019] Both the base 12 and the support 14 can have any shape, but
preferably each is substantially rectangular in plan view.
[0020] The adjuster 16 comprises a hinge 22 for pivoting the
support 14 relative to the base 12. The adjuster 16 further
comprises a stay arm 24 extending between the base 12 and support
14 for holding the support 14 at a desired angle relative to the
base 12.
[0021] The stay arm 24 is pivotally connected to one of the base 12
and support 14 at a fixed position such as the hinge 22 and to the
other of the base 12 and support 14 at a position 28 that can be
varied to adjust the angle of the support 14 relative to the base
12. In FIG. 3, the stay arm can be held by any of stops 29.
[0022] The apparatus 10 further comprises a device 30, preferably a
spring-loaded clip, for securing the writing (or reading) material
18 (or 20).
[0023] A light 32 is provided for illuminating the writing material
18 or the reading material 20. The light 32 can be battery powered
or connected to house current through an adapter and is mounted on
a stalk 34 connected to the apparatus 10. The stalk 34 is pivotally
mounted about an axis 36. The stalk 34 is telescoping by virtue of
sliding telescoping joints T, and the light 32 is pivotally mounted
on the stalk 34 about an axis 35. The light can also be swiveled
(panned) left to right. The freedom of movement afforded by the
pivoting of the stalk 34, the telescopic extension or retraction of
the stalk 34, and the pivoting and swiveling of the light 32 makes
it possible to position the light 32 to illuminate writing (or
reading) material 18 when the apparatus 10 is used as a clipboard
and reading (or writing) material 20 when the apparatus 10 is used
as a reading stand.
[0024] The apparatus 10 also includes a page holder 38 for holding
reading material open at a desired page. The page holder comprises
a pair of spaced-apart spring-loaded tabs 40, 42 engageable with
the reading material 20.
[0025] The apparatus 10 further includes at least one compartment
and preferably a compartment 44 for holding at least a writing
implement such as a pencil or ballpoint pen and a second
compartment 46 for holding at least writing paper.
[0026] First and second lids 48, 50 respectively close the first
and second compartments 44, 46, and first and second hinges 52, 54
respectively mount the first and second lids 48, 50 and enable
opening of the first and second lids 48, 50 for access to the first
and second compartments 44, 46.
[0027] Apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the invention is
therefore ideally suited as an aid to both reading and writing
while lying in bed, sitting, standing, walking or traveling,
regardless of the ambient light. Lecturers and other professional
public speakers can use it to great advantage. A writing tablet can
be kept in the compartment 46 together with clippings and notes for
composing a talk or lecture. A ballpoint pen can be kept in the
compartment 44. While traveling for a speaking engagement, and
preparing a talk under conditions of low ambient light, the
lecturer can use the light 32 to illuminate the notes, attach the
writing tablet using the clip 30, and draft an outline of the
speech. Notes for the speech can then be attached to the apparatus
10 using the clip 30, and the apparatus can be used as a clipboard
while making the speech, the apparatus 10 being placed on a reading
stand if one is provided. If no reading stand is provided, but
there is simply a table, for example, the apparatus 10 can be
deployed in its reading-stand configuration, and the notes for the
presentation can be attached using the page holder tabs 38, 40.
[0028] Many modifications of the preferred embodiment of the
invention described above will readily occur to those skilled in
the art upon consideration of this disclosure. For example, the
number and the size of compartments for holding tablets, reading
material, pens, pencils, erasers, etc., can be varied to suit
particular needs. A lock can be provided to prevent access to the
compartments 44, 46 by unauthorized persons. The light stalk 34 can
be moved from the northwest comer of the apparatus (as viewed in
FIG. 2) to the west side, the northeast comer, or the east side. In
the first two positions it accommodates right-handed writers and in
the second two positions it accommodates left-handed writers. The
support 14 can be spring-biased to the deployed position in which
the apparatus 10 functions as a reading stand, and a spring-loaded
detent can be provided to hold the apparatus in the condition
wherein the support 14 is collapsed relative to the base 12 and the
apparatus 10 functions as a clipboard.
[0029] The invention thus includes all embodiments that fall within
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *