Memo pad holder

#The present invention relates to memo pad holders in general, and more particularly to a memo pad holder having a cover on which is provided a clip for retaining papers and the like.

#Memo pad holders generally serve a single purpose, namely to hold a memo pad or sundry miscellaneous articles in a storage compartment. Thus, such holders function in a manner not unlike a standard storage box.

#Aware of the limitations of a standard storage box, the present inventor has devised an improvement to increase the functionality of a memo pad holder such that items may be held on the cover of such holder in addition to the storage compartment in which a pad or sundry articles are usually held.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the holder of the invention in the closed position.

#FIG. 2 is the memo pad holder of FIG. 1 in the open position.

#FIG. 3 is a top view of the memo pad holder of FIG. 1.

#The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

#FIGS. 1-8 illustrate one embodiment of a memo pad holder of the present invention. While the holder is being described as a “memo pad” holder, it will be understood that other items may be held in such holder as desired. The memo pad holder 10 has a cover 20, a base 30, an opening mechanism 40 and a clip 50 having a clasp portion 55. The base 30 preferably comprises non-slip pads or feet 38 for engagement with a support surface and to prevent undesired movement of the holder 10 relative to the support surface. The cover 20 has an outside surface 22 and an inside surface 26 and is rotatably pivotable about a hydraulic hinge 32 from an open position (FIG. 1) to a closed position (FIG. 2) along a path of movement illustrated by arrow 12. The cover 20 is latched to the base 30 such that pressing down on the opening mechanism 40 releases the cover 20 from the base 30 and results in the cover 20 swinging from the closed to the open position, thereby revealing a storage chamber 34 for the reception of a memo pad or other various articles. The storage chamber 34 may be particularly dimensioned to hold a pad of the Post-It® variety, or it could be sized to hold other sizes or types of product as desired.

#The clip 50 can be removably positioned with respect to the cover 20 so that the clasp portion 55 can be arranged on the outside surface 22 or the inside surface 26 of the cover 20. For example, the inside and outside surfaces 26, 22 of the cover 20 can be fitted with grooves in which the clip 50 slides and is releasably retained. Alternatively, the clip 50 may be pivotally attached to the cover 20 so that it is rotatable from a first position adjacent the outside surface 22 to a second position adjacent the inside surface 26 as shown in FIGS. 8-10. Thus, when the pad holder 10 is in the closed position, the clasp portion 55 may be located along the outside surface 22 of the cover 20 so as to be used to hold a sheet of paper, card or the like 60 (FIG. 13). However, in the open position (FIGS. 2 and 11), the clip 50 may be moved (see movement arrow 14) so that the clasp portion 55 is located on the inside surface 26 to hold various articles 60 as desired (FIG. 11). Thus, the clasp portion 55 may be used while the memo pad holder 10 is in the open or closed positions. FIGS. 8-10 illustrate one method of operating the memo pad holder of the present invention, wherein the clip 50 starts to automatically rotate away from the outer surface 22 of the cover 20 upon activation of the opening mechanism 40 (FIG. 8), and then continues to flip all the way around so as to be adjacent the inner surface 26 of the cover 20 (FIG. 9 to FIG. 10) when the cover 20 is fully opened. Of course, rotation of the clip 50 relative to the cover 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 8-10 can occur manually as described herein.