Portable document holder

Abstract

A compact collapsible document holder includes a base and a back support coupled to the base. The back support includes a clip portion positioned between two leg portions. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of support members is received in the base, each of the support members being extendible for holding the back support in an extended position relative to the base. A securing clip is also storable in the base and is used for anchoring the holder onto an object. When opened from its collapsed configuration to an open or extended position, the holder supports a document between the leg portions and the clip portion of the back support.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A document holder comprising: 
 a base; and    a back support pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the back support can pivot from a first position against the base to a second position away from the base, the back support comprising: 
 two spaced apart leg portions; and  
 a holding clip there between and spaced apart from both of said two leg portions, wherein the holding clip comprises a first concave surface opposite a second surface, wherein the first surface faces the base when in the first position.  
   
     
     
         2 . A holder as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the concave surface intersects a plane tangential to both leg portions.  
     
     
         3 . A holder as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a support member, wherein, when the back support is in the second position, the support member is coupled to the back support and to the base for retaining the back support in the second position.  
     
     
         4 . A holder as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the support member comprises a first end coupled to the back support and a second end pivotally coupled to a support opening defined in the base.  
     
     
         5 . A holder as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said support opening is configured for receiving the support member.  
     
     
         6 . A holder as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the base comprises a base well defined by a base well floor surrounded by a side wall, the well being configured to receive the back support when the back support is in the first position, wherein said support opening is defined in the base floor.  
     
     
         7 . A holder as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the back support comprises an end and wherein the base comprises an end and wherein the end of the back support is pivotally coupled to the end of the base, and wherein a slot is defined through the end of the base, the holder further comprising a securing clip having a first surface, an end surface extending from the first surface and a second surface extending from the end surface, wherein the first surface is opposite and spaced apart from the second surface defining a channel there between, and wherein the securing clip is removably receivable within the slot by inserting the end surface into the slot.  
     
     
         8 . A holder as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a securing clip opening formed in the base well floor for storing the securing clip.  
     
     
         9 . A holder as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the securing clip comprises a first protrusion extending laterally from the securing clip and a second protrusion extending opposite the first protrusion from an opposite side of the securing clip and wherein the slot comprises a first side wall opposite a second side wall and wherein a groove is located in each of the first and second side walls, each of the grooves being configured to receive one of the first and second protrusions.  
     
     
         10 . A holder as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the support member is a first support member and the support opening is a first support opening, the holder further comprising: 
 a second support member; and    a second support opening formed in the base;    wherein, when the back support is in the second position, said second support member is coupled to the back support and to the base for retaining the back support in the second position;    wherein the first support opening is configured to receive the first support member; and    wherein the second support opening is configured to receive said second support member.    
     
     
         11 . A holder as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the base, back support and holding clip are integrally formed.  
     
     
         12 . A holder as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the base, back support, holding clip, support member and securing clip are formed from polypropylene.  
     
     
         13 . A holder as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the back support comprises a second end opposite the end coupled to the base, wherein the two legs and two ends are integrally formed, and wherein the holding clip is spaced apart from the second end.  
     
     
         14 . A document holder comprising: 
 a base;    a back support pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the back support can pivot from a first position against the base to a second position away from the base, the back support comprising: 
 two spaced apart leg portions;  
 a holding clip between the two leg portions and spaced apart from both of said two leg portions; and  
 a support member, wherein when the back support is in the second position the support member has a first end coupled to the back support and a second end coupled to a support opening defined in the base, wherein said support opening is configured for receiving the support member.  
   
     
     
         15 . A holder as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the base includes a well defined by a base well floor surrounded by a side wall, the well being configured to receive the back support when the back support is in the first position, wherein said support opening is defined in the base well floor.  
     
     
         16 . A holder as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the back support comprises an end and wherein the base comprises an end and wherein the end of the back support is pivotally coupled to the end of the base, and wherein a slot is defined through the end of the base, the holder further comprising a securing clip having a first surface, an end surface extending from the first surface and a second surface extending from the end surface, wherein the first surface is opposite and spaced apart from the second surface defining a channel therebetween, and wherein the securing clip is removably received in the slot by inserting the end surface into the slot.  
     
     
         17 . A holder as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a securing clip opening formed in the base well floor for storing the securing clip.  
     
     
         18 . A holder as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the securing clip comprises a first protrusion extending laterally from the securing clip and a second protrusion extending opposite the first protrusion from an opposite side of the securing clip and wherein the slot comprises a first side wall opposite a second side wall and wherein a groove is located in each of the first and second side walls, each of the grooves being configured to receive one of the first and second protrusions.  
     
     
         19 . A document holder comprising: 
 a base having an end;    a back support having an end and pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the back support can pivot from a first position against the base to a second position away from the base, the back support comprising: 
 two spaced apart leg portions; and  
 a holding clip between the leg portions and spaced apart from both of said two leg portions;  
 a support member having first and second ends and configured and located so that when the back support is in the second position, the first end of the support member is coupled to the back support and the second end is coupled to the base;  
 a slot defined through the end of the base; and  
 a securing clip having a first surface, an end surface extending from the first surface and a second surface extending from the end surface, wherein the first surface is opposite and spaced apart from the second surface defining a channel there between, and wherein the securing clip is removably received in the slot by inserting the end surface into the slot.  
   
     
     
         20 . A holder as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a securing clip opening formed in the base for storing the securing clip.