GB2197623A - Drawing board accomodating auxiliary paper for notes - Google Patents

Abstract

A drawing board 1 with slider 2 is provided with a recess 4 within which bar 6 can be positioned, e.g. by studs pressed into holes 7 where desired, so as to hold a pad of paper 8 for use in preparation of notes or sketches. Completed notes or sketches can be stored beneath the pad 8. The position of bar 6 can be steplessly variable to hold pads of any size. Alternatively, a supply of portions of paper, for use as sketching paper and subsequent storage, can be provided as a roll of paper scrolling down the board. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED DRAWING BOARD This invention relates to drawing boards and similar support layers for draughtsmen.

It is commonplace to provide draughtsmen with a large flat stable drawing board. typically arranged on a stand to be slightly tilted downwards from the further or upper edge to a nearer or lower edge so as to assist the user in the production of accurate drawings. Such a drawing board is typically provided with a straight-edge member extending completely across the board and capable of smooth movement in a direction transverse to its length so as to provide a straight edge for drawing horizontal datum lines at any point.

I have observed two features in the use of such drawing boards and the practice of draughtsmen. Firstly, it is unusual for the drawing to extend over the whole expanse of the drawing board. In most cases paper of smaller dimension is being used, and can equally well occupy only part of the surface of a standard drawing board.

Secondly I have observed that there frequently arises the need for notes and exploratory or preparatory sketches of different degrees of exactness. Often, such sketches are produced on scrap paper or are otherwise not suitable for retention and provision of a complete record of the development of a design. It is apparent therefore that there is a need for the provision of a readily available supply of notepaper or drawing paper, or smaller size, presented in a way which can support either rough free-hand sketches or if necessary drawings of a higher degree of accuracy, and located in a fashion which permits storage and cataloguing.

In one aspect the invention provides a drawing board having attached thereto means for holding a supply of selectively small-dimension drawing paper or note paper so that the said paper may be positioned and held towards one side of the board for occasional use of portions thereof for notes or sketches and so that the said portions may be stored for retrieval after such use.

The present invention in one embodiment consists in a drawing board having in its surface a rectangular recess, said recess holding a positioning bar parallel to the upper and lower edges of the drawing board, and the bar being movable to, and immobilisable at, at least those locations where the lower horizontal edge of the bar is separated from the lower horizontal edge of the recess by an amount equivalent to a standard paper dimension; whereby the recess can be used to hold a stack of paper sheets between the bar and the lower edge of the lower recess in a secure manner permitting detachment of sheets and location for storage beneath the pad as the pad becomes progressively used up.

The rectangular recess is preferably located towards the right hand edge of the drawing, board and preferably towards the bottom edge also. Clearly, for a right-handed draughtsman, this will be a convenient location to turn to in order to make rough sketches or preparatory sketches for transfer and re-drawing in correct form upon a major sheet of paper occupying the major area of the drawing board. The recess can be completely surrounded by the drawing board surface, or can share one longer edge with the edge of the board, to give a three-sided recess.

The transverse bar can be provided with downwardly extending studs which fit into suitable holes extending in two lines parallel to and adjacent the vertical edges of the recess. This expedient will permit the bar to be placed exactly in locations corresponding to standard paper sizes. Alternatively, the bar could be provided with some form of stepless adjustment, for example a squeeze-fit or stiff sliding fit in grooves extending up and down within the recess.

Although the invention is primarily concerned with a conventional drawing board provided with the recess as defined above, it also extends to portable drawing boards in which the recess covers a significant proportion of the area. Such portable drawing boards can,for example, be carried on site or in laboratory or plant conditions so as to contain a drafting pad mounted on a firm surface for accurate sketch work and retention in sequence of the sketch copies.

The present invention in another embodiment consists in a drawing board having transverse shaft members generally behind upper and lower edges to hold the ends of a scroll of paper, a portion of which extends down the front of the board adjacent and parallel to one edge thereof, whereby indexed or stepless scrolling of the paper provides fresh portions for sketches or notes and sequential storage of earlier sketches or notes.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a drawing board provided with a recess in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a scroll arrangement for scrap paper.

A drawing board 1 is provided in a conventional manner with a horizontal slider 2 capable of movement in direction as shown by the arrows to occupy any position across the board. The primary function of the board is support for accurate draughtsmanship a major sheet of paper 3.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided towards the lower right-hand corner of the board a recess 4 the depth of which as shown by the walls 5 is less than, and preferably about half, the board thickness. The recess is rectangular with shorter ends running parallel to the top and bottom edge of the board and longer edges running parallel to the side or vertical edges of the board. Within the recess there is a bar 6, from the underside of which project studs, not shown. The nature and positioning of the studs, however, will be apparent from the positioning of two parallel rows of holes 7, one row down each side of the recess and adjacent its edge.By selective positioning of the studs on the underside of the bar 6 in the holes of rows 7 the bar can accurately define with the lower edge of the rectangular recess 4 the dimension of a standard drafting pad 8 located within the recess.

As shown in the drawing, the drafting pad has been displaced to one side whereby both rows of holes are visible. In practice, it would tend to be pushed to align and abut against one edge of the recess as well as against the bottom of the recess and the lower edge of the bar 6.

It will be immediately apparent that drafting pads of a number of sizes can be accommodated within the recess by suitable movement of the bar 6. Moreover, although not shown in the drawing, the holes can be replaced by a continuous groove and some form of spring-fit or resilient-fit or squeeze fit structure can be provided to project from the underside of the bar; in such an instance the position of the bar is steplessly variable and pads of odd siz-es can be accommodated.

The use of the equipment shown in the Figure will be immediately apparent. The draughtsmen primarily works upon sheet 3, but for occasions in which he feels the need to try a preliminary sketch, or an explanatory sketch for discussions, of either a free-hand nature or of relatively accurate drawing, the pad 8 is available as a firmly held level surface at the same level as the remainder of the drawing board. Moreover, the slide extends over the pad, and even if for any reason the thickness of the pad should be diminished the slider is typically flexible enough still to be useable over the diminished pad thickness. However, it is normally envisaged that the thickness of the pad will not be significantly diminished in use , since finished sketches can be removed and replaced beneath the pad whereby the effective height of the pad is always the same.

Various modifications can be made in the invention as shown. For example, although a pad of paper is shown at 8, it is conceivable that a scroll of paper can be provided, possiblywith its long edges still localised by the bar 6 and the opposed short edge of the recess 4 or possibly at right angles to this, as described below..

Moreover, a drawing board the greater part of the surface of which is constituted by the recess 4 also has utility, for example as a portable drawing board capable of supporting accurate sketch work and storing the results sequentially.Moreover again, while an enclosed recess is shown a three-sided recess, with one long edge at the board edge, could also be used.

Figure 2 shows a drawing board 1 with slider 2 and mainsheet 3 provided additionally with support shafts 9 and 20 upon which a roll of sketch paper 11 can be scrolled vertically down the board near the right hand edge. Indexed or stepless scrolling is possible.

Transverse resilient retaining arms (not shown), or even slots in the board, are possible improvements which give a good flat sketching surface to the scrolling paper.

The use and advantages of this arrangement are generally as described above.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS.

1. A drawing board having attached thereto means for holding a supply of selectively small-dimension drawing paper or note paper so that the said paper may be positioned and held towards one side of the board for occasional use of portions thereof for notes or sketches and so that the said portions may be stored for retrieval after such use.

2. A drawing board having in its surface a rectangular recess, said recess holding a positioning bar parallel to the upper and lower edges of the drawing board, and the bar being movable to, and immobilisable at, at least those locations where the lower horizontal edge of the bar is separated from the lower horizontal edge of the recess by an amount equivalent to a standard paper dimension; whereby the recess can be used to hold a stack of paper sheets between the bar and the lower edge of the lower recess in a secure manner permitting detachment of sheets and location for storage beneath the pad as the pad becomes progressively used up.

3. A drawing board as claimed in claim 2 in which the rectangular recess is located towards the right hand edge and towards the bottom edge of the board.

4. A drawing board as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the recess is completely surrounded by the drawing board surface.

5. A drawing board as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the recess share one longer edge with the edge of the board.

6. A drawing board as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 in which the transverse bar is provided with downwardly extending studs which fit into suitable holes extending in two lines parallel to and adjacent the vertical edges of the recess.

7. A drawing board as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 in which the transverse bar is provided with a stepless squeeze-fit or stiff sliding fit in grooves extending up and down within the recess.

8. A drawing board having transverse shaft members generally behind upper and lower edges to hold the ends of a scroll of paper, a portion of which extends down the front of the board adjacent and parallel to one edge thereof, whereby indexed or stepless scrolling of the paper provides fresh portions for sketches or notes and sequential storage of earlier sketches or notes.

9. A drawing board as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.