Writing board with convertible stand

A writing board has a convertible stand. Left and right standards pivot at the writing board's sides by a sliding linking mechanism, and their free ends are formed with hooks so that a selection of the following can be achieved. That is, the writing board might be hung on a door with the hook ends of the standards swung up over the door's top edge. The standards might be swung down to stand the writing board off the floor as a floor stand. The standards' linked ends might be slid up high along the sides of the writing board, and swung back a little, to prop the writing board in the manner as a book easel. Whereas a floor stand manner of standing the writing board puts it between about waist and shoulder high, a book easel manner rests its bottom edge on a desk or podium.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to education and demonstration devices and, more particularly, to not only bulletin boards or paper-tablet hangers but also chalk boards or equivalents thereto having an easily erasable surface.

A number of additional features and objects will be apparent in connection with the following discussion of the preferred embodiments and examples with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a combination writing board and convertible stand20in accordance with the invention. The invention relates to, not only bulletin boards or paper-tablet hangers but also, chalk boards or equivalents thereto having an easily erasable surface. Hence the phrase “writing board” refers to not only supporting a surface for direct application of lettering, drawing, and artistry or the like, but also a surface for thumb-tacking thereto pre-printed materials of the same.

Again,FIG. 1shows a combination writing board an convertible stand20. The writing board portion of the invention is generally planar and a has a central framed portion28as well as a frame which has left and right stiles30as well as top and bottom rails32and34.

The stand portion of the invention comprises left and right standards40that extend between inner or linked ends42and outer or free ends44, which are formed with crook spans44, and these terminate in hooked-back tip ends46.

As shown better byFIGS. 2,7and6, the stand portion of the invention further includes left and right sliding links50that are engaged on the left and right stiles30for axially sliding therealong. The sliding links50are engaged on the stiles30so as not to come off. The sliding links50include manually-operated locks for locking the sliding links50in fixed axial positions on the stiles30. These locks comprise hand-tightened thumb screws52.

The sliding links50further include a pair of pivot-formations for forming pivotal link systems with the standards40, including manually-operated locks for locking the standards40in fixed angular positions relative the stiles30.FIG. 2shows a twist knob54as forming the actual pivot pin and locking device for the system. The twist knob54is shown aimed to thread into the threaded socket56in the side of the sliding link. This alignment of the twist knob54allows the standards40to swing in planes generally perpendicular to the writing board. The standard40and sliding link50are formed with a pair of counter-part face gears. When the twist knob54is tightened, the counterpart face gears mesh and increase the holding force against changes in any angularly-locked position.

FIGS. 6 and 7show that the sliding link50has a second threaded socket58formed in its backside. Hence the twist knobs54and standards40can be moved over to utilize the back-side socket. That way, the standards40are allowed to swing in planes generally parallel or co-planar to the writing board. Here, there are no face gear formations as with the side socket56. Hence the locking is achieved disc-brake style, which is sufficient for the purpose.

Returning toFIG. 1, the standards40and crook spans44are sized and arranged so that the standards40can be pivoted and locked as shown so that the writing board can be suspended against a door. To do this, the crook spans44disposed above the linked ends42, and are contained in planes generally perpendicular to the writing board. Thus the crook spans44simulate hooks adapted for hooking over a top edge of the door. Preferably the crook spans44rake back beyond a right angle in order to, for among other reasons, increase stability when hooked over top edges of doors. Additionally, preferably the crook spans44terminate in hooked-back tip ends46in order to, for among other reasons, reduce chances of dislodgment of the crook spans44when hooked over top edges of doors.

It is an aspect of the invention is convertible to multiple forms. Indeed,FIGS. 3,4,6and9show up to four more forms. Starting inFIG. 3, it shows the stand portion of the invention converted into the form of a book easel. Briefly, a book easel is typically intended to rest on a desk or podium. Hence its bottom rail34usually rests directly on or not much off the base support surface (eg., the desk or podium). To do this, the standards40are preferably pivoted and locked with the crook spans44situated generally level with and behind the bottom rail34as shown, and thereby prop up the writing board with the crook spans44and bottom rail34resting on a common base surface.

FIG. 4shows the stand portion of the invention alternatively converted in an alternate form of a book easel. AsFIGS. 2 and 4together show better, the standards40furthermore include being produced with hinged joints62intermediate the ends thereof. The joints62tend to partition the standards40into inner and outer spans64and66. A sliding collar68on the standards40is slidable and lockable over the joints62in extension to at least stiffen the joints62straight for utilization of the full extension of the standards40. The collar68holds its place by physical friction. The collars68can be slid off the joints62to allow flexion. Hence the configuration ofFIG. 4is achieved by pivoting and locking the standards40with the joints62flexed and situated generally level with and behind the bottom rail34as shown, and thereby prop up the writing board with the joints62and bottom rail34resting on the common base surface (eg., desk or podium).

FIG. 4might also be reckoned as showing the joints62flexed to rest the outer spans66flat on the common base surface. Not only that,FIG. 4might further be reckoned as showing joints62flexed to bring the crook spans44right up behind the frame's bottom rail34. Although this is not shown, a pair of short straps with hook-and-pile fastener ends could be attached low on the backside of the frame, one for each of the stiles30, and thus used to moor the crook spans44tightly against the back end of the writing board.

FIG. 5shows that a utensil tray72for the writing board (eg., as for chalk or markers, erasers and so on), is not only removably attached but it also serves a second purpose. That is, in particular for the book easel forms of the stand, the tray72serves as shelf for propping up Bristol Board tablets and the like (eg., artist's canvases, foam-board slides, and so on, without limitation).

FIG. 4shows the inclusion of a spring-biased clip76along the top rail32of the frame for securing papers or documents and the like clipboard-style.

FIG. 6shows the stand portion of the invention converted into the form of a floor stand. Briefly, a floor stand is typically intended to stand the writing board up to between about waist and chest high off the floor. To this, the standards40are pivoted and locked with the crook spans44disposed generally level with or lower than the bottom rail34as shown, and thereby simulate feet to stand the writing board up off the floor. Furthermore, the standards40are switched around to being linked to the stiles30such that the crook spans44are contained in planes generally parallel with or co-planar to the writing board. That way, the standards40stand the writing board up off the floor while simultaneously being leaned against a vertical surface (eg., a wall).

FIG. 8shows that writing board has a receiver74mounted high up on the backside that is adapted for receiving a picture hanger or nail driven into the wall. This receiver74promotes stabilization of the writing board relative against the vertical support surface while the standards40provide most of the support of the weight of the writing board. In other words, the standards40and receiver74are intended to work together inFIG. 6, the standards40standing up the writing board, and the receiver74preventing the writing board from teetering over.

FIG. 9shows the stand portion of the invention alternatively converted into an alternate form of a floor stand. To do this, the standards40are pivoted and locked with the crook spans44disposed generally level with or lower than the bottom rail34as shown, and thereby simulating feet to stand the writing board up off a given base surface. But in contrast toFIG. 6, the standards40are linked to the stiles30such that the crook spans44are contained in planes generally perpendicular to the writing board.

It is an aspect of the invention that the standards40are linked to the stiles30by the sliding links50. As previously mentioned, it is conventional to mount writing boards to be situated between about waist and chest high off the floor. However, since users of this writing board might vary in height from that of small children to grown adults, the sliding links50allow adjustment of board elevation to the preference of the user, regardless whether the stand is converted to hanging off a door or standing on the floor. Additionally, the sliding links50allow the standards40to be fixed in positions suitable for converting into the book easel forms shown byFIG. 3or4.

The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.