EP1934060B1

EP1934060B1 - Hand-held dry-erase board system

Info

Publication number: EP1934060B1
Application number: EP06815475.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Julia Rhodes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Julia Marie Rhodes 2010 Revocable Trust
Priority date: 2005-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2017-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-26
Also published as: JP3149308U; CA2623441C; WO2007038516A2; EP1934060A4; CA2623441A1; WO2007038516A3; EP1934060A2

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to learning aids and more specifically it relates to a hand-held dry-erase board system for efficiently combining a dry-erase board, a marker and an eraser into one package.

Description of the Related Art

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Learning aids have been in use for years. Typically, learning aids have included items such as flashcards, small chalk boards and small dry-erase boards. When using flashcards, a student or teacher will read the question on one side of the flashcard and, when ready, flip it over to read the answer. Portable chalk boards and dry-erase boards usually include a board along with a piece of chalk or dry-erase marker and then a separate eraser. The student or teacher may write a question on one side of the board and then either erase it, or if the board has two sides, flip it over to reveal the answer (providing the answer was previously written on the back).
A disadvantage with flashcards is that they are not usually able to be modified and are generally not written on. This can hinder the student's learning ability as the flash card may not adequately describe the solution to the given problem. Portable chalk boards pose the problem of leaving messy chalk dust and small pieces of chalk everywhere. Chalk boards can also be difficult to read from a distance (i.e. the back of a classroom). A problem with past portable dry-erase boards is that it can be cumbersome to carry around a separate board, marker and eraser simultaneously.
US 5997309 A discloses a play strategy erasable screen assembly including a housing and a display mechanism mounted thereon. The display mechanism includes an upper transparent layer, a thin compartment situated thereunder within an interior space of the housing, and a predetermined amount of metallic shavings situated within the compartment. A plurality of stamps are included each having magnets mounted thereon for being placed on the transparent layer of the display mechanism to adhere the metallic shavings on the transparent layer in a configuration similar to that in which the magnets are mounted on the stamps.
GB 2296898 A discloses a magnetic display apparatus having a display sheet consisting of microcapsules. The magnetic display apparatus includes an erasing magnet driven by a spiral spring, contained within a frame, for moving a magnet holder. In use, movement of a knob causes a pinion through engagement with a rack to wind up the spring. Release of the knob causes the spring to unwind and drive the magnet beneath the display sheet to effect erasure.
US 5626478 A discloses a portable coaching device including a thin, rigid support board having opposed sides and a perimeter. One side is covered with a white coating capable of being written upon with a dry erase marker and the other side bears an image of an area in which a game is played. This image is protected by a material which is capable of being written upon with a dry erase marker. There is handle in the form of an elongated opening near the perimeter of the board, and a case adapted to hold a dry erase marker attached to the board.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently combining a dry-erase board, a marker and an eraser into one package. Past chalk boards and dry-erase boards have posed a significant problem in that it can be very cumbersome to carry around a board, a marker or chalk and an eraser at one time.
In these respects, the hand-held dry-erase board system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently combining a dry-erase board, a marker and an eraser into one convenient package.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system comprising a dry erase marker and a dry erase board. The dry erase board has a first writable surface, on which a dry-erase marker can be used, the first writable surface being located within, or on a side of, a frame, and a handle comprising an upper end and a lower end. Only the upper end of the handle is attached to, or integrally formed with, the frame. The handle has a size and shape suitable for being held while writing and for holding up the hand-holdable dry-erase board for others to view. The handle includes a clip which can removably retain the dry erase marker.
One embodiment of the invention relates to a hand-held writing system which includes a frame, a handle, and a clip. At least one writing surface, and optionally a second writing surface on the opposing surface to the first writing surface, may also be located within the frame. The system includes a handle which is attached to the frame at one end. A clip is attached to the handle to permit a writing instrument to be removably retained to the handle.
In one embodiment, the writing surface of the system includes a smooth laminate finish which is suitable for writing with a dry-erase marker. The surface would thus be a write on-wipe off surface. Such a marker would include a marker handle and a writing tip, and preferably includes a cap which is removably attached to the marker and covers the writing tip when not in use. The dry-erase marker may further include an eraser suitable for erasing markings from the writing surface of the system. The eraser may be attached to the cap or to the end of the marker distal to the writing tip.
The handle of the system of the present invention may be designed of a specific size and shape to be held comfortably by a user and may have an ergonomic gripping structure and configuration. In a particular embodiment, the handle may include a second clip on the side of the handle opposing the side containing the first clip. In this way, the handle may be capable of supporting a second writing instrument simultaneously with the first. The clips are comprised of first and second ribs within which the writing instruments may be stored when not in use. The ribs may be positioned below the surface of the handle to prevent the clip from interfering with a user gripping the handle. Each rib may include first and second locking members at a distance slightly smaller than the diameter of the writing instruments. The locking members permit the writing instrument may be removably fastened between the ribs to keep the instruments affixed to the handle when not in use.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an upper exploded perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention with a question written on the first surface.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the present invention with a solution written on the second surface.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention with the marker attached to the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A. Overview

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate a hand-held dry-erase board system 10, which comprises a frame 20 including a writable surface, a handle 30, wherein the handle 30 includes an upper end 32 and a lower end 34 and wherein the upper end 32 of the handle 30 is attached to the frame 20 and a clip 50, wherein the clip 50 is attached to the handle 30 and wherein the clip 50 secures a marker unit 40.

B. Frame

The frame 20 is preferably comprised of a circular structure and configuration as shown in Figures 1 through 4; however it is appreciated that the frame 20 may be comprised of various shapes rather than the preferred embodiment, such as but not limited to square, rectangular and triangular. The frame 20 is preferably comprised of a stiff material (i.e. wood, masonite, plastic, etc.) and is suitable for holding a writable surface.
The writable surface is preferably comprised of a first surface 22 and a second surface 24, where the first surface 22 and the second surface 24 are preferably on opposite sides of the frame 20, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The first surface 22 and the second surface 24 are preferably of a substantially similar configuration. The first surface 22 and the second surface 24 are also preferably of a circular structure and configuration. The size and shape of the first surface 22 and the second surface 24 are preferably similar, but slightly smaller in diameter, to the circular configuration of the frame 20.
The first surface 22 and the second surface 24 are preferably comprised of a smooth laminate coating (i.e. porcelain, epoxy-coated film, ultraviolet cured liquid, varnish, etc.) or any coating that can be written on and erased with dry-erase markers and erasers, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The coating used for the first surface 22 and the second surface 24 is preferably substantially similar. The first surface 22 and the second surface 24 may also have a pre-printed outline of any form of indicia (i.e. basketball court, line up of football players, etc.).

C. Handle

The handle 30 is preferably comprised of a material as to be easily gripped by a user (i.e. dense foam, plastic, rubber, etc.), as shown in Figures 1 through 5. The handle 30 is preferably an integrally formed structure with the frame 20; however the handle 30 may be comprised of a separate structure from the frame 20. The handle 30 is also preferably comprised of an ergonomic gripping design structure and configuration.
The handle 30 preferably includes a clip 50 on the same side of the hand-held dry-erase board system 10 as the first surface 22, where the clip 50 securely holds the marker unit 40, as shown in Figures 1 through 3. The handle 30 preferably is formed to include a clip 50 on both sides of the handle 30 to allow the user to secure two markers 40 to the hand-held dry-erase board system 10 as illustrated in Figures 3 through 5.
The clip 50 preferably includes a first rib 52 and a second rib 54. The first rib 52 and the second rib 54 are preferably of a substantially similar structure and configuration. The first rib 52 and the second rib 54 are preferably comprised of channel structures that extend into the handle 30, as not to be in the way from gripping the handle 30, as shown in Figures 1 through 5. The portion of the clip 50 furthest below the outer surface of the handle 30 is preferably coplanar with the edge of the first surface 22 as shown in Figure 5. In this way, the marker unit 40 rests in a horizontal position within the clip 50 when the hand-held dry-erase board system 10 is laid on a horizontal surface, such as a table or a desk.
The first rib 52 preferably includes a first locking member 53 and the second rib 54 preferably includes a second locking member 55. The first locking member 53 and the second locking member 55 are preferably positioned towards the upper end 32 of the handle 30 on the clip 50. The first locking member 53 and the second locking member 55 extend towards one another to create a slightly smaller width between the first locking member 53 and the second locking member 55 than the width between the first rib 52 and the second rib 54 near the lower end 36 of the handle 30. This to provide a secure holding place for the marker unit 40, when the marker handle 42 is in the clip 50, as shown in Figure 1.

D. Marker Unit

The marker unit 40 is preferably of a structure and configuration of a dry-erase marker. The marker unit 40 includes a writing tip 44 and the marker handle 42, as shown in Figure 2. The writing tip 44 is used to write on the first surface 22 and the second surface 24. The marker unit 40 also preferably includes a cap 46, where the cap 46 connects to the marker handle 42 and covers the writing tip 44 from outside elements. In an alternative example the marker unit 40 may be comprised of a configuration rather than a dry erase marker, such as but not limited to a chalk configuration or pencil configuration.
The cap 46 also preferably includes an eraser 48, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The eraser 48 is preferably positioned at the top of the cap 46 at the furthest point from the marker handle 42. The eraser 48 is preferably of a structure and configuration to erase writing on the first surface 22 and the second surface 24 from the writing tip 44. The eraser 48 is preferably comprised of a configuration of a standard dry erase board eraser; however it is appreciated that the eraser 48 may be comprised of various configurations rather than the preferred embodiment, such as but not limited to a chalk board eraser configuration or pencil eraser configuration.

E. Operation of Invention

The teacher or student first grasps the handle 30 in a way to not cover the marker unit 40. The marker unit 40 is then removed from the first locking member 53 and the second locking member 55 of the clip 50. The cap 46 from the marker unit 40 is then removed from the marker handle 42. The teacher may then firmly grasp the marker handle 42 and write a question (i.e. 3+1), using the writing tip 44, on the first surface 22, as shown in Figure 3. The teacher may also write the appropriate answer to the given question, at this time, on the second surface 24 (i.e. 3+1=4), as shown in Figure 4.
The teacher then replaces the cap 46 back on the marker handle 42 and then places the marker handle 42 back into the first locking member 53 and the second locking member 55 of the clip 50. The teacher now holds up the hand-held dry-erase board system 10 for his/her class to view. This is done in a manner so that the class may only see the first surface 22 of the hand-held dry-erase board system 10.
Once an individual in the class, or the entire class, guesses the answer to the question the teacher turns around the hand-held dry-erase board system 10 to reveal the second surface 24 and the answer to the question. The teacher may now remove the marker unit 40 from the first locking member 53 and the second locking member 55 of the clip 50, and rub the eraser 48 over the writing on the first surface 22 and the second surface 24. The eraser 48 erases the writing on the first surface 22 and the second surface 24 so that the teacher may now write a new question for his/her class. Every student in the class may also utilize the hand-held dry-erase board system 10 to respond to the teachers question with their individual response. To write a new question, the above process is simply repeated.
What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims
in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

Claims

A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system comprising:
a dry erase marker (40); and

a dry erase board having:
a first writable surface (22), on which a dry-erase marker (40) can be used, the first writable surface being located within, or on a side of, a frame (20); and

a handle (30) comprising an upper end (32) and a lower end (34);

characterised in that:
only the upper end (32) of the handle (30) is attached to, or integrally formed with, the frame (20); and

the handle (30) has a size and shape suitable for being held while writing and for holding up the hand-holdable dry-erase board for others to view; and

the handle (30) includes a clip (50) which can removably retain the dry erase marker (40).
A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first (22) writable surface is comprised of a smooth laminate coating.
A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the first writable surface provides a write on-wipe off surface.
A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clip (50) extends into the handle (30).
A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the clip (50) includes a first rib (52) and a second rib (54) between which the dry erase marker (40) can be retained.
A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the first rib includes a first locking member (53) and the second rib includes a second locking member (55), whereby the dry erase marker can be secured against the handle (30).
A hand-holdable dry-erase board writing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle (30) is integrally formed with the frame (20) of the writable surface.