Medinfo v. MedTool - Complaint

8/9/2019 Medinfo v. MedTool - Complaint

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-00260

MEDINFO INC.

Plaintiff,

v.

MEDTOOL LLC.

Defendant.

COMPLAINT WITH JURY DEMAND

Plaintiff Medinfo Inc. by and through its undersigned attorneys, for its Complaint against

MedTool LLC ("Defendant") states as follows:

PARTIES

1. Plaintiff Medinfo Inc. ("Medinfo") is a corporation formed under the laws of the

state of Colorado, having its principal place of business at 475 W. 115th

Avenue, Unit 6,

Northglenn, Colorado 80234. Medinfo sells foldable clipboards for the medical and other

industries covered by U.S. Patent No. 7,673,908 and U.S. Design Patent No. D611,544.

2. Upon information and belief, Defendant is a Michigan limited liability company

with its principal place of business at 12406 Windsor Beach Drive, Fenton, Michigan 48430.

Upon information and belief, Defendant does business in Colorado and throughout the United

States.

Case 1:15-cv-00260 Document 1 Filed 02/06/15 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 7


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JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3. This is a civil action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the

United States, 35 U.S.C. § 101, et. seq.

4. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28

U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).

5. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391 and 1400.

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

6.

Medinfo incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation in paragraphs

1 through 5.

7. U.S. Patent No. 7,673,908 ("the '908 Patent"), for a "Foldable Clipboard," was

duly and legally issued on March 9, 2010. A true and correct copy of the '908 Patent is attached

hereto as Exhibit A. By assignment, Medinfo owns all right, title and interest in and to the '908

Patent.

8. U.S. Design Patent No. D611,544 ("the '544 Patent"), for a "Foldable Clipboard,"

was duly and legally issued on March 9, 2010. A true and correct copy of the '544 Patent is

attached hereto as Exhibit B. By assignment, Medinfo owns all right, title and interest in and to

the '544 Patent.

9. Upon information and belief, after the '908 and '544 Patents (collectively, "the

Medinfo Patents") issued, Defendant began manufacturing or selling a foldable clipboard like the

ones shown and described in the Medinfo Patents. True and accurate photographs of

Defendant’s foldable clipboard are attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Accused Product”). Such

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Accused Products can also be viewed at Defendant's web site,

http://medtoolstore.com/product/anesthesia-reference-clipboard/.

10. Defendant has sold Accused Products that infringe the Medinfo Patents, and

received profits as a result of those sales. Upon information and belief, Defendant began

offering the Accused Product for sale at least as early as 2014, after the Medinfo Patents issued.

11. Defendant offers to sell and sells the Accused Product throughout the United

States and internationally. Defendant has offered to sell the Accused Product in the state of

Colorado. On information and belief, Defendant has sold the Accused Product in the state of

Colorado.

12. Defendant does not have and at no time has ever had any license or authorization

from Medinfo to manufacture, have manufactured, import, offer for sale or sell products covered

by the Medinfo Patents.

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

(Infringement of the '908 Patent)

13. Medinfo incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation in paragraphs

1 through 12.

14. Defendant's activities in making, using, selling and/or offering to sell in the

United States, and/or importing into the United States the Accused Product constitutes direct

infringement of the '908 Patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

15. Upon information and belief, Defendant is inducing direct infringement of the

'908 Patent by others by actively instructing, assisting, and/or encouraging others to practice one

or more of the inventions claimed in the '908 Patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b).

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16. Upon information and belief, Defendant is contributing to direct infringement of

the '908 Patent by others by directing others to manufacture one or more components which

constitute a material part of the invention defined by the claims of the '908 Patent, knowing the

same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of the '908 Patent,

and which components are not staple articles or commodities of commerce suitable for

substantial non-infringing use, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

17. Upon information and belief, Defendant has acted in concert with others and has

induced or contributed to the infringement of the '908 Patent by instructing use of the Accused

Product in an infringing manner.

18. Defendant's infringement of the '908 Patent has caused damage to Medinfo in an

amount to be ascertained at trial.

19. Defendant's infringement of the '908 Patent has caused and will continue to cause

irreparable injury to Medinfo, to which there exists no adequate remedy at law. Defendant's

infringement of the '908 Patent will continue unless enjoined by this Court.

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

(Infringement of the '544 Patent)

20. Medinfo incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation in paragraphs

1 through 19.

21. Defendant's activities in making, using, selling and/or offering to sell in the

United States, and/or importing into the United States the Accused Product constitutes direct

infringement of the '544 Patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

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22. Upon information and belief, Defendant is inducing direct infringement of the

'544 Patent by others by actively instructing, assisting, and/or encouraging others to practice one

or more of the inventions claimed in the '544 Patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b).

23. Upon information and belief, Defendant is contributing to direct infringement of

the '908 Patent by others by directing others to manufacture one or more components which

constitute a material part of the invention defined by the claims of the '544 Patent, knowing the

same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of the '544 Patent,

and which components are not staple articles or commodities of commerce suitable for

substantial non-infringing use, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

24. Upon information and belief, Defendant has acted in concert with others and has

induced or contributed to the infringement of the '544 Patent by instructing use of the Accused

Product in an infringing manner.

25. Defendant's infringement of the '544 Patent has caused damage to Medinfo in an

amount to be ascertained at trial.

26. Defendant's infringement of the '544 Patent has caused and will continue to cause

irreparable injury to Medinfo, to which there exists no adequate remedy at law. Defendant's

infringement of the '544 Patent will continue unless enjoined by this Court.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Medinfo requests that judgment be entered in its favor and against

Defendant as follows:

A. Declaring that Defendant has infringed United States Patent No. 7,673,908;

B. Declaring that Defendant has infringed U.S. Design Patent No. D611,544;

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C. Issuing a permanent injunction enjoining Defendant, its officers, agents,

subsidiaries, and employees, and those in privity with or that act in concert with any of the

foregoing, from further activities that constitute infringement of United States Patent No.

7,673,908 and U.S. Design Patent No. D611,544, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 283;

D. Awarding Medinfo damages arising out of Defendant's infringement of United

States Patent No. 7,673,908 and U.S. Design Patent No. D611,544 in an amount not less than

lost profits or a reasonable royalty for each act of infringement, and trebling those damages

pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, together with costs and pre- and post-judgment interest;

E. Finding that this is an "exceptional case" within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 285

and awarding reasonable attorneys' fees to Medinfo;

F. Awarding Medinfo all compensatory, treble, punitive, statutory or other damages

allowable under the law for the claims asserted against Defendant; and

G. Awarding Medinfo its costs and any further legal and equitable relief as the Court

deems just and proper.

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JURY DEMAND

Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Medinfo demands a trial by

jury on all issues so triable.

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: February 6, 2015 By: /s/ Craig W. Mueller

Craig W. [email protected]

George T. Scott

[email protected]

SHERIDAN ROSS P.C.1560 Broadway, Suite 1200

Denver, Colorado 80202

(303) 863-9700

[email protected]

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

7


mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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EXHIBIT A

Case 1:15-cv-00260 Document 1-1 Filed 02/06/15 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 7


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US007673908B2

1 2 )

Ulllted States Patent

1 0 )

P a t e n t

N 0 . : U S

7 , 6 7 3 , 9 0 8 B2

L i p t a n ( 4 5 ) D a t e o f P a t e n t :

Mar.

9 , 2 0 1 0

(54) FOLDABLECLIPBOARD 4,019,823 A 4/1977

K l e i n e r t

e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

402/75

4,583,562

A *

4/1986

S t e w a r t

132/212

( 7 6 ) I n v e n t o r : Ginevra

L i p t a n ,

6526 NE. Rodney v e . , 4 , 8 2 8 , 5 0 2 A 5 / 1 9 3 9

L e a h y

4 3 4 / 4 1 6

Portland, OR

U s ) 9 7 2 1 1

6,662,733

B1

*

12/2003

S c o t t

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

108/43

2 0 0 1 / 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 A1* 5/2001

Kambouris

t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 0 /2 1 2

(

*

)

Notice;

Subject t o any d i s c l a i m e r ,

the

term

Ofthis

2003/0106979

A1 *

6 / 2 0 0 3

R i c h a r d s o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248/460

p a t e n t i s extended

o r a d j u s t e d

under 3

5

2 0 0 4 / 0 2 1 7 6 7 7 A1*

1 1 / 2 0 0 4 Durand t

a 1 . 3 1 2 / 1 0 8

U_S_C_ 154(b)

b y

426

d a y s _

2004/0234939

A1*

1 1 / 2 0 0 4

Smith t

a 1 .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434/408

( 2 2 ) F i l e d :

J a n .

3 1 ,

2007 w w w d i c t i o n a r y c o m -

d e ? n i t i o n

o f

c r e a s e . *

h t t p : / / W W W . c ? p i l o t . c o m / A S A - F o l d i n g - L a p b o a r d - p / a s a - k b - l a p h t m

( 6 5 )

P r i o r P u b l ic a t i o n Data ( l a s t v i s i t e d

J a n .

3 1 ,

2 0 0 7 ) .

h t t p : / / W W W . s a u n d e r s- u s a . c o m/ c o r e / ? b r a n d :7 0 ( l a s t v i s i t e d J a n . 3 1 ,

US 2 0 0 7 / 0 1 8 7 5 6 5 A1 A u g . 1 6 , 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 7 ) ‘

R e l a t e d US .

p p l i c a t i o n Data * c i t e d by e x a m i n e r

( 6 0 ) P r o v i s i on a l a p p l ic a t i o n N o . 6 0 / 7 6 5 , 4 7 7 , ? l e d o n

F e b .

P r i m a r y ExamineriDana R o s s

2 ,

2 0 0 6 - A s s i s t a n t

ExamineriMattheW

G

a t c o f f

( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , A g e n t ,

o r

F

rmiAlleman

a l l M c C o y

u s s e l l

( 5 1 )

I n t -

C l -

u t t l e LLP

B 42 D

5 / 0 0 ( 2 0 0 6 . 0 1 )

(52) US.

l.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

281/45

(57) ABSTRACT

(58) Field

of Classi?cation

S e a r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248/4 4 22,

2 4 8 / 4 4 4 1 ’

4 5 2 ’ 4 6 0 ’ 4 6 2 ;

4 0 / 6 5 8 ; 281M450’

A

o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d . T h e

f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d i n c l u d e s a p a i r

2 8 1 / 5 1 ’ 1 5 1 ’

2 8 ’ 2 9 ’

3 3 ’

4 9 2 / 4 ’ 7 0 ’

7 3

o f

s u p p o r t p a n e l s t h a t a r e

h i n g e d

t o g e t h e r . The

h i n g e d d e s i g n

S e e a p p h c a n o n ? l e f o r C o m p l e t e S e a r c h

h l s t o r y

a l l o W s

t h e

c l i p b o a r d t o b e c o n v e n i e n t l y f o l d e d f o r e a s y t r a n s

( 5 6 ) R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d p o r t a t i o n a n d

s t o r a g e .

The l i p b o a r d

a l s o c a n b e u n f o l d e d i n t o

a

s u b s t a n t i a l l y ? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n .

U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,791,314 A * 2/1974

B e r r e t t a

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . 108/43

19 Claims, 2 Drawing

heets



10/25

US. Patent M a r . 9 ,

2 0 1 0

S h e e t

1

o f 2 US , 6 7 3 , 9 0 8 B2



11/25

US. Patent M a r . 9 ,

2 0 1 0

S h e e t 2 o f 2 US , 6 7 3 , 9 0 8 B2

F i g .

5

[ 1 0



12/25

US

7 , 6 7 3 , 9 0 8

B2

1

FOLDABLE CLIPBOARD

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED

APPLICATIONS

T h i s

a p p l i c a t i o n

c l a i m s

t h e

b e n e ? t

o f US. P r o v i s i o n a l

A p p l i c a t i o n

N o .

6 0 / 7 6 5 , 4 7 7 , ? l e d

F e b .

2 ,

2 0 0 6 ,

t h e

e n t i r e t y

o f

W h i c h i s

i n c o r p o r a t e d

b y r e f e r e n c e .

BACKGROUND

T h e r e

a r e many c c u p a t i o n s , h o b b i e s , and t h e r e n d e a v o r s

i n

W h i c h

person mo v e s from one l o c a t i o n t o t h e n e x t , and

i n

Which t h e

p e r s o n

t a k e s

n o t e s

a t t h e

v a r i o u s

l o c a t i o n s . C l i p

b o a r d s h a v e

been

u s e d

t o f a c i l i t a t e

s u c h

n o t e - t a k i n g , and t o

o t h e r W i s e

o r g a n i z e

p a p e r s

a n d a s s i s t p e o p l e p e r f o r m

a

p l e t h o r a o f d i f f e r e n t a c t i v i t i e s . T he i n v e n t o r h e r e i n h a s r e c

o g n i Z e d t h a t t r a d i t i o n a l c l i p b o a r d s c a n b e cumbersome t o

c a r r y d u e t o t h e i r r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e s i Z e .

SUMMARY

The p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e i s d i r e c t e d

t o

a f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d .

The

f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d i n c l u d e s

a

p a i r

o f

s u p p o r t p a n e l s t h a t

a r e h i n g e d

o g e t h e r . T h e

h i n g e d

d e s i g n

a l l o W s t h e c l i p b o a r d

o

b e c o n v e n i e n t l y f o l d e d

f o r

e a s y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n

a n d

s t o r a g e .

T he

c l i p b o a r d

a l s o can be u n f o l d e d i n t o a s u b s t a n t i a l l y

? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n . A c c o r d i n g

t o

one a s p e c t

o f

t h e d i s c l o s u r e , a

? e x i b l e

s h e e t can be used

t o span a c r o s s

both

p a n e l s and t o

p r o v i d e a s m o o t h

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e

When

t h e c l i p b o a r d

i s

u n f o l d e d .

A c c o r d i n g

o

a n o t h e r

a s p e c t o f h e

d i s c l o s u r e ,

a c l i p

c a n b e o p e r a t i v e l y

c o u p l e d t o one

o f t h e p a n e l s

and used

t o

h o l d

p a p e r s

o r

o t h e r m a t e r i a l s i n p l a c e .

BRIEF

DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS

F I G .

1

shoWs

a f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d i n

a c c o r d a n c e W i t h

t h e

p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e .

F I G . 2 s h o W s a h i n g e a n d p a n e l a s s e m b l y o f t h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f

F I G . 1 .

F I G .

3

shoWs

a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l

vieW o f

t h e f o l d a b l e c l i p

board

o f F I G .

1

i n

a

? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n .

F I G . 4

shoWs

a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l vieW o f t h e f o l d a b l e c l i p

board o f F I G .

1

i n

a f o l d e d c o n ? g u r a t i o n .

F I G .

5

shoWs

t h e f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d

o f F I G .

1 i n a f o l d e d

c o n ? g u r a t i o n and

s t o r e d

i n

a d o c t o r ’ s W h i t e

c o a t .

WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

F I G S . 1 - 5 shoW a n

e x e m p l a r y f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d 1 0 i n

a c c o r d a n c e W i t h

an

embodiment

of

h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e . I n

t h e i l l u s t r a t e d

e m b o d i m e n t , c l i p b o a r d

1 0 i s

d e s i g n e d f o r u s e

b y

d o c t o r s

a n d m e d i c a l

s t u d e n t s .

C l i p b o a r d 1 0 i s o f

a r t i c u l a r

use

o

d o c t o r s and

medical

s t u d e n t s

because

c l i p b o a r d

10

can

be f o l d e d t o ? t

i n

a d o c t o r ’ s

White

c o a t , a s

shoWn

i n

FIG.

5 .

H o W e v e r , i t

s h o u l d

b e

u n d e r s t o o d t h a t

f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d s c a n

b e

d e s i g n e d

t o accommodate h e n e e d s

o f

a v a r i e t y

o f

d i f f e r

e n t

p e o p l e . C l i p b o a r d 1 0

i s

p r o v i d e d

a s a

n o n l i m i t i n g

e x a m p l e o f o n e s u c h c l i p b o a r d . V a r i o u s c h a n g e s

i n

f o r m a n d

d e t a i l can be

made

W i t h o u t

d e p a r t i n g

from t h e s c o p e o f t h e

p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e .

F o l d a b l e c l i pb o a r d

1 0 i n c l u d e s a l e f t

s u p po r t p a n e l

1 2 and

a r i g h t s u p p o r t p a n e l 1 4 . The

e f t

a n d r i g h t s u p p o r t p a n e l s a r e

moveably

c o n n e c t e d t o o n e a n o t h e r by h i n g e

1 6 .

C l i p b o a r d

10

a l s o

i n c l u d e s

a ? e x i b l e s h e e t

18

t h a t s p a n s

a c r o s s

t h e l e f t

s u p p o r t p a n e l a n d t h e

r i g h t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l ,

b r i d g i n g a n y g a p

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6 5

2

b e t W e e n t h e p a n e l s . A l s o , a

c l i p

2 0

f o r

h o l d i n g p a p e r s i n p l a c e

i s c o n n e c t e d t o t h e

l e f t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l .

The e f t a n d

r i g h t

s u p p o r t p a n e l s

o f

c l i p b o a r d

1 0

a r e s u b

s t a n t i a l l y i d e n t i c a l l y s h a p e d . W h i l e

t h i s

i s n o t r e q u i r e d i n a l l

e m b o d i m e n t s ,

i t c a n d e c r e a s e m a n u f a c t u r i n g c o s t s . Each

p a n e l

i s s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e c t a n g u l a r W i t h r o u n d e d c o m e r s . The

rounded

o r n e r s make t

e a s i e r t o s l i d e

a f o l d e d c l i p b o a r d

i n t o

a p o c k e t

W i t h o u t

s n a g g i n g .

E a c h

p a n e l i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 0 . 8

c e n t i m e t e r s W i d e

by

2 8 . 6 c e n t i m e t e r s t a l l . T h i s s i Z e p r o v i d e s

a

c l i p b o a r d t h a t

c a n f u l l y

s u p p o r t

a

l e t t e r - s i Z e d p i e c e

o f

p a p e r

When

h e

c l i p b o a r d i s i n i t s ? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n , y e t

a l l o W s t h e

c l i p b o a r d

t o be stoWed n a d o c t o r ’

White

c o a t Wh en

t

i s i n i t s

f o l d e d c o n ? g u r a t i o n . O f

o u r s e ,

c l i p b o a r d s c a n b e

s i Z e d

and

s h a p e d

d i f f e r e n t l y t o a c c o m m o d a t e d i f f e r e n t l y

s i Z e d

p a p e r ,

d i f f e r e n t

s t o r a g e r e q u i r e m e n t s ,

a n d / o r a n y

number o f o t h e r

f a c t o r s W i t h o u t d e p a r t i n g from h e s c o p e o f h i s d i s c l o s u r e .

The

c l i p b o a r d

p a n e l s c a n b e made f r o m

a l u m i n u m ,

p l a s t i c ,

o r

a n o t h e r s u i t a b l e m a t e r i a l . Aluminum p r o v i d e s a v e r y

s t r o n g ,

l i g h t - W e i g h t p a n e l

t h a t i s v e r y d u r a b l e .

P l a s t i c a l s o

p r o v i d e s

a

f a i r l y

s t r o n g a n d l i g h t - W e i g h t p a n e l

t h a t i s r e l a

t i v e l y

i n e x p e n s i v e

t o

m a n u f a c t u r e .

Each

p a n e l

can be

d e s c r i b e d

a s h a v i n g

a

t o p edge 2 4 ,

a

b o t t o m

e d g e

2 6 , a n e x t e r i o r

e d g e

2 8 , a n d a n i n t e r i o r

e d g e

3 0 .

The

e d g e s a t l e a s t

p a r t i a l l y

de?ne a W r i t i n g s u r f a c e 3 2 .

The

W r i t i n g s u rf a c e c a n b e

c o n s t r u c t e d t o

b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y

r i g i

and s u b s t a n t i a l l y p l a n a r , s o a s

t o p r o v i d e

a good s u p p o r t f o r

W r i t i n g .

As b e s t shoWn i n F I G . 2 , t h e r i g h t a n d l e f t p a n e l s e a c h

i n c l u d e

tWo i n t e g r a t e d

h i n g e

s u r f a c e s 3 4 ,

o n e

a t

t h e t o p i n t e

r i o r

e d g e a n d o n e a t t h e b o t t o m

i n t e r i o r

e d g e .

The h i n g e

s u r f a c e s a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y

p e r p e n d i c u l a r

t o t h e W r i t i n g s u r

f a c e ,

t h u s

a l l o W i n g t h e

h i n g e

s u r f a c e

o f

t h e

l e f t s u p p o r t

p a n e l

a n d

t h e h i n g e s u r f a c e

o f

t h e r i g h t s u p p o r t p a n e l t o move

p a r a l l e l t o

one a n o t h e r a s t h e c l i p b o a r d i s f o l d e d o r

u n f o l d e d .

The h i n g e

s u r f a c e s f r o m

o p p o s i n g


c a n b e

p i v o t a b l y c o n n e c t e d t o o n e a n o t h e r b y a p i n , g a s k e t , b e a r i n g

a s s e m b l y , a n d / o r

o t h e r

s u i t a b l e m e c h a n i s m .

I t

s h o u l d

be

u n d e r s t o o d

t h a t t h e i l l u s t r a t e d

h i n g e

i s a

non

l i m i t i n g e x a m p l e , a n d t h a t o t h e r h i n g e s c a n b e

u s e d

W i t h o u t

d e p a r t i n g

from h e

s c o p e o f

h i s d i s c l o s u r e . H i n g e s t h a t

d o

n o t

c r e a t e a b u l g e o r o t h e r o b s t r uc t i o n When h e

c l i p b o a r d

s i n t h e

? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n

a r e

W e l l

s u i t e d f o r a p p l i c a t i o n s Where t h e

c l i p b o a r d i s u s e d

a s

a s u p p o r t f o r W r i t i n g

a n d / o r

d r a W i n g .

F u r t h e r m o r e , r e l a t i v e l y l i g h t h i n g e s a r e

W e l l

s u i t e d f o r a p p l i

c a t i o n s

Where t h e c l i p b o a r d i s c a r r i e d .

While

t h e i l l u s t r a t e d

h i n g e s

a r e

c o n t i n u o u s

W i t h

t h e W r i t i n g s u r f a c e , t h i s i s

n o t

r e q u i r e d

i n a l l e m b o d i m e n t s .

The h i n g e mechanism

c a n

i n c l u d e one o r mo r e s e p a r a t e p i e c e s t h a t

a r e mounted

t o t h e

p a n e l s .

N o n l i m i t i n g e x a m p l e s o f a l t e r n a t i v e

h i n g e s

i n c l u d e

b u t t h i n g e s ,

k n i f e

h i n g e s , a n d

p i a n o

h i n g e s .

As

e s t

shoWn

n

F I G S .

3

a n d ,

t h e

i l l u s t r a t e d h i n g e a l l o W s

t h e


t o p i v o t

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 8 0 0 r e l a t i v e

t o

o n e

a n o t h e r . I n o t h e r

W o r d s ,

When

n

t h e ? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n ,

t h e

l e f t

p a n e l i s p i v o t e d 1 8 0 0 r e l a t i v e t o t h e r i g h t

p a n e l , a n d

When n

t h e f o l d e d


t h e l e f t p a n e l i s g e n e r a l l y 0 ° : 2 0 o

r e l a t i v e

t h e r i g h t p a n e l .

The

h i n g e

c a n b e

d e s i g n e d s o t h a t t h e

i n t e r i o r

e d g e o f t h e

l e f t p a n e l a l i g n s s u b s t a n t i a l l y

a d j a c e n t

t o t h e i n t e r i o r e d g e o f

t h e r i g h t p a n e l When h e c l i p b o a r d i s i n i t s ? a t c o n ? g u ra t i o n ,

a l t h o u g h t h i s i s n o t r e q u i r e d

i n

a l l e m b o d i m e n t s . I n

t h i s

W a y ,

i t i s e a s y

t o

p u t t h e

c l i p b o a r d

i n t o a

s u b s t a n t i a l l y

? a t con?gu

r a t i o n

b e c a u s e

t h e a b u t t i n g s u p p o r t

p a n e l s

p r e v e n t t h e c l i p

b o a r d f r o m u n f o l d i n g p a s t 1 8 0 ° . O f o u r s e ,

i n

o t h e r embodi

m e n t s ,

t h e

h i n g e c a n b e

d e s i g n e d

t o p r o v i d e

a

d i f f e r e n t

r a n g e

o f m o t i o n ,

i n c l u d i n g u n f o l d i n g

p a s t 1 8 0 ° , a n d e v e n

u n f o l d i n g

t o 3 6 0 0 i . e . , f o l d i n g b a c k

on

t s e l f ) .



13/25

US

7 , 6 7 3 , 9 0 8

B2

3

When h e i n t e r i o r e d g e s

a r e

a l i g n e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y a d j a c e n t

t o o n e a n o t h e r ,

t h e

s u p p o r t s c o l l e c t i v e l y form

a


c o n t i n u o u s s u r f a c e .

I n t h i s c o n ? g u r a t i o n , t h e u n f o l d e d

c l i p

board

behaves

much

h e same s a t r a d i t i o n a l c l i p b o a r d . HoW

e v e r ,

even

s m a l l

misalignments

o r gaps

can n e g a t i v e l y

a f f e c t

t h e a b i l i t y of h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d t o

s e r v e a s an e x c e l l e n t

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e .

F l e x i b l e s h e e t 1 8 c a n h e l p smooth t h e t r a n s i t i o n

from

t h e

l e f t s u p p o r t

p a n e l t o

t h e r i g h t s u p p o r t p a n e l . I n f a c t , t h e

? e x i b l e s h e e t

can s u b s t a n t i a l l y

e r a s e

any p e r c e i v a b l e gap

a n d / r m i n o r m i s a l i g n m e n t b e t W e e n t h e

p a n e l s .

When s e d ,

t h e ? e x i b l e s h e e t c a n

be

a t t a c h e d

t o

t h e l e f t s u p po r t p a n e l and

t h e r i g h t s u p p o rt p a n e l s o t h a t When t h e c l i p b o a r d i s f o l d e d

a n d u n f o l d e d ,

t h e

? e x i b l e

s h e e t

a u t o m a t i c a l l y moves i t h

t h e

p a n e l s .

As


e x a m p l e ,

t h e ? e x i b l e s h e e t

c a n b e a d h e r e d

t o

a t

l e a s t

a p o r t i o n of h e

? r s t

s u p p o r t pa n e l and o a t

l e a s t

a

p o r t i o n o f t h e s e c o n d s u p p o r t p a n e l .

H o W e v e r ,

d e p e n d i n g o n

h i n g e d e s i g n , i f t h e ? e x i b l e s h e e t i s a d h e r e d t o t h e s u p p o r t

p a n e l s n e a r t h e i r

i n t e r i o r

e d g e s , t h e ? e x i b l e s h e e t c a n r e s t r i c t

f o l i n g

o f t h e c l i p b o a r d . T o

a c c o m m o d a t e

h i n g e

d e s i g n s

i n

Which

a g a p f o r m s

betWeen

h e

i n t e r i o r

e d g e s o f t h e

s u p p o r t

p a n e l s ,

t h e ? e x i b l e s h e e t c a n b e l e f t u n a d h e r e d p r o x i m a t e t h e

i n t e r i o r e d g e s o f

t h e

s u p p o r t p a n e l s .

As

a


e x a m p l e ,


m a y

n o t b e

a d h e r e d t o

t h e l e f t

s u p po r t p a n e l W i t h i n o n e i n c h

o f t h e

i n t e r i o r

e d g e o f t h e l e f t

s u p po r t p a n e l

n o r

t o

t h e

r i g h t s u p po r t p a n e l W i t h i n o n e i n c h

o f

t h e

i n t e r i o r e d g e o f

h e r i g h t

s u p p o r t p a n e l . O f

o u r s e ,

more r

l e s s of

h e ? e x i b l e

s h e e t can be e f t unadher ed depending

on

t h e g a p r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e

s e l e c t e d

h i n g e .

When

p o r t i o n o f

t h e

? e x i b l e

s h e e t

i s

l e f t u n a d h e r e d ,

t h e


i s

a l l o W e d t o form

a

r e l a t i v e l y

g e n t l e c u r v e

When t h e c l i p b o a r d i s

f o l d e d .

T h i s c a n h e l p p re v e n t p a p e r s

h e l d

b y t h e

c l i p b o a r d

f r o m c r e a s i n g When

h e

c l i p b o a r d i s

f o l d e d .

The ? e x i b l e

s h e e t can be

made from

a

v a r i e t y o f

d i f f e r e n t

m a t e r i a l s , i n c l u d i n g ,

b u t

n o t l i m i t e d t o , 0 . 0 1 0

r i g i d v i n y l .

O f

c o u r s e , t h i c k e r or

t h i n n e r

?exible s h e e t s can be

u s e d ,

a s can

s h e e t s

mad e

from o t h e r m a t e r i a l s , s u c h a s p o l y c a r b o n a t e o r

p o l y e s t e r .

I n a d d i t i o n t o

i m p r o v i n g

t h e W r i t i n g s u r f a c e

o f

t h e f o l d i n g

c l i p b o a r d ,

t h e

? e x i b l e s h e e t a l s o p r o v i d e s an e a s y Way t o

customiZe t h e f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d f o r d i f f e r e n t u s e s . As an

e x a m p l e ,

in

o r d e r

t o c u s t o m i Z e t h e

c l i p b o a r d

f o r a p a r t i c u la r

g r o u p o f p e o p l e , t h e ? e x i b l e s h e e t c a n

be

marked

W i t h i n f o r

m a t i o n t h a t i s u s e f u l t o

t h a t g r o u p

o f p e o p l e . I f t h e c l i p b o a r d

i s

d e s i g n e d f o r d o c t o r s o r m e d i c a l s t u d e n t s ,

t h e

? e x i b l e

s h e e t

c a n

i n c l u de r e f e r e n c e

i n f o r m a t i o n u s e d

by d o c t o r s

and medi

c a l s t u d e n t s

When

c h a r t i n g p a t i e n t s . I f t h e c l i p b o a r d i s

d e s i g n e d f o r

a

b u i l d i n g

i n s p e c t o r , t h e

? e x i b l e

s h e e t

c a n

i n c l u d e b u i l d i n g c o d e a n d r e g u l a t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n . I f t h e c l i p

board s used

by a

c o a c h ,


c a n

i n c l u d e p e r

s o n n e l i n f o r m a t i o n

and an

i n d e x

o f

p l a y s .

As

can be

s e e n ,

t h e

? e x i b l e

s h e e t

a l l o W s

t h e

c l i p b o a r d t o b e c u s t o m i Z e d f o r v i r

t u a l l y a n y

t a s k .

The

c l i p b o a r d

c a n b e f u r t h e r c u s t o m i Z e d

by

a p p l y i n g

i n f o r m a t i o n

t o

t h e

b a c k - s i d e s o f t h e s u p p o r t p a n e l s .

As

shoWn

in

F I G .

1 , a

c l i p

2 0

i s

o p e r a t i v e l y c o u p l e d t o l e f t

s u p p o r t p a n e l

1 2 .

I n

t h e

i l l u s t r a t e d

e m b o d i m e n t ,

c l i p

2 0

i s

a

s p r i n g c l i p s i Z e d t o holdup o 50 r more

i e c e s

o f p a p e r t o t h e

c l i p b o a r d .

U n l i k e t r a d i t i o n a l c l i p b o a r d s , c l i p 2 0 i s n o t

p o s i

t i o n e d

i n

t h e m i d d l e o f t h e

c l i p b o a r d ,

b u t i s

r a t h e r o f f s e t ,

t h u s

a l l o W i n g

t h e

c l i p b o a r d

t o

f o l d doWn

h e

m i d d l e .

W h i l e c l i p 2 0 i s

shoWn

o p e r a t i v e l y

c o u p l e d

t o t h e

l e f t

s u p p o r t p a n e l , i t

c a n

j u s t a s e a s i l y b e

c o u p l e d

t o t h e r i g h t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l o r a n o t h e r p o r t i o n o f t h e

c l i p b o a r d .

I n f a c t , i n

some e m b o d i m e n t s , tWo

c l i p s

m a y be u s e d , o n e

c o u p l e d

t o

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6 5

4

e a c h

s u p p o r t p a n e l .

F u r t h e r m o r e , o t h e r

t y p e s

o f

l i p s ,

s u c h

a s

a loW p r o ? l e W i r e c l i p

o r

a

m a g n e t i c

c l i p can

b e

u s e d .

I n many embodiments, t h e c l i p a l s o s e r v e s a s a s p a c e r

t h a t

d e t e r m i n e s h oW a r t h e c l i p b o a r d

c a n

b e f o l d e d . T a l l e r c l i p s

may p r e v e n t t h e c l i p b o a r d f r o m f u l l y f o l d i n g t o 0 ° , W h i l e

s h o r t e r c l i p s

may

a l l o W t h e

c l i p b o a r d

t o f o l d p a s t 0 ° .

W h i l e

t h e a b o v e

d e s c r i b e d c l i p b o a r d

f o l d s l e n g t h W i s e

a l o n g i t s l o n g i t u d i n a l

a x i s

t o

form

a

f o l d e d r e c t a n g l e

W i t h a

l e n g t h

d i m e n s i o n s u b s t a n t i a l l y g r e a t e r

t h a n a W i d t h dimen

s i o n , i t

s h o u l d b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t o t h e r f o l d in g

a r r a n g e m e n t s

c a n b e i m p le m e n t e d . F o r e x a m p le , i n s t e a d o f l e f t a n d r i g h t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l s ,

t h e c l i p b o a r d c a n b e

c o n ? g u r e d

W i t h

t o p a n d

b o t t o m s u p p o rt p a n e l s t h a t f o l d t o g e t h e r

a l o n g

t h e c l i p b o a r d ’

l a t i t u d i n a l a x i s . I n t h i s W a y , t h e f o l d e d

c l i p b o a r d

h a s more

e q u i v a l e n t l y s i Ze d

l e n g t h

a n d W i d t h d i m e n s i o n s , W h i c h c a n b e

a d v a n t a g e o u s f o r d i f f e r e n t s t o r a g e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . F u r t h e r

more, W h i l e t h e

above

d e s c r i b e d

c l i p b o a r d i s s i Z e d t o ac c o m

modate

8 . 5 > < l 1 p a p e r ,

t h e above d e s c r i b e d

p r i n c i p l e s c a n

e a s i l y b e

a d a p t e d

t o a c c o m m o d a t e

d i f f e r e n t l y

s i Z e d

p a p e r .

No a t t e r W h a t s i Z e a n d

s h a p e

s u l t i m a t e l y

c h o s e n ,

f o l d i n g

c l i p b o a r d s a c c o r d i n g t o

t h e

p r e s e n t

d i s c l o s u r e

p r o v i d e

a

s m o o t h W r i t i n g s u r f a c e When i n t h e ? a t c o n ? g u r a t i o n , W h i l e

a t

t h e

same

i m e p r o v i d i n g

i m p r o v e d

p o r t a b i l i t y

a n d

s t o r a b i l

i t y When n t h e f o l d e d c o n ? g u r a t i o n . F u r t h e r m o r e , When n

t h e

f o l d e d

c o n ? g u r a t i o n ,

t h e c l i p b o a r d

n a t u r a l l y

h i d e s t h e

p a p e r s i t

i s

h o l d i n g ,

t h u s h e l p i n g

m a i n t a i n c o n ? d e n t i a l i t y

When h a t i s d e s i r e d .

The f o l l o W i n g c l a i m s p a r t i c u l a r l y p o i n t o u t c e r t a i n c o m b i

n a t i o n s and

s u b c o m b i n a t i o n s

r e g a r d e d

a s

n o v e l

and

nonob

v i o u s c l i p b o a r d s . These

c l a i m s

may r e f e r t o “ a n ” e l e m e n t o r

“ a

? r s t ”

e l e m e n t

o r

t h e e q u i v a l e n t t h e r e o f . Such l a i m s s h o u l d

be understood

t o

i n c l u d e i n c o r p o r a t i o n of one

o r

more such

e l e m e n t s , n e i t h e r r e q u i r in g nor

e x c l u d i n g

tWo o r more s u c h

e l e m e n t s . O t h e r

c o m b i n a t i o n s

and

s u b c o m b i n a t i o n s

o f t h e

d i s c l o s e d f e a t u r e s ,

f u n c t i o n s ,

e l e m e n t s , a n d / o r p r o p e r t i e s

m a y b e c l a i m e d t h r o u g h amendment o f

t h e p r e s e n t

c l a i m s o r

t h r o u g h

p r e s e n t a t i o n

o f neW

c l a i m s i n

t h i s

o r a

r e l a t e d

a p p l i

c a t i o n .

Such

c l a i m s ,

W h e t h e r

b r o a d e r , n a r r o W e r , e q u a l , o r

d i f f e r e n t i n

s c o p e

t o t h e o r i g i n a l c l a i m s , a l s o a r e r e g a r d e d a s

i n c l u d e d W i t h i n

t h e s u b j e c t

m a t t e r

o f t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e .

T he

i n v e n t i o n

c l a i m e d

i s :

1 .

A

o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d ,

c o m p r i s i n g :

a ? r s t ,

s u b s t a n t i a l l y - r i g i d ,

s u p p o r t

p a n e l ;

a s e c o n d ,


s u p p o r t

p a n e l ;

a

h i n g e

p i v o t a l l y c o n n e c t i n g t h e

? r s t s u p p o rt p a n e l t o

t h e

s e c o n d

s u p p o r t

p a n e l

s u c h t h a t

t h e

? r s t s u p p o r t

p a n e l

and t h e

second

s u p p o r t p a n e l a r e moveable betWeen a

? a t c o n ? g u r a t i o n

a n d a

f o l d e d c o n ? g u r a t i o n ,

t h e

? r s t

s u p p o r t p a n e l a n d t h e s e c o n d s u p p o r t p a n e l c o o p e r a t i n g

t o f o r m a


c o n t i n u o u s a n d


p l a

n a r W r i t i n g - s u pp o r t

s u r f a c e

When

i n t h e

? a t c o n ? g u r a

t i o n ,

t h e

h i n g e h a v i n g

a n

a x i s

o f

r o t a t i o n

s p a c e d

a

c l i p

a c c o m m o d a t i n g d i s t a n c e i n

f r o n t o f t h e

? r s t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l a n d

t h e

s e c o n d s u p p o r t p a n e l When h e ? r s t s u p

p o r t p a n e l a n d t h e s e c o n d s u p p o r t pa n e l a r e

i n

t h e ? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n ; a n d

a c l i p c o n n e c t e d t o t h e ? r s t s u p p o r t

p a n e l .

2 . The f o l da b l e c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m

1 , f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g

a


a t t a c h e d

t o

t h e ? r s t s u p po r t p a n e l and h e s e c

ond

s u p p o r t p a n e l ,


c o n ? g u r e d t o

p r o v i d e a


s m o o t h W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e When

t h e


p a n e l

a n d

t h e

s e c o n d s u p p o r t

p a n e l

a r e i n

t h e

? a t c o n ? g u r a

t i o n .

3 . A



a

? r s t ,

s u b s t a n t i a l l y - r i g i d , a l u m i n u m s u p p o r t p a n e l ;



14/25

US

7 , 6 7 3 , 9 0 8

B2

5

a s e c o n d ,


a l u m i n u m s u p p o r t

p a n e l ,

t h e

s e c o n d s u p p o r t p a n e l

h a v i n g

t h e same s h a p e a s t h e ? r s t

s u pp o r t p a n e l

a n d b e i n g

i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e

W i t h

t h e

? r s t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l ;

a

h i n g e p h y s i c a l l y i n t e g r a t e d W i t h

t h e

? r s t s u p p o r t p a n e l

a n d

t h e s e c o n d s u p p o r t p a n e l

a n d

p i v o t a l l y c o n n e c t i n g

t h e

? r s t s u p p o r t p a n e l t o

t h e

s e c o n d s u p p o r t p a n e l

s u c h

t h a t

t h e ? r s t s u p p o rt p a n e l

a n d

t h e s e c o n d s u p p o rt p a n e l

a r e moveable b etWeen a ? a t con?guration and a f o l d e d

c o n ? g u r a t i o n , t h e ? r s t s u p p o r t p a n e l

a n d

t h e s e c o n d

s u p po r t p a n e l c o o p e r a t i n g t o

form a

s u b s t a n t i a l l y c o n

t i n u o u s a n d s u b s t a n t i a l l y p l a n a r W r i t i n g - s u p po r t s u r f a c e

When

i n t h e

? a t

c o n ? g u r a t i o n ; a n d

a

c l i p

c o n n e c t e d

t o

t h e


p a n e l a n d c o n ? g u r e d

t o

s e l e c t i v e l y h o l d p a p e r s .

4 .

A



a

? r s t p i e c e i n c l u d i n g

a

? r s t W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e , a

? r s t t o p

h i n g e

s u r f a c e

c o n t i n u o u s

W i t h t h e ? r s t

W r i t i n g s u r f a c e ,

and

? r s t

bottom

i n g e s u r f a c e c o n t i n u o u s

W i t h

t h e ? r s t

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e ;

a

c l i p

c o n n e c t e d t o t h e ? r s t W r i t i n g s u r f a c e a n d c o n ? g u r e d

t o s e l e c t i v e l y

h o l d

p a p e r s ;

a

s e c o n d p i e c e i n c l u d i n g

a

s e c o n d

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e ,

a

s e c o n d

t o p

h i n g e s u r f a c e c o n t i n u o u s W i t h t h e s e c o n d

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e , a n d a

s e c o n d

b o t t o m h i n g e s u r f a c e

c o n t i n u o u s

W i t h t h e s e c o n d

W r i t i n g s u r f a c e ;

a

? r s t

h i n g e - c o n n e c t o r p i v o t a l l y c o n n e c t i n g t h e

? r s t t o p

h i n g e

s u r f a c e

t o

t h e s e c o n d t o p

h i n g e s u r f a c e ;

a n d

a s e c o n d h i n g e - c o n n e c t o r p i v o t a l l y c o n n e c t i n g t h e ? r s t

bottom

h i n g e

s u r f a c e

t o t h e s e c o n d bottom h i n g e s u r

f a c e ;

W h e r e i n

t h e

? r s t W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e

a n d t h e s e c o n d W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e

a r e

moveable

betWeen

a

? a t con?guration

and a

f o l d e d c o n ? g u r a t i o n ,

t h e

? r s t W r i t i n g s u r f a c e a n d

t h e

s e c o n d W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e

c o o p e r a t i n g t o form

a

s u b s t a n

t i a l l y

c o n t i n u o u s a n d s u b s t a n t i a l l y p l a n a r

c o m b i n e d

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e When

n

t h e ? a t c o n ? g u ra t i o n .

5 .

The

o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f

c l a i m

4 ,

W h e r e i n

t h e

? r s t

p i e c e

a n d t h e s e c o n d

p i e c e

a r e

aluminum

p i e c e s .

6 . The f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m 5 , W h e r e i n t h e

? r s t

t o p

h i n g e

s u r f a c e p a r t i a l l y

d e ? n e s

a

t o p

i n t e r i o r

e d g e o f

t h e

? r s t

W r i t i n g

s u r f a c e

a n d

t h e ? r s t

b o t t o m

h i n g e s u r f a c e p a r t i a l l y

d e ? n e s a

b o t t o m i n t e r i o r

e d g e o f t h e ? r s t W r i t i n g s u r f a c e .

7 .

The f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m 4 , W h e r e i n

t h e ? r s t

t o p

h i n g e

s u r f a c e

a n d

t h e

? r s t b o t t o m h i n g e

s u r f a c e a r e

s u b s t a n

1 0

20

25

30

35

40

6

t i a l l y p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e ? r s t W r i t i n g s u r f a c e ,

a n d

t h e s e c o n d

t o p h i n g e

s u r f a c e a n d t h e s e c o n d b o t t o m

h i n g e

s u r f a c e a r e

s u b s t a n t i a l l y p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e s e c o n d W r i t i n g s u r f a c e .

8 .

The o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m

4 ,

W h e r e i n

t h e

? r s t p i e c e

a n d t h e s e c o n d

p i e c e

a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y

i d e n t i c a l l y

s h a p e d a n d

i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

9 .

The f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m 4 , W h e r e i n

t h e

? r s t

t o p

h i n g e

s u r f a c e a n d t h e

? r s t

b o t t o m

h i n g e

s u r f a c e a r e p o s i t i o n e d

on same s i d e r e l a t i v e t o t h e second o p hinge s u r f a c e and h e

s e c o n d b o t t o m h i n g e s u r f a c e .

1 0 .

The o l d a b le c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m

4 ,

W h e r e i n t h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d i s h i n g e d t o f o l d l e n g t h W i s e a l o n g i t s l o n g i t u d i n a l

a x i s .

1 1 . The o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f

c l a i m

4 , W h e r e i n t h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

i s h i n g e d t o f o l d W i d t h W i s e a l o n g i t s l a t i t u d i n a l

a x i s .

1 2 .

The f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f c l a i m 4 , W h e r e i n t h e

? r s t

W r i t i n g s u rf a c e

i s s p a c e d

aWay

f r o m

t h e s e c o n d W r i t i n g

s u r

f a c e

When

h e f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d i s i n t h e f o l d e d


s o a s t o

ac commodate

t h e

c l i p .

1 3 . The

f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f

c l a i m

1 , W h e r e i n a ? r s t

p i e c e

o f

aluminum

o r m s t h e ? r s t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l ; a n d a s e c o n d

p i e c e

o f

aluminum

f o r m s

t h e

s e c o n d

s u p p o r t

p a n e l .

1 4 .

The f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f c l a i m

1 3 ,

W h e r e i n t h e

? r s t

s u p p o rt p a n e l

a n d

t h e s e c o n d s u p po r t p a n e l

a r e


i d e n t i c a l l y s h a p e d a n d

i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

1 5 .

The

f o l d a b l e c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m

1 ,

W h e r e i n a ? r s t

p i e c e

o f l a s t i c f o r m s t h e


p a n e l ;

a n d

a s e c o n d

p i e c e

o f

p l a s t i c

f o r m s t h e s e c o n d

s u p p o r t p a n e l .

1 6 . The f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f

c l a i m

1 5 ,

W h e r e i n

t h e ? r s t

s u p p o r t

p a n e l a n d t h e s e c o n d

s u p p o r t

p a n e l a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y

i d e n t i c a l l y s h a p e d a n d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

1 7 .

The

f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f c l a i m 1 , W h e r e i n

t h e h i n g e

s p a c e s t h e

? r s t

s u p p o r t pa n e l aWay f r o m t h e s e c o n d s u p p o r t

p a n e l

When i n

t h e f o l d e d

c o n ? g u r a t i o n s u c h

t h a t t h e

? r s t


a n d t h e

s e c o n d s u p po r t p a n e l

a r e


p a r a l l e l

a n d

t h e

c l i p

i s

b e t W e e n

t h e

? r s t


a n d

t h e

s e c o n d

s u p p o r t

p a n e l .

1 8 . The o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

o f

c l a i m

1 , W h e r e i n t h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d i s

h i n g e d t o

f o l d

l e n g t h W i s e a l o n g i t s

l o n g i t u d i n a l

a x i s .

1 9 .

The o l d a b le c l i p b o a r d o f c l a i m 1 , W h e r e i n t h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d

i s

h i n g e d

t o

f o l d W i d t h W i s e a l o n g

i t s l a t i t u d i n a l

a x i s .



15/25

EXHIBIT B



16/25

1 2 )

United

States

D e s i g n Patent

1 0 ) P a t e n t N 0 . 2

USO0D611544S

US

D 6 1 1 , 5 4 4

S

Liptan ( 4 5 )

Date

o f P a t e n t : * 1 , Mar. 9 ,

2010

(54)

FOLDABLE

CLIPBOARD

5,560,476

A 10/1996 Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206/38

5,645,165 A

7 /1 9 9 7 Taniyama . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . 206/308.1

( 7 6 ) I n v e n t o r : EMT“:

g I E t a I I J 1 ’ S 6 5 9 % 6 2 ? E - R ° d n e Y A V e - ’ D 3 8 3 , 4 9 l s * 9 / 1 9 9 7 C h a n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

D l 9 / 2 0

on an

( )

5,823,353 A 10/1998 Perrin e t a l . . . . .

. .

206/752

(**) T er m: 1 4 Years D409,664

S *

5/1999 P e r r i n

e t

a l .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . D19/90

D418,875

S

*

1 /2 0 0 0 P ai k

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

D19/86

(21) App1.N0.: 29/343,471

6 , 0 7 0 , 7 2 1

A * 6/2000 L e v i t a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206/3081

22 F1

d ‘

s 1 4 2 0 0 9 6,179,332 B1* 1 / 2 0 0 1 Funkhouser . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

2 8 1 / 2 1 . 1

( ) 1e ep ’ 6 , 6 6 2 , 7 3 3

B1

1 2 / 2 0 0 3 S c o t t

R e l a t e d U_ s _APP] i ca t i 0n

Data

D 5 1 7 , 3 2 8 S * 3/2006 T h r a l l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D 6 / 3 0 0

. . . . D579 754 S * 11/2008 G1 ..................... . D8/323

( 6 3 ) C o n t 1 n u a t 1 o n o f a p p l 1 c a t 1 o n No.

1 1 / 7 0 1 , 0 3 1 ,

? l e d

on

e a s o n

J a n .

3 1 ,

2 0 0 7 .

LOC 9 ) Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-04 (Continued)

( 5 8 )

Field

of

Classi?cation

Sea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D3/247, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

D 3 / 2 9 4 ; D 6 / 4 0 6 . 1 , 4 0 6 . 3 ;

D 8 / 3 2 3 i 3 2 9 ;

D 1 9 / 2 6 i 3 3 ’

5 2 ’

8 8 ;

2 0 6 / 3 8 ’

2 1 5 , 2 3 2 , 4 2 5 h t t p : / / Y V Y V W . c ? p i l o t . c o r n / A S A - F o l d i n g - L a p b o a r d - p / a s a - k b - l a p h t m

S e e a p p l i c a t i o n

? l e

f o r c o m p l e t e

s e a r c h

h i s t o r y . ( l a s t

V l s l t e d D e c '

1 4 ’

2 0 0 9 )

( 5 6 )

R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d ( C o n t i n u e d )

U . S . PATENT

DOCUMENTS

1,732,584

A

* 10/1929

Newman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

402/33

2 , 3 7 5 , 2 4 3 A * 5/1945

P i n k e t t

2,906,267

A

9/195 9 LoudonE 2 4 , 8 4 1

E

* 6/1960

Roche

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 , 7 9 1 , 3 1 4

A 2 / 1 9 7 4 B e r r e t t a

3,944,374

A

3/1976 Young t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

402/33

4 , 0 1 9 , 8 2 3

A 4 / 1 9 7 7 K l e i n e r t e t

a l .

4 ,5 5 5 ,128 A 1 1 /1 9 8 5 White

t

a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281/ 4 5

4 , 5 8 3 , 5 6 2

A

4 / 1 9 8 6 S t e w a r t

4 , 7 7 1 , 9 7 6 A

*

9/1988 Su . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

248/448

4 , 8 2 8 , 5 0 2

A

5 / 1 9 8 9

L e a h y

4 , 8 9 2 , 3 3 4 A

*

1 /1 9 9 0 Sinclair

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..

281/ 4 5

D319,472

S *

8 / 1 9 9 1

C l y b u r n

D19/92

5,060,581 A

10/1991

Ma1inski..

108/44

5,150,873

A

9/1992 Donovan 24 8/4 60

D344,409

S

*

2/1994 Meredith

D3/276

D349,130

S

*

7/1994

N i g r i s

e t

a l . . D19/88

D354,520

S * 1/ 1995 Pong . . . . . . . . . . .

D19/88

D356,339 S *

3/ 1995

Geborek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. D19/88

5 , 4 1 3 , 0 3 5

A

* 5 / 1995 Fernandez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.. 1 0 0 /4 4

5 , 5 1 3 , 7 4 9 A *

5 / 1996

Simmons

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . 206/3081

P r i m a r y E x a m i n e r i E l i Z a b e t h A l b e r t

( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , A g e n t ,

o r

F rmiAlleman a l l M c C o y

u s s e l l

u t t l e LLP

( 5 7 )

CLAIM

T he r n a m e n t a l d e s i g n f o r a f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d ,

a s shoWn and

d e s c r i b e d .

DESCRIPTION

F I G . 1

i s

a

f r o n t p e r s p e c t i v e V i e w o f

t h e f o l d a b l e c l i pb o a r d ;

a n d ,

F I G .

2 i s a r e a r

p e r s p e c t i v e View o f

t h e f o l d a b l e

c l i p b o a r d .

T he broken l i n e s

Which

de?ne t h e

bounds

o f t h e c l a i m e d

d e s i g n

form no p a r t

h e r e o f .

1

C l a i m ,

1

Drawing

S h e e t



17/25

US D 6 1 1 , 5 4 4

s

P a g e

2

U S . PATENT DOCUMENTS OTHER PUBLICATIONS

7,469,871 B2 * 12/2008 Cooper - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- -

248/4411 http://WWW.saunders-usa.c0mic0re/?brand:70 ( l a s t

v i s i t e d

Dec. 1 4 ,

2 0 0 1 / 0 0 0 0 9 0 1

A1

5 / 2 0 0 1

Kambouris

t

a 1 . 2 0 0 9 ) .

2003/0106979

A1

6 / 2 0 0 3 R i c h a r d s o n

2004/0234939 A1

1 1 / 2 0 0 4 S m i t h e t a 1 . * c i t e d b y examiner



18/25

US. Patent

M a r .

9 ,

2 0 1 0 US D 6 1 1 , 5 4 4

s



19/25

EXHIBIT C



20/25



21/25



22/25



23/25

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24/25


25/25

AO 440 (Rev. 12/09) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)

Civil Action No.

PROOF OF SERVICE

(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))

This summons for (name of individual and title, if any)

was received by me on (date) .

’ I personally served the summons on the individual at (place)

on (date) ; or

’ I left the summons at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)

, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,

on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individual’s last known address; or

’ I served the summons on (name of individual) , who is

designated by law to accept service of process on behalf of (name of organization)

on (date) ; or

’ I returned the summons unexecuted because ; or

’ Other (specify):

.

My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ .

I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.

Date:Server’s signature

Printed name and title

Server’s address

Additional information regarding attempted service, etc:


1:15-cv-00260

0.00

Documents

Medinfo v. MedTool - Complaint