Abstract:
A collapsible, freestanding oversized drawing board including a frame comprised of a plurality of frame members, a drawing sheet, and attachments to the frame. Specifically, the sheet can be drawn on, painted on, washed, or receive magnets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention relates generally to the field of drawing boards, and, in particular, to a new and useful activity sheet held within a collapsible and freestanding frame.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0006]     Drawing boards are well known in the prior art and common in today&#39;s world. Chalkboards, dry erase boards, and other conventional drawing boards provide an educational and entertaining device for children. Conventional boards typically comprise a wooden, plastic, or metallic planar surface coated with a composition upon which one can write or draw. Larger drawing boards are typically heavy and cumbersome. As a result, it is difficult to provide children with large drawing surfaces that are also lightweight and easily transportable.  
         [0007]     In general, today&#39;s boards are supported by a freestanding frame, held by an easel, or mounted onto a wall. As a result, storing traditional boards is problematic. Many freestanding frames cannot be collapsed and require substantial space for storage. Easels tend to only provide limited collapsibility. Wall mounted boards necessitate large spaces to accommodate near permanent fixtures.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is directed to a collapsible freestanding drawing board having a frame comprising frame members selectively coupleable to one another, and a sheet member supported by the frame such that the sheet member is stretched taught within the frame and supported in a generally vertical orientation. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame is operably configured to receive attachments, such as games and accessories. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the component parts of a collapsible, freestanding drawing board;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an arched frame connector and two frame members, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a collapsible, freestanding drawing board having a weighted base; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of two connected collapsible, freestanding drawing boards sharing a longitudinal frame member and base according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The various embodiments of the present invention will be better understood from the detailed description provided below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention. However, the detailed description and drawings should not be read to limit the invention to the specified embodiments. Rather, these specifics are provided for explanatory purposes to help the invention be better understood.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a collapsible, freestanding drawing board of the present invention. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a user  102  may paint, mark, draw, hang magnets, or play games on the present invention.  
         [0016]     The present invention comprises an activity sheet  104  and a freestanding frame, indicated generally at  106 , comprising side frame members  107 , lower frame member  108 , and upper frame member  109 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each frame member preferably comprises at least two segments ( 107 A,  107 B,  108 A,  108 B, and  109 A,  109 B) coupled by connectors  202 . Connectors  202  are constructed of wood, plastic, metal, or similar material and each connector comprises two elongate male ends  203  extending in opposite directions from a generally rectangular center. Each male end  203  is operably configured to be mateably received within an aperture of an end of each frame member segment. As illustrated in the expanded view at  208 , frame member segments are hollow or contain female ends operably configured to receive male ends  203 . Connector  202  holds frame member segments together to make up each frame member. In an alternative embodiment, frame members are single segments and not separable.  
         [0017]     Frame members  107 ,  108 , and  109  are preferably lightweight and made of PVC pipe, wood, plastic, metal, or similar materials. The upper ends  306  of side frame members  107  and distal ends  308  of upper frame member  109  are releasably coupleable. In an exemplary embodiment, an arcuate frame connector  204  connects upper ends of side frame members  107  and upper frame member  109 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , frame connector  204  comprises two male ends,  302  and  304  extending in longitudinal planes that are substantially perpendicular. Side frame members  107  and upper frame member  109  are operably configured to have hollow or female distal ends  307 ,  309  to receive male ends  302  and  304 . It is to be understood that other configured connectors (such as U-shaped, L-shaped, or the like) may also be used. In addition, frame members can directly couple together without using connectors. Therefore,  FIG. 3 , while illustrative, merely provides an exemplary method for coupling frame members and other coupling methods can also be used.  
         [0018]     The lower ends of side frame members are received in base  117 , which preferably comprises at least two feet  118  that support the frame and sheet  104  in a substantially vertically oriented position. Each foot  118  is formed with a first aperture  205  for receiving the lower end  107 B of a side frame member to hold the side frame member in a generally vertical position. Each foot likewise comprises a second aperture  207  for receiving an end of the lower frame member  109 A and B, and hold the lower frame member  109  in a generally horizontal position. First and second apertures are operably configured for a friction fit with the ends of the lower and side frame members  107  and  109  to releasably secure the members in the apertures.  
         [0019]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , each foot  118  may include another second aperture on the opposite face of foot  118 . This aperture is likewise operably configured to secure an end of a lower frame member to provide for a multiple screen embodiment of the present board. Foot  118  may contain features such as handle  122  or paint storage receptacle  120  to hold paint cans  121 . Further, each foot  118 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , may include an enclosure  402  for holding sand, water, gravel, or other weighted material to support the frame in an upright position.  
         [0020]     Sheet member  104  is relatively light and collapsible. Sheet member  104  is releasably attached to frame  106  and the frame holds sheet  104  in a generally vertical position by stretching sheet  104  between at least two frame members. Preferably, sheet  104  is attached to side frame members  107  and is stretched taught therebetween. In an exemplary embodiment, side frame members include slot  206 , which receives and holds a side edge  207  of sheet  104 . The side edges  207  of sheet  104  have an enlarged width dimension relative to the remainder of sheet  104 . Slot  206  comprises a narrowed entryway and recessed cavity running the length of a frame member. The recessed cavity receives the side edge of sheet  104 , and the narrowed entryway is operably configured to retain the enlarged side edge of sheet in the recessed cavity. The enlarged side edges are slideably received in slot  206 &#39;s recessed cavity and are held in place by the narrowed entryway. In another embodiment, two of sheet  104 &#39;s edges are looped creating pockets that receive two frame members. Once sheet  104  is attached to at least two frame members, it can be held upright by the frame.  
         [0021]     In yet another embodiment, the vertical or horizontal edges of sheet  104  are looped creating pockets that envelop frame members  106  and  107 . While the aforementioned embodiments illustrate various ways to stretch sheet  104  within a frame, other well-known coupling methods may also be used.  
         [0022]     Sheet  104  is thus easy to store and transport and suitable for repeated painting, marking, drawing, washing, or receiving magnets thereon. In an exemplary embodiment, sheet member  104  is vinyl. In other embodiments, sheet  104  is coated with a composition creating a surface for writing, painting, or receiving magnets. Further, games can be drawn on or attached to sheet  104  in embodiments. For example, dart board  114  affixes to sheet  104  and provides user  102  a target to throw dart  115 .  
         [0023]     To enrich user  102 &#39;s learning and educational experience, the frame may receive attachments, such as hoops, cup holders, paint holders, brush holders, marker holders, hooks, rings, and other such accompaniments. Preferably, slots  206  likewise are formed on the opposite face of side frame members  107 . Individual attachments, such as game  110  or accessory holder  112 , affix to the frame by inserting a male end protruding from the attachment into slot  206  on the frame member. In another embodiment, attachments are held on the frame by magnets. While the aforementioned embodiments illustrate various ways to couple attachments to the frame, other well-known coupling methods can also be used.  
         [0024]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.