Clipboard organizer for data acquisition
A portable writing board organizer with storage space and a handle, providing ready access to a computer, a laser distance measuring device, a scope, a camera, a GPS unit, a tripod, a tape measure, a ruler a divider tray, and a clipboard. The clipboard organizer is ideally suited for use in the field in the areas of real estate, especially appraisal of real estate, surveying, construction, and engineering. The computer can have sketching and appraisal software. The laser measuring device in conjunction with a scope allows accurate electronic measurement of land, buildings, and related structures, and the data thus acquired can be stored and processed in the computer. The appraisal software utilizes this field data to generate appraisal reports, but the computer can also generate reports related to other specialties. Because the board-like organizer is the size and shape of a clipboard it is light weight and can be carried easily in one hand.
This application claims the benefit of previously filed U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/469,095 to Talmon Murphy, Jr., filed May 9, 2003, entitled “Clipboard Organizer Assembly”.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to the field of clipboards and portable organizers for data acquisition and, more particularly, to a hand-held clipboard organizer or portable writing board organizer for acquisition and processing of data related to real estate appraising, inventory management, and general field use.
BACKGROUND ARTIn the areas of real estate, appraising, surveying, construction, and engineering it is often necessary for specialists in these professions to gather and analyze data in the field. A hand-held writing board, such as a clip board, is usually required to take notes and record data. In addition several electronic devices are necessary for field use such as miniature or hand-held computers, laser distance measuring units, global positioning system (GPS) units, and cameras. There is also some need for storage capability. It is difficult to carry all these devices into the field and to have rapid access to each as needed. Clipboards with internal storage are known, and organizers with internal storage are known, but none of these are constructed to be useful in the field where several electronic devices need to be used consecutively or in rapid succession for data acquisition and processing. Data gathering tool kits are known which are useful in criminal investigation, but must be worn to be portable because of their size, and are not constructed as a simple writing board with storage that can be carried in one hand. What is needed is a clipboard-like container or writing board that can be carried in one hand, which organizes a plurality of electronic and hand-operated devices for data acquisition and processing in the field.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTIONThe present invention is a portable writing board organizer with storage space and a handle, providing ready access to a computer, a laser distance measuring device, a scope, a camera, a GPS unit, a tripod, a tape measure, a ruler, a divider tray, and a clipboard. The computer can have sketching and appraisal software. The clipboard organizer is ideally suited for use in the field in the areas of real estate, especially appraisal of real estate, surveying, construction, and engineering. The laser measuring device in conjunction with a scope allows accurate electronic measurement of land, buildings, and related structures, and the data thus acquired can be stored and processed in the computer. The computer can also detect, record and process sketching electronically, and can acquire location data through the GPS unit. The appraisal software utilizes this field data to generate appraisal reports, but the computer can also generate reports related to other specialties such as surveying, construction, and engineering. Because the board-like organizer is the size and shape of a clipboard it is light weight and can be carried easily in one hand.
An advantage of the present invention is a portable clipboard organizer that greatly facilitates acquisition, processing, and reporting of data in the field.
Another advantage is the organization of electronic and hand operated devices so that the devices can be used simultaneously or consecutively to rapidly acquire and store data obtained in the field.
Another advantage is the ability to sketch electronically or on a clipboard.
Another advantage is the ability to use a laser distance measuring device with a scope and a GPS unit.
Another advantage is that the invention provides a light weight clipboard organizer that provides a plurality of electronic data acquisition devices, and which can be carried in one hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the following description details the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways.
The foregoing description has been limited to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, with the attainment of some or all of its advantages and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the clipboard organizer of the present invention may be constructed of any suitable material including plastic, metal, or wood, or a combination thereof. The clipboard organizer can be of any desired size or dimension. In addition to a rectangular shape, the clipboard organizer can also have a square, round, or oval shape. The computer can have data storage and processing capabilities to handle commercially available software programs supporting laser distance measuring devices, GPS units, scanners, code readers, cameras, and the like.
It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.
Claims
1. A portable writing board organizer for data acquisition, comprising:
- a) a top portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; a bottom portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; said top portion and said bottom portion pivotally connected at said back ends, and said top portion and said bottom portion reversibly closing together to form a hollow storage interior;
- b) said top portion having a first opening for operating a laser distance measuring device and a second opening for operating a computer;
- c) said back end of said top portion or said back end of said bottom portion, or both, having an opening to accommodate a scope for said laser distance measuring device; and
- d) said first side of said top portion or said first side of said bottom portion, or both, having an opening to project and detect a laser beam from said laser distance measuring device.
2. The portable writing board organizer of claim 1, further comprising said bottom portion having an opening to accommodate a camera lens for said computer.
3. The portable writing board organizer of claim 2, further comprising said outer surface of said bottom portion having a clip so that said outer surface of said bottom portion functions as a clipboard.
4. The portable writing board organizer of claim 1 wherein said computer has sketching software and appraisal software.
5. The portable writing board organizer of claim 3 wherein said computer is connected to a global positioning system unit.
6. The portable writing board organizer of claim 3 further comprising said inner surface of said top portion having a connector mechanism for holding said computer against said inner surface of said top portion.
7. The portable writing board organizer of claim 6 further comprising said inner surface of said bottom portion having a connector mechanism for holding said laser distance measuring device against said inner surface of said bottom portion.
8. The portable writing board organizer of claim 7 further comprising said bottom portion having a tape measure and an opening to access said tape measure.
9. The portable writing board organizer of claim 8 further comprising said bottom portion having a divider tray, and having openings to accommodate a tripod and electrical connectors.
10. The portable writing board organizer of claim 9 wherein said front end of said top portion and said front end of said bottom portion are constructed to form a handle.
11. The portable writing board organizer of claim 10 further comprising said first side of said top portion or said first side of said bottom portion having a ruler.
12. A portable writing board organizer for data acquisition, comprising:
- a) a top portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; a bottom portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; said top portion and said bottom portion pivotally connected at said back ends, and said top portion and said bottom portion reversibly closing together to form a hollow storage interior;
- b) said top portion having a first opening for operating a laser measuring device and a second opening for operating a computer, said computer having sketching software and appraisal software;
- c) said back end of said top portion or said back end of said bottom portion, or both, having an opening to accommodate a scope for said laser distance measuring device;
- d) said first side of said top portion or said first side of said bottom portion, or both, having an opening to project and detect a laser beam from said laser distance measuring device;
- e) said bottom portion having an opening to accommodate a camera lens for said computer;
- f) said outer surface of said bottom portion having a clip so that said outer surface of said bottom portion functions as a clipboard;
- g) said bottom portion having a tape measure and an opening to access said tape measure; and
- h) said bottom portion having a divider tray, and having openings to accommodate a tripod and electrical connectors.
13. The portable writing board organizer of claim 12 wherein said computer is connected to a global positioning system unit.
14. The portable writing board organizer of claim 13 further comprising said inner surface of said top portion having a connector mechanism for holding said computer against said inner surface of said top portion, and said inner surface of said bottom portion having a connector mechanism for holding said laser distance measuring device against said inner surface of said bottom portion.
15. The portable writing board organizer of claim 14 wherein said front end of said top portion and said front end of said bottom portion are constructed to form a handle.
16. The portable writing board organizer of claim 15 further comprising said first side of said top portion or said first side of said bottom portion having a ruler.
17. A portable writing board organizer for data acquisition, comprising:
- a) a top portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; a bottom portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; said top portion and said bottom portion pivotally connected at said back ends, and said top portion and said bottom portion reversibly closing together to form a hollow storage interior;
- b) said top portion having an opening for operating a computer; and
- c) said back end of said top portion or said back end of said bottom portion, or both, having an opening to accommodate a scanner for said computer.
18. The portable writing board organizer of claim 17, further comprising said bottom portion having an opening to accommodate a camera lens for said computer.
19. The portable writing board organizer of claim 18, further comprising said outer surface of said bottom portion having a clip so that said outer surface of said bottom portion functions as a clipboard.
20. The portable writing board organizer of claim 17 wherein said computer has scanning software.
21. The portable writing board organizer of claim 19 wherein said computer is connected to a global positioning system unit.
22. The portable writing board organizer of claim 19 further comprising said inner surface of said top portion having a connector mechanism for holding said computer against said inner surface of said top portion.
23. The portable writing board organizer of claim 22 further comprising said bottom portion having a tape measure and an opening to access said tape measure.
24. The portable writing board organizer of claim 23 further comprising said bottom portion having a divider tray, and having openings to accommodate a tripod and electrical connectors.
25. The portable writing board organizer of claim 24 wherein said front end of said top portion and said front end of said bottom portion are constructed to form a handle.
26. The portable writing board organizer of claim 25 further comprising said left side of said top portion or said left side of said bottom portion having a ruler.
27. A portable writing board organizer for data acquisition, comprising:
- a) a top portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; a bottom portion with an inner surface and outer surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, and an opposite side; said top portion and said bottom portion pivotally connected at said back ends, and said top portion and said bottom portion reversibly closing together to form a hollow storage interior;
- b) said top portion having an opening for operating a computer, said computer having scanning software;
- c) said back end of said top portion or said back end of said bottom portion, or both, having an opening to accommodate a scanner for said computer;
- d) said bottom portion having an opening to accommodate a camera lens for said computer;
- e) said outer surface of said bottom portion having a clip so that said outer surface of said bottom portion functions as a clipboard;
- f) said bottom portion having a tape measure and an opening to access said tape measure; and
- g) said bottom portion having a divider tray, and having openings to accommodate a tripod and electrical connectors.
28. The portable writing board organizer of claim 27 wherein said computer is connected to a global positioning system unit.
29. The portable writing board organizer of claim 28 further comprising said inner surface of said top portion having a connector mechanism for holding said computer against said inner surface of said top portion.
30. The portable writing board organizer of claim 29 wherein said front end of said top portion and said front end of said bottom portion are constructed to form a handle.
31. The portable writing board organizer of claim 30 further comprising said left side of said top portion or said left side of said bottom portion having a ruler.
Type: Application
Filed: May 7, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2006
Inventor: Talmon Murphy (Cropwell, AL)
Application Number: 10/555,245
International Classification: B65D 71/00 (20060101);