Clipboard Jacket With Elastic Border And Rain Screen

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing covers for planar rigid inserts like clipboards do not effectively combine flexibility, protection, and functionality, particularly in terms of securing the cover to the insert and providing additional features such as a pouch and rain screen.

Innovation Solution

A cover made of flexible and stretchable materials with an elastic border and a pouch, designed to fit snugly over a clipboard, featuring a deployable rain screen and adjustable attachment mechanisms, allowing for secure positioning and additional storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid cover is used to protect the clipboard, then protection is improved, but flexibility and ease of fitting are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprotectionVSAvoidease of fitting
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover employs flexible materials including a flexible border made of elastic material and stretchable material that can expand and contract to fit over the clipboard corners. This flexibility allows the cover to be easily fitted onto the clipboard while maintaining protective functionality when worn.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cover is made fully rigid to maintain shape, then structural integrity is improved, but adaptability to different clipboard sizes is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidadaptability to different clipboard sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cover incorporates stretchable material in specific regions, particularly in the border areas, allowing local expansion and contraction to accommodate different clipboard dimensions. The flexible border can stretch to fit larger clipboards or contract for smaller ones, providing adaptability while maintaining overall structural integrity through the combination of flexible and stretchable materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the cover is designed to fit snugly to secure the clipboard, then security is improved, but accessibility to the writing surface is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidaccessibility to writing surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover features an opening in the flexible border that segments the cover structure, allowing the clipboard to be inserted through this opening while the remaining border material wraps around and secures the clipboard. This segmentation enables both secure attachment through the wrapped border and accessibility through the opening for placing and removing papers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional features like pouch and rain screen are added, then functionality is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch and rain screen features are merged into the cover structure by integrating them into the flexible border and stretchable material components. The pouch is formed as part of the cover's flexible material structure, and the rain screen is incorporated within the same material system, allowing multiple functions to be achieved without adding separate complex components or assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cover provides a secure, flexible fit over the clipboard, exposes a significant portion of the writing surface, and offers additional storage and protection from the elements through its pouch and rain screen features.

Implementation Method 1

The corners 10 may be made of flexible material 17. The corners 10 of cover 18 are able to be fitted over the corners of a clipboard 8 due to the expansion and contraction of the border 6 on the first surface 100 and of the stretchable material 11 included on the first surface 100 and second surface 200.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11472218B1Clipboard jacket
Publication Date: 2022.10.18 THIBODEAUX CHRISTINE
  • US11472218B1 patent drawing
  • US11472218B1 patent drawing
  • US11472218B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A cover having an opening, a border, a rain screen, and a pouch, and being comprised of a flexible material and a stretchable material, wherein the cover may be used in combination with a planar rigid insert, such as a clipboard. The cover may include a strap and a handle attached to the cover.