Mirrored document holder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mirrored document holder including a supporting arm, whereby the invention functions as a document holder, a mounted mirror, and an advertising vehicle. The document holder includes a copyholder with spring biased plates and a mirror included on at least one of the plates. A plate may be sized to allow placement of advertising indicia in addition to supporting the document in place in a breezy environment. The present invention further includes a flexible supporting arm with joints that are, while flexible, capable of firmly supporting heavy documents. The document holder of the present invention may, for example, be mounted on a computer monitor or a dashboard.

1 . A document holder comprising: 
 a. substantially planar pivotally connected front and rear plates of a substantially same size configured to face each other, each of the plates defining an inner-facing surface and an opposing outer-facing surface;    b. at least one tension member disposed between the plates and configured to exert tension thereupon so as to bias the plates against each other at a respective edge thereof for clipping a thin article therebetween;    c. a reflective surface formed on at least one of the outer-facing surfaces;    d. an arm opposing first and second arm ends, the first arm end being rotatably connected to one of the surfaces of the plates, with a portion of the arm adjacent the first arm end extending substantially parallel therefrom such that the plates can rotate a minimum of 360 degrees thereabout;    e. a first joint member rotatably connected to the second arm end, the first joint member being configured to rotate the arm about an axis substantially perpendicular to the arm body, and further configured to selectively arcuately lock the arm in at least two predetermined arcuate positions with respect to the first joint member; and    f. a base connected to the first joint member, the base being configured to removably attach to an external object.    
   
   
       2 . The document holder as in  claim 1  wherein the reflective surface is a mirror.  
   
   
       3 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the inner-facing surfaces defines at least one flanges extending therefrom, the at least one flanges pivotally connect the plates via a hinge pin.  
   
   
       4 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one attachment member selected from the group consisting of clips, screws, rivets, snap fit connectors, magnets, and adhesives.  
   
   
       5 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , wherein the tension member is a coiled spring.  
   
   
       6 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , wherein the first arm end is connected to the outer-facing surface of the rear plate and the reflective surface is formed on the front plate.  
   
   
       7 . The document holder as in  claim 6 , wherein the rear plate comprises, on the outer-facing surface thereof, a second joint member to which the first arm end is connected.  
   
   
       8 . The document holder as in  claim 6 , wherein the second joint member is a flange extending perpendicularly from the outer-facing surface of the rear plate, the flange defining a flange hole with an axis parallel to the outer-facing surface of the rear plate, into which the first arm end is inserted.  
   
   
       9 . The document holder as in  claim 8 , wherein the first arm end is frictionally engaged with the flange hole.  
   
   
       10 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , further comprising advertising indicia imprinted on at least one of the outer-facing surfaces.  
   
   
       11 . A document holder comprising: 
 a. substantially planar front and rear plates of a substantially same size, the plates being biased against each other;    b. a double-bended, crank-shaped arm having opposing first and second arm ends, the first arm end being rotatably connected to the rear plate with a portion of the arm adjacent the first arm end extending substantially parallelly from the rear plate, the rear plate being configured to rotate a minimum of 360 degrees around the portion of the arm adjacent first arm end;    c. a first joint member rotatably connected to the second arm end, the first joint member being configured to rotate the arm with respect to the joint member in a single rotational plane, and further configured to selectively arcuately lock the arm in at least two predetermined arcuate positions with respect to the first joint member; and    d. a base connected to the first joint member, the base having an attachment member for removably attaching the document holder to an external object.    
   
   
       12 . The document holder as in  claim 11 , further comprising a mirrored surface formed on an outer surface of the front plate.  
   
   
       13 . The document holder as in  claim 11 , further comprising a coiled spring disposed between the plates and configured to bias the plates against each other at a respective edge thereof for clipping a thin article therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , wherein the plates are pivotally connected to each other via at least one flanges formed on a respective outer surface of each plate and a hinge pin axially connecting the at least one flanges.  
   
   
       15 . The document holder as in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is selected from the group consisting of clips, screws, rivets, snap fit connectors, magnets, and adhesives.  
   
   
       16 . The document holder as in  claim 11 , wherein the rear plate comprises, on an outer surface thereof, a second joint member to which the first arm end is connected.  
   
   
       17 . The document holder as in  claim 16 , wherein the second joint member is a flange perpendicularly extending from the rear plate, the flange defining a flange hole with an axis parallel to the outer surface of the first plate, into which the first arm end is inserted.  
   
   
       18 . The document holder as in  claim 11 , further comprising advertising indicia imprinted on at least one outer surface of the plates.  
   
   
       19 . A method of advertising comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a document holder comprising: 
 1) substantially planar front and rear plates of a substantially same size, the plates being biased against each other,  
 2) a double-bended, crank-shaped arm having opposing first and second arm ends, the first arm end being rotatably connected to the rear plate with a portion of the arm adjacent the first arm end extending substantially parallelly from the rear plate, the rear plate being configured to rotate a minimum of 360 degrees around the portion of the arm adjacent first arm end,  
 3) a first joint member rotatably connected to the second arm end, the first joint member being configured to rotate the arm with respect to the joint member in a single rotational plane, and further configured to selectively arcuately lock the arm in at least two predetermined arcuate positions with respect to the first joint member, and  
 4) a base connected to the first joint member, the base having an attachment member for removably attaching the document holder to an external object; and  
   b. imprinting advertising indicia upon at least one visible outer surfaces of the document provider.