Flip chart sheet retainer

Abstract

A ring-based sheet retainer can be removably attached to a blackboard or a presentation board. At least two sheet retainers are attached to a support member that is an elongate planar member equipped with mechanical fasteners designed to engage a complementary structure on a presentation board or the like. Each sheet retainer comprises an ring and a ring closure. The ring has the form of flattened oval: straight midportions connected by semicircular end portions. There is a gap in the midportion of the ring whereby sheets are inserted into the ring. The ring closure is a straight hollow cylinder sized to slide over the straight midportion of a gaped side of the ring. The closure is attached to the support member with an end overhanging the edge of the support member so as to receive punched sheets when the ring is open. Sliding the ring into the closure opens the ring by revealing the gap at the overhanging end of the closure. A lock bar, perpendicular to a plane of the ring, is attached to an outer edge of the ring at a point where a semicircular region of the ring interacts with the closure when the ring is open. The lock bar contacts the support member and maintains the ring perpendicular to the support member. A lock piece attached to a pivoting ring lock interacts with the lock bar when the ring is closed, thereby preventing the ring from opening until the lock is pivoted.