Stand for supporting a display board

A stand for supporting a board includes a wire frame having a first portion configured to support an edge of the board, and a second portion extending from the first portion. The stand also includes a latch mounted on the second portion. The latch is operable to restrain movement of the board relative to the wire frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to support systems for display boards, and more particularly to stands having latches for securing boards within the stands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Display boards, including cork boards and white boards, may be supported by stands. In many cases, display boards are integral with the stands. As such, the ability to remove a display board from a stand is limited. The ability to rearrange the position of the display board within the stand is also restricted. Furthermore, the ability to remove the display board from the stand and attach the display board to another stand is restricted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a stand for supporting a board. The stand includes a wire frame having a first portion configured to support an edge of the board, and a second portion extending from the first portion. The stand further includes a latch mounted on the second portion. The latch is operable to restrain movement of the board relative to the wire frame.

The present invention provides, in another independent aspect, a stand for supporting a board. The stand includes a frame having a first portion configured to support an edge of the board, and a second portion extending from the first portion. The stand further includes a wheel coupled to the first portion of the frame. The wheel is configured to facilitate movement of the frame along a surface. The stand further includes a latch mounted on the second portion. The latch is movable between a first position, in which the board is removable from the frame, and a second position, in which the board is restrained from movement relative to the wire frame.

The present invention provides, in another independent aspect, a support system including a board having a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The support system also includes a stand including a wire frame having a first portion that supports the bottom edge of the board, a second portion extending from the first portion along the first side edge of the board, and a third portion extending from the first portion along the second side edge of the board. The stand also includes a wheel coupled to the wire frame to facilitate movement of the wire frame along a surface, and a first latch mounted on the second portion. The first latch is operable to engage the first side edge of the board to restrain movement of the board relative to the wire frame. The stand further includes a second latch mounted on the third portion. The second latch is operable to engage the second side edge of the board to restrain movement of the board relative to the wire frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1and2illustrate a support system100including a board200and a stand300. The stand300is operable to support the board200upon a surface S.FIG.1illustrates the support system100with the board200removed from the stand300.FIG.1also illustrates an arrow A showing how the board200is secured to and removed from the stand300. In the illustrated embodiment, the board200is translated along the arrow A into and out of engagement with the stand300.FIG.2illustrates the support system100with the board200secured to the stand300by one or more latches400,404.

As shown inFIG.1, the board200includes a bottom edge204and a top edge208. The board200further includes side edges212,216extending between the bottom edge204and the top edge208. The board200includes a first (i.e., front) surface220and a second (i.e., rear) surface224. The board200may be, without limitation, a whiteboard, a blackboard, a poster board, a cork board, a panel, or the like. The board200may be dimensioned to correspond with the stand300. The board200, when removed from the stand300, can be rotated or flipped such that when the board200is reintroduced to the stand300, the board surface220,224facing a user is in a different orientation (e.g., rotated 90 or 180 degrees) or is the opposite surface220,224. Other stands300may be dimensioned to support the board200thereon.

FIG.3illustrates the stand300. The stand300includes a frame304. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame304is a wire frame. In other embodiments, the frame304may be made of other suitable materials or have other constructions. The illustrated frame304includes a first portion308, a second portion312, and a third portion316. The first portion308of the wire frame304is configured to support one of the edges204,208of the board200. As illustrated inFIG.2, the second portion312extends from the first portion308along the side edge212of the board200. The third portion316extends from the first portion308along the side edge216of the board200. As such, the second portion312and third portion316extend from opposite ends of the first portion308. In the illustrated embodiment, the second portion312and the third portion316extend generally perpendicularly from the first portion308. However, the second and third portions312,316may otherwise extend from the first portion308. In the illustrated embodiment, the second portion312and the third portion316extend a relatively small distance up lengths of the side edges212,216. For example, the second and third portions312,316may extend less than a quarter the lengths of the side edges212,216. The second and third portions312,316may alternatively extend less than half the lengths of the side edges212,216. Both the second and third portions312,316are cantilevered from the first portion308. The second and third portions312,316are both operable to deflect relative to the first portion308as the latches400,404secure the board200to the stand300. The second and third portions312,316can deflect in at least a direction corresponding to the width (i.e., between the side edges212,216) of the board200and a direction corresponding to the depth (i.e., between first and second surface220,224) of the board200. The wire frame construction of the frame304allows the second and third portions312,316to deflect and return to position.

With continued reference toFIG.3, the stand300further includes wheels320coupled to the first portion308. The wheels320facilitate movement of the frame304along the surface S. In the illustrated embodiment, the wheels320are caster wheels configured to facilitate multidirectional movement of the frame304along the surface S in many directions. The caster wheels320may be lockable swivel caster wheels320. The lockable swivel caster wheels320permit a user to move the stand300in many directions along the surface S, and to subsequently lock the location of the support system100at a desired location on the surface S. Other wheels320are possible.

With continued reference toFIG.3and new reference toFIG.6, the stand300further includes a pad324. The pad324is attached to the first portion308of the wire frame304. The pad324is configured to support one of the edges204,208of the board200. The pad324may be comprise a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. As such, the pad324is configured to support the edge204of the board200and to restrain the board from sliding relative to the wire frame304. The pad324may also be made of a relatively softer material than the first portion308of the frame304. As such, the pad324may reduce the possibility of the frame304marring or damaging the edges204,208of the board200if the board200is dropped into the stand300or shifts relative to the stand300.

As most clearly seen inFIGS.7and8, the second portion312of the wire frame304includes a first side328, a second side332, and a connecting side336extending between the first side328and the second side332. In the illustrated embodiment, the first side328, second side332, and connecting side336generally form a U shape. When the board200is secured in the frame304(as illustrated inFIG.8), the first side328, second side332, and connecting side336wrap around the side edge212of the board200. In the illustrated embodiment, the edge212of the board200is nested within the U shape defined by the first side328, second side332, and connecting side336. Although not illustrated in detail, the third portion316of the frame304has a similar construction as the second portion312to wrap around the side edge216of the board200.

As seen inFIG.5, the connecting side336of the second portion312includes a groove340. The groove340has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the remainder of the wire frame304. The groove340may extend circumferentially around the wire frame304. The groove340may be located equidistant from the first side328and the second side332to be located centrally on the wire frame304. In other embodiments, the groove340may be otherwise spaced from the first side328and the second side332. As will be discussed below with regards to the latch400, the groove340is configured to engage and align the latch400relative to the wire frame304.

As shown in bothFIGS.3and6, the stand300may also include a tray344for holding materials for use with the board200. The tray344is secured to the first portion308of the frame304. The tray344extends outwardly from the first portion308. For example and without limitation, the tray344may hold writing utensils, erasers, push pins, and the like for use with the board200. In some embodiments, the stand300may include two trays344, with one tray extending from each side of the first portion308. In other embodiments, the tray344may be omitted.

With continued reference toFIG.3, one of the latches400(i.e., a first latch) is mounted on the second portion312, and another of the latches404(i.e., a second latch) is mounted on the third portion316. In the illustrated embodiment, the stand300includes two latches400,404, with one latch400,404on each portion312,316. In other embodiments, the stand300may only include one latch on one of the portions312,316. Although only the first latch400is described in detail below, the second latch404is similarly constructed and functions in a similar manner.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the board200can be inserted into the stand300independent of the position of the latches400,404. The latches400,404are movable between a locked position (FIG.2) and an unlocked position (FIG.1). In the illustrated embodiment, the latches400,404are rotatable between the locked position and the unlocked position. In other embodiments, the latches400,404may move in other manners (e.g., linearly slide, twist, thread, etc.). The board200can only be removed from the stand300when at least one of the latches400,404is in the unlocked position. This is a result of the shape of a cam408of the latches400,404. As illustrated inFIGS.7and9-10, the cam408has a curved surface408aand a flat or planar surface408b. The curved surface408ais formed on a relatively thin section of the cam408, while the flat surface408bis formed on a relatively thick section of the cam408. In the locked position shown inFIG.9, the flat surface408bengages the side edge212of the board200. When both latches400,404engage both side edges212,216in the locked position, the board200is squeezed or compressed between the latches400,404, thereby securing the board200within the frame304. In the unlocked position shown inFIG.10, the latch400is moved (e.g., rotated) such that the cam408is spaced apart from the edge212of the board200. In this position, the curved surface408aof the cam408is aligned with the edge212, but because the curved surface408ais not as thick as the flat surface408b, a gap is created between the latch400and the board200. The board200is, thereby, removable from the frame304.

Before a board200is inserted into the frame304, the latches400,404may automatically or naturally move (e.g., rotate) to the locked position due to gravity. Even in this position, a board200can be slid into the frame304without manually moving the latches400,404to the unlocked position. When the board200is inserted into the frame304, the bottom edge204of the board200contacts the curved surfaces408aof the cams408as the board200is inserted. This causes the latches400,404to automatically move (e.g., rotate) toward the unlocked position. Once the board200is fully inserted in the frame304, a user actuates the latches400,404to lock the board200in the frame304. As shown inFIGS.7and9-10, the latches400,404have actuators410to permit actuation between the unlocked and the locked position. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuators410are handles that extend from and are integrally formed with the cams408. In other embodiments, the latches400,404may include other suitable actuators.

As best illustrated inFIG.7, the latch400includes a stop412. The stop412is configured to abut the wire frame304, and specifically, the second portion312(or third portion316) of the wire frame304. The stop412may abut an underside of the second portion312that faces the surface S. The stop412abuts the wire frame304to restrain over rotation of the latch400relative to the wire frame304. As such, when rotating the latch400counterclockwise from the unlocked position inFIG.10towards the locked position inFIG.9, the stop412abuts the wire frame304.

FIG.5illustrates the latch400in the locked position, and a connection between a groove340of the wire frame304and a mating surface416of the latch400. The mating surface416corresponds with and engages the groove340to align the latch400relative to the groove340. As a result, the latch400is located between the first side328and the second side332of the second portion312of the wire frame304. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch400is centered between the first side328and the second side332. As described above, the groove340may be otherwise located between the first side328and the second side332. Similarly, the mating surface416can otherwise engage the groove340at the location of the groove340.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, the illustrated latch400includes hooks420. The hooks420extend from the cam408. More particularly, the hooks420extend from the flat surface408bof the cam408. When the board200is supported by the stand300and the latch400is in the locked position, the hooks420are configured to be positioned adjacent the first and second surfaces220,224of the board200. In some embodiments, the hooks420may abut or engage the first and second surfaces220,224of the board200. With the latch400engaging the groove340of the wire frame304, the hooks420align the board200between the first side328and the second side332of the wire frame304. As illustrated inFIG.8, the board200can be centered between the first side328and the second side332of the wire frame304by contacting the hooks420.