CA2562477C

CA2562477C - Angled ergonomic non-reflective electronic whiteboard cabinet

Info

Publication number: CA2562477C
Application number: CA2562477A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Alfonso Fabian De La Fuente
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Quirklogic Inc
Priority date: 2006-09-11
Filing date: 2006-09-11
Publication date: 2011-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-11
Also published as: CA2562477A1

Abstract

This invention provides an improved electronic whiteboard cabinet to be primarily used in educational facilities and presentations in front of audiences; this is an angled ergonomic, non reflective electronic whiteboard cabinet with integrated sound system, wired, with space on the back top portion of the unit to install a computer CPU and accessories inside the whiteboard and to hold any capture device on front of the unit. It can even hold other types of electronic whiteboard systems with sensitive surfaces. Its angled surface deflects any light coming horizontally or "top to bottom" such as sunlight, classroom lamps and light projection coming from an overhead projector or video projector of any type not reflecting the light directly to the audience; instead it deflects it to the floor. On the sides we can find the speakers and the access to the back cabinet. This unit can be wall mounted or movable.

Description

TITLE
[001] Angled Ergonomic Non-reflective Electronic Whiteboard Cabinet FIELD

[002] The field of this invention relates to whiteboard cabinets.
BACKGROUND

[003] Whiteboard cabinets are well known. Often used in teaching and presentations, a whiteboard cabinet has a front planer face upon which a presenter can write or produce drawings using erasable markers. The planer face is easily viewable, and can quickly be cleaned upon starting a new presentation simply by wiping off the erasable markings from a previous presentation.

[004] There are drawbacks to current whiteboard cabinets in that in classrooms where the teacher tries to project an image using an overhead projector or any type of video projector on the white surface of a whiteboard or dry erase board, there is always a reflection or dead-spot for some one in the audience depending on the placement of the projector

[005] Also unwanted reflection from external sources such as open windows that reflect sunlight or lamps on the ceiling of the classroom produce light that reflects on conventional whiteboards directly on some audience eyes. Also they do not tend to be very gastronomical for users.

SUMMARY

[006] There is provided an electronic writing board cabinet which has a wedge shaped body. The wedge shaped body has a bottom edge and a top edge that is thicker than the bottom edge. It also has a planar rear surface which is substantially perpendicular to the top edge and a substantially planar front whiteboard viewing surface that is angled from the bottom edge toward the top edge at an angle of between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[007] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic writing board.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic writing board.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in section, of the writing board, showing the compartments.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, in section, of the writing board with equipment in the compartments.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of someone using the electronic writing board cabinet.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of someone using the electronic writing board cabinet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[008] An electronic writing board cabinet generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG.1 through 6.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

[009] Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an electronic writing board cabinet, generally referenced by numeral 10. A wedge shaped body 12 is provided which has a bottom edge 14 and a top edge 16 that is thicker than bottom edge 14. Wedge shaped body 12 also has a planar rear surface 18 which is substantially perpendicular to top edge 16 and a substantially planar front whiteboard viewing surface 20 which is angled from bottom edge 14 toward top edge 16 at an angle of between 15 degrees and 25 degrees. Wedge shaped body 12 is hollow.

[0010] Referring to FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4, wedge shaped body 12 includes several storage compartments 22, at least one of which is capable of housing a desktop computer 24 as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Referring to FIGURE 3, while the illustrated embodiment shows six storage compartments 22 it will be appreciated that there could as few as two or more than two as desired. A power outlet 26 is provided within one of storage compartments 22. A door 28 is provided for storage compartments 22. A cover 30 is provided along top edge 16. A cable management aperture 32 extends through wedge shaped body 12 to accommodate electrical cables 34. A speaker aperture 36 also is positioned in wedge shaped body 12. Referring to FIGURE 1, a storage tray 38 is secured to bottom edge 14 of wedge shaped body 12. A radio frequency antenna 40 is also secured to wedge shaped body 12.

[0011] Operation:

[0012] Referring to FIGURES 1 through 6, there is illustrated a method of orientating a substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface 20 in a room 42. Referring to FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 6, the method includes positioning substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface such that the angle between substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface 20 and a vertical wall 44 is between 15 degrees and 25 degrees, such that reflections are directed 15 downward toward a floor 46. Substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface 20 is secured such that its position is stable relative to room 42.

[0013] Substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface 20 is positioned on a substantially planar whiteboard cabinet 10, as described above. Whiteboard viewing surface 20 is secured 20 such that its position is stable relative to room 38 by securing planar rear surface 18 of electronic writing board cabinet 10 to vertical wall 44.

[0014] Referring to FIGURE 4, angled ergonomic non-reflective electronic white board cabinet 10 is provided with integrated audio system 48, and is wired with space to install computer 24 inside wedge shaped body 12 as illustrated in FIGURE 4, and an interactive capture bar 50 or any other captioning device on front of cabinet 10 as illustrated in FIGURE
1. Referring to FIGURE 4, electronic white board cabinet 10 will accommodate a complete computer CPU on the back with integrated stereo speakers 52, amplifier 54, subwoofer 56 and electrical wiring 34 with an angled writing surface in the form of whiteboard viewing surface 20 illustrated in FIGURE 1, that makes the projected images from any type of projector non reflective to viewers such as students.

[0015] Whiteboard viewing surface 20 can be made of melamine, ceramic on steel or any other dry erase board surface mounted on cabinet 10 that is angled from bottom 14 to top 16 at 20 degrees so there is no visible direct reflection to students or viewers when projecting an image with any type of projector such as LCD, DPL, video projectors or overhead projectors such as those used in classrooms. Referring to FIGURE 4, inside cabinet 10 a complete computer CPU 34 plus accessories can be accommodated. Cabinet 10 can also hold 2 stereo speakers 52 plus a subwoofer 56 and an audio amplifier 54. Inside cabinet 10 there is also a complete electrical wiring 34 to give AC power to computer CPU 24, amplifier 54 and any other component that needs to be connected to a power source. Referring to FIGURE 1, there's also room for adapting an interactive capture bar 50, and other cables and connectors.

[0016] Referring to FIGURES 5 & 6, cabinet 10 can be secured to wall 44 by installing 2 wood pieces one 4 inch x 4 inch x 2 feet and the other a 4 inch x 4 inch x 5 feet. Cabinet 10 can measure 4 feet high x 8 feet long with the depth on bottom 14 being about 3 inches and the depth on top 16 being about 9 inches. Referring to FIGURE 1, on top 16 of cabinet 10, there is a cover 30 that has holes 58 to allow for cables 34 to run in and out of cabinet 10. On that cover 30 there is also a metal plate 60 to help attach magnetic mount antenna 40 for wireless network connection for cabinet 10. Compartments 22 have doors 28 that pivot and hang from hinges 62. Speakers 52 can also be placed within compartments 22 as shown in FIGURE 4. Referring to FIGURE 1, doors 28 can have locks 64 to prevent unauthorized use of electronic components of cabinet 10. Referring to FIGURE 1, an optional a storage tray 38 or holder bar can be added to bottom edge 14 for markers and erasers 66.

[0017] Usually in classrooms when the teacher tries to project an image using an overhead projector or any type of video projector on the white surface of a whiteboard or dry erase board, there is always a reflection or dead-spot for some one in the audience depending on the placement of the projector.

[0018] Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, cabinet 10 has a 15 to 25 degree angle that makes the reflected dead-spot invisible to the audience because the angle of reflection makes that reflection to go to floor 46 instead of the eyes of the audience. This works when a projector is installed on the ceiling of the classroom or placed on top of a table in front of the cabinet 10.

[0019] Unwanted reflection from external sources such as open windows that reflect 5 sunlight, or lamps on the ceiling of the classroom, produce light reflects off conventional whiteboards directly on some audience eyes. Cabinet 10 directs that reflection to floor 46 of the classroom. As shown in FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 6, the 15 to 25 degree angle also makes cabinet 10 more friendly and ergonomic to write on whiteboard viewing surface 20 as that part is closer to the user or teacher than with use with conventional flat whiteboards.

[0020] Referring to FIGURE 5, cabinet 10 is intended to be primarily used in educational facilities and presentations in front of audiences. Referring to FIGURE 4, angled ergonomic, non reflective electronic whiteboard cabinet 10 can be provided with integrated sound system 52, and wired wit a computer CPU 24 and accessories as well hold any capture device 50 as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Cabinet 10 can even hold other types of electronic whiteboard systems with sensitive surfaces. Referring to FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 6, Cabinet's whiteboard viewing surface 20 deflects any light coming horizontally or "top to bottom" light such as sunlight, classroom lamps or light projection coming from an overhead projector, or video projector of any type. Rather than reflecting the light directly to the audience, whiteboard viewing surface 20 instead deflects it to floor 46. Cabinet 10 can be wall mounted as described above or movable.

[00211 In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0022] The following claims are to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can be obviously substituted.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope of the claims. The illustrated embodiments have been set forth only as examples and should not be taken as limiting the invention. It is to be understood that, within the scope of the following claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically illustrated and described.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. An electronic writing board cabinet, comprising:
a wedge shaped body having a bottom edge, a top edge that is thicker than the bottom edge, a planar rear surface substantially perpendicular to the top edge and a substantially planar front whiteboard viewing surface angled from the bottom edge toward the top edge at an angle of between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

2. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 1, wherein the wedge shaped body is hollow.

3. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 2, wherein the wedge shaped body comprises at least two storage compartments, at least one of which is capable of housing a desktop computer.

4. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 3, further comprising at least one power outlet within the at least two storage compartments.

5. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 2, further comprising at least one cable management aperture extending through the wedge shaped body.

6. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 2, further comprising at least one speaker aperture positioned in the wedge shaped body.

7. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 3, further comprising a door on each of the at least two storage compartments.

8. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a storage tray securable to the bottom edge of the wedge shaped body.

9. The electronic writing board cabinet of claim 1, wherein a radio frequency antenna is secured to the wedge shaped body.

10. A method of orientating a substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface in a room which comprises:
positioning the substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface such that the angle between the substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface and a vertical wall is between 15 degrees and 25 degrees, such that reflections are directed downward toward a floor; and securing the substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface such that its position is stable relative to the room.

11. The method of orientating a substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface in a room of claim 10, wherein the means for positioning the substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface such that the angle between the substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface and a vertical wall is between 15 degrees and 25 degrees comprises placing the substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface on a substantially planar whiteboard cabinet front surface, wherein the electronic writing board cabinet comprises a wedge shaped body having a bottom edge, a top edge that is thicker than the bottom edge, a planar rear surface substantially perpendicular to the top edge and a substantially planar front surface angled from the bottom edge toward the top edge at an angle of between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

12. The method of orientating a substantially planar whiteboard viewing surface in a room of claim 11, wherein the means for securing the whiteboard viewing surface such that its position is stable relative to the room comprises securing the planar rear surface of the whiteboard cabinet to the vertical wall.