HK1096353B - Clipboard with reading light - Google Patents

Description

Writing splint with reading lamp

Technical Field

The invention relates to a clipboard for clamping paper or other flat objects, in particular to a clipboard with a built-in reading lamp.

Background

Typically, clipboards are used to grip paper and provide a hard writing surface when no other hard and flat writing surface is available. In the past, clipboards have had reading lights powered by batteries. The reading light allows a user to read and write in dim or dark lighting conditions without the need to additionally hold a flashlight. These types of clipboards with reading lights typically have an incandescent light bulb supported at the end of a flexible, elongated, neck-shaped support arm. This may allow light to be irradiated to a desired position. In this design, the batteries are typically stored in separate compartments (compartments), for example, behind the clipboard.

While these types of clipboards with reading lights have had a range of success in the past, disadvantages still remain. For example, in these known types of clipboards, the reading light makes the clipboard bulky. Damage can also occur because the light emitting elements protrude from the board and clips and there is generally no safe storage location. When these types of clipboards are used in lighted conditions, then no reading light is needed, and of course, even if a reading light is not needed, it is still present on or attached to the clipboard, affecting the use of the clipboard.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a clipboard having a light assembly disposed within a clip, resulting in a compact and streamlined design. The lamp assembly advantageously comprises a lamp cap adapted to fit into a recess on the clip. The clip may have a curved clip head and the light head has a curvature that generally matches the curvature of the clip head. Thus, the clipboard may have substantially the same size, shape, configuration, or appearance as a typical clipboard (e.g., a clipboard without a reading light) when the light assembly is in the storage position. When a reading light is desired, the light assembly is moved to the extended position by one or more pivotal connections or elongated members. Other features and advantages will become more apparent in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clipboard of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view;

FIG. 3 is a rear view;

FIG. 4 is a top or plan view;

FIG. 5 is a bottom end view;

FIG. 6 is a top end view;

FIG. 7 is a left side view;

FIGS. 1-7 show the clipboard with the reading light in a stored or retracted position;

FIGS. 8-14 show the reading light in an extended position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the clipboard shown in FIG. 1, with the reading light in an extended position;

FIG. 9 is a front view;

FIG. 10 is a right side view;

FIG. 11 is a top end view;

FIG. 12 is a bottom end view;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged right side view showing the lamp and clip;

fig. 14 is a top view of the element shown in fig. 13.

Detailed Description

Turning now to the drawings in detail, as shown in fig. 2 and 7, the clipboard 20 has a clamping assembly 24 that includes a flat base or bottom 26 that is connected to the board portion 22 by rivets 28 or other fasteners or adhesives. The clamping assembly 24 may include a clamp post 30 supporting a clamp head 32 on the base 26. One or more spring elements 34 (shown in FIG. 6) press the clip head 32 to a downward position such that a lower edge of the clip head 32 presses against the base 26 or plate portion 22, thereby clamping the paper to the clipboard 20. The front edge of the base 26 may form a step or ridge 36 to allow the jaws 32 to better grip the paper in place. Referring to FIG. 11, the clamp head 32 pivots about a pin 38 or other pivotal connection to clamp or release sheets of paper on the clipboard 20. The details of the base 26, rivet 28, post 30, spring 34, step 36, or pin 38 are not required and may be changed or omitted depending on the particular design selected.

Referring to fig. 1 and 13, the collet 32 may have a flat upper surface or a curved upper surface defining a curved plane 40. As shown in FIG. 8, a recess or slot 42 is provided at one end of the clip head 32 for receiving a lamp assembly 44.

Turning now to fig. 8-14, light assembly 44 has an arm 46 that connects to a top plate or region 51 (shown in fig. 9) on clip 32, advantageously on a first pivotal connection 48 (shown in fig. 13). The light head 50 shown in fig. 13 and 14 may be pivotally connected to the other end of the arm 46 at, for example, a second pivot connection 62. As shown in fig. 13 and 14, the light head 50 may have a rear portion formed as a battery compartment 52 and a front portion formed as a light or LED support 56. The battery case 52 may be attached to the upper or outer end of the arm 46 at an outer pivot connection 62. If the lamp support 56 is pivotally connected to the battery case 52 at a pivot or swivel connection 54 as shown in fig. 14, the lamp support 56 may pivot or swivel about axis a. The arm 46 and the light head 50 can then pivot about axis B (at connection 48) and axis C at connection 62. Axis a is substantially perpendicular to axis C, which is substantially parallel to axis B.

A lamp or LED58 is held within the lamp support 56. As shown in fig. 13, the reflector 60 is disposed around the LED 58. A cover 53 on the battery compartment 52 shown in fig. 14 may be used to open the battery compartment 52 to replace the batteries. The battery compartment 52 may house various types of batteries for powering the LED58, such as one or two watch batteries (2016, etc.). A switch 64 on the side of the battery compartment 52 may turn the LED58 on or off. Sufficient friction is advantageously provided at the pivot or swivel connections 48, 62, 54 to hold the light assembly 44 in any position. Alternatively, the linkage may allow for substantially frictionless pivotal movement and allow for positioning by a detent or mechanical stop.

As shown in phantom in FIG. 13, in an alternative embodiment, the battery compartment 66 may be located anywhere on the clipboard 20, such as on the rear or bottom side of the clip 32.

Referring to fig. 3, the rear edge 70 of the light head 50 has a curvature that generally matches the curvature of the rear edge 72 of any clip head 32, as shown in fig. 13, the light head 50 may have an upper surface 55 that has the same curvature, shape, and/or size as the upper surface of the clip head 32, as shown in fig. 1-7, in this design, the arms 46 fold into the recesses 42 and the light head 50 essentially forms only an extension of the clip head 32 when the light assembly 44 is in the storage position, hi particular, the upper surface 55 of the light head 50 lies on or is collinear with a plane 40 of the same curvature as the upper surface of the clip head 32. in particular, the rear edge 70 of the light head 50 may coincide with the rear edge 72 of the clip head 32. thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, when in the storage position, the light assembly 44 is out of the way due to its compact construction and the absence of protruding parts.

In addition, the full width of the clip head 32 plus the width of the light head 50 can be pressed by the palm or fingers of the user to pivot the clip head 32 upward to release the paper from the clipboard 20. As shown in fig. 1, the combination of the clip head 32 and the light head 50 is generally centered on the plate 22. Thus, the clipboard 20 with the retracted light assembly 44 shown in Figs. 1-7 may feel, appear and/or look like a typical clipboard.

The lamp assembly 44 is used by pulling or lifting the lighthead 50 up or away from the top disk 51 on the clip head 32. By so moving, the arm 46 can pivot (counterclockwise at the link 48 as shown in fig. 13). The light head 50 correspondingly pivots clockwise about the connection 62. Thus, the height of the light head 50 above the plate portion 22 and the angle of the light head 50 relative to the plate portion 22 can be set or adjusted by the user. LED58 is turned on by switch 64. The light emitted by the LED58 may be collimated by adjusting the position and angle of the lighthead 50. The light may also be adjusted in the left-right direction by rotating the lamp holder 56. Thus, in addition to illuminating the paper on the clipboard 20, the light assembly 44 can also be used as a small, positionable flashlight by rotating the light support 56 to one side or even half a turn, so that the LED light is directed upward, away from the board 22.

While the use of one light assembly 44 in an alternative embodiment is generally sufficient for most clipboards, a second mirror image light assembly may be additionally provided on the other (left) side of the clip head 32 to provide additional light. The arm 46 and pivot connections 48, 54 and/or 62 may be replaced in whole or in part by other mechanical elements, such as flexible arms or wires that allow the lighthead to be extended and positioned, as well as allowing the lighthead to be compactly stored within the profile of the clip head.

Thus, a novel clipboard and light assembly has been shown and described. Various changes and substitutions may of course be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims (18)

1. A clipboard, comprising:

a substantially flat plate portion provided with a writing surface;

a clamping assembly fixedly connected to the plate portion and adapted to hold a sheet to the plate portion, wherein the clamping assembly is located at one end of the plate portion, the clamping assembly including a collet and a recess within the collet;

an arm pivotally connected to the collet by a first pivot connection on the collet, the first pivot connection being fixed in position on the collet;

a light head pivotably connected to the arm by a second pivot connection, the light head including a battery compartment supported by the arm and a light support pivotably connected to the battery compartment; and is

The light head is moved on the arms from a retracted position in which the light head and the arms are folded over each other and substantially within the recess, to an extended position in which the light head is separated from the clip head.

2. A clipboard according to claim 1, wherein the length of the arm portion is substantially equal to the clip width.

3. A clipboard as in claim 1, wherein the length of the light head is substantially equal to the length of the arm.

4. A clipboard according to claim 1, wherein the clip has a curved upper surface and a top plate at one end of the clip, the lighthead being sized and shaped to rest on the top plate, the upper surface of the lighthead being substantially aligned with the upper surface of the clip.

5. A clipboard as in claim 1, wherein the arm portion is substantially straight and rigid, and has a fixed length.

6. A clipboard according to claim 1, the first end of the arm being connected to the clip at the first pivot connection to allow the arm to pivot about a first axis; the lamp head is connected to the second end of the arm at the second pivot connection to allow the lamp head to pivot about a second axis parallel to the first axis, the lamp head including a lamp support that pivots about a third axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis

7. A clipboard, comprising:

a plate portion having a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side is provided with a surface for supporting a sheet;

a clamping assembly including a base fixedly connected to a front side of the panel portion adjacent an edge of the panel portion;

the clamping assembly further comprises a collet located on the base;

the clamping assembly further includes a spring element urging the first end of the collet in a direction toward the front side of the plate portion to retain the sheet at the front side of the plate portion;

an arm having a first end and a second end and a fixed length, wherein the first end of the arm is pivotally connected to the collet by a first pivot connection on the collet and adjacent to a lower edge of the collet for clamping the sheet to the front side of the plate portion;

a light head pivotally connected to the second end of the arm by a second pivot connection and having a length substantially equal to the arm length;

the lamp cap and the arm are folded over each other in the retracted position and located at one end of the panel.

8. A clipboard according to claim 7, wherein the clip has a recess into which the head fits, the clip being curved, the head having a curvature that generally matches the curvature of the clip.

9. A clipboard according to claim 7, wherein the light head includes a switch.

10. A clipboard according to claim 7, wherein the light head includes: a battery compartment, an LED support, and an LED within the LED support.

11. A clipboard according to claim 10, wherein the LED support is pivotally connected to the battery compartment.

12. A clipboard according to claim 7, wherein the clipboard further comprises a light assembly that includes the light head and arm, and the light assembly is movable from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the light head is substantially coplanar with the clip in the retracted position and is spaced apart from the clip in the extended position.

13. A clipboard as defined in claim 7, wherein the light head is located to one side of the clip in the direction in which the lower edge extends.

14. A clipboard, comprising:

a plate portion, generally rectangular, having two long sides and two short sides;

a base connected to the plate portion adjacent to a first short side of the short sides;

one or more clamp posts connected to a base at a first side of the plate portion;

a collet pivotally supported on the collet post, the collet being located at one end of the plate portion;

a recess in the collet;

a spring biasing an edge of the collet toward a front surface of the plate portion for retaining a flat item on the first side of the plate portion;

a lamp assembly located on the collet, wherein the lamp assembly comprises:

an arm having first and second ends and a fixed length, the first end of the arm pivotally connected to the collet by a first pivot connection on the collet adjacent to the collet for clamping paper to a lower edge of the plate portion, the arm pivoting about a first axis of the first pivot connection, the first axis being substantially parallel to the first short side of the plate portion;

a light head pivotally connected to the second end of the arm by a second pivot connection, the light head pivoting about a second axis of the second pivot connection, the second axis being substantially parallel to the first axis, and the light head having a length substantially equal to the length of the arm;

the light head moves on the arm along an arc about the first pivot connection from a retracted position in which the light head and the arm are folded over each other and substantially within the recess of the clip head to an extended position in which the light head is separated from the clip head and positioned above the first side of the panel.

15. A clipboard as in claim 14, wherein the base is fixedly attached to a first side of the board portion.

16. A clipboard according to claim 14, wherein the light assembly is located to one side of the clip in the direction in which the lower edge extends.

17. A clipboard according to claim 14, wherein the clip has a curved upper surface and a top plate at one end of the clip in the direction of extension of the lower edge, the lighthead having a size and shape that can rest on the top plate, the upper surface of the lighthead being substantially aligned with the upper surface of the clip.

18. A clipboard as in claim 14, wherein the light head includes a light support that pivots about a third axis that is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.