Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application is a continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/165,649, filed on Jan. 28, 2014, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Pat. No. 8,672,687, filed on Oct. 24, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     Field of the Invention 
     A new design for a dry-erase board allows for writing on a clear top surface or a second surface under the clear top surface. The dry-erase board includes an insert positioned between the clear top surface and a second surface, the insert being protected by the clear top surface. 
     The inserts can changed by simply lifting the top surface and replacing it with another insert. The insert can be secured between the writing surfaces in a number of ways. The dry-erase boards are particularly useful in health care settings by allowing the staff to see current information at a glance and to update that information quickly. The use of the inserts also means that each area will be consistent in amount and type of information, without having to replace materials. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a dry-erase board that includes a rigid base member, the rigid base member having a surface suitable for use with a dry-erase marker, at least one projection extending from the rigid base member, the at least one projection for accepting a template, and a transparent cover adjustably mounted to the rigid base member, the transparent cover having a surface suitable for use with a dry-erase marker. 
     In some embodiments, the dry-erase board includes a frame at least partially attached to the rigid base member. 
     In other embodiments, at least a portion of the frame is attached to the transparent cover. 
     In some embodiments, the transparent cover is rotatably attached to the rigid base member. 
     In other embodiments, the dry-erase board includes magnetic areas for attaching magnetic elements to one of the rigid base member and the transparent cover. 
     In another aspect, the invention is directed to a dry-erase board that includes a rigid base member, the rigid base member having a surface suitable for use with a dry-erase marker, a transparent cover adjustably mounted to the rigid base member, the transparent cover having a surface suitable for use with a dry-erase marker, and at least one retaining member attached to one of the rigid base member and the transparent cover for accepting a template to be disposed between the rigid base member and the transparent cover. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a dry-erase board according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the dry-erase board of  FIG. 1  with the cover rotated upwards; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the dry-erase board of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the dry-erase board of  FIG. 1  with the cover rotated upwards; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the dry-erase board of  FIG. 1  with the cover rotated upwards; 
         FIG. 6  is a front upwards perspective view of another embodiment of a dry-erase board according to the present invention with the cover rotated upwards; 
         FIG. 7  is a front upwards perspective view of another embodiment of a dry-erase board according to the present invention with the cover rotated upwards; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front upwards perspective view of another embodiment of a dry-erase board according to the present invention with the cover rotated outward from one side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     One embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the figures is directed to a dry-erase board  100 . The dry-erase board  100  has three main components: a rigid base member  102 , at least one projection  104  to receive an optional insert  106  (see  FIG. 2 ), and a transparent cover  108  that is adjustably mounted to the rigid base member  102 . The rigid base member  102  has a surface  110  that is suitable for use with dry-erase markers. Such a rigid base member  102  includes a porcelain base with a dry-erase film as the surface  110 . The rigid base member  102  may also have metal mixed into the porcelain or be used behind to porcelain to make the dry-erase board  100  magnetic. Preferably, the surface  110  of rigid base member  102  is what is known as a whiteboard. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 , at least one projection  104  is associated with the rigid base member  102 , the at least one projection  104  being two projections in the embodiment in  FIGS. 1-5  mounted in the rigid base member  102  near the top thereof. The at least one projection  104  could also be a single element mounted in the middle of the rigid base member  102  also near the top. It is also contemplated that the at least one projection  104  could be other structures that would engage and secure the insert  106 . Such structures might include clips, tacky surfaces, hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other appropriate structure. 
     While not required, the dry-erase board  100  may include a frame  120  extending around a periphery thereof. The dry-erase board  100  may also include a tray  122  extending outward from the bottom edge of the frame  120  and/or the rigid base member  102 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the transparent cover  108  is adjustably mounted to the rigid base member  102 . In this embodiment, the transparent cover  108  is fixedly mounted to a top portion  124  of the frame  120 . The top portion  124 , which is separate from the remainder of the frame  120 , is rotatable relative to the rigid base member  102  and the remainder of the frame  120 . The transparent cover  108  is preferably mounted relative to the rigid base member  102  such that a space is provided between the transparent cover  108  and the rigid base member  102  to allow for the at least one projection  104  and the insert  106  to be positioned therebetween. 
     The transparent cover  108  is preferably made of acrylic (PMMA) or polycarbonate and has a surface for use with dry-erase markers. The transparent cover  108  preferably includes handles  126  adjacent a bottom edge  128  of the transparent cover  108 . The handles  126  may include knobs, integral extensions of the cover  108 , magnetic elements fixedly attached to a surface of the cover  108  or integrated with knobs, etc. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the rigid base member  102  may also have areas  130  that are either magnetic or ferromagnetic to cooperate with the handles  126  in the transparent cover  108  to hold the cover  108  against the rigid base member  102 . Again, areas  130  may also include either the hook or the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, a sticky surface, or other appropriate material. 
     An insert  106  to be used with a dry erase board  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The insert  106  is preferably dimensioned to fit over the rigid base member  102  and, if the dry-erase board  100  has a frame  120 , within the frame  120 . Insert  106  can be made from any suitable materials, including, but not limited to, paper, plastic, polypropylene, etc. Insert  106  also preferably has a coating to allow for use with a dry-erase marker. The insert  106  has areas of writing  140  adjacent to either open areas  142  or lines  144  and to assist the user of the dry-erase board  100  to include appropriate information on the dry-erase board  100 . For example, the insert  106  includes as areas of writing  140 , the name of the patient, the room number, the doctor, the nurse, medicine being given, last set of vital signs, etc. The insert  106  can also include open areas  142  that allow the user to see through the insert  106  to the rigid base member  102 , where there may be information that does not change and is written on the rigid base member, e.g., the room number. In this case, the user would not want room numbers pre-printed on the insert  106 , but also would not want the room number written where it could be easily removed-on the cover  108 . The insert  106  would also include areas to cooperate with the at least one projection  104 , which as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , are openings or holes  146 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a dry-erase board  200  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The dry-erase board  200  also includes a rigid base member  202 , at least one projection  204  to receive an optional insert (as in  FIG. 2 ), and a transparent cover  208  that is adjustably mounted to the rigid base member  202 . The dry-erase board  200  also includes a frame  220  around at least a portion of the periphery of the dry-erase board  200 . The dry-erase board  200  preferably has lighting elements  222  to illuminate the dry-erase board  200  and, in particular, the rigid base member  202  and insert (not shown). The lighting elements  222 , while illustrated on the top edge of the rigid base number  202 , could be positioned anywhere around the edge of the dry-erase board  200  or even all the way around the dry-erase board  200 . 
     Another embodiment of a dry-erase board  300  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The dry-erase board  300  also includes a rigid base member  302 , at least one projection  304  to receive an optional insert (as in  FIG. 2 ), and a transparent cover  308  that is adjustably mounted to the rigid base member  302 . The dry-erase board  300  also includes a frame  320  around at least a portion of the periphery of the dry erase board  300 . The rigid base member  302  of dry-erase board  300  is at least in part translucent. In this case, lighting elements  322  are placed behind the rigid base member  302  and illuminates the dry-erase board  300  from behind the rigid base member. The lighting elements  322  may also be variable in that the user/staff can adjust the brightness of the lighting elements so as not to affect the sleep of patients if the dry-erase board  300  is used in a hospital setting. Similarly, if the dry-erase board is placed in a highly lighted area, then more light may be necessary from the lighting elements  322 . The lighting elements may be placed around the periphery of the dry-erase board  300 , or directly behind the rigid base member  302 . 
     Another embodiment of a dry-erase board  400  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The dry-erase board  400  also includes a rigid base member  402 , at least one projection  404  to receive an optional insert (as in  FIG. 2 ), and a transparent cover  408  that is adjustably mounted to the rigid base member  402 . The dry-erase board  400  also includes a frame  420  around at least a portion of the periphery of the dry erase board  400 . In this embodiment of dry-erase board  400 , the cover  408  is hinged along one side rather than along the top of the dry-erase board  400 . While the cover  408  is hinged along the left side, it may also be hinged along the right side and still be within the scope of the present invention. Hinging the cover  408  along one side may allow for easier and faster access to the rigid base member  402  to write on it or on the insert (not shown but similar to insert  106 ). The cover  408  is also illustrated as being attached to a portion of the frame  420 , but could be directly hinged to the rigid base member  402 . The dry-erase board  400  may also have lighting elements or a translucent rigid base member as described above. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 7