TOY DRAWING DESK

Abstract: A toy drawing desk (10) having two rollers (15) for supporting an elongated paper sheet (21), two handles (18) coupled to respective front ends of the rollers, to rotate the rollers. The desk further having a case including a flat surface (14), a window (13) delimiting a viewing area over the flat surface and compartments (16) having securing means for securing the rollers (15) in operating position where the rollers are parallel and rotatably mounted. Friction means are provided for exerting a predetermined frictional force against free rotation of the rollers.

Description: TOY DRAWING DESK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a toy drawing desk. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of drafting, portable drawing desks are known and commonly used. US patent No. 5,183,431 discloses a toy facsimile machine that has a hollow case for rotatably mounting a roll of paper. The case also has transfer roll members that frictionally engage the paper to unroll and at that surface to support the unrolled paper and to allow a user to write and draw on the paper. This patent does teach the use of support devices for holding in place the roll of paper. US patent No. 3,645,595 describes a desk that is formed from a folded cardboard blank having a flat top surface. A channel is provided along one edge of the top surface to receive a roll of paper. A mask is attached to the desk to overlay a marginal area of the top surface and to hold paper draw from the roll flat against the top surface. US patent No. 4,592,285 is concerned with a drawing desk with a top which can pivot to an open position with respect to the base and which has a construction to provide relatively even elimination of a transparent opening in the top, while allowing the top to move to a closed position adjacent the base and which closed position the drawing table is relatively compact particularly in terms of thickness, for convenient transportation and storage. US 4,765,583 is concerned with a block desk for use by children while travelling in an automobile. The desk has a box like frame and has a door which has a compartment for storage of paper, colouring books, etc. and a separate compartment designed for storage of markers and crayons. A circular standing holler is designed as a receptacle for beverage containers. The lap desk is attached to the seat belt by straps and its placed over the child's legs. Also known in the art, there are the US patent numbers 3,091 ,504; 3,486,770; 3,744,435; 3,942,735; 4,234,135; 4,654,762; 5,154,498; and 5,873,602. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a drawing desk that allows scrolling of the image all the while preventing loose movement of the paper sheet. Another object of the present invention is a toy drawing desk that allows the user to draw the image without worrying about the position of the paper sheet since it is well kept in place. Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawing desk that allows unwinding of the paper sheet without causing loosening of same. According to the present invention, there is provided a toy drawing desk comprising: two rollers adapted to support an elongated paper sheet; two handles coupled to respective front ends of the rollers, to rotate the rollers; and a case having: a substantially flat surface, a window delimiting a viewing area over the flat surface, compartments located respectively on both sides of the viewing area, the compartments having securing means for securing the rollers in operating position where the rollers are parallel and rotatably mounted, and friction means for exerting a predetermined frictional force against free rotation of the rollers. The object, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a toy drawing desk according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded top perspective view of the toy drawing desk of figure 1 in the open position, without the rollers. Figure 3 is an exploded top plan view of the toy drawing desk of figure 2. Figure 4 is an exploded top and front perspective view of the toy drawing desk of figure 2. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a front portion of toy drawing desk shown in figure 4. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a rear portion of the toy drawing desk of figure 2. Figure 7 is a top perspective view of the toy drawing desk of figure 1 having one side open. Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the toy drawing desk of figure 1. Figure 9 is a top and front perspective view of the toy drawing desk shown in figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to figures 1 to 4, 7 and 9, the toy drawing desk 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in exploded and perspective views. The toy drawing desk 10 comprises two rollers 15 (only one is seen in figure 7) adapted to support an elongated paper sheet 21. Two handles 18 are coupled to respective front ends of the rollers 15, to rotate them. The handles 18 are removably secured to the rollers 15. The handles 18 are accessible from the exterior of the desk to allow a user to rotate the rollers and change the images to be coloured. The desk 10 further comprises a case having a substantially flat surface 14 and a window 13 delimiting a viewing area over the flat surface 14. Each of the compartments embodies a space 17 adapted to receive a roll 15 of paper sheet as shown in figure 7. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two compartments 16 located respectively on both sides of the viewing area. The compartments 16 are placed substantially parallel to each other and have securing means for securing the rollers 15 in operating position. Each roller 15 is rotatably mounted in its space 17. A sheet of paper 21 on which is printed images to be coloured, is wound up on the rollers 15. The rollers 15 are operatively connected to two handles 18. In use, the handles 18 are rotated to a given direction to allow the paper to unroll from one of the roller and to roll up to the other roller. The rollers 15 are secured in their space 17 in such a way that the paper sheet does not ripple nor undulate upon scrolling the paper sheet. The rollers 15 when placed in the compartments 16 are substantially parallel to each other and rotatably mounted in their space 17. Friction means are also provided for exerting a predetermined frictional force against the rotation of the rollers. These friction means allow scrolling of the image all the while preventing loose movement of the paper sheet. The case is shaped as a flat rectangular parallelepiped with four corners and is preferably made of moulded plastic material. The window 50 allows user to have access to the paper sheet to be coloured. As best seen in figure 4, each compartment 16 comprises inner 17 and outer 19 elongated spaces extending between front and rear portions of the case. The inner 17 and outer 19 spaces of each compartment are separated by a wall. The inner space 17 is designed to receive a corresponding roller 15 and the outer space 19 is designed to be a storage space for small objects such as pencils and crayons. Preferably, pivoting lids 20 for covering the compartment 16 are provided. The lids 20 have a general rectangular form and has a first side edge 24 that is pivotally fixed on the exterior limits of the case and a second side edge 26 that fits on the case, by a simple engaging mechanism. The lids may be mounted on the case by means of hinges 11. In the illustrated embodiment, two pairs of hinges 11 are provided and are located at the four corners of the case. Each hinge 11 embodies a complementary facing part of the case and the lid. Each hinge 11 further comprises a connector for connecting the complementary facing parts. A plurality of stoppers 28 may also be provided on the surface of the lids 20. Referring now to figures 4, 5 and 7, the handles comprise a shaft 32 having an extremity coupled to the front end of the corresponding roller and another extremity provided with a knob 34. The knob 34 is located on a front portion of the case. The handles 18 are held in place by a friction means on the lower end of each compartment. The friction means may be resilient arms 30 which preferably press the central portion of the shaft 32 in order to hold the handle in place. Each shaft 32 further comprises an elongated discontinuous protuberance 33 extending around the circumference thereof at a given distance of the corresponding knob 34. Each of the lids has a curved edge that fits around the corresponding shaft 32, when in closed position, between the corresponding protuberance 33 and knob 34 to secure the corresponding handle 18 in operation position. This prevents any radial movement of the handle to the outside of the desk, when the lid 20 is closed. The end of the shaft 32 is preferably provided with a plurality of crests 38 for securing the roller 15 from the inside. As mentioned herein above, in the present embodiment, the friction means may be a pair of resilient arms 30 adapted to apply pressure on the corresponding shaft along radial direction thereof to at the same time prevent loose movement of the paper sheet and allow unwinding thereof by the user. Referring now to figure 6, the top end of each compartment sides comprises securing means 40 for holding the roller in position during rotation. The securing means 40 comprises a stopper 41 connectable with the rear end of the corresponding roller and a pair of U-shaped supports 42 for supporting respectively rear and front portions of the corresponding roller. Figures 2 to 4 and 8 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention where the desk 10 is provided with a drawer 44 located at the bottom of the desk. Sliding means are provided for sliding the drawer 44 with respect to the case. The sliding means comprises two elongated guides 46 located on the bottom portion of the case and two corresponding side edges 47 of the drawer 44 adapted to cooperate with the guides. Although the present invention has been explained hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A toy drawing desk comprising: two rollers adapted to support an elongated paper sheet; two handles coupled to respective front ends of the rollers, to rotate the rollers; and a case having: a substantially flat surface, a window delimiting a viewing area over the flat surface, compartments located respectively on both sides of the viewing area, the compartments having securing means for securing the rollers in operating position where the rollers are parallel and rotatably mounted, and friction means for exerting a predetermined frictional force against free rotation of the rollers. 2. A toy drawing desk according to claim 1 , wherein: the case is shaped as a flat rectangular parallelepiped with four corners, the case is made of moulded plastic material; and each of the handles comprises a shaft having an extremity coupled to the front end of the corresponding roller and another extremity provided with a knob, the knobs being located on a front portion of the case. 3. A toy drawing desk according to claim 2, wherein each of the compartments comprises inner and outer elongated spaces extending between front and rear portions of the case, the inner and outer spaces of each compartment being separated by a wall, the inner space adapted for receiving the corresponding roller, the outer space being a storage space for pencils. 4. A toy drawing desk according to claim 3, further comprising pivoting lids for covering the compartments, and two pairs of hinges for pivoting the lids with respect to the compartments, the hinges being located at the four corners of the case, each hinge being embodied by complementary facing parts of the case and the lid, and comprising a connector for connecting said complementary facing parts. 5. A toy drawing desk according to claim 2, wherein each shaft of the handles comprises an elongated discontinuous protuberance extending around the circumference thereof at a given distance of the corresponding knob, and each of the lids has a curved edge that fits around the corresponding shaft when in closed position, between the corresponding protuberance and knob to secure the corresponding handle in operating position. 6. A toy drawing desk according to claim 1 , further comprising a drawer, and sliding means for sliding the drawer with respect to the case, the sliding means comprising two elongated guides located on a bottom portion of the case, and two corresponding side edges of the drawer adapted to cooperate with the guides. 7. A toy drawing desk according to claim 1 , wherein each of the securing means comprises: a stopper connectable with a rear end of the corresponding roller; and a pair of U-shaped supports for supporting respectively rear and front portions of the corresponding roller. 8. A toy drawing desk, according to claim 2, wherein the friction means comprises a pair of resilient arms adapted to apply pressure on the corresponding shaft along radial direction thereof to, at the same time, prevent loose movement of the paper sheet and allow unwinding thereof by the user. 9. A toy drawing desk according to claim 1 , wherein the case has a rear portion, opposite to the front portion, provided with a molded handle to carry the desk.

Inventors: DE WINTER KOEN, FAHRENDORFF ANDERS, DE WINTER, KOEN, FAHRENDORFF, ANDERS
Applicants: FAHRENDORFF ANDERS, WINTER KOEN DE, WREBBIT INC, DE WINTER, KOEN, FAHRENDORFF, ANDERS, WREBBIT INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B43L5
IPC codes: B43L5