Patent Publication Number: US-2022234381-A1

Title: Writing implement holding eraser

Description:
FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to erasers for various writing surfaces, such as dry erase surfaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Erasers may be used to modify or substantially clear markings from a writable surface, e.g., dry erase surfaces, chalkboards, and the like. Erasers can often be misplaced or otherwise become inaccessible when needed, such as when a surface requires clearing during an instructional lesson. Chalk, markers, pens, and other types of writing implements that may be used with the surface are often also misplaced. As such, there is a need for systems and techniques to facilitate eraser and accessory association with a writable surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one example, an eraser is disclosed. The eraser includes a body portion defining a plurality of passages configured to hold a plurality of writing implements. The eraser further include an eraser portion forming a side of the body portion. 
     An another example, an eraser is disclosed. The eraser includes a body portion configured to hold a writing implement. The eraser further includes an eraser portion forming a first side of the body portion. The eraser further includes an attachment portion forming a second side the body portion. The attachment portion may be configured to releasably secure the eraser to a writable surface. 
     In another example, an eraser kit is disclosed. The eraser kit includes a plurality of writing implements. The eraser kit further includes an eraser coupleable with the plurality of writing implements and including an attachment portion and an eraser portion. In a first configuration, the eraser is releasably secured to a writable surface using the attachment portion. In a second configuration, the eraser is engaged with the writable surface to modify markings using the eraser portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an eraser kit releasably secured to a writable surface. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of the eraser kit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front elevation view of an eraser of the eraser kit of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a rear elevation view of the eraser of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a left side elevation view of the eraser of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts a top plan view of the eraser of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  depicts a bottom plan view of the eraser of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a cross-sectional view of the eraser and writable surface of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, and apparatuses that embody various elements of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the described disclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to those described herein. 
     The following disclosure relates to erasers configured to hold one or more writing implements. The erasers may be releasably securable to a writable surface, where the attachment mechanism may be varied to be couplable to various types surfaces, including those with magnetic elements, non-magnetic elements, and so on. An example eraser may include a body portion having a plurality of passages or other storage features configured to hold a plurality of writing implements. The writing implements may be restrained from moving within the body potion, e.g., the passages may be selected to have a diameter and/or shape that allows the implements to be secured in place while the eraser moves, but also to be easily removable by a user. Additionally, a writing implement may be selectively removable from the body portion without disturbing other writing implements held by the eraser. 
     The eraser may be configured to hold the writing implement while the eraser is releasably secured to the writable surface, which may be a vertically oriented surface. The writable surface, without limitation, may include a dry erase board, a chalkboard, a mirror, a glass surface, a metal surface, and so on. The eraser may include an attachment portion that forms a side, surface, and/portion of the body portion. The attachment portion may include a micro-suction foam, magnet, loop and hook, or other attachment mechanism configured to permit the releasable securement of the eraser to the writable surface. In some cases, the attachment portion may exert an attraction force sufficient to temporarily mount the eraser to the vertically oriented surface and maintain a position of the vertically oriented surface while the eraser holds the plurality of writing implements. The attachment portion may permit the temporary mounting of the eraser on the writable surface, allowing the eraser to be removed and repositioned and mounted on the surface as needed. 
     The eraser may also include an eraser portion forming another side, surface, and/or portion of the body portion and configured to modify marking on the vertically oriented surface. The eraser portion may be a felt, a foam, a rubber, or other material operable to brush or otherwise physically disrupt the markings from the writable surface. The eraser portion and the attachment portions may form different sides of the body portion. This allows the eraser portion to be separated from the writable surface when the eraser is mounted to the writable surface via the attachment portion and vice versa. 
     An eraser kit disclosed here may include the eraser and one or more writing implements. The writing elements may extend partially or fully through the body portion with opposing ends of individual writing elements arranged outside the body portion, which may allow a user to more easily grasp and remove the writing implements as desired. The writing implements may be held by the eraser and define a writing implement arrangement, such as the plurality of writing implements having a desired height, sequence, and so on relative to the body portion. As one example, the passages of the eraser body may be narrowed or tapered along a length of the passage to define a predetermined height of the writing implement relative to the body portion. In turn, the body portion may be configured to maintain the writing implements in the writing implement configuration during mounting to the writable surface with the attachment portion and erasure of the writable surface with the eraser portion, and/or while transitioning between the mounting and erasure. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts an eraser kit  100  that includes an eraser  110  and one or more writing implements  180 . The eraser  110  is configured to hold the writing implements  180 . The writing implements  180  are shown in  FIG. 1  as dry erase markers for purposes of illustration, but may also include chalk, pens, pencils, brushes, and other writing implements of various types, shapes, and sizes, without limitation, and may be varied depending on the type of writing surface used. 
     The eraser is shown associated with a writable surface  102 . The writable surface  102  may include a variety of magnetic and non-magnetic surfaces, including a dry erase board, a chalkboard, a mirror, a glass surface, a metal surface, and so on. The writable surface  102  may have a smooth surface  104  which may maximize an surface area of the writable surface  102  that is capable of contact with the eraser  110 . The writable surface  102  may define a substantially vertically oriented surface, e.g., the writable surface  102  may be mounted on a wall, but in other configurations, the writable surface  102  may be positioned in other configurations and/or not mounted on a wall or other surface. 
     The eraser  110  may be configured for removable attachment with the writable surface  102 . For example, the eraser  110  may be releasably secured to the writable surface at a first position A, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The eraser  110  may be configured to maintain the position A relative to the writable surface  102  while holding the plurality of writing implements  180  (i.e., the securing mechanism can support both the weight of the eraser and the writing implements). For example, the eraser  110  may be configured to maintain the position A on a vertically oriented surface while holding each of the plurality of writing implements  180  without substantially sliding, moving, falling or otherwise being displaced from the writable surface  102 . The eraser  110  may be removed from the writable surface  102  position A, and subsequently mounted to the writable surface  102  at a second position A′ (shown in phantom line). The eraser  110  may be configured to maintain the position A′ relative to the writable surface  102  while holding the plurality of writing implements  180 . 
     The eraser  110  is also adapted to modify or remove markings from the writable surface  102 . For example, the eraser  110  is shown in  FIG. 1  with an eraser portion  120 . The eraser portion  120  may include a felt, a foam, a rubber, or other material that operates to brush or otherwise physically disrupt the markings from the writable surface  102 . The eraser  110  may be selectively removed from the writable surface  102  and manipulated, including being flipped or rotated, such that the eraser portion  120  engages the writable surface  102 . The eraser  110  is configured to maintain an arrangement or orientation of the plurality of writing implements during the mounting and/or moving of the eraser  110  on the writable surface  102  and the manipulation of eraser  110  for erasure of the writable surface  102  with the eraser portion  120 . 
     With reference to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , the eraser  110  includes the eraser portion  120 , a body portion  130 , and an attachment portion  140 . The body portion  130  may be formed partially or fully from a foam, a plastic, or other natural or synthetic material. The body portion  130  may be a block of material, including a block of material that is formed as a one-piece structure. In other cases, the body portion  130  may be a composite structure. The body portion  130  is shown in  FIGS. 2-7  as a hexahedron with six faces. Other three-dimensional structures may be used. In the illustrated example, the body portion  130  includes a first face  131   a , a second face  131   b , a third face  131   c , a fourth face  131   d , a fifth face  131   e , and a sixth face  131   f . The faces  131   a - 131   f  may cooperate to define the body portion  130  as a rectangular cuboid. In this regard, the body portion  130  may have a body height  132   a , a body width  132   b , and a body length  132   c , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . One or more of the body height  132   a , the body width  132   b , and/or the body length  132   b  may be configured to define a sufficient spacing between different sides of the eraser  110  in order to separate the eraser portion  120  and the attachment portion  140  by a desired amount. In the illustrated, the body height  132   a  may be less than a body width  132   b , and the body width  132   b  may be less than the body length  132   c . Other relative dimensions are contemplated herein. 
     The body portion  130  may define one or more passages  133 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the passages  133  may include a first passage  133   a , a second passage  133   b , a third passage  133   c , and a fourth passages  133   d . In other example, more or fewer passages may be defined by the body portion  130 , such as examples with five or six or passages, and/or examples with three, or two, or a single passage. The passages  133  may extend completely through the body portion  130 , e.g., extending between opposing surfaces or faces  131   a  and  131   b  and through a length or width of the body portion  130 . For example and as shown in  FIG. 6 , the body portion  130  may define a plurality of openings  134  on the first face  131   a , such as a first opening  134   a , a second opening  134   b , a third opening  134   c , and a fourth opening  134   d . Further and as shown in  FIG. 7 , the body portion  130  may further define a plurality of openings  135  on the second face  131   b , such as a such as a first opening  135   a , a second opening  135   b , a third opening  135   c , and a fourth opening  135   d . The first passage  133   a  may extend through the body portion  130  between the first opening  134   a  and the first opening  135   a , the second passage  133   b  may extend through the body portion  130  between the second opening  134   b  and the second opening  135   b , the third passage  133   c  may extend through the body portion  130  between the third opening  134   c  and the third opening  135   c , and the fourth passages may extend through the body portion  130  between the fourth opening  134   d  and the fourth opening  135   d.    
     The passages  133  may define interior channels  136  extending through an entire height, width, or length of body portion  130 , such as entirely through the body width  132   b , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Continuing with the non-limiting example of the eraser  110  being configured to hold four writing implements, a first interior channel  136   a , a second interior channel  136   b , a third interior channel  136   c , and a fourth interior channel  136   d  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The body portion  130  may define implement engagement surface  137  within the interior channels  136 . The implement engagement surface  137  may be substantially cylindrical interior surfaces of the body portion  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , with the illustrated first implement engagement surface  137   a , a second of implement engagement surface  137   b , a third implement engagement surface  137   c , and a fourth implement engagement surface  137   d . The cylindrical interior surfaces of illustrated body portion  130  may generally have a consistent thickness or diameter along a length of the cylindrical tubes. 
     In some cases, the implement engagement surface  137  may include a taper or otherwise be varied in size or shape along their length. In some cases, the implement engagement surface  137  may include or at least partially define a storage feature that is imbedded in the eraser body  130  to engage a writing implement within the body. Additionally or alternatively, the implement engagement surface  137  may be at least partially compressible or deformable, such as being partially compressible or deformable upon engagement with a writing implement. For example, the eraser body portion  130  may be formed partially or fully from flexible foam. In this regard, the implement engagement surface  137  may be a surface of the flexible foam that is sized to define the respective interior channel as having a size that matches or is slightly less than a size of a target one of the plurality of writing implement  180 . The flexible foam may exert a retaining force on the writing implement when the writing implement is received within the interior channel. The retaining force may be overcome by sliding or otherwise selectively removing the writing implement from the eraser body  130 . This may allow the implement engagement surface  137  to retain the writing implement using a friction or interference fit. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the eraser portion  120  may be a layer or substrate having an eraser attachment side  121  and an erasure side  122 . The eraser attachment side  121  and the erasure side  122  may be opposing sides of the eraser portion  120 . The attachment side  121  may include or be associated with an adhesive, although this is not required. The erasure side  122  may include a rough texture  123 , including microfiber, felt, or brush elements that operate to engage the writable surface  102  and disrupt markings. In other cases, the erasure side  122  may be formed integrally with the body portion  130 . 
     The attachment portion  140  may include, or be formed partially or full from substantially any material that is configured to releasably secure the eraser to a writable surface. As one example, the attachment portion  140  may exert an attraction force sufficient to temporarily mount the eraser  110  to the writable surface  102 . The attraction force may retain the eraser  110  and the plurality of writing implements  180  mounted to the writable surface  102  in the substantially vertical orientation. For example, the attraction force may be sufficient to retain the eraser  110  and the plurality of writing implements  180  on a surface that is oriented substantially perpendicularly to a grade or other elevationally level surface. In some cases, the attachment portion  140  may be formed at least partially from a micro-suction foam that generates a suction force. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment portion  140  may include an embedded magnetic material that generates a magnetic force. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment portion  140  may be formed partially or fully from other materials broadly configured to generate an attraction force, including but not limited to, tacky materials, adhesive, hook and loop, fasteners, or the like, where the attachment allows the eraser to be attached and detached multiple times, i.e., is not single use. In this regard, the attachment portion  140  may interact or couple with a complementary attachment feature of the writable surface  102 , including a complementary magnetic feature, hook feature, fastener feature, and so on. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the attachment portion  140  may be a layer or substrate having an writable surface attachment side  141  and an eraser attachment side  142 . The writable surface attachment side  141  and the eraser attachment side  142  may be opposing sides of the attachment portion  140 . The eraser attachment side  142  may include or be associated with an adhesive or other feature to create a substantially permanent bond between the attachment portion  140  and the body portion  130 . The writable surface attachment side  141  may be fully or partially defined by the material configured to exert the attraction force, such as the suction foam. Additionally or alternatively, the writable surface attachment side  141  may include a cover layer that defines a barrier material the material configured to exert the attraction force and the writable surface  102 , as may be the case where the material is magnet. Prior to use, a release layer may be arranged over the attachment portion  140 , such as a wrapping, a film, a consumable layer, or the like. The release layer be configured to preserve or maintain the attraction force prior to use. 
     The eraser  110  may be coupled such that the eraser portion  120  and the attachment portion  140  are secured to the body portion  130 . The eraser portion  120  may be secured to body portion  130  such that the eraser portion  120  is separated from the writable surface  102  when the eraser  110  is mounted to writable surface  102  via the attachment portion  140 . Additionally, the attachment portion  140  may be secured to the body portion  130  such that the attachment portion  140  is separated from the writable surface  102  when the eraser is engaging the writable surface  102  with the eraser portion  120 . 
     For example and as shown with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the eraser portion  120  may by secured to the third face  131   c  of the body portion  130  and the attachment portion  140  may be secured to the fourth face  131   d  of the body portion  130 . In this regard, the eraser portion  120  may be coupled to a first region of the body portion  130  and the attachment portion  140  may be coupled to a second region of the body portion that are opposing regions or surfaces of the body portion  130 . It will be appreciated, however, that in other examples, that eraser portion  120  and the attachment portion  140  may have other relationship, such as being arranged substantially perpendicular to one another or otherwise arranged relative to one another at a non-zero angle. 
     For example and as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the eraser attachment side  121  of the eraser portion  120  may be adhered to the third face  131   c  of the body portion  130 . Further, the eraser attachment side  142  of the attachment portion may be adhered to the fourth face  131   d  of the body portion  130 . While the present illustrated example may user certain glues and adhesives, fasteners, clips, hooks, and the like may also be used to secure the eraser portion  120  and the attachment portion  140  to the body portion  130 . In some cases, the eraser portion  120  and/or the attachment portion  140  may be removably secured to the body portion  130 , which may be desirable to change the easer material after a period of use. 
     In addition to the various functional considerations, the shape and the appearance of the eraser  110  may be selected to have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. For example, the passages  133  may be selected to have a size, shape and arrangement relative to the eraser body portion  130  to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the eraser  110 . Additionally or alternatively, the body height  132   a , the body width  132   b , and/or a body length  132   c  may be defined relative to one another to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the eraser  110 . In other cases, other features may be configured to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the eraser  110 . 
     The eraser portion  120  and the attachment portion  140  may be coupled to the body portion  130  such that one or both of the eraser portion  120  or the attachment portion  140  is inset from a footprint or outer perimeter of the body portion  130 . For example and with reference to  FIG. 4 , the attachment portion  140  is shown coupled to the body portion  130 . The writable surface attachment side  141  may have a smaller overall surface area than the fourth face  131   d . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the attachment portion  140  is centered on the fourth face  131   d  with the writable surface attachment side  141  inset from the perimeter defined by the fourth face  131   d . In other cases, the attachment portion  140  may be coupled off center with one or more all of the edges of the attachment portion  140  aligned with the perimeter of the fourth face  131   d.    
     In operation, the eraser  110  is coupleable with the plurality of writing implements  180  in an eraser kit  100 . The passages  133  may be configured to receive the plurality of writing implements  180  and hold the plurality of writing implements  180  in the eraser  110 , such as the first passage  133   a  receiving a first writing implement  180   a , the second passage  133   b  receiving a second writing implement  180   b , the third passage  133   c  receiving a third writing implement  180   c , the fourth passage  133   d  receiving a fourth writing implement  180   d , and so on an appropriate based on the number of writing implements. 
     For purposes of illustration, the operation of the first passage  133   a  and the first writing implement  181   a  is described below. It will be appreciated that the passages  133   b - 133   d  and writing implements  181   b - 181   d  may be substantially similar. The first writing implement  181   a  may be received by the first passage  133   a  and inserted fully through the first interior channel  136   a . For example, a first end  185  of the first writing implement  181   a  may be inserted through the first opening  134   a , passed or slid through the first interior channel  136   a , and through the first opening  135   a . A middle  186  of the first writing implement  181   a  may remain within the body portion  130 . The middle  186  may remain within the first interior channel  136   a  such that the body portion  130  completely surrounds or encircles the middle  186 . The first implement engagement surface  137   a  may contact or engage the middle  186 . In some cases, the first implement engagement surface  137  may compress or otherwise exert a force on the middle  186  in order to restrain movement of the first writing implement  181   a . The first writing implement  181   a  may include a second end  187  opposite the first end  186 . The first and second ends  185 ,  187  may be positioned away from the body portion  130  with the middle  186  surrounded by the body portion  130 . 
     With reference to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 , the eraser kit  100  operates with the eraser  110  mounted on the writable surface  102 . For example, the attachment portion  140  may be engaged with the writable surface  102 . The attachment portion  140  is shown in  FIG. 8  as exerting a sufficient force to maintain a mounting of the eraser  110  and the plurality of writing implements  180  mounted to the writable surface  102 . The eraser  110  may be moved, slid, removed and replaced on the writable surface  102 , with the attachment portion  140  further operating to mount the eraser kit  100  to the writable surface  102 . For example, a user may engage the eraser  110  and separate the eraser  110  from the writable surface  102  by overcoming the attraction force the attachment portion  120 . The eraser  110  may be decoupled from the writable surface  102  and manipulated in order to engage the eraser portion  120  with the writable surface  102  and modify markings on the writable surface  102 . The user may further manipulate the eraser  110  and releasably couple the eraser  110  to the writable surface  102  again using the attachment portion  120 . The user may releasably couple the eraser  110  at the same or a different position, allowing for flexibility in placement of the eraser  110  across the writable surface  102 . 
     In operation, the eraser kit  100  may be manipulateable between a first configuration in which the eraser kit  100  is mounted to the writable surface  102  and a second configuration in which the eraser kit  100  is engaged with the writable surface  102  to modify markings on the writable surface  102 . The plurality of writing implements  180  may have or define a writing implement orientation in the eraser  110 , such as being arranged having a certain height, sequence, spacing and/or other characteristic. The writing implement orientation may be maintained in the first and second configurations, and manipulations therebetween. Any of the plurality of writing implement may be selectively removed from the eraser  110 , such as being removing for marking the writable surface  102 . The writing implement can be returned to the eraser  110  accordingly. The remaining writing implements, e.g., writing implements not removed, may remain substantially undisturbed during the selective removal and replacement of the desired writing implement. 
     Other examples and implementations are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific examples described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the examples to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.