Abstract:
A modular, portable writing and projection system having a variable curvature is disclosed. The system uses dry erase boards, chalk or black boards, or other flexible panels having at least one writing surface. The panels have edges for joining to posts. The system combines panels to form a large, modular system for use at meetings, gatherings or other assemblies. The system allows a large number of users to contribute to a presentation, and also allows users to view the presentation. Because the panels are flexible, the system may be curved, allowing more panels to be mounted, used, written on and viewed, within limited space. The panels may be used in either a convex or concave manner, i.e., curved in or curved out, as desired. The resistance of the panels to remaining in a curved state is overcome by feet on the posts and braking or holding devices on the feet.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from, and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) for, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/235,594, of the same title, filed on Aug. 20, 2009, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The field of the disclosure is portable non-permanent writing surfaces, portable projection surfaces, and combinations thereof. More specifically, the field of the invention is for a collaborative board-writing system having a flexible writing surface of a variable curvature. The surface may also be a projection surface. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Gatherings of people, such as meetings, are useful fora for discussions on many topics. These gatherings are enhanced if there is a semi-permanent, erasable method for writing down ideas, talking points, qualifications, or other data pertinent to the discussion. An example is a high school or college classroom, in which a professor will write down the main points, for example, for the lesson of the day. Other examples include sales meetings, in which salesmen or sales managers may list products and their respective advantages. Still another example is a “poster board” session common at scientific or engineering meetings. These poster board sessions allow presenters to list topics, data or data points, ideas for a next stage of development, and so forth. The media used in these meetings may include “white board” or dry erase products, such as those available from Sanford Corp., Bellwood, Ill. Other media may include black boards, i.e., boards using chalk to express an idea. Still other media may include opaque plastic sheeting that accepts writing. 
         [0004]    In larger meetings especially, or in those with a high interest in a particular topic, board space or presentation space may be in short supply compared to the number of participants or hopeful participants. Thus, it is common for meeting sites or gatherings to furnish many such boards. Each unit furnished is typically a single board, such as a dry erase board, a chalk board or even a smart board, which may be computer controlled and capable of “remembering” what is written and even downloading the written images for later print out in a smaller medium, e.g., one or more sheets of paper. Of course, such smart boards are very expensive and may not be affordable for smaller organizations. 
         [0005]    The other typical solution, as mentioned, is to furnish many single boards, which may then be formed in a line for longer presentations, or joined to make a straighter line, which may present topics, ideas or data in a desired sequence. One problem with this method is that it may require many boards to convey all the information presented, and the line of single boards may thus be rather long. Making the line shorter can be accomplished by forming an arc with the boards, i.e., aligning the boards in a polygonal shape (as viewed from above). This also presents problems, because it is easy to mis-align the panels and a broken, disjointed presentation is not as easy to follow. Moreover, as the overall length of the “line” of boards increases, the distance between the viewer and the far edges of the boards also increases, in many cases to the point where the viewer will have difficulty viewing the material written on the edges of the board. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a better way of presenting information, especially information that requires several panels or boards, such as those intended for large gatherings. These and other advantages of the disclosure, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description provided herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One embodiment is a portable and modular board writing system. The system includes a flexible panel having a first edge and a second edge and a smooth surface adapted for non-permanent writing on at least one side of the flexible panel. The system also includes a first post secured to the first edge of the flexible panel, a second post secured to the second edge of the flexible panel, a first foot oriented orthogonally to the first post and secured to an end of the first post, and a second foot oriented orthogonally to the second post and secured to an end of the second post. In this embodiment, an outer side of each of the first and second posts is adapted to engage with outer sides of a third post of an adjacent flexible panel, wherein the flexible panel and the adjacent flexible panel form a writing system having a variable curvature, and wherein the first and second feet provide sufficient resistance to prevent movement of the feet due to curvature of the panels. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment is a portable and modular board writing system. The system includes at least one flexible panel having a first edge and a second edge, and the flexible panel also includes a smooth surface adapted for non-permanent writing on at least one side of the flexible panel. The system also includes a plurality of posts secured to the first edge and second edge of the at least one flexible panel, wherein the number of posts is equal to the number of flexible panels plus at least one additional post. In this embodiment, there is also a first foot oriented orthogonally to a first post of the plurality of posts and secured to an end of the first post and a second foot oriented orthogonally to a second post of the plurality of posts and secured to an end of the second post, wherein the at least one flexible panel forms a writing system having a variable curvature and wherein the first and second feet provide sufficient resistance to prevent movement of the feet due to curvature of the panels. 
         [0009]    Another aspect is a method for providing a modular, portable writing and projection system having variable curvature. The method includes steps of providing at least two flexible panels, each flexible panel having left and right edges and a smooth surface adapted for non-permanent writing on at least one side of the flexible panel. The method also includes steps of securing posts to the left and right edges of each panel, each post having a foot oriented orthogonally to the post; mounting a stopping or securing mechanism to each foot, and arranging the panels, posts and feet to form a system with a desired curvature, wherein the feet provide sufficient resistance to prevent movement of the feet due to curvature of the panels. 
         [0010]    Other embodiments and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are meant to be illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular portable writing and projection system having variable curvature; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depicts cross sections of several embodiments of flexible panels used in the modular portable writing and projection system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a front view of a flexible panel with edges; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a first embodiment of a post useful for securing one edge of a flexible panel; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a second embodiment of a post useful for securing one edge of a flexible panel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of a post useful for securing a first edge of a first panel and a second edge of an adjacent second panel; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict a first embodiment of a holding mechanism useful for preventing movement of a foot and post used in the modular portable writing and projection system; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  depict a second embodiment of a holding mechanism useful for preventing movement of a foot and post; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts a third embodiment of a foot useful for holding a post in place; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 10-11  depict embodiments of connectors used to secure posts or feet to each other to form a modular portable writing and projection system having variable curvature. 
           [0022]    While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. The intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the invention wherein several modules are connected together to create an extended module. As will be described in more detail below, each module is flexible. Thus, each module has a variable radius and is easily manipulated into various configurations. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , when several flexible modules having various radii are connected together, an extended board writing system having its own variable radius R can be created. In one embodiment, a radius of the extended board system has a minimum diameter of about 10 feet (about 3 meters) and radius R of half that distance. 
         [0024]    For purposes of this description, a module is itself a portable, flexible writing surface having a variable radius. The modules can be connected to form an extended board-writing system as described above. Each module comprises a panel. The panel is flexible, but also provides structural integrity to the module. In an embodiment, the panel comprises two layers. The first such layer can be made of a material such as hardboard, which is commonly known as “Masonite.” The first layer can also be made of polycarbonate, polyethylene, HDF, high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), medium density fiberboard (MDF), or the like. The second layer is affixed to the first layer by various conventional means, including by way of an adhesive or lamination process. The second layer can be made of a material or coating which allows for application of non-permanent writing by, for example, dry-erase markers, or for a projection surface. An example of suitable dry erase writing surfaces, projection surfaces, or combination surfaces are those sold under the trademark Walltalker®. Walltalker® is a division of RJF International Corporation of Fairlawn, Ohio. 
         [0025]    In other embodiments, the panel could also be one piece of material that provides both the structural integrity and the writing and projection surface. In such an embodiment, the panel is made of high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) or any other materials described above that is used in the first layer, provided such materials facilitate non-permanent writing and/or projection. In still another embodiment, the panel could similarly be one piece of material that provides both the structural integrity and the writing projection surface wherein the material is what is commonly referred to as “showerboard.” In still another embodiment, the panel may be made of a shape memory material or a bendable foam, each of which would facilitate non-permanent writing and/or projection, or would be coated with a material that would facilitate the same. The skilled artisan will appreciate that there are other materials from which the panel could be made and that this disclosure does not necessarily limit embodiments to the above-described materials. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of a modular portable writing and projection system having variable curvature  10 . As seen in the figure, the system  10  includes a plurality of flexible panels  12 , each panel supported by two posts  14 , each post having a transverse or orthogonal foot  18 . Panels  12  in this embodiment have a single writing surface, on the inside of the circle in the figure. The panels are arranged, in this embodiment, with the panels and their smooth or writing surfaces arranged in a concave, or “curved-in” manner. Persons desiring to write on the panels or to read the panels will move to the inside of the system. The concave embodiment provides a temporary enclosure within which a collaborative meeting may take place. Participants may sit inside the temporary enclosure and use the functional surface of the modules while they are engaged in collaboration. In this sense, the invention provides an annular or curved enclosure having a writing surface on the inner side of the enclosure. The panels and posts may be arranged in a curved, concave manner to provide the enclosure, with sufficient panels and posts to form a temporary enclosure of 180° (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), 270°, other desired degree of enclosure, or even a 360° circle. 
         [0027]    In other embodiments, the panels and writing surfaces may be arranged in a convex or “curved-out” manner. In yet another embodiment, the panels may have writing surfaces on both sides. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict two embodiments of panels with writing surfaces.  FIG. 2A  depicts a flexible panel  20  having a structural or underlayer  21  and a writing surface  22 .  FIG. 2B  depicts a flexible panel  30  having a central structural layer  27  and writing surfaces  26 ,  28  on either side of the structural layer. Using flexible panels with writing surfaces on both side allows for presentation on both sides simultaneously, while still saving space with a curved arrangement, in which the curvature may be easily varied.  FIG. 3  depicts a frontal view of another embodiment of a flexible panel  30 . Flexible panel  30  has edges  32 ,  34  on the left and right sides, respectively. The edges include lower orifices  33  and upper orifices  35 , for mounting to the posts discussed above. 
         [0029]    As  FIG. 1  shows, each post is affixed to a support  18  or “foot.” In this embodiment, the foot is oriented orthogonally to the post and thus provides the support to keep the module upright. In this embodiment, it is also observed that each post, other than the posts on the ends, serves to support two adjacent panels. 
         [0030]    Panels made from the materials described above are able to flex, but exert a force counter to the desired curvature to get back to their normal “flat” state. It is desirable to have panels that can also be flat because certain situations call for a flat writing or projecting surface. However, it is the variable curvature of the panels that allows the system to be modified into various shapes that foster collaborative communication. 
         [0031]    Thus, two aspects are important in achieving variable curvature: the flexibility of the panel (described above), and a way to maintain the curvature in light of the force mentioned above. Two ways to maintain the curvature are as follows: first, a solid connection with the ground which will maintain the curvature and resist the force exerted by the panel to return to its native state, and second, a mechanical means to exert the force necessary to maintain the curvature. As discussed below, many of the mechanical devices used to exert this force are turn-down devices, i.e., some portion of the device is turned or rotated into contact with the ground or a floor on which the posts and feet are mounted. 
         [0032]    With respect to the first method mentioned above, an effective way to counteract the force to return to normal described above and thereby to maintain curvature is to create a solid connection with the ground. There are several ways to achieve such a connection. One way is to provide heavily weighted feet. The weight of the feet will be chosen so as to counteract the force to return to normal (or flat). Another such method within this category of creating a solid connection with the ground is to apply external weights to the feet or legs. Another method is to provide the feet with stoppers. In this embodiment, the stoppers could be made of rubber or similar material and when placed on certain floor surfaces, will maintain the curvature of the boards via the friction created. Another mechanism is lockable wheels or casters. The wheels or casters allow the module to be mobile and also allow the module to maintain its curvature via friction once they are locked. 
         [0033]    Embodiments with these solutions are depicted in  FIGS. 4-9 .  FIG. 4  depicts a post  40  intended for use with a single edge of a single flexible panel as discussed above. Post  40  includes a lower orifice  41  and an upper orifice  42 , for use with fasteners or other devices in conjunction with a flexible panel and its edges and upper and lower orifices. Post  40  include a foot  44  having a short side  44   a  and a long side  44   b.  The foot short side  44   a  is typically paired with the side of the flexible panel having the writing surface to enable closer approach by persons writing on or viewing the writing surface. Foot  44  is moved with casters  45  and is stopped and retained in place with a plunger-type foot lock  46 . 
         [0034]    Another embodiment of a post is depicted in  FIG. 5 . Post  50  is also intended for use with a single edge of a single flexible panel. Post  50  includes a vertical portion  51  and a foot  54 . Vertical portion  51  includes lower and upper orifices  52 ,  53  for use in mounting a flexible panel. Foot  54  includes a long portion  55  and a short portion  57 . Each portion includes a ball bearing caster  70 , described in  FIG. 7 . Ball bearing caster  70  is used to allow movement of a mounted flexible panel, and is equipped with a braking mechanism to keep the foot, post and panel in place. Post  50  is also equipped with a kick-down holder  57 , to assist in resisting movement. 
         [0035]    Another embodiment of a post is depicted in  FIG. 6 . Post  60  is adapted for use with a first edge of one flexible panel and a second edge of an adjacent flexible panel. Post  60  includes a left side  61  and a right side  62 , both sides including upper and lower orifices  63 ,  64  for use with fasteners and corresponding orifices of flexible panels. Foot  65  has two sides  66 , each equipped with a locking caster  67  to prevent motion of the foot and the post. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict an exploded view of ball bearing caster  70 , which is intended for mounting to foot  44  via ball bearing caster mount  19 , and in this embodiment, with threaded hole  79  in mount  19 . The device is very simple. Ball bearing caster  70  includes a housing  71  and a threaded fastener  72  for installation in threaded hole  79 . Protruding underneath housing  71  is a roughly hemispherical bearing  73 . The assembly also includes a rubber brake  74  with a proximal end  75   a,  a mounting orifice  75   b  and a distal end  77  in a general shape of a cylinder. Bearing  73  may be a very hard material, such as a stainless steel, glass or ceramic, with a very low coefficient of friction. This allows the user to move the posts and panels with relative ease by sliding on the bearing. 
         [0037]    When the user desires to lock the post in place, the rubber brake is employed in the following manner. The rubber brake  74  is turned down along length  76  and the distal end  77  is placed under the bearing  73 , using orifice  78 . As seen in  FIG. 7B , this lifts the bearing  73  off the floor. So long as the rubber brake has a reasonably high coefficient of friction, the post or foot is “locked in place,” until the brake is removed, thus allowing bearing  73  to again contact the floor or other surface. The brake may be made of molded, extruded or laser-cut rubber, or other material with a reasonably high coefficient of friction. 
         [0038]    Other mechanisms may also be used to brake and hold the mounted panels, as shown above in  FIGS. 4-6  and as shown below in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  9 . In  FIGS. 8A and 8B , a modified end cap and brake  80 , a braking end cap, is attached to an end of foot  44  and is used as a brake or stop. Foot  44  may be a hollow extrusion, as shown, into which a distal portion  81  of the end cap fits snugly. As shown in the figures, the end cap distal and proximal portions  81 ,  82  are secured by fastener  84 , washer  85  and nut  86 . Fastener  84  is secured to the foot by a tab, a flange or other convenient means for securing the fastener to foot  44 . Proximal portion  82  includes a cylindrical hollow  86  with slots  87  oriented at 180° from each other. The bottom  83  of the proximal portion provides a brake for foot  44 . 
         [0039]    Not seen in distal portion  81  is a matching cylindrical protrusion with tabs oriented at 180° from each other, the protrusion facing in the direction of the hollow and intended for assembly thereinto. A coil spring with a low spring constant may be mounted within hollow  86  or around the cylindrical protrusion of the distal portion. The spring provides tactile feedback to a user when the user rotates the proximal portion in a clockwise manner so that the bottom  83  brake is on the floor or other surface. The user is about to release the brake by rotating the proximal portion in a counter-clockwise manner, as shown in  FIG. 8A . Not shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  is a nearby wheel, caster or caster bearing assembly, used to move the foot and post to which foot  44  is attached. When brake  83  is removed from the floor, the foot  44  will rest on the floor via a wheel or caster. 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  depicts another embodiment of an easily-released stop for the post. Brake  90  mounts to foot  44  between the foot and roller bearing caster mount  19 . This roller bearing includes only the housing  71 , mounting bolt  72 , and the bearing itself  73 , as described above. Brake  91  includes mounting tabs  93 , bottom surface or brake  95  and roughened surface  97 . Brake  91  mounts upon pivot  92  and slots  94  with tabs  93 . Pivot  92  also includes central orifice  96  for mounting to foot  44 . Not seen in  FIG. 9 , the interior of mount  19  provides tabs similar to those of the brake for mounting on pivot  92 . The assembly including mount  19 , pivot  92  and brake  91 , mounts to foot  44  via threaded fastener  98 . The bottom surface  97  of brake  91  provides the braking force when at rest on the floor. 
         [0041]    Bottom surface  97  is oriented at 90° to the caster bearing. Thus, one needs only to rotate mount  19  counter clock wise to remove the caster bearing from the floor and place the braking surface  93  onto the floor. A roughened surface  97  is provided on the brake  91  to enable a user&#39;s foot to rotate the assembly and thus to brake or to release the foot. A coil spring  99  may also be used to assist in rotation or to provide tactile feedback to a user. A coil spring would mount between pivot  92  and foot  44 . 
         [0042]    The elevation or side view of  FIG. 10  depicts equipment and a method to join two posts and the panels they support. In  FIG. 10 , panels  12  are joined to posts  14  with fasteners  102  through orifices in the panels and posts (not shown in  FIG. 10 ). In this embodiment, the posts  14  have additional orifices  105  near their tops, the orifices used to accommodate fasteners  108  and connectors  100 . The connectors may be any desired, but in this embodiment, they are merely two strips of rubber, longer than necessary so that a user may grasp the connector by tab  101  for assembly to the posts. In this embodiment, the front connector has a tab oriented to the right; the identical connector in the rear has a tab oriented to the left. 
         [0043]    The plan or top view of  FIG. 11  depicts equipment and a method to join two feet together. In this embodiment, feet  18  of two adjacent posts are brought near, the figure depicting the adjacent ball bearing casters  70  of the two feet. Each foot has a top orifice  101  to accommodate fasteners  103  to secure a connecting tab  109 . The tab may be made of any convenient suitable material, such as metal, plastic or rubber. 
         [0044]    With respect to the second method of maintaining curvature, the module could be provided with an adjustable tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism could comprise a cable, rope, filament, or the like. The cable could be fastened to the panel or the posts in any number of ways including through eyelets, apertures, or the like. When tightened, the cable would force the bendable panel to bow into a curved configuration. Cable tightening mechanisms may be provided such as a crank, knob, or winch. Further, a dampening release mechanism could also be provided to prevent the panel from violently snapping back to normal when the force exerted by the tightening mechanism is removed. 
         [0045]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the modules connect with each other to create a larger, variably-curved surface. The modules could be secured together by clamping the supports together or by providing the surface of the supports with a cooperative interlocking geometry that would enable the posts to be secured to one another. Any number of geometries could be used, however, some examples include snaps, tabs and receiving apertures, and mortise and tenon joints. For example, raised buttons on the feet could be used with slitted plastic or rubber connectors to secure the posts to each other. 
         [0046]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0047]    While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail, it is understood that various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the foregoing examples, but is better understood by the claims below.