Patent Publication Number: US-2007113439-A1

Title: Markable and erasable banner

Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The subject matter regarded as the embodiments is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The embodiments, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which: 
    
    
       FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a banner according to the present disclosure;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the banner according to  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a variation of the embodiment of the banner illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another variation of the embodiment of the banner illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a banner according to the present disclosure;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a banner according to the present disclosure; and  
       FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of yet another embodiment of a banner according to the present disclosure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of particular embodiments of the invention which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to a specific embodiment but are for explanatory purposes.  
      Numerous specific details may be set forth herein to provide a thorough understanding of a number of possible embodiments of a combination handle and rotating tool extension incorporating the present disclosure. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments. It can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.  
      Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodiments may be described using the term “connected” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. In another example, some embodiments may be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited in this context.  
      It is worthy to note that any reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
      Turning now to the details of the present disclosure,  FIGS. 1-6  disclose a banner display device  100  which can be easily written upon and erased or distributed at a public event. More particularly,  FIG. 1  discloses banner display device  100  including a flexible material  102  including a markable surface  106 . The banner display device  100  further includes a roller  104 , wherein the roller  104  rollingly engages the flexible material  102  for storage thereon; and at least one marking utensil  110 . The at least one marking utensil  110  is disposed in a storage area  120  in the vicinity of the roller  104 , with the marking utensil  110  being capable of marking the surface  106  of the flexible material  102 . The storage area  120  may include at least one erasing utensil  112  capable of erasing the surface  106  of the flexible material after marking by the at least one marking utensil  110 .  
      The flexible material  102  is made typically from, and is not limited to, soft and hard plastics, nylon, fabrics, and rubber. The roller is made typically from, and is not limited to, a plastic, metal such as aluminum or wood.  
      As best shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the banner display device  100  further includes a roller housing  114  at least partially housing the roller  104  and the flexible material  102 . The roller  104  is configured to extend and retract the flexible material  102  from within the roller housing  114  through a slot or aperture  116  disposed therethrough.  
      The roller  104  includes a first end plate  122  and a second end plate  124 . The roller housing  114  is coupled to the first and second end plates  122  and  124  so that the roller housing  114  and the first and second end plates  122  and  124  at least partially house the flexible material  102  stored on the roller  104  (until the flexible material  102  is depleted) in the form of a roll  130 . The slot or aperture  116  extends typically from the first end plate  122  to the second end plate  124 . The roller  104  may include an internal spring return mechanism  126  for extending and retracting the flexible material  102  through the aperture  116  in the roller housing  114 .  
      The banner display device  100  may include the roller housing  114  having a separator  128  for separating a portion of the flexible material  102 . More particularly, the separator  128  may be, for example and is not limited to, a slidable knife assembly which is configured to slide along the aperture  116  to slice a portion of the flexible material  102 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the banner display device  100  may include the roller  104  and first and second roller end plates  122  and  124 , respectively, wherein the separator  128  may be, for example and is not limited to, the slidable knife assembly which is configured to slide along a rail  132 , which extends at least partially from the first end plate  122  to the second end plate  124 . The embodiments are not limited in this context.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the banner display device  100  includes the flexible material  102  being configured with perforations  134  for separating a portion of the flexible material  102  from the roll  130 . The user of the banner display device  100  exerts a force on the flexible material  102  to overstress the flexible material  102  at the perforations  134  so as to separate a portion of the flexible material  102  from the roll  130 .  
      Referring back to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment of the banner display device  100 , the storage area  120  is disposed on an external surface  134  of the roller housing  114 . More particularly, at least one marking utensil  110  and typically at least one erasing utensil  112  are disposed on the external surface via a fastening mechanism such as straps  144 . The flexible material  102  may further include a leader loop  140  at a leading edge  136  of the material  102 . The leader loop  140  is formed around a leader post  142  and may be joined back via a seam  138 . The roller housing  114  may include a roller housing end cover  170  coupled to second end plate  124 . The roller housing end cover  170  may include a manipulating means such as strap  172  fastened thereto.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment of the banner display device  100 , the storage area  120  is disposed on an internal surface  146  of the roller housing  114 . More particularly, a door  148  is disposed within the housing  114  and is configured to expose the internal surface  146  upon opening. The door  148  is coupled to the roller housing  114  via hinges  150  disposed on an edge  152  of the door  148 . The door  148  may further include a lock tab  154  which engages with a lock mechanism  156  disposed on the roller housing  114 .  
      When in the open position, the door  148  exposes an aperture  158  of an internal compartment  160  within the roller housing  114 . In one embodiment, the storage area  120  is disposed in the interior compartment  160  of the roller housing  114 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment of the banner display device  100 , the storage area  120  is disposed in an interior compartment  162  formed in the roller  104 . The marking utensils  110  and erasing utensils  112  may be inserted into the interior compartment  162  through an aperture  164  formed at one of end plates  122  and  124 , such as at second end plate  124 , the aperture  164  communicating with the interior compartment  162 . The marking utensils  110  and erasing utensils  112  may be sealed within the interior compartment  162  via a sealing means such as a plug  166  which sealingly engages with the aperture  164 . The plug  166  may be fastened to the second end plate  124  via a fastening means such as chain  168  coupled therebetween.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment of the banner display device  100  of  FIG. 1 , as previously discussed, the flexible material  102  has a leading edge  136  which may include a seam  138  forming a leader loop  140 . The leader loop  140  may have a post  142  disposed therein. The post  142  includes first and second ends  178  and  180 , respectively.  
      In one embodiment, the storage area  120  is disposed in an interior compartment  174  formed within the post  142 . The marking utensils  110  and the erasing utensils  112  may be inserted into the interior compartment  174  through an aperture  176  formed at one of first and second ends  178  and  180 . The aperture  176  may be sealed via a sealing means such as plug  166  which sealingly engages with the aperture  176 . The plug  166  may be fastened to the second end  180  via a fastening means such as chain  168  coupled therebetween (see  FIG. 6 ).  
      Alternatively, a second storage area  220  is disposed in an interior compartment  174  formed within the post  142 . The marking utensils  110  and the erasing utensils  112  may be inserted into the interior compartment  174  through an aperture  176  formed at one of first and second ends  178  and  180 . The aperture  176  may be sealed via a sealing means such as plug  166  which sealingly engages with the aperture  176 . The plug  166  may be fastened to the second end  180  via a fastening means such as chain  168  coupled therebetween (see  FIG. 6 ). One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that storage area  220  is identical to storage area  120  described above.  
      While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.