Computer monitor apron

Abstract

A message board apron for use with a computer monitor and keyboard includes a flat base, a support member extending upwardly from the base, and a tabletop member coupled to the support member proximate an edge of the tabletop member, the tabletop member having a dry-erase writing surface thereon. A variety of holders are provided in the tabletop member for holding accessories, such as hooks, pockets for writing implements or a recessed portion having a shape for receiving a pad of Post-It® notes or other paper therein. The message board apron is placed on a desktop in front of a computer monitor with a keyboard placed in front of or partially underneath the tabletop member, thereby removing providing a writing surface and/or accessories available to the computer user yet held up and away from the desktop surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A message board apron for use with a computer monitor and keyboard, comprising: 
 a substantially flat base for supporting the message board apron on a horizontal surface;    a support member extending generally upwardly from the base;    a tabletop member coupled to the support member, the tabletop member having a writing surface thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the support member is attached to the tabletop member proximate to a back edge thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the tabletop member extends generally parallel to the base.  
     
     
         4 . The message board apron of    claim 3   , wherein the tabletop member includes a pocket for receiving a writing implement.  
     
     
         5 . The message board apron of    claim 4   , wherein the pocket is a recessed slot extending along a portion of the tabletop member.  
     
     
         6 . The message board apron of    claim 4   , wherein the pocket comprises a substantially vertical cylindrical recess for receiving an end of the writing implement therein.  
     
     
         7 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the tabletop member further comprises a recessed portion adjacent the writing surface defined by side walls and a bottom wall, the recessed portion having a shape for receiving a pad of paper therein.  
     
     
         8 . The message board apron of    claim 7   , wherein one or more upper edges of the side walls of the recessed portion include a retaining lip extending partially across the recessed portion for substantially retaining the pad of paper therein.  
     
     
         9 . The message board apron of    claim 8   , further comprising a generally planar member received in the recessed portion substantially parallel to the bottom wall, the planar member being biased away from the bottom wall for directing a pad of paper received thereon into engagement with the retaining lip.  
     
     
         10 . The message board apron of    claim 8   , wherein one of the side walls includes a sloped region therein for facilitating removal of one or more sheets from the pad of paper received in the recessed portion.  
     
     
         11 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the writing surface comprises a dry-erase laminate.  
     
     
         12 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the tabletop member is pivotable relative to the base.  
     
     
         13 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the base comprises one or more feet extending forward from the support member under the tabletop member, thereby defining a “C” shaped cross-section providing a cavity for receiving a keyboard therein.  
     
     
         14 . The message board of    claim 1   , further comprising a non-skid element on a bottom surface of the base.  
     
     
         15 . The message board apron of    claim 1   , wherein the vertical distance between the base and the tabletop member corresponds substantially to the distance between a horizontal surface and a bottom of a viewing area of a computer monitor placed on the horizontal surface.  
     
     
         16 . A message board apron for use with a computer monitor and keyboard, comprising: 
 a generally planar tabletop member defining an upper surface having a laminate surface thereon;    a support member extending from the tabletop member, the support member having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to or near a back edge of the tabletop member; and    a substantially flat base portion coupled to the support member, the base portion extending generally parallel to the tabletop member.    
     
     
         17 . The message board apron of    claim 16   , wherein the support member is pivotally attached to one of the base and the tabletop member for adjusting the position of the tabletop member relative to the base.  
     
     
         18 . The message board apron of    claim 16   , wherein the tabletop member comprises a recess having a predetermined shape for holding an appropriately shaped accessory.  
     
     
         19 . The message board apron of    claim 18   , wherein the recess has a substantially rectangular cross-section for holding one or more planar accessories in a generally vertical orientation.  
     
     
         20 . The message board apron of    claim 19   , wherein the one or more planar accessories are selected from the group consisting of business cards and floppy disks.  
     
     
         21 . The message board apron of    claim 18   , further comprising a tape dispenser received in the recess.  
     
     
         22 . The message board apron of    claim 18   , wherein the appropriately shaped accessory is a pad of paper, and the recess has a shape for holding the pad of paper therein substantially parallel to a bottom wall thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The message board apron of    claim 22   , wherein the recess comprises two or more upper edges having retaining lips extending partially across the recess for substantially retaining the pad of paper therein.  
     
     
         24 . The message board apron of    claim 23   , further comprising a generally planar member received in the recess substantially parallel to the bottom wall, the planar member being biased away from the bottom wall for directing a pad of paper received thereon into engagement with the retaining lips.  
     
     
         25 . The message board apron of    claim 23   , wherein the recess comprises a sloped region for facilitating removal of one or more sheets from the pad of paper received in the recess.  
     
     
         26 . The message board apron of    claim 18   , wherein the recess comprises a substantially vertical cylindrical pocket for receiving an end of the writing implement therein.  
     
     
         27 . The message board apron of    claim 18   , wherein the recess comprises a semi-cylindrical slot extending substantially horizontally along a portion of the tabletop for holding a writing implement.  
     
     
         28 . The message board apron of    claim 16   , further comprising an accessory hook extending from the tabletop member.  
     
     
         29 . The message board apron of    claim 16   , wherein the base portion comprises one or more feet extending forward from the support member under the tabletop member, thereby defining a “C” shaped cross-section providing a cavity for receiving a keyboard therein.  
     
     
         30 . The message board apron of    claim 16   , wherein the vertical distance between the base portion and the tabletop member corresponds substantially to the distance between a horizontal surface and a bottom of a viewing area of a computer monitor placed on the horizontal surface.  
     
     
         31 . A message board apron for a computer monitor, comprising: 
 a generally planar tabletop member defining an upper surface having an erasable writing surface thereon;    means for coupling the tabletop member to a face of a computer monitor.    
     
     
         32 . The message board apron of    claim 31   , wherein the tabletop member has a back edge having a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of the face of the computer monitor below a viewing area thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The message board apron of    claim 32   , wherein the means for coupling the tabletop member to the face of the computer monitor comprises an adhesive on the back edge of the tabletop member bondable to the face of the computer monitor.  
     
     
         34 . The message board apron of    claim 32   , wherein the means for coupling the tabletop member to the face of the computer monitor comprises a clamp member having a first extension attached to the tabletop member and a second extension attachable to the computer monitor.  
     
     
         35 . The message board apron of    claim 32   , wherein the means for coupling the tabletop member to the face of the computer monitor comprises a strap attached to the tabletop member, the strap being extendable at least partially around the computer monitor.  
     
     
         36 . The message board apron of    claim 31   , wherein the tabletop member further comprises a recess having a predetermined shape for holding an appropriately shaped accessory.  
     
     
         37 . The message board apron of    claim 31   , wherein the writing surface comprises a dry-erase laminate.  
     
     
         38 . A computer monitor, comprising: 
 a monitor housing having a front panel, the front panel having an opening therein defining a viewing area; and    a generally planar tabletop member extending from the front panel below the viewing area, the tabletop member comprising an upper surface having a writing surface thereon.    
     
     
         39 . The computer monitor of    claim 38   , wherein the tabletop member is integrally molded to the monitor housing.  
     
     
         40 . The computer monitor of    claim 38   , wherein the tabletop member is attachable to the front panel of the monitor housing.  
     
     
         41 . The computer monitor of    claim 40   , wherein the tabletop member is attached to the front panel by an adhesive.  
     
     
         42 . The computer monitor of    claim 40   , wherein the tabletop member is attached to the front panel by a mechanical fastener.