CLIPBOARD
A clipboard includes a main plate having top and bottom faces and lateral sides, and a clip plate of triangular cross section and including a mid-portion provided at one of the lateral sides, top and bottom plate portions extending convergingly from two opposite ends of the mid-portion and having converging distal press ends abutting respectively against the top and bottom faces of the main plate, and two press levers connected pivotally and respectively to the distal press ends of the top and bottom plate portions. A fixing plate has two opposite ends fixed to the bottom face of the main plate, and a middle section between the ends of the fixing plate and pressing the bottom plate portion against the bottom face of the main plate, thereby fixing the bottom plate portion to the main plate.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a clipboard.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional clipboard generally includes a main plate, and a clip fixed pivotally to a top face of the main plate. In use, a document is retained on the main plate through the clip so as to facilitate reading or writing of the same. When it is necessary to hang the document on a wall or a frame, a hanger that is provided on a bottom face of the main plate may be used. The hanger usually has one end fixed to the main plate, while the other end thereof is free. Hence, when the clipboard is removed from the wall or the frame, the other end of the hanger produces a beating sound against the main plate, which is irritating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a clipboard that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawback of the prior art.
According to this invention, a clipboard comprises a main plate having top and bottom faces and lateral sides, a clip plate of triangular cross section, and a fixing plate. The clip plate includes a mid-portion provided at one of the lateral sides, top and bottom plate portions extending convergingly from two opposite ends of the mid-portion and having converging distal press ends abutting respectively against the top and bottom faces of the main plate, and two press levers connected pivotally and respectively to the distal press ends of the top and bottom plate portions. The fixing plate has two opposite ends fixed to the bottom face of the main plate, and a middle section between the ends of the fixing plate and pressing the bottom plate portion against the bottom face of the main plate, thereby fixing the bottom plate portion to the main plate.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
Referring to
The main plate 3 has top and bottom faces 31, 32, and four lateral sides 33. The main plate 3 may be made of plastic or paper.
The clip plate 4 has a triangular cross section, and includes a mid-portion 43 provided at one of the lateral sides 33 of the main plate 3, top and bottom plate portions 41, 42 extending convergingly from two opposite ends of the mid-portion 43 and having converging distal press ends 411, 421 abutting respectively against the top and bottom faces 31, 32 of the main plate 3, and top and bottom press levers 45, 45′. The distal press end 411, 421 of each of the top and bottom plate portions 41, 42 has two spaced-apart tubular portions 412, 422 that are aligned axially. Each tubular portion 412, 422 has two cam surfaces 413, 423, and an apex 414, 424 between the cam surfaces 413, 423.
The top and bottom plate portions 41, 42 and the mid-portion 43 are integrally made into one body by bending, pressing, and rolling a metal sheet, so that the distal press ends 411, 421 of the top and bottom plate portions 41, 42 can cooperatively clamp the main plate 3 therebetween. The top press lever 45 is bent and pressed to form a substantially U-shaped lever, and has two opposite lever ends 451 (only one is visible in
With reference to
In use, the top and bottom press levers 45, 45′ are pivoted to the open position, as shown in
Referring to
In use, when it is necessary to read a document (not shown), the cover plate 6 is pivoted from a closed position shown in
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A clipboard comprising:
- a main plate having top and bottom faces and lateral sides;
- a clip plate of triangular cross section including a mid-portion provided at one of said lateral sides, top and bottom plate portions extending convergingly from two opposite ends of said mid-portion and having converging distal press ends abutting respectively against said top and bottom faces of said main plate, and two press levers connected pivotally and respectively to said distal press ends of said top and bottom plate portions; and
- a fixing plate having two opposite ends fixed to said bottom face of said main plate, and a middle section between said ends of said fixing plate and pressing said bottom plate portion against said bottom face of said main plate, thereby fixing said bottom plate portion to said main plate.
2. The clipboard of claim 1, wherein said two opposite ends of said fixing plate are riveted to said bottom face of said main plate.
3. The clipboard of claim 1, further comprising a cover plate that covers said top face of said main plate, that is connected pivotally to said one lateral side of said main plate, and that has a cutout portion corresponding to said clip plate so as to expose said clip plate.
4. The clipboard of claim 3, wherein said cover plate has left and right folding parts connected to said one lateral side of said main plate on two sides of said cutout portion.
5. The clipboard of claim 1, wherein said distal press end of each of said top and bottom plate portions has two spaced-apart tubular portions that are aligned axially, each of said press levers having two opposite lever ends inserted pivotally and respectively into said tubular portions of the respective one of said top and bottom plate portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 17, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 23, 2010
Inventor: Cheng-Sung Chen (Tou-Liu City)
Application Number: 12/485,956
International Classification: A47B 97/00 (20060101);