Patent Publication Number: US-2002009703-A1

Title: Two sided writing board

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Filed of the Invention  
       [0002] White boards, or dry erase boards have become standard features in schools, homes and offices around the world. Unlike chalkboards, these writing boards have a white surface. Colored dry, erasable markers are used to write on the surface of the dry erase board instead of the well-known white chalk used on chalkboards. Because of the surface material applied to the core, these boards can be easily erased, for reuse. White boards are made in a variety of sizes. Some cover entire walls. Others can be carried to meetings as needed.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Examples of white boards are found in various U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,502 to Leahy discloses a dry erase board that is concealed behind a pair of doors, or an artwork. In one example, Leahy has a hinged board that when closed is one-half size. Artwork is located on the back of the outer board. When the board is opened, the artwork is concealed and the board becomes a full-width writing surface. In another embodiment, Leahy discloses a full-width board concealed behind a pair of cabinet-like doors. When the doors are opened the white board is exposed for use. This type of board is designed for permanent mounting and is limited to the writing surface of the full-opened unit.  
       [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,952 to Schenck et al. discloses a porcelain-coated steel surface that is set within a frame. The lower part of the frame has a horizontal ledge that holds pens and erasers. Again, the writing surface is limited to the front of the board.  
       [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,845 discloses a portable writing surface. This unit has a carrying case that holds a chalkboard. When in use, the chalkboard is placed in a frame holder formed in the unit. The back of the unit has pockets for storing small items. The device has a foot that allows it to be freestanding. Although this unit is portable, it is still restricted to one writing surface.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,522 to Robertson, Jr. discloses a single sides white board that is mounted in a rigid frame. The frame is made of extruded aluminum, which is then angled to fit around the board. A ledge fits one the bottom of the board. The frame is secured at the corners with clips. The clips can also be used to hang the board, if desired. The lower ledge acts as a holding tray for pens and erasers.  
       [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,626 to Persing discloses another single-sided marker board that has a frame that fits around the writing surface but does not overlap the surface.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,334 to Robins discloses a tilt and turn easel. This device has a rectangular base and a vertical frame. The vertical frame holds two writing surfaces: a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other. The vertical frame is mounted on pivots that allow the frame to be tilted. Thus, one side can be used for writing. As desired, the device can be turned around and flipped back to allow the other surface to be used. Although the device allows for writing on two sides, it requires a desk or table to support it. Moreover, it also requires that the user turn the device completely around and to tilt the frame in the opposite direction for use.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,713 to Wayner et al. discloses a mobile display board. This device has a wheeled base that supports two writing boards. These boards are coated metal. The device includes a storage area in the base. Trays are provided to hold pens and other accessories. Because the boards are metal, magnetic strips are provided to hold notes or other items on the display boards, as desired.  
       [0011] White boards are typically made of metal or other materials having a smooth planar surface, such as fiberboard. One example of white board construction is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,132 to Seregely et al. Seregely discloses a dry erase board that has a smooth, hard, non-porous plastic surface, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polyvinylchloride.  
       [0012] To date, white boards have been treated on only one side. Thus, only one side of the board is available for writing. This has not been too much of a problem because the boards can be erased, following use. Of course, if a small board is used in a meeting, for example, this limits the ability to save information written on the board.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] This invention relates of a portable, lightweight dry erase board having a central foam core coated on first and second opposing sides with a dry erase surface. The dry erase board has a lightweight frame covering the external edge surface, for strength and durability. The frame includes a top frame portion, a bottom frame portion and opposing first and second side frame portions. The bottom frame portion has an enlarged external bottom surface suitable for supporting the dry erase board on a horizontal planar surface, such as a counter or table. Mounting clips may also be supported from the top frame portion, for hanging the dry erase board from above. A marker tray is releasably secured to the bottom frame portion with clips. The marker tray is easily removable, for mounting on either the first or second side of the dry erase board. . A pliable cover is provided for ease of transport and storage.  
       [0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of an illustrative example.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, showing the first side of the dry erase board with the frame mounting clips and marker tray installed.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the dry erase board, taken along lines  22  in FIG. 1.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the marker tray and bottom frame portion, taken along lines  3 - 3  in FIG. 1.  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the top frame portion with frame mounting clips installed, taken along lines  4 - 4  in FIG. 1.  
     [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pliable cover for the dry erase board apparatus, having a handle and an opening sized to pass the dry erase board apparatus therethrough. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0020] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, this invention discloses a lightweight foam core board  20  having a thin cross sectional profile, which is coated on both the first side  22  and the second side  24 , with first and second dry erase poly-film layers  32 ,  34 . This produces a thin, very lightweight two sided dry erase board apparatus  10 , even when made in relative large sizes. In one preferred embodiment, the size of the dry erase board writing surface is approximately 30 inches by 40 inches, and the thickness of the lightweight foam board is approximately one-quarter inch thick. The lightweight foam core board  20  is preferably selected to be from 23 to 49 inches long, from 23 to 49 inches tall and from one-eighth of an inch to one-half inches thick.  
     [0021] Note that in FIG. 1, a piece of the first end portion  46  is cutaway to show the external edge  26  of the lightweight foam board  20 .  
     [0022] To make a foam core board  20  suitable for use as a two sided dry erase board apparatus  10 , it must be coated on both the first and second sides  22 ,  24 , with a suitable dry erase film material  32 ,  34 . This is accomplished by applying a layer poly-film, such as oriented polypropylene (OPP) type film, between about two mils to six mils thick, on both the first and second sides  22 ,  24  of the lightweight foam core board  20 . This thin film  32 ,  34  can be applied using either a thermal lamination application process, an adhesive based application process, or by other application methods known in the art.  
     [0023] Another method of coating the opposing first and second sides  22 ,  24  of the dry erase foam board  20  is by applying a sprayable liquid layer of OPP with an airbrush, or by other known spray or roller means to both the first and second sides  22 , 24  of the lightweight foam board  20 .  
     [0024] The external edges  26  of the lightweight dry erase board  20  are then covered with a lightweight frame assembly  40 , which overlaps the external edges  26  of the lightweight foam board  20 . The lightweight frame assembly  40  serves several purposes. First, it provides a finished edge for the lightweight foam board  20 , which improves its appearance. Second, because the lightweight foam board  20  is somewhat brittle, and can be easily damaged, the lightweight frame assembly  40  strengthens the edges and ends of the two sided dry erase board apparatus  10 . Third, the lightweight frame assembly  40  greatly increases the rigidity of the lightweight foam board  20 , enabling the use of thinner foam material.  
     [0025] The lightweight frame assembly  40  also protects the first and second film layers  32 ,  34  from inadvertently pealing away from the lightweight foam board  20  during use.  
     [0026]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the first side  22  of the dry erase board apparatus  10 . It shows the first side  22  surrounded by the lightweight frame assembly  40 . The lightweight frame assembly  40  includes a U-shaped top frame portion  42 , a U-shaped bottom frame portion  44 , a first U-shaped end frame portion  46 , and a second U-shaped end frame portion  48 . Each of the U-shaped frame portions  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  includes a slot sized to closely receive a respective end  26  of the foam core board therein.  
     [0027] As shown in cross sectional view in FIG. 3, the lightweight frame assembly  40  preferably has a larger external portion  56 , with a substantially smaller, internal portion  58 . The lightweight foam board  20 , with first and second dry erase poly-film layers  22 ,  24  secured thereto, is received within the U-shaped slot provided on the internal portion  58 , and secured thereto with a suitable fastening means, such as with glue, or by other known securement means. The lightweight frame assembly  40  may be made of metal, plastic, or other suitable materials. The lightweight frame assembly  40  may be painted or coated, or molded in a similar or contrasting color to suit the preference of the user.  
     [0028]FIG. 1 also shows frame mounting clip(s)  50  that allows the dry erase board apparatus  10  to be suspended from above, or mounted upon a suitable vertical surface (not shown). These frame mounting clips  50  are preferably snapped onto and slidably received upon the top side portion  42  frame assembly  40 . At least one frame mounting clip  50  can thus be spaced as needed along the top frame portion  42 , to suit the user&#39;s needs. A boss  53  extends above the top frame portion, and has an aperture  52  extending through the boss  53  in each of the frame mounting clips  50 . The aperture  52  is provided for ease of releasably securing the dry erase board apparatus  10  to a suitable wall surface or hung from above, with a suitable fastener means  54 .  
     [0029] The frame mounting clips  50  may be made of metal, plastic, wire, or other suitable materials. The frame mounting clips  50  may be painted or coated, or molded in a similar or contrasting color to suit the preference of the user.  
     [0030]FIG. 1 also shows a marker tray  60 . The marker tray  60  includes a pair of tray mounting clips  62  that extend downward from the marker tray  60 . The tray mounting clips  62  snap onto the bottom frame portion  44  to releasably secure the marker tray  60  to the lower frame member. This marker tray  60  is removable so that the marker tray  60  can be easily removed and reinstalled on the dry erase board apparatus  10 , when the dry erase board apparatus  10  is turned to the second side  24 , for further use.  
     [0031] Thus, the marker tray  60  can be snapped off the bottom frame portion  44 , the dry erase board apparatus  10  turned around, and the marker tray  60  snapped back on to the bottom frame portion  44 , in only a few seconds. Alternately, the marker tray  60  can be left off the dry erase board apparatus  10  if the dry erase board apparatus  10  is going to be turned frequently, or supported upon a wall.  
     [0032] The marker tray  60  may be made of metal, plastic, or other suitable materials. The marker tray may be extruded, molded or otherwise formed to suit its intended purpose. Preferably, the marker tray  60  has multiple ridges and groves  66  extending parallel to the lightweight foam board  20 , to better hold at least one marker  68  thereon. The marker tray  60  may be painted or coated, or molded in a similar or contrasting color to suit the preference of the user.  
     [0033] As shown in FIG. 4, a suitable pliable cover  70  may be used to cover the dry erase board apparatus  10  for ease of transport and storage. Preferably, the cover  70  is made of a pliable cloth, fabric or plastic sheet material  72 . A handle  74  is preferably secured to the pliable fabric material  72  for ease of transport. A suitable opening  76  is preferably provided for ease of inserting or removing the dry erase board apparatus from the pliable cover  70 . A closure means  77  is preferably provided to secure the opening  76  during transport or storage. Any known closure means  77 , such as Velcro, zippers, buttons, clasps, straps, etc. may be used. The pliable cover  70  is shown partially closed about the dry erase board apparatus  10  in solid line in FIG. 5, and fully opened in dashed line in FIG. 5.  
     [0034] Thus, the dry erase board apparatus  10  may be easily transported to its intended location, protected by the cover  70 . To use, the dry erase board apparatus  10  is removed from the cover  70  through opening  76 , and placed upon a suitable horizontal planar surface, such as a table (not shown).  
     [0035] The enlarged external portion  56  of the bottom frame portion  44  is sized to support the dry erase board  10  in an upright position for presentation purposes. Indicia  80 , such as words, numbers, drawings, etc. may be marked upon both the first side  22  and second side  24  of the dry erase board apparatus  10  with a suitable marker  68 , or with multiple markers  68  having different colors. The indicia  80  may be previously placed upon the first and second sides  22 ,  24  of the dry erase board apparatus, or may be marked upon the first and second sides during the presentation. Because both first and second sides of the dry erase board apparatus  10  may be used, twice the indicia  80  may be presented during a demonstration, when compared with dry erase boards having only one usable dry erase side.  
     [0036] Alternately, the dry erase board apparatus  10  may be placed upon a wall, or hung from above, with suitable fasteners  54 . When the first side  22  of the dry erase board apparatus is filled with indicia  80 , the dry erase board apparatus  10  may be turned over to present the second side  24  of the dry erase board apparatus  10 .  
     [0037] The marker tray  60  is useful for placing markers  68  when not in use, for easy access. The marker tray  60  may be easily removed from the first side  22  and moved to the second side  24  of the dry erase board apparatus  10  to suit the needs of the user.  
     [0038] The dry erase board apparatus  10  disclosed herein, is lightweight, easy to transport and store, and the two sided dry erase board  20  provides twice the space for indicia  80  as previously available for a single sided dry erase board of a given size.  
     [0039] Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed by the specification and drawings provided herein, it should be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure, or from the scope of the following claims.