TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a tablet-like device, and more specifically, a device that is configured to hold a sheet of waterproof synthetic paper, or another waterproof recording sheet, onto which notes, messages, markings, sketches, etc., can be recorded via a writing implement (or otherwise recorded), in an underwater or marine environment, or another extreme environment.

BACKGROUND

There are many reasons a scuba diver may need to write or draw underwater. For example, a diver may need or wish to communicate with other divers. In addition, the diver may desire to record notes, to aid in gathering reference material, architectural drafting for marine construction, artistic rendering, etc.

Dive slates are limited in the amount that they can record by the size of the slate. When the slate is full, new writing can only be added by erasing all previous work. In urgent situations this erasing time can be inconvenient. Accordingly, it has been proposed to use a clipboard-type slate which permits the option of multiple sheets of waterproof material underwater. However, such arrangement is awkward because in an underwater or marine environment the pages can stick together and would typically be difficult to manipulate, especially if the diver is wearing gloves. Multiple page slates also cannot be reused until all previous work has been erased.

Electronic equipment is relatively expensive and can be vulnerable and/or unreliable in an underwater environment.

SUMMARY

A tablet device can be configured to be suitable for use in an underwater or marine environment, or another extreme environment, without the drawbacks of an electronic device, in such environment. In particular, each unit of such a tablet device may be configured for use along with a removable, waterproof note-recording medium sheet, in an arrangement that is particularly useful in an underwater or marine environment, or another severe or extreme environment where it is difficult to communicate orally or to record notes efficiently by use of conventional means. Various embodiments and examples are described.

The removable, waterproof note-recording medium used in the tablet device may preferably be sheets of waterproof synthetic paper, to take advantage of recent developments in synthetic waterproof paper to permit such paper to withstand high temperatures such as during laser printing. When such waterproof synthetic paper, virtually any type of information useful during a dive can be pre-printed via laser printing on the sheet. Such option provides the diver with a cost saving of one-to-two orders of magnitude (for example, less than one dollar per sheet printed at home or in one's own office using off-the-shelf printing equipment versus $10 to $30 per sheet onto a plastic slate using specialized industrial printing equipment not readily available to consumers and not cost effective for printing small quantities. Such sheets of synthetic waterproof paper enable divers to work with their own personal pre-printed material underwater. Such material or information may include, for example, a map, a checklist, templates (e.g., for matching objects or terrain that the user is likely to encounter on a dive), instructions, other information that may be relevant in the aforementioned environment, etc. Further, the various embodiments and examples of a tablet device disclosed herein are also advantageous over conventional dive slates for the reason that the environmental impact of using synthetic waterproof paper is much less than that of thick plastic slates. The synthetic waterproof paper utilized in the tablet devices disclosed herein is reusable and recyclable

The tablet device enables a diver to bring such pre-printed material conveniently on a dive and is configured to permit the user to visually discern information on such pre-printed material as well as to permit the user to add notes, messages, markings, sketches, etc. onto one or both half-sheets. In an embodiment of such a tablet device, a support palette is provided to support a removable sheet of pre-printed material or other waterproof note-recording medium, onto which notes, messages, markings, sketches, etc., can be recorded with a writing implement (such as pencil).

Further, the support palette and the tablet device are preferably configured such that when the sheet is folded into two halves and placed on the support palette, a front half of the sheet is supported by the front surface of the support palette, and the rear half of the sheet is supported by the back surface of the support palette, and the information on each half-sheet is visually accessible. When the removable, waterproof note-recording medium sheet is a sheet of waterproof synthetic paper, such sheet is typically amenable to be folded readily, thus enabling the front half-sheet to cover most of the front surface of the support palette and the rear half-sheet to cover most of the back surface of the support palette. As mentioned, information may be pre-printed on the sheet prior to the dive, and such pre-printed information may be printed on either or both half-sheets.

Such support palette bearing the two halves of the sheet supported by the front and back support surfaces, respectively, is inserted into a side slot (configured to have a shape and size to permit the support palette to be slidably inserted into, and removed from, the frame assembly through such slot) in a frame assembly of the tablet device. Such frame assembly includes a front frame portion which is configured (similar to a picture frame) to enable the user to visually discern information recorded on the front half-sheet which is supported on the front surface of the support palette and moreover to record notes, messages, sketches, etc., on such front half-sheet. The frame assembly preferably also includes a rear frame portion which is configured similar to the front frame portion, to permit access to the rear half-sheet, i.e. to enable the user to visually discern information recorded on the rear half-sheet and to record notes, messages, sketches, etc., on such rear half-sheet.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame assembly includes a front frame member and a back frame member coupled to each other, at least one of which includes a slot portion to form the slot on the side of the frame assembly. Such front frame member includes the aforementioned front frame portion, and the front half-sheet is held in place on the front surface of the support palette by the front frame member. Likewise, the rear half-sheet is held in place on the back surface of the support palette by the back frame member.

In another embodiment, plural tablet device units each configured for recording notes, markings, etc., with a writing implement onto at least one sheet at a time may be employed to enable a user (e.g., diver) to write as many notes or messages as needed, and each of the plural tablet device units is preferably configured, as discussed above, to include front and back frame members, and such frame members each includes connector receptacles disposed at respective predetermined locations in a surface of the frame member. In a preferred embodiment, each connector receptacle is configured to receive a device connector having a predetermined shape complementary to that of the connector receptacle. Thus, two tablet device units are connected by a device connector inserted in respective connector receptacles disposed in a surface of the front frame member of one unit and in connector receptacles disposed in a surface of the back frame member of the other unit.

In yet another embodiment, for each of the tablet device units, each of the front and back frame members is configured to have through-holes each disposed near a distal edge of the support palette and each configured to be penetrated by a removable ring or tie-lock of a predetermined size or smaller. The multiple tablet device units can be held together as a collection by at least two removable rings or tie-locks penetrating the respective through-holes of each of the plural tablet device units in the collection.

