Clipboard and Shield

Clipboards conventinally have a writing surface and a clip at the top thereof to hold one or more sheets of paper on the writing surface. The clipboards are one-piece members made out of wood, hardboard, plastic, or metal. They function as portable table units having writing surfaces that provide a solid base to facilitate the use of writing instruments to place information on paper. Examples of clipboards are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,398,592 and 2,996,774.

The apparatus of the invention is a clipboard having side-by-side sheet members that are adhesively bonded together to provide a strong lightweight laminated structure. The sheet members surround a core comprising a mat of high strength plastic cords that are woven together. The core has a high impact and tear strength sufficient to absorb the impact energy of a rapidly moving projectile, such as the bullets fired from a rifle or a hand gun. The sheet members are high impact material, as high density polyethylene, capable of withstanding high impact forces. The top sheet member of the board has a generally flat outside surface providing a first side of the board for accommodating the sheet means, as paper. A clip attached to the board functions to hold the sheet means on the surface. The opposite or back side of the board has a plurality of rib means providing recesses or pockets which serve as barriers to prevent a knife or other sharp object from sliping off the board.

A hand grip is attached to one side of the board to facilitate the handling of the board. The hand grip is used to house a dispenser operable to dispense a gas or aerosol to neutralize an assailant. The dispenser is located in a passage in the hand grip so as to protect and conceal the body of the dispenser. The actuator button and nozzle of the dispenser is exposed. The actuator button is used to release the gas or aerosol in the dispenser for discharge through the nozzle into the atmosphere.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is useable as a support for accommodating sheet means and as a protection shield. A further object of the invention is to provide a clipboard with a gas or aerosol dispenser. Another object of the invention is to provide a clipboard that has a laminated construction and core that will withstand impact forces of a high velocity projectile, such as a bullet. A further object of the invention is to provide a clipboard with a back surface having a plurality of pockets for confining the movement of an instrument, such as a knife, to a limited area of the back side of the board. Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a clipboard and shield that is lightweight in construction, durable in use, and does not provide the visual impression of a weapon, such as a stick or club. These and further objections and advantages of the invention are embodied in the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a law enforcement officer the board and shield apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the board and shield apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the board and shield apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged foreshortened view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of holding clip viewing along the line 8--8 of FIG. 2 with the board shown in outline.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a law enforcement officer indicated generally at 8 standing on the ground 7 and holding in his left hand 9 a board and shield apparatus of the invention indicated generally at 10. Law enforcement officer 8 can be a policeman, sheriff, deputy, ranger, marshall, military police, FBI persons, and the like. The law enforcement officer 8 is an example of the user of the board and shield apparatus 10. Other persons can use board and shield apparatus 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, board and shield apparatus 10 is a generally rectangular shaped board having a flat smooth top surface or side 11 located over a bottom side 12. A hand-operated clip indicated generally at 13 is secured to the top of the apparatus and is engageable with a portion of the top surface 11 to hold a sheet means 14, such as a paper or report and the like, on surface 11.

Referring to FIG. 6, apparatus 10 has a top wall comprising a plurality of side-by-side sheet members 16, 17, and 18. Sheet member 16 has the generally flat top surface 11. The adjacent sheet members 16, 17 and 18 are bonded together with an adhesive 28 to provide a laminated structure. The bottom wall 12 of apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of sheet members 21, 22, and 23 that are bonded together with adhesive layers 28 providing a laminated structure. Sheet members 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 23 are relatively rigid members. They may be high density polyethylene or a plastic sold under the trade name KYDEX. Other types of structural materials can be used for the sheet members 16-18 and 21-23. A core 19 is located between the sheet members 18 and 23. The core 19 is a woven mat or pad or flexible cords of fibers that have a high impact and tear strength. The fibers can be a plastic, such as KELVAR. Core 19 has a strength characteristic to absorb the force of a rapidly moving projectile, such as a bullet fired from a rifle or hand gun.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, sheet member 21 has a plurality of longitudinal and transverse ribs 24 and 25 that intersect each other and provide pockets or recesses 26. The ribs 24 and 26 are joined to a conitinuous outer peripheral flange or rib 27 extended around the sides and ends of the sheet member 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, a hand grip indicated generally at 29 is secured to the left edge of the board with a plurality of fasteners 30, such as pins, screws, or the like. Hand grip 29 can be attached to the opposite side of the board 10 so that the board 10 can be gripped with the right hand. Grip 29 is an elongated member 31 having an outer surface having a convex-concave contour adapted to fit the hand. Grip 29 has a longitudinal passage 32 accommodating a dispenser 33. Dispenser 33 can accommodate a gas or liquid, such as MACE. Dispenser 33 has a top actuator or button 34 that can be depressed to discharge its contents through a nozzle 36 in a direction away from officer 8, as indicated by arrow 47 in FIG. 1. A set screw 37 holds dispenser 33 is assembled relation with grip 29. Set screw 37 can be released whereby the dispenser can be removed from grip 29.

Clip 13 is a hold down structure, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,996,774. Clip 13 has a base 38 located on the top edge of flat side 11. Base 38 is joined to an upwardly directed lip 39 which serves as a stop and locator for the top edge of the sheet 14. A plurality of fasteners, such as screws or rivets 41, secure base 38 to sheet member 16. An angular body 42 has a downwardly directed flange 43 engageable with the side 11 below lip 39. The upper end of body 42 cooperates with a pivot 44 which pivotally joins body 42 to base 38. A coil spring 46 surrounds pivot 44 and biases the body 42 in a downward direction thereby holding flange 43 in engagement with the top side 11. Body 42 has an outwardly directed tab or ear 45. The ear 45 provides a means that is readily engaged by the fingers of the hand to lift body 42 thereby releasing the sheet 14. Other lifting structures can be used to move body 42 in an upward direction against the biasing force of spring 46. For example, a handle can be pivoted to the body 42, as shown by handle 34 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,996,774. Other types of clips, as the clip shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,398,592, can be used with board 10.

In use, the board and shield apparatus normally functions as a conventional clipboard or writing board. The sheet 14 is held by the clip 13 in flat surface engagement with the top side 11 of the apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 is handled with either the left or right hand of the officer 18 to make ouit the routine field and accident reports.

Apparatus 10 functions in emergency situations as a protective shield for the body and face of the officer. The apparatus 10 can be held in front of the officer, as shown in FIG. 1. The board comprising laminated sheet members 16-18 and 21-23 in conjunction with the core 19 has bullet-proof characteristics. A bullet impacting the sheet member 21 may fracture a portion of sheet member 21 and penetrate through the sheet members 22 and 23. Since the sheet members 21, 22, and 23 are separate members, the impact forces are distributed through each member. The projectile or bullet will be lodged in core 19. Core 19 has elastic material having high impact strength so as to dissipate the force of the bullet without penetrating the core.

Apparatus 10 also serves as a protector or shield against a knife or sharp instrument yielding assailant. Pockets 26 surrounded by ribs 24 and 25 serve as barriers to prevent the knife, ice pick, or other sharp objects, from slipping off the back side of the board apparatus and injuring the officer. Apparatus 10 can also be used as a blunt instrument if necessary to maintain law and order.

A hand grip 29 provides a protective storage passage 32 for dispenser 33. The officer 8 if necessary can actuate button 34 and thereby dispense gas or aerosols to neutralize the assailant. Hand grip 29 can be an accessory to the board apparatus 10. In other words, board apparatus 10 can be used without the hand grip 29 or its dispenser 33.

Dispenser 33 can be removed by releasing the lock means or set screw 37. Another dispenser or a flashlight unit can be inserted into passage 32. The flashlight unit may be provided with a right angle head having a lamp or bulb for night use. The top center of board apparatus can be provided with light structure connected to one or more batteries stored in hand grip 29. An actuator button or switch button similar to button 34 associated with the flashlight unit is movable to turn the light on and off and vary the intensity of the light beam. The flashlight unit can be provided with a high intensity light beam useable to deter an assailant. Additional lights could be associated wtih hand grip 29 to illuminate writing surface 11. The electric power for the lights can be one or more batteries stored in passage 32 of hand grip 29 or the battery of a vehicle, as a car or truck. The board apparatus can be used wtih a portable support, as a fold down frame, to locate the board apparatus on a car seat in a position for convenient writing on sheet member 14.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the board and shield apparatus of the invention, it is understood that changes in the structure, materials, clip and hand grip may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The invention is defined in the following claims.