Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from provisional application 62/335,182 filed on May 12, 2016. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an event display board made of a combination of words and numbers disposed on wheels and viewable through display windows. The words or numbers displayed through the windows may be changed by rotating the wheels until the desired words or numbers show through the display windows and until the words or numbers on each wheel line up with corresponding words or numbers on adjacent wheels to form phrases appropriate for the event so they can be displayed and photographed. 
         [0003]    More specifically, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a board configured for displaying the age of an infant or toddler. The board is placed next to the child when the child is photographed. Another embodiment of the present invention represents a board configured for displaying a day event in a child&#39;s life, such as a first day of school or last day of kindergarten. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Dating paper and digital photographs at the time when the photos are taken is only done infrequently by most people. Photographs are often taken in a hurry and as an afterthought and dating the photos tends to come after significant passage of time when the memories are not as fresh. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a display that can be set up in a short period of time next to the object being photographed that would provide information about the date the photo was taken as well as other desirable information to have, such as the age of the person. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a board for displaying events comprises a front panel; a rear panel; and a wheel assembly containing a plurality of wheels disposed between the front panel and the rear panel, with each wheel being attached to the front panel and a rear panel at a center of each wheel and with each wheel being configured to rotate around its center. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method for setting up and displaying the event board that contains a wheel assembly of five wheels comprises: rotating the first wheel and the second wheel in such a manner as to arrange the labels on the first wheel to align with corresponding labels on the second wheel; rotating the third wheel and the fourth wheel in such a manner as to arrange the labels on the third wheel to align with corresponding labels on the fourth wheel; and rotating the fifth wheel in such a manner as to arrange the labels on the fifth wheel with corresponding labels on the third wheel. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are front views of an event display board according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  represents a rear sectional view of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side perspective view of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear perspective view of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  depicts components of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front sectional view of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  portrays another front sectional view of the event display board according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front sectional view of the event display board according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is another front sectional view of the event display board according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the event display board according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  illustrates a rear sectional view of the event display board according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. 
         [0021]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a board that quickly displays information about an object being photographed to record the information for posterity. It is also the object of the present invention to provide a board configured for quickly displaying the age of a child and the date the photo is taken, and for quickly setting up the board next to the child before the photo is taken. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1-12  illustrate the present invention.  FIGS. 1-8  represent the first embodiment  10  of the invention while  FIGS. 9-13  represent the second embodiment  20 . 
         [0023]    In the first embodiment, the words and numbers that provide the age of the infant or toddler are printed around the perimeter of five wheels: the day of the month wheel  22 , the month wheel  28 , the year wheel  25 , the age wheel  26 , and the age number wheel  27 . The months are listed around the periphery of the front surface of the month wheel  28 , the day of month wheel  22  lists the numbers 1-31 on its front surface perimeter, the front surface of the year wheel  25  lists numbers sequentially from 2016 and up, the front surface periphery of the age number wheel  27  lists numbers from 1-12 and the front surface periphery of the age wheel lists, day(s), week(s), month(s) and year(s). 
         [0024]    The wheels may be made of cardboard; however, other materials such as wood, plastic and metal also fall within the scope of the present invention. The thickness of the wheels ranges between about 0.1 to about 0.5 inches. 
         [0025]    Each of the wheels has serrated edges  71  at their circumferences. Each of the five wheels is sandwiched between two panels: a front panel  11  and a rear panel  12 . The age number wheel  27  and age wheel  26  are disposed at the top of the event board with the age wheel  26  being placed to the right of the age number wheel  27  in relation to facing the front. 
         [0026]    The age number wheel  27  and age wheel  26  are attached to the front panel  11  and rear panel  12  by grommets  18  and  17  respectively. The grommet attachments are configured in such a way that the wheels turn when a user applies a turning force onto the edges of the wheels. This may be accomplished by applying a light turning motion onto the serrated edges  71  of the wheels using one&#39;s finger. 
         [0027]    The day of the month wheel  22  and month wheel  28  are placed below the age number wheel  27 . The month wheel  28  is superimposed over the day of the month wheel  22  such that the edge portion of the day of the month wheel  22  remains exposed and both the day of the month wheel  22  and the month wheel  28  share the same center and use the same grommet  21  to attach to the rear panel  12  and front panel  11 . The year wheel  25  is placed below the age wheel  26  and attaches to the front panel  11  and rear panel  12  via grommet  19 . 
         [0028]    A foldable easel  15  is attached to the rear panel  12  of the display board. In an open position, the easel  15  supports the display board in an upright position on a flat surface  55 . The easel  15  may be folded onto the rear panel  12  for stowing. Clips  16  may be used to hang the event board. 
         [0029]    The rear panel  12  has four window cutouts that expose edges of four of the wheels. The edge of the age wheel  26  is exposed by cutout  13  at the top left of the rear panel  12 . Cutout  14  on the upper right side of the rear panel  12  exposes the upper edge of the age number wheel  27 . Cutout  24  on the bottom left side of the rear panel  12  exposes the bottom left edge of the year wheel  25  and cutout  23  exposes the bottom right edge of the day of the month wheel  22 . 
         [0030]    The front panel  11  has two cutouts: 1) a cutout  29  disposed at the center top of the front panel  11  and 2) a cutout  31  disposed at the bottom center of the front panel  11 . The age may be displayed through cutout  29  while the date may be displayed through cutout  31 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 , the displayed age consists of a number and a time span that can be in years, months or weeks. The displayed date consists of the month (from January to December), the day of the month (from 1-31), and the year (from 2017 and higher). The front panel  11  may contain additional insignia and decorations. As can be seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the display in the cutout window is “12 weeks” with the added permanent words “I am” before the window display and the permanent word “old” following the window display to form the phrase “I am 12 weeks old”. The word “today” is placed below the phrase. 
         [0031]    The left edge of the age wheel  26  is superimposed over the right edge of the age number wheel  27 . This allows proper alignment of the age number and age labels at the edges of the age wheel  26  and age number wheel  27  for displaying in cutout window  29 . Likewise, the right edge of the day of the month wheel  22  is superimposed over the left edge of the year wheel  25  in order to achieve a continuous date display in cutout window  31  as shown in  FIG. 9 . It is noted that superimposing the age number wheel  27  over the age wheel  26  and superimposing the year wheel  25  over day of the month wheel  22  also fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0032]    To change the displayed age number, the user would move with his/her fingers the serrated edge of the age number wheel  27  clockwise or counterclockwise inside window  14  until the desired age number is displayed in window  29 . To change the displayed age, the user would move the serrated edge of age number wheel  26  clockwise or counterclockwise inside window  13  until the desired age is displayed in window  29  to the right of and in line with the age number. 
         [0033]    To change the displayed day of the month, the user would move the serrated edge of the day of the month wheel  22  clockwise or counterclockwise inside window  23  until the desired day of the month is displayed in window  31 . To change the displayed year, the user would move the serrated edge of year wheel  25  clockwise or counterclockwise inside window  24 , until the desired year is displayed in window  31  to the right of and in line with the day of the month. 
         [0034]    The month wheel  28  does not have a window in the rear panel through which the month wheel  28  may be rotated in order to change the month of the year display. Rotating the month wheel may be done by moving the edge  71  of the month wheel  28  inside window  31  disposed in the front panel  11  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0035]    The dimensions of the display board and the wheels may vary to suit the needs of the users. Generally, the display board may have a length between about 1′ to about 5′ and the diameters of the wheels may range from about 0.5′ to about 3′. 
         [0036]    In the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , the configuration of the five wheels is similar to that of the first embodiment; however some of the labels are different. The year wheel  41  is placed to the right of the day of the month wheel  35  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The month wheel  37  is superimposed over a center portion of the day of the month wheel  35 . As with the first embodiment, the year wheel  41  is positioned at the bottom right of the panel  51  while the day of the month wheel  35  and month wheel  37  are positioned at the bottom left of the panel  51 . A grade level indictor wheel  33  is positioned at the top left of the panel  51  above the day of the month wheel  35  and a school/grade indicator wheel  39  is positioned at the top right of the panel  51  above the year wheel  41 . Additionally, a sixth first/last wheel  43  is positioned above grade level indictor wheel  33  and above the school/grade indicator wheel  39  at the top center of the panel  51 . 
         [0037]    As with the first embodiment of the invention, each wheel has a center at which each wheel is attached to the front panel  51  and the rear panel  54 . The center of each wheel is positioned at about a mid-point of any intersecting radius traversing the wheel. The year wheel  41  has center  38 , the month wheel  37  and the day of the month wheel  35  share center  49 , the school/grade indicator wheel  39  has center  42  and the grade level indictor wheel  33  has center  32 . The means for attaching each wheel to the front and rear panels is a preferably a grommet; however, other means to attach the wheels to the front and rear panels also fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0038]    The right edge of the grade level indictor wheel  33  is superimposed over the left edge of the school/grade indicator wheel  39 . This allows proper and continuous alignment of the grade level descriptor and school/grade descriptor.  FIGS. 10 and 11  show an alignment between the words KINDER and GARTEN to form “KINDERGARTEN”. Other combinations can be obtained by aligning for example PRE and SCHOOOL to form the phrase “PRE SCHOOL” and “7 th ”, and “GRADE” form “7 th  GRADE”. This is accomplished by turning the grade level indictor wheel  33  and the school/grade indicator wheel  39  such that these word pairs are in a position of alignment as shown in cutout window  52 . It is noted that superimposing wheel  39  over wheel  33  also falls within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]      FIG. 11  shows the display board from the view of the front panel in a semitransparent form such that the positions of the wheels placed between the front panel  51  and the rear panel  54  can be discerned yet highlights the displays through cutout windows  52  and  53  in the front panel  51 . 
         [0040]    Likewise, the right edge of the day of the month wheel  37  is superimposed over the left edge of the year wheel  41  in order to achieve continuous date display in cutout window  53  as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . It is noted that superimposing the year wheel  41  over the day of the month wheel  37  also fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0041]      FIG. 13  shows the display board from the view of the rear panel  54  in a semitransparent form such that the positions of the wheels placed between the front panel  51  and the rear panel  54  may be discerned yet highlights the cutout windows and the serrated wheel edges visible and accessible through the respective cutout windows in the rear panel  54  for each wheel. A user may access each wheel and using one&#39;s fingers, rotate the wheels to achieve the proper wheel alignment for creating the displayed phrases. 
         [0042]    As in the first embodiment, the wheels of the second embodiment of the present invention are attached to the front panel  51  and rear panel  54  using grommets positioned at the center of each wheel as shown in  FIG. 10 . The first/last wheel  43  contains grommet  36 , the day of the month wheel  35  and the month wheel  37  share grommet  49 , the year wheel  41  contains grommet  38 , the grade level indictor wheel  33  contains grommet  32  and the school/grade indicator wheel  39  contains grommet  42 . Each wheel also contains serrated edges  34  that give the users leverage to rotate the wheel using their fingers. The rear panel  54  contains cutouts through which the serrated edges of the wheels may be accessed as shown in  FIG. 13 . The school/grade indicator wheel  39  may be accessed through cutout window  45 , the grade level indictor wheel  33  may be accessed through cutout window  47 , the day of the month wheel  35  may be accessed through cutout window  48 , the year wheel  41  may be accessed through cutout window  46  and the first/last wheel  43  can be accessed through cutout window  44 . 
         [0043]    The day of the month wheel  37  may be accessed through cutout  53  in the front panel  51 . The sixth wheel  43  may provide additional descriptors to the display board  20 . As depicted in  FIG. 10 , the first/last wheel  43  may be toggled between the words LAST or FIRST. The combination of KINDER and GARTEN can be viewed in the cutout window  52  in the front panel  51 . The label on the first/last wheel  43  can be seen through cutout window  75  in the front panel  51  as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
         [0044]    It is noted that the front panel  51  may contain additional writings and decorative insignia as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0045]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 3