Abstract:
This invention relates generally to writing boards, and more particularly to reusable and foldable boards that permit writing to be easily removed. In one embodiment, a writing board comprises a substrate comprising a front panel, a rear panel opposite the front panel, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs connecting the front panel to the rear panel, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are integrally formed with the plurality of ribs. The writing board of this embodiment further includes at least one backslit formed in the rear panel, at least one living hinge formed in the front panel opposite the at least one backslit to form at least one outer panel, and at least one holding mechanism coupled to the at least one outer panel to maintain the outer panel in one of a substantially open, unfolded position or a substantially closed, folded position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/910,596 filed on Apr. 6, 2007, and also to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/981,346 filed on Oct. 19, 2007, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to writing boards, and more particularly to reusable and foldable boards that permit writing to be easily removed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one embodiment of the invention, a writing board comprises a substrate, comprising a front panel, a rear panel opposite the front panel, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs connecting the front panel to the rear panel, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are integrally formed with the plurality of ribs. The writing board of this embodiment further includes at least one backslit formed in the rear panel, at least one living hinge formed in the front panel opposite the at least one backslit to form at least one outer panel, and at least one holding mechanism coupled to the at least one outer panel to maintain the outer panel in one of a substantially open, unfolded position or a substantially closed, folded position. 
         [0004]    In this embodiment, the plurality of ribs may be oriented in a widthwise direction, a lengthwise direction, both a widthwise direction and a lengthwise direction, or a diagonal direction of the substrate. The plurality of ribs may extend from a first end of the substrate to a second end of the substrate opposite the first end. The writing board may further include a film affixed to at least one of the front or rear panels of the substrate, the film having a surface adapted to erasably receive writing thereon, wherein the film may be a polyester, a UV cured polyurethane, or a polypropylene. 
         [0005]    The at least one holding mechanism of this embodiment may comprise a resilient member, at least one cable connected to at least one end of the resilient member, and at least one anchor connected to the at least one cable and to the at least one outer panel, wherein the at least one holding mechanism may be housed in at least one trim panel removably affixed to a peripheral edge of the substrate. 
         [0006]    Alternatively, a portion of the at least one holding mechanism may be housed in at least one flute formed between two adjacent ribs, the front panel, and the rear panel of the substrate. In this configuration, the at least one holding mechanism may further comprise at least one hinge comprising a plurality of flute mounts, wherein the flute mounts may be mounted inside the at least one flute on respective sides of the at least one backslit to secure the at least one hinge to the substrate and to permit articulation of the at least one outer panel. 
         [0007]    The at least one holding mechanism of the writing board may exert a force to the at least one outer panel that varies during articulation of the at least one outer panel. The force increases from a first minimum when the at least one outer panel is in the substantially open, unfolded position to a maximum when the at least one outer panel is in a partially articulated position, then decreases to a second minimum when the at least one outer panel is in the substantially closed, folded position. 
         [0008]    The writing board of this embodiment may further include a writing instrument holder affixed to the substrate, comprising an eraser mount for detachably receiving an eraser, and at least one clip for detachably receiving at least one writing instrument, wherein the at least one outer panel is configured to avoid interference with the writing instrument holder when the at least one outer panel is articulated to and from the substantially closed, folded position. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the invention, a writing board comprises a substrate comprising a front panel and a rear panel separated by a spacer, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are integrally formed with the spacer, at least one backslit formed in the rear panel, at least one living hinge formed in the front panel opposite the at least one backslit to form at least one outer panel, and at least one holding mechanism operable to maintain the outer panel in one of a substantially open, unfolded position or a substantially closed, folded position. 
         [0010]    The writing board may further include a film affixed to at least one of the front or rear panels of the substrate, the film having a surface adapted to erasably receive writing thereon. The substrate of the writing board may comprise one of corrugated paper, a foam, a metal, or a plastic. The spacer may be formed as a solid, a porous solid, a plurality of spaced apart ribs, a plurality of honeycomb cells, or a plurality of corrugations. The at least one holding mechanism may be housed in at least one trim panel removably affixed to a peripheral edge of the substrate. The at least one holding mechanism may exert a force to the at least one outer panel that increases from a first minimum when the at least one outer panel is in the substantially open, unfolded position to a maximum when the at least one outer panel is in a partially articulated position, then decreases to a second minimum when the at least one outer panel is in the substantially closed, folded position. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment, a writing board comprises a substrate having a front panel connected to a rear panel by a plurality of ribs, wherein at least one of the front or rear panels comprises a dry erase property, and a plurality of outer panels formed in the substrate, the plurality of outer panels configured to articulate from a substantially open, unfolded position to a substantially closed position and from the substantially closed position to the substantially open, unfolded position, wherein the plurality of outer panels are maintainable in the substantially open, unfolded position or the substantially closed, folded position by a plurality of holding mechanisms coupled to the plurality of outer panels. 
         [0012]    The plurality of holding mechanisms may exert a force upon the plurality of outer panels that initially increases when any one of the plurality of outer panels is articulated from a substantially open, unfolded position or a substantially closed, folded position, then decreases when any one of the plurality of outer panels is articulated past a stationary point of inflection. The writing board may further include a writing instrument holder affixed to the substrate, comprising an eraser mount for detachably receiving an eraser, and at least one clip for detachably receiving at least one writing instrument, wherein the at least one outer panel is configured to avoid interference with the writing instrument holder when the at least one outer panel is articulated to and from the substantially closed, folded position. The writing board may further comprise a mount affixed to the rear panel of the substrate to permit detachable affixation of the writing board to a surface, a plurality of backslits formed in the rear panel to permit the plurality of outer panels to articulate, and a plurality of living hinges formed in the front panel opposite the plurality of backslits. 
         [0013]    A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments that are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to preferred embodiments shown in the following drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partially articulated left perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates a fully articulated front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with both side panels in their respective open positions; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial bottom right perspective view showing the interior of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  without the bottom trim installed and with the right side panel fully open; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a partial bottom left perspective view showing the interior of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  without the bottom trim installed and with the left side panel fully closed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial bottom left perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with the left side panel fully closed; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial bottom left perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the left side panel fully open; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates a partial bottom right perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the right side panel fully closed; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates a partial rear bottom perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the right side panel fully closed underneath the center panel; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom left perspective of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing both side panels fully closed; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  illustrates a rear elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with both side panels fully open; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 12   a - c  illustrate front elevational views of another embodiment of the invention showing the left and right side panels fully closed; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  illustrates a partial right perspective of an eraser, a writing utensil, and an eraser and writing utensil holder of the embodiment of  FIGS. 12   a - c;    
           [0028]      FIG. 14  illustrates a partially transparent perspective of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 15   a - c  illustrate partial right side elevational views of the eraser and writing utensil holder shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 16   a - e  illustrates front elevational views of another embodiment of the invention showing the left and right side panels fully closed; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  illustrates another front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 16   d  showing the left and right side panels fully closed; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  illustrates another front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 17  showing the left and right side panels fully open; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  illustrates a front bottom perspective view of a substrate of another embodiment of the present invention showing both side panels fully closed; 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  illustrates a left perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  illustrates a partially articulated front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  illustrates a front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  with the right side panel fully-closed; 
           [0037]      FIG. 23  illustrates a partially articulated rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 24  illustrates a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing both panels fully open; 
           [0039]      FIG. 25  illustrates a rear elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing both panels fully open; 
           [0040]      FIG. 26  is a partial front detail view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing a hinge, a front slit, and a living hinge; 
           [0041]      FIG. 27  is rear partial detail view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing a hinge and a back slit; 
           [0042]      FIG. 28  is a partial detail cutaway view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing a portion of a holding mechanism installed within a horizontal flute; 
           [0043]      FIG. 29  illustrates a partially-articulated front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing a right anchor of the holding mechanism installed in a flute and the right side panel; 
           [0044]      FIG. 30  illustrates a bottom front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 19  showing the panel holding mechanism removed from the writing board to illustrate its component pieces; 
           [0045]      FIG. 31  illustrates a front perspective view of a hinge of the embodiment of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 32  is a rear perspective view of the hinge shown in  FIG. 31 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 33  is a perspective view of an anchor installed in the embodiment of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 34  is another perspective view of the anchor shown in  FIG. 33 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 35  is a right front perspective view of the embodiment of the invention with both side panels fully open and including a writing instrument holder and eraser holder; 
           [0050]      FIG. 36  is right rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 37  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 38  is a right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 39  is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 40  is a top-plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 41  is a left side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0056]      FIG. 42  is a bottom-plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 ; and 
           [0057]      FIG. 43  is a left rear partial view of the embodiment of  FIG. 35 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0058]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated herein. For the sake of simplicity, like numerals are used to describe identical or substantially identical components where appropriate. 
         [0059]    Turning now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  foldable dry erase writing board  10  incorporating the improvements of the present invention. As best shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , writing board  10  includes center panel  16  and left and right side panels  20 ,  24  connected to center panel  16 . Writing board  10  may be fabricated in common sizes, such as 9″ W×12″ L (closed; 18″ W×12″ L open), 12″ W×16″ L (closed; 24″ W×16″ L open), 18″ W×24″ L (closed; 36″ W×24″ L open), 24″ W×36″ L (closed; 48″ W×36″ L open), and 36″ W×48″ L (closed; 72″ W×48″ L open), or any other size or shape as may be required by users of the device. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , panels  16 ,  20 , and  24  may include lightweight yet sturdy substrate  30 . Substrate  30  may itself have properties conducive for writing thereon to be easily removed. Alternatively, as more fully described below, a film or other surface treatment or coating may be applied to one or more surfaces of substrate  30  for this purpose. 
         [0061]    Substrate  30  may comprise any one of a number of materials that are lightweight, strong and inexpensive. For example, substrate  30  may be formed from a plastic, such as polypropylene copolymer, a metal, such as aluminum, or a composite material, or may be formed from other common materials of construction, such corrugated paper or foam core. Substrate  30  may be formed with a solid, corrugated, porous, or hollow structure, such as an I-beam structure, a honeycomb structure, a cellular structure, or any one of a number of other structural forms to provide a lightweight, strong, and inexpensive structure. 
         [0062]    If an I-beam internal structure is used, the ribs of the I-beam may be oriented either horizontally (i.e. widthwise), vertically (i.e. lengthwise), or diagonally, for example, but ribs that run horizontally may tend to provide better control of the overall width of writing board  10 . Horizontally oriented ribs also may eliminate scrap and yield the lowest cost to manufacture substrate  30 . If substrate  30  is made from a plastic, such as polypropylene, substrate  30  may be manufactured having front face member  34  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) integrally formed with rear face member  38  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ), which together are integrally formed with a plurality of ribs  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a partial view of substrate  30  is shown with right side panel  24  in its fully opened position. To permit unlimited and repetitive opening and closing of right side panel  24  (and left side panel  20 , as shown in  FIG. 5 ), front face member  34  may include at least one living hinge  35  to connect left side panel  20  to center panel  16 . Likewise, front face member  34  may include at least one living hinge  35  to connect right side panel  24  to center panel  16 . To form living hinge  35 , rear face member  38  may include back slit  39 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-6  and  11 , leaving front face member completely intact. Alternatively, front face member  34  may include one or more front slits  36 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , to form a plurality of living hinges  35 . The length and quantity of living hinge  35  determines the relative ease to open and close side panels  20 ,  24  because the relative stiffness of substrate  30  may naturally cause side panels  20 ,  24  to stay open. Thus, the size and quantity of living hinges  35  depends on the variables that effect the stiffness of substrate  30 , such as the choice of material for substrate  30  (which affects its resiliency), and the thickness of front face member  34 . It may be necessary, for example, to relieve about 80%-85% of the surface tension of front face member  34  using front slits  36  to prevent side panels  20 ,  24  from naturally returning to the open position when set to the closed position by the user, and to prevent delamination of dry erase film  50  (if applied to substrate  30 , as indicated on  FIGS. 3 and 11  but not shown) from substrate  30  over the side panel fold area. 
         [0064]    Substrate  30  of writing board  10  may alternatively be fabricated in separate pieces or panels that may be joined together via a separate front face member  34  made of, for example, polypropylene, that is laminated or otherwise adhered to the separate pieces or panels of substrate  30 . In this way, writing board  10  may only require one or more front slits  36 , if at all, to relieve excess surface tension in front face member  34  as back slitting would be obviated by starting with separate pieces or panels for substrate  30 . 
         [0065]    If substrate  30  does not alone have dry erase properties, writing board  10  may be configured to include film  50  on one or both of front face member  34  and rear face member  38  or on predetermined portions thereof. Film  50  may comprise any biaxially-oriented polyester film, UV cured polyurethane, polypropylene, or any other product, surface treatment, or coating that may provide substrate  30  with dry erase properties. Film  50  or such other products, surface treatment, or coating may have magnetic properties or non-magnetic properties. Film  50  may act as a carrier for the application of dry erase treatments or coatings if film  50  itself does not have dry erase properties. Depending on the chosen material of film  50  or the subsequent treatment or coating that may be applied to film  50 , if any, the thickness of film  50  may range from approximately 0.5 mil thick to approximately 50 mils thick. Film  50  may be laminated, deposited, or adhered to substrate  30  using conventional techniques known to one of skill in the art. 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , writing board  10  may include top trim  60 , bottom trim  64 , or both, which may be configured to connect to substrate  30  along the top and/or bottom edge of substrate  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the top and bottom edges of substrate  30  may include channel  31  positioned at the bend interface between side panels  20 ,  24  and center panel  16 . 
         [0067]    Top trim  60  and bottom trim  64  may provide aesthetic enhancement to the top and/or bottom edge of writing board  10 . Either or both of top trim  60  and bottom trim  64  may also provide hidden mechanical enhancement for the operation of writing board  10 . For example, top trim  60  and/or bottom trim  64  may include hinge  65  and holding mechanism  70 . As described more fully below, holding mechanism  70  may be configured to hold side panels  20 ,  24  in either the open position or the closed position, as may be desired by the user. Holding mechanism  70  may itself include resilient member  71 , which may comprise a spring, for example, and cable  72 , cable clamp  73 , and anchors  74 ,  75 . Whether holding mechanism  70  is installed in both top trim  60  and bottom trim  64  depends on the force required to maintain side panels  20 ,  24  in either the open or the closed position and the size of writing board  10 . 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , holding mechanism  70  may be located in center slot  66 , in left slot  67 , and in right slot  68  of bottom trim  64 . Resilient member  71  may be positioned in center slot  66  of bottom trim  64 . Left anchor  74  may be positioned in left slot  67  of bottom trim  64 , and right anchor  75  may be positioned in right slot  68  of bottom trim  64 . Cable  72  may connect left anchor  74  to one end of resilient member  71 , and another cable  72  may connect right anchor  75  to the opposite end of resilient member  71 . Cable clamp  73 , which may be positioned on respective ends of resilient member  71 , may be used to secure cable  72  to resilient member  71 . Respective ends of resilient member  71  may thus be anchored to side panels  20 ,  24 . Holding mechanism  70  may be similarly situated in top trim  60  if desired. 
         [0069]    During articulation of left side panel  20  to fully close left side panel  20  from the fully open position, for example, resilient member  71  initially elongates because the distance to left anchor  74  increases. However, as articulation continues beyond a point approximately midway in the articulation of left side panel  20 , the force to continue to fully close left side panel  20  will begin to decrease resulting in a decrease in the elongation of resilient member  71 . The same result occurs when opening left side panel  20  when initially in the fully closed position, and also when opening or closing right side panel  24 . Consequently, the force to open or close either left side panel  20  and right side panel  24  is at a maximum somewhere along the path of articulation of side panels  20 ,  24  from a fully open position to a fully closed position, or vice versa, and is at a minimum in the fully open position or fully closed position to create a tendency for maintaining either the open or the closed position for side panels  20 ,  24 . 
         [0070]    The overall size of writing board  10  may dictate the size and quantity of holding mechanism  70  that may be employed. For example, for a relatively small 9″ W×12″ L (closed) writing board  10 , only one holding mechanism  70  may be required, if at all, which may be positioned in bottom trim  64 . 
         [0071]    If, for example, writing board  10  measures 18″ W×24″ L (closed), then one holding mechanism  70  may be required at the bottom of writing board  10  and another holding mechanism  70  may be required at the top of writing board  10  to assure proper operation and control of the opening and closing of side panels  20 ,  24 . Thus, writing board  10  may include top trim  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  11 , which may be similarly configured as bottom trim  64  to house holding mechanism  70 , or configured simply to visually balance the presence of bottom trim  64 . 
         [0072]    If the size of writing board  10  increases still further to, for example, 36″ W×48″ L (closed), a combination of four holding mechanisms  70  may be employed using the same techniques described above to hold open or hold closed side panels  20 ,  24 . In this way, left side panel  20  may itself have a holding mechanism  70  be positioned in top trim  60  and also in bottom trim  64  to hold open or hold close left side panel  20 . Right side panel  24  may be similarly configured with a holding mechanism positioned in top trim  60  and also in bottom trim  64  to hold open or hold closed right side panel  24 . For each resilient member  71 , the end opposite the respective anchors  74 ,  75  would require anchoring to trims  60 ,  64 , for example, or to the other of respective resilient member  71  that is located within the same center slot  66  in the same trim  60  or  64 . Alternatively, any one of a range of possible known techniques for fixating the opposing end of resilient member  71  may be employed in foldable writing board applications having multiple resilient members  71 . 
         [0073]    Top trim  60  and bottom trim  64  may be made from any durable, low cost, and lightweight material that may, for example, be injection molded, such as high impact polystyrene ABS plastic, or polycarbonate. In an economy version of writing board  10 , however, writing board  10  may not necessarily include either top trim  60  or bottom trim  64 . Although no holding mechanism  70  as described above would be present, the economy version of writing board  10  may, instead, include a magnet installed or embedded in the respective center, left, and/or right panels  16 ,  20 ,  24  to magnetically hold side panels  20 ,  24  in the closed position. 
         [0074]    Referring again to  FIG. 11 , writing board  10  may also include mount  55  to permit securing or mounting of writing board  10  onto any surface, such as a vertical surface. Mount  55  may comprise, for example, one or more conventional picture hanger mounts or one or more hook and loop strips as may be necessary, depending on the overall size and weight of writing board  10 . 
         [0075]    In some embodiments of writing board  10 , rear face member  38  may include back slit  39 , but front face member  34  may not necessarily include front slit  36  thus forming a single living hinge  35  in front face member  34 . Whether front face member  34  includes one or more front slits  36 , which facilitates the opening and closing of side panels  20 ,  24  by reducing the natural tendency of side panels  20 ,  24  to always remain in the open position, may depend, for example, on the thickness of front face member  34 , the stiffness of the chosen material for substrate  30  and/or film  50  (if present), the overall size of writing board  10 , and the size and quantity of holding mechanism  70 . 
         [0076]    As shown in  FIGS. 12   a - 12   c  and  FIGS. 13-14 , writing board  10  may include writing instrument holder  80  and eraser  90 . Writing instrument holder  80 , as shown in  FIGS. 13-14  and in  FIGS. 15   a - 15   c , may include clip  81  for resiliently holding writing instrument  82  through a conformal receptacle on holder  80  having an interference fit with writing instrument  82 . Eraser  90 , as shown in these figures, may be ergonomically shaped in the form of a puck or any other shape that is conducive for holding in one&#39;s hand. Eraser  90  may be magnetically connected to writing instrument holder  80  or may be connected using hook and loop fasteners or any other releasable fastening means at attachment  96 . Writing instrument holder  80  may be configured to hold one or more writing instruments  82 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 17-18 , writing instrument holder  80  may comprise a tray for receiving one or more writing instruments  82 . 
         [0077]    Left side panel  20  and right side panel  24  may comprise any number of configurations, such as having corners that are squared, such as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Alternatively, left side panel  20  and right side panel  24  may each include a rounded corner at left outside corner  21  and right outside corner  25 , as shown in  FIGS. 12   a - 12   c . In yet another alternative configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 16   a - 16   e  and  FIGS. 17-18 , left bottom edge  22  and right bottom edge  26  of left side panel  20  and right side panel  24 , respectively, may comprise a scalloped shape. In this way, left outside corner  21  and right outside corner  25  may be configured to clear writing instrument holder  80  and eraser  90  when opening or closing side panels  20 ,  24  while promoting the visual appeal of writing board  10  without sacrificing a significant amount of writing space on writing board  10 . 
         [0078]    Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 19-34  as foldable dry erase writing board  100 . Writing board  100  may include all of the various panel sizes, features, material and material properties, and may also function the same, as writing board  10  in  FIGS. 1-18 , as described above. For this reason, identical numerals with the addition of the prefix “1” are used herein and in  FIGS. 19-34  to reference identical parts as described above for writing board  10 . 
         [0079]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 21 , writing board  100  may include center panel  116 , left side panel  120 , and right side panel  124 , which may articulate open and closed as described above for writing board  10 . In addition, as best shown in  FIGS. 24-25 , writing board  100  may include lightweight yet sturdy substrate  130 , living hinge  135 , front slit  136 , and backslit  139 . Writing board  100  may also be fabricated from similar materials as writing board  10  and with the I-beam internal structure described above for writing board  10  where ribs  132  may be oriented either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, for example. 
         [0080]    Like substrate  30 , substrate  130  may itself have properties conducive for writing thereon to be easily removed. Alternatively, as more fully described below, a film or other surface treatment or coating may be applied to one or more surfaces of substrate  130  for this purpose. 
         [0081]    Substrate  130  may comprise any one of a number of materials that are lightweight, strong and inexpensive. For example, substrate  130  may be formed from a plastic, such as polypropylene copolymer, or may be formed from other common materials of construction, such as corrugated paper or foam core. Substrate  130  may be formed with a solid, corrugated, porous, or hollow structure, such as an I-beam structure, a honeycomb structure, a cellular structure, or any one of a number of other structural forms to provide a lightweight, strong, and inexpensive structure. 
         [0082]    If an I-beam internal structure is used, the ribs of the I-beam may be oriented either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, for example, but ribs that run horizontally may tend to provide better control of the overall width of writing board  100 . Horizontally oriented ribs also may eliminate scrap and yield the lowest cost to manufacture substrate  130 . In addition, as described below, horizontally oriented ribs may facilitate the installation and securement of panel holding mechanism  170 . If substrate  130  is made from a plastic, such as polypropylene, substrate  130  may be manufactured having front face member  134  (as shown in  FIG. 24 ) integrally formed with rear face member  138  (as shown in  FIG. 25 ), which together are integrally formed with a plurality of ribs  132 , as shown in  FIG. 29 . 
         [0083]    If substrate  130  does not alone have dry erase properties, writing board  100  may be configured to include dry erase film  150  (as indicated on  FIG. 24  but not shown) on one or both of front face member  134  and rear face member  138  or on predetermined portions thereof. Film  150  may comprise any biaxially-oriented polyester film, UV cured polyurethane, polypropylene, or any other product, surface treatment, or coating that may provide substrate  130  with dry erase properties. Film  150  or such other products, surface treatment, or coating may have magnetic properties or non-magnetic properties. Film  150  may act as a carrier for the application of dry erase treatments or coatings if film  150  itself does not have dry erase properties. Depending on the chosen material of film  150  or the subsequent treatment or coating that may be applied to film  150 , if any, the thickness of film  150  may range from approximately 0.5 mil thick to approximately 50 mils thick. Film  150  may be laminated, deposited, or adhered to substrate  130  using conventional techniques known to one of skill in the art. 
         [0084]    Unlike writing board  10 , however, writing board  100  may not necessarily include a top trim or a bottom trim. And if a top or a bottom trim is included, holding mechanism  170  of writing board  100 , which may help to maintain the open or closed position of panels  120  and  124 , may not necessarily be mounted in the top or bottom trim. Instead, one or more sets of holding mechanism  170  may be integrated internally in writing board  100  within one or more internal flutes  184  of writing board  100 , thus minimizing the number of parts needed for writing board  100 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 30  shows the components of one embodiment of holding mechanism  170  temporarily removed from writing board  100  for ease of display. For example, holding mechanism  170  may include resilient member  171 , right and left cables  172 , right and left cable clamps  173 , left cable anchor  174  and right cable anchor  175 . Cables  172  may be wrapped around left and right cable anchors  174 ,  175  and secured by cable clamps  173  to form the right and left ends of holding mechanism  170 . As shown in  FIGS. 30-32 , cables  172  may be threaded through cable passages  177  in right and left hinges  165 , which permit cables  172  to pass from one side of the hinge to the other side to permit actuation of holding mechanism  170 . Cables  172  may then be connected to either end of resilient member  171 , as shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         [0086]    As shown in  FIGS. 25-29 , various components of holding mechanism  170  may be inserted in one or more flutes  184  (see  FIG. 29 ) of writing board  100  and connected to one another using conventional means. As best shown in  FIGS. 31-32 , right and left hinges  165  may each include elongated flute mounts on either side of each hinge  165 , which may be secured inside respective flutes near either end of backslit  139  by means of an interference fit, as shown in  FIGS. 25-28 . Similarly, as best shown in  FIGS. 33-34 , left and right cable anchors  174 ,  175  may each include elongated flute mounts for insertion into respective flutes  184  on respective ends of side panels  120 ,  124  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 29 ) that correspond with the flutes that house the various components of holding mechanism  170 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 29 , left and right cable anchors  174 ,  175  may be designed to mesh with adjoining ribs  132  to secure cable anchors  174 ,  175  to side panels  120 ,  124 . 
         [0087]    Like writing board  10 , as shown in  FIG. 25 , writing board  100  may also include mount  155  to permit securing or mounting of writing board  100  onto any surface, such as a vertical surface. Mount  155  may comprise, for example, one or more conventional picture hanger mounts or one or more hook and loop strips as may be necessary, depending on the overall size and weight of writing board  100 . 
         [0088]      FIGS. 35-39  illustrate the embodiment of  FIGS. 19-34 , but also showing writing instrument holder/eraser organizer  179 , which may be fastened to or releasably retained on writing board  100  using conventional means, such as fasteners, interference fits, snap fits, or adhesives. Writing instrument holder/eraser organizer  179  may include writing instrument holder  180  comprising, for example, clip  181  for resiliently holding writing instrument  82  through a conformal receptacle on holder  180  having an interference fit with writing instrument  82 , and eraser attachment surface  196  for attaching an eraser, such as eraser  90  shown in  FIGS. 12   a - c  and  13 . Eraser attachment surface  196  may include a magnet, hook and loop fastener means, or any other releasable fastening means for releasably securing eraser  90  to writing instrument holder/eraser organizer  179 . Writing instrument holder/eraser organizer  179  may be configured to hold one or more writing instruments  82 . 
         [0089]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular method disclosed is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.