EP0733491B1 - Système pour effacer des marques tenaces, sèches provennant d'un premier effacement - Google Patents

Système pour effacer des marques tenaces, sèches provennant d'un premier effacement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0733491B1
EP0733491B1 EP19950301935 EP95301935A EP0733491B1 EP 0733491 B1 EP0733491 B1 EP 0733491B1 EP 19950301935 EP19950301935 EP 19950301935 EP 95301935 A EP95301935 A EP 95301935A EP 0733491 B1 EP0733491 B1 EP 0733491B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
eraser
erasing
marker
framework
base portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19950301935
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0733491A1 (fr
Inventor
Michael J. Wagner
Rodney J. Baudino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sanford LP
Original Assignee
Sanford Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sanford Corp filed Critical Sanford Corp
Priority to ES95301935T priority Critical patent/ES2139147T3/es
Priority to EP19950301935 priority patent/EP0733491B1/fr
Priority to DE1995612761 priority patent/DE69512761T2/de
Publication of EP0733491A1 publication Critical patent/EP0733491A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0733491B1 publication Critical patent/EP0733491B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43L—ARTICLES FOR WRITING OR DRAWING UPON; WRITING OR DRAWING AIDS; ACCESSORIES FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43L21/00—Blackboard or slate cleaning devices
    • B43L21/04—Wiper holders

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to erasers, and a combined eraser and marker product which comprise an eraser system. In all embodiments it relates specifically to an eraser which is especially adapted for erasing stubborn dry erase marks on white boards, the word "stubborn” being used herein to mean "difficult-to-remove”.
  • Dry markers used on white boards have become increasingly popular in recent years. Such markers are well developed and are currently available in a wide variety of colors, though black is the color most commonly used. Such markers are usually used in conjunction with dry erase boards which have a relatively smooth, non-porous surface so that the marker fluid does not sink into the body of the board to the same degree chalk sinks into a conventional slate blackboard. Such dry boards are also well-known in the art and hence a detailed description of the dry boards is not necessary to an understanding of the invention. Such boards are available in many colors but white is by far the most common color since it provides maximum or near maximum contrast with the marker fluid, particularly black fluid.
  • a significant problem is the fact that it is difficult to remove the markings made by such markers on a dry board if the markings have been on the dry board for a substantial length of time.
  • dry board erasers are available which function very well in removing markings which are fresh from a dry board.
  • the board may be covered with markings before the lecture is finished.
  • the lecturer simply erases the markings made earlier in the lecture using a conventional dry board eraser and thereby recreates a clear area on the board, and then begins to re-mark said clear area as the lecture continues.
  • the markings made just moments ago, and other markings made up to a considerably longer period of time such as, for example, during the preceding lecture hour, erase easily with an eraser having a conventional dry board erasing surface.
  • the markings which remain from the last use can be removed using a conventional eraser only with great difficulty and with the application of repeated wiping passes under substantial hand-applied pressure.
  • the application of the above-described effort does not result in a clear surface and hence the next user must work with a surface having faint, and possibly not so faint, traces of the markings made by a prior user. The possibility for confusion is obvious.
  • the invention is directed to an eraser particularly well adapted to quickly and easily remove stubborn dry erase marks from marker boards while, at the same time, having the ability to quickly and easily remove fresh marks to the same extent as conventional erasers do.
  • the invention is also directed to such an eraser which can be used by itself and without any accompanying components, and, equally well, to an eraser which can hold one or a plurality of markers so that the user can manipulate the eraser and the marker or markers as a unit, and change from one marker to another marker of different color quickly, thereby avoiding a disconcerting and attention-interrupting break in presentation by the dry board user.
  • the eraser in the (a) eraser, and (b) eraser and marker combination includes a first erasing medium which is particularly well adapted for removing recently applied markings from the dry erase board with which this invention is intended to be used, and a second erasing medium which is particularly well adapted to erase stubborn dry erase marks.
  • a first erasing medium which is particularly well adapted for removing recently applied markings from the dry erase board with which this invention is intended to be used
  • a second erasing medium which is particularly well adapted to erase stubborn dry erase marks.
  • the first erasing medium be a pile fabric
  • the second erasing medium be velcro, and preferably a closed loop velcro.
  • the eraser framework be so arranged that it may be conveniently grasped by a user when no markers are associated with the eraser, and equally easily grasped by a user when one on up to the full storage capacity of the eraser are assembled to the eraser.
  • the eraser system of this invention is indicated generally at 10 in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the eraser consists essentially of two parts, a framework, indicated generally at 11 in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and the erasing medium, indicated generally at 12 in the Figures.
  • the framework 11 is, in this instance, a unitary piece having constant dimensions from end to end so that it lends itself to economical production processes, such as plastic extrusion techniques.
  • the lower portion of framework 11 has three distinct sections comprising a center section 14 and two side sections 15 and 16 which are illustrated best in Figures 1, 2 and 3. As best seen in Figure 3, the two side sections 15 and 16 are disposed at the same level and the center section 14 is offset downwardly therefrom by means of upwardly and outwardly inclined wall portions 17 and 18.
  • the lower portion forms, in effect, a base to which the erasing medium is secured.
  • the erasing medium consists of two strips of pile fabric, indicated at 19, 20, of a width which conforms to and depends downwardly from the securement areas 21, 22 formed on the undersurface of side sections 15, 16 respectively.
  • the strips of pile fabric are secured to their associated surfaces by a carrier indicated at 23, 24 respectively.
  • the carrier is an adhesive having the property of being able to form a bond strong enough to withstand the substantial pressures to which the eraser is subjected when in use throughout the entire useful life of the eraser, and capable of forming such a bond with both the material of which the framework is composed, which is preferably plastic, and the conventional pile fabric backing.
  • the pile fabric may for example be polypropylene fabric in the form which is used in carpeting and other products such as paint rollers.
  • One suitable carrier material is a clear adhesive available from the 3M Company under the trade designation 8056 Adhesive Systems. Said carrier is applied in an amount to form a strong bond and may for example have a thickness of on the order of about 0.79 mm (1/32 inch).
  • the pile fabric may, for example, have a thickness of on the order of about 6.35 mm (1/4 inch).
  • the erasing medium further includes a strip 26 of the plastic material commonly known as velcro. Both cut loop and closed loop velcro is available but the closed loop form is used because of its stiffness and better mark removing capability.
  • the velcro is attached to the undersurface of the center section 14 of the framework by a suitable carrier, indicated at 27, which carrier may be the same as the carrier material 23, 24 since velcro is a plastic material.
  • the pile fabric preferably extends downwardly a short distance further than the velcro, said distance being, for example, on the order of about 0.79 mm (1/32 inch).
  • the upper portion of the framework has roughly the shape of the letter Y and consists of a vertical stem 28 and two diverging arm portions 29, 30 which diverge (or join) at junction 31.
  • Each arm portion terminates in an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall 32, 33, each wall forming a sharp junction with its associated arm at 34, 35, respectively for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.
  • portion of the arm portions 29, 30 which are closely adjacent to their associated walls 32, 33 are formed with a slight reverse curve so that the arm-wall junctions 34, 35 are closer to the upper surface of their associated side sections 15, 16 than the area immediately inwardly from said arm-wall junctions 34, 35.
  • Each wall 32, 33 terminates in an inwardly extending section 37, 38 which, in this instance, is horizontally disposed.
  • Each inwardly extending section 37, 38 in turn terminates in a downwardly extending edge lip 39, 40 though this specific configuration may be varied as will appear hereinafter.
  • the entire framework is formed of plastic and the thickness of the various components may be only on the order of about 1.58 mm (1/16 inch), it will be appreciated that the components, though fixed in position to one another in an unstressed condition, are not absolutely rigid. Specifically, they have the capability of flexing to a slight degree toward and away from one another under urging in a deforming direction by modest hand applied pressure.
  • the plastic material from which the framework is composed has a memory so that once deformed by external pressure the components will tend to return to their initial, unstressed position.
  • any one or all of markers 44, 45 or 46, or any combination thereof, may be assembled to the framework 11 to thereby form a combined eraser-marker system 10.
  • the exact configuration of the markers is not an essential feature of the invention so long as at least one lineal area is capable of being assembled to the eraser.
  • the distance between left arm-wall junction 34 and the upper surface of left side section 15 will be slightly shorter than the vertical diameter of the marker 45. Since the vertical distance between arm-wall junction 34 and left side section 15 lies to the left of the vertical diameter of marker 45 and said vertical distance is less than the vertical distance of marker 45, the marker 45 will be positively mechanically gripped between the Y section and the left side section 15 of the framework.
  • At least a three point support for the marker has been provided with at least two of the three support or contact points between the framework and the marker lying on opposite sides of a diametrical line of the marker, with at least one contact point on each side of the diametrical line.
  • FIG. 1 a specific example of a marker of a definite configuration is there illustrated.
  • the markers indicated generally at 44, 45 and 46 are each formed with a main cylindrical portion 47 of constant diameter which terminates at one end in a short section of reduced diameter 48 which abuts against a cap 49.
  • the maximum diameter of cap 49 is shown, in this instance, as equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion 47 and hence the maximum diametrical area of the cap deflects the Y portion of the framework to the same extent and in the same manner as does the cylindrical portion 47.
  • the maximum diameter of the cap may be larger or smaller than the diameter of the main cylindrical section 47.
  • the cap has a maximum diameter larger than the diameter of cylindrical portion 47, the only, or primary, holding force between the framework and the marker or markers will occur at the contact points between the framework and said maximum diameter of the cap. If the cap has a maximum diameter smaller than the cylindrical portion 47, the primary, and probably only, holding force between the framework and marker or markers will occur between the cylindrical portion 47 and the framework.
  • the eraser structure is very flexible in terms of accommodating markers of different lengths and exterior configurations.
  • a user grasps the framework of the eraser together with either one, two or three markers, if present, in one hand and wipes the dry board containing markings with the usual arm-hand generated strokes.
  • the pile fabric strips 19, 20 will effectively remove markings which have not dried so long and so hard as to be characterized as stubborn dry erase marks.
  • the exposed surface of velcro strip 26 may make contact with the dry erase board and contribute to the erasing action, but the primary mark erasing portion of the eraser system will be the pile fabric strips 19, 20; indeed, they may remove all the non-stubborn markings.
  • the velcro strip need not be fully activated if no stubborn dry erase marks are to be removed, with the phrase not fully activated including all degrees of activation from no activation up to nearly complete activation.
  • the user applies sufficient pressure to cause the velcro strip 26 to come into contact with the dry erase board. Since the individual loops which form the velcro strip are much stiffer and harder than the soft, carpet-like consistency of the pile fabric strips 19, 20, the pile fabric strips will be readily compressed and, at their edges, forced outwardly so that the coarse, harder velcro fibers readily engage the board's surface. As a consequence, the heavier scraping action derived from the velcro loops will be applied instantly to the board to bring maximum scrubbing/erasing pressure to bear on the stubborn dry erase marks. Any marking material which is dislodged from the surface of the dry erase board and which is not picked up by the velcro will be trapped by the softer, pile fabric strips 19, 20.
  • an eraser system and specifically an eraser or an eraser in combination with one or a plurality of markers, has been disclosed which functions to effectively remove both recently applied markings on dry erase boards and stubborn dry erase markings.

Landscapes

  • Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Drawing Aids And Blackboards (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Un effaceur (10) pour effacer des marques sèches difficiles à éliminer, ledit effaceur comprenant un cadre (11) ayant une partie de base (14) qui supporte des milieux d'effacement (19, 20; 26),
    ledit cadre (11) comprenant en outre une partie (28, 29, 30), faisant saillie vers le haut de la partie de base (14) et profilée de façon à être saisie dans la main de l'utilisateur, et
    les milieux d'effacement étant supportés par la face inférieure de la partie de base (14),
    lesdits milieux d'effacement comprenant un premier milieu d'effacement (19, 20) constitué d'un matériau flexible souple, qui peut éliminer et maintenir un fluide de marquage qui a été récemment appliqué sur une surface de marquage, et un deuxième milieu d'effacement (26) qui est plus dur et plus rigide que ledit premier milieu d'effacement et peut effacer les marques d'effacement sèches difficiles à éliminer, caractérisé par le fait que le premier milieu d'effacement (19-20) est un tissu velouté, tandis que le deuxième milieu d'effacement (26) est un matériau à crochets et/ou à boucles.
  2. L'effaceur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre par le fait que le deuxième milieu d'effacement (26) un matériau à boucles fermées.
  3. L'effaceur selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé par le fait que la partie (28, 29, 30) saillant vers le haut du cadre (11) est moins large que la partie de base (14).
  4. L'effaceur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre par le fait que ledit deuxième milieu d'effacement (26) est placé entre des zones (19, 20) séparées dudit premier milieu d'effacement.
  5. L'effaceur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-4, caractérisé en outre par le fait que ledit premier milieu d'effacement (19-20), dans un état non-sollicité inopérant, s'étend vers le bas depuis la face inférieure de la partie de base (14) du cadre (11), à une distance légèrement plus grande que le deuxième milieu d'effacement (26), de manière que, si seule ledit premier milieu d'effacement (19, 20) souple est nécessaire pour éliminer les marques, ledit deuxième milieu d'effacement (26) ne nécessite pas d'être complètement activé.
  6. L'effaceur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-5, caractérisé par le fait que ladite partie (28, 29, 30) saillant vers le haut du cadre (11) présente un espace destiné à recevoir et à maintenir au moins un marqueur (44, 45 ou 46), de manière que l'effaceur et le marqueur puissent être saisis et utilisés sous la forme d'une structure monobloc.
  7. L'effaceur selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en outre par le fait que la partie (28, 29, 30) faisant saillie vers le haut est globalement en forme de Y, au moins une partie de bras (29, 30) du Y recouvrant un côté de la partie de base (14), la face inférieure de ladite première partie de bras et la partie de base étant profilées pour établir un contact avec un marqueur leur étant assemblé, en au moins trois points de contact, dont au moins deux d'entre eux se situent sur les côtés opposés d'une ligne diamétrale du marqueur.
  8. L'effaceur selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en outre par le fait que chaque partie de bras (29, 30) du Y recouvre un côté associé de la partie de base (14), la face inférieure de chaque partie de bras et son côté associé de la partie de base étant profilés pour établir un contact avec un marqueur leur assemblé en au moins trois points de contact, au moins deux d'entre eux se trouvant sur les côtés opposés d'une ligne diamétrale du marqueur.
  9. Le système d'effaceur selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en outre par le fait que les parties de bras (29, 30) du Y forment un siège pour recevoir un troisième marqueur et des moyens (37, 38) sont prévus pour saisir positivement mécaniquement le troisième marqueur.
  10. L'effaceur selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en outre par le fait que le cadre (11) est une structure monobloc unitaire formée à partir d'un matériau flexible massif qui peut être légèrement déformé élastiquement lorsqu'un marqueur lui est assemblé.
EP19950301935 1995-03-23 1995-03-23 Système pour effacer des marques tenaces, sèches provennant d'un premier effacement Expired - Lifetime EP0733491B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES95301935T ES2139147T3 (es) 1995-03-23 1995-03-23 Sistema borrador para marcas de borrado tenaces, secas.
EP19950301935 EP0733491B1 (fr) 1995-03-23 1995-03-23 Système pour effacer des marques tenaces, sèches provennant d'un premier effacement
DE1995612761 DE69512761T2 (de) 1995-03-23 1995-03-23 Löschvorrichtung für hartnäckige, trockene Markierungen nach einer ersten Löschung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19950301935 EP0733491B1 (fr) 1995-03-23 1995-03-23 Système pour effacer des marques tenaces, sèches provennant d'un premier effacement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0733491A1 EP0733491A1 (fr) 1996-09-25
EP0733491B1 true EP0733491B1 (fr) 1999-10-13

Family

ID=8221141

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19950301935 Expired - Lifetime EP0733491B1 (fr) 1995-03-23 1995-03-23 Système pour effacer des marques tenaces, sèches provennant d'un premier effacement

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0733491B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69512761T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2139147T3 (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1928230A (en) * 1932-12-27 1933-09-26 Reynolds Wellington George Blackboard eraser
FR2480680A1 (fr) * 1980-04-21 1981-10-23 Levy Daniel Bloc effaceur a pression magnetique, faisant porte-marqueur
US4543680A (en) * 1984-01-18 1985-10-01 Vlahos Stephanie A Blackboard eraser handle
CA1314842C (fr) * 1989-02-27 1993-03-23 Roger Durand Capuchon pour un instrument d'ecriture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2139147T3 (es) 2000-02-01
EP0733491A1 (fr) 1996-09-25
DE69512761D1 (de) 1999-11-18
DE69512761T2 (de) 2000-05-18

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