GB2466617A

GB2466617A - A weather proofed writing stand

Info

Publication number: GB2466617A
Application number: GB0823349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Finbar Hurley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-23
Filing date: 2008-12-23
Publication date: 2010-06-30
Also published as: IES20090948A2; GB0823349D0

Abstract

A weather proofed writing stand for locating outdoors which is suitable for use during precipitation, comprising a platform 105 defining a writing surface for receiving a document, a supporting member 115 coupled to the platform for spacing the platform from the ground and a water resistant cover 125 co-operable with the platform for protecting the writing surface from precipitation. Preferably the cover is rigid, aerodynamically shaped, curved and transparent and defines a hollow interior writing area. Optionally the platform and the cover may be integrally formed. The platform may be sloped. Preferably the supporting member terminates in a stabilizing member 120 defining a disc shaped, planar ground engaging surface which operates as ballast.

Description

A weather proofed writing stand for locating outdoors which is suitable for use during precipitation

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a weather proofed writing stand for locating outdoors which is suitable for use during precipitation.

Background

It is sometime necessary to write or paint on paper/canvass while outdoors. For example, a golfer typically writes the score achieved in a hole on a paper based scorecard once a hole is complete. Golf is often played during precipitation.

Scorecards typically become soggy/water damaged when exposed to water. A soggy or water saturated scorecard is extremely difficult and often impossible to write on using ink or graphite based writing implements. While a golfer may keep the scorecard dry during play in a water proof compartment of the golf bag or the like, ultimately, at the end of each hole the score card is exposed to the prevailing weather conditions when the scores are being written thereon. Even though, the scorecard may be exposed to precipitation for a relatively short periods while the score is being written it can suffer severe water damage. A scorecard which is water damaged is resistant to receiving ink or graphite making the trivial task of writing a score difficult. Additionally, due to smudging or the like scores which were successfully written on the scorecard may become illegible as a result of water damage.

Therefore there is a need for a weather proofed writing stand for locating outdoors which is suitable for use during precipitation.

Summary

These and other problems are addressed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention by providing a water resistant cover which protects the writing surface of the writing stand from precipitation.

Accordingly a first embodiment of the invention provides a weather proofed stand as detailed in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

These and other features will be better understood with reference to the drawings which are provided to assist in an understanding of the teaching of the invention.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the weather proofed writing stand in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the writing stand of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is another perspective view of a portion of the writing stand of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to an exemplary weather proofed writing stand which is provided to assist in an understanding of the teaching of the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a weather proofed writing stand 100 for locating outdoors which is suitable for use during precipitation. The writing stand 100 is configured for protecting paper/canvass from precipitation while scribing thereon.

Such writing stands may be portable, and for example, may be located at designated areas of a golf course or the like. The writing stand 100 comprises a platform 105 defining a writing surface 108 for receiving a document, such as a cardboard scorecard which a golfer may use to log the score during play. In this exemplary arrangement the writing surface 108 is sloped and extends between a pair of spaced apart sides 109 and a pair of spaced apart ends 112. Alip 114 extends upwardly from the lower one of the ends 112 of the writing surface 108 for facilitating retaining the document thereon.

The platform 105 is spaced from the ground by an elongated supporting member coupled to the platform 105, in this case a cylindrical pole 115 which terminates in a disc shaped stabilising member 120. The stabilising member defines a planar ground engaging surface and is of a sufficient weight to operate as a ballast thereby preventing the writing stand 100 from toppling over in windy conditions or if located on a slope.

A water resistant cover 125 protects the writing surface 108 from precipitation thereby maintaining the writing surfacelO8 dry. The document is located on the writing surface 108 and as a consequence it is also kept dry. The cover 125 comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls 130 which extend upwardly from the respective sides 109 of the writing surface 108 and are coupled thereto by rivets.

The side walls 130 terminate in a rim 132 which defines an arc such that the sidewalls resemble a quadrant of a circle in side view. A curved shaped concave roof extends between the side walls 130. A pair of spaced apart wings 138 extends downwardly from the roof 135 which marginally overlap with the respective side walls 130 for facilitating coupling the roof 135 to the respective side walls 130 with rivets 139. The cover 125 is rigid and aerodynamically designed such that it is not adversely affected by wind flowing past it. The curved shape of the roof 135 reduces its resistance to wind such that the writing stand 100 is not blown over in windy conditions. The cover 125 together with the platform 105 defines a hollow interior writing area 140 for accommodating a paper based document or a canvas therein.

An inlet 145 is provided to the front of the cover 125 adjacent the lower one of the ends 112 of the writing surface 109 for facilitating locating a hand of a scribe/painter in the writing area while the torso of the scribe/painter is located externally thereof. In this exemplary arrangement the cover 125 is transparent which allows a scribe/painter to view the document being written to or painted on while located in the writing area 140. The writing area 140 is dimensioned for allowing a scribe/painter to write with an ink or graphite or paint based writing tool on a piece of paper/canvass located therein while the scribe/painter is standing upright externally thereof. The roof 135 is in registration with the writing surface 108 of the platform and a portion 147 thereof hangs outwardly beyond the writing surface 108 and curves downwardly for limiting potential precipitation being blown into the writing area 140. The curved downwardly hanging portion of the roof 135 reduces the covers' resistant to wind. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the platform 105 and the cover 125 may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the platform and the cover may be co-operable together for facilitating modular construction.

In operation, a document which is to be written to or painted on is inserted through the inlet 145 for locating in the writing area 140. The document may be paper, canvass or cardboard or any material suitable material for receiving ink, paint or graphite, or the like. The cover 125 protects the document from precipitation while a scribe/painter writes or paints thereon. The writing stand 100 is particularly suitable for locating on a golf course and may be used by a golfer when writing scores to a scorecard thereby protecting the scorecard from precipitation. The writing stand may also be used by a painter to paint on a canvass during precipitation. Advertisements 153 may be located on the writing surface for marketing items which may be of interest to the user of the writing stand. The advertisements 153 may be adhesively bonded to the writing surface 108 or inserted into a sleeve on the platform 105 such that the advertisements are viewable from the writing surface 108.

In an alternative embodiment instead of proving a static cover 125, the cover 125 or at least a portion thereof may be moveable between a working position with the writing surface exposed for receiving the document, and a non-working position with the writing surface concealed. For example, grooves may be provided on the side walls 130 for receiving the sides of the roof 135, in such an arrangement the roof 135 may be slideable within the grooves. A biasing means may be provided for biasing the cover between the writing and non-writing positions.

It will be understood that what has been described herein is an exemplary embodiment of a weather proofed writing stand. While the present invention has been described with reference to some exemplary arrangements it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the teaching of the present invention to such arrangements as modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In this way it will be understood that the invention is to be limited only insofar as is deemed necessary in the light of the appended claims.

Similarly the words comprises/comprising when used in the specification are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. A weather proofed writing stand for locating outdoors which is suitable for use during precipitation, the writing stand comprising: a platform defining a writing surface for receiving a document for facilitating writing thereon, a supporting member coupled to the platform for spacing the platform from the ground, and a water resistant cover co-operable with the platform for protecting the writing surface from precipitation.
2. The writing stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform together with the cover defines a hollow interior writing area.
3. The writing stand as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover is transparent for facilitating a user viewing a document located in the writing area.
4. The writing stand as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the cover and platform are spaced relative to one another to define an inlet to the interior writing area sufficient for facilitating locating a hand of a subject in the writing area while the torso of the subject is located externally of the writing area.
5. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is rigid.
6. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is aerodynamically shaped.
7. The writing stand as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the cover is curved.
8. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the platform and the cover are integrally formed.
9. The writing stand as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the platform and the cover are co-operable together for facilitating modular construction.
10. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the platform is sloped.
11. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is in registration with writing surface of the platform.
12 The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the supporting member terminates in a stabilising member.
13 The writing stand as claimed in claim 12, wherein the stabilising member operates as a ballast.
14 The writing stand as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the stabilising member defines a planar ground engaging surface.
15 The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stabilising member is disc shaped.
16 The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a lip extends upwardly from one of the ends of the platform for facilitating retaining the document on the writing surface.
17 The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the cover is moveable between a writing position with the writing surface exposed for receiving a document, and a non-writing position with the writing surface concealed.
18. The writing stand as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a biasing means for biasing the cover between the writing and non-writing positions.
19. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stand isportable.
20. The writing stand as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls which extend upwardly from the respective opposite sides of the writing surface.
21. The writing stand as claimed in claim 20, wherein the side walls terminate in a rim which defines an arc such that the sidewalls resemble a quadrant of a circle in side view.
22. The writing stand as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the cover comprises a curved shaped concave roof extending between the side walls.
23. The writing stand as claimed in claimed in claim 22, wherein the roof is in registration with the writing surface of the platform.
24. The writing stand as claimed in claim 23, wherein a portion of the roof hangs outwardly beyond the writing surface 108 and curves downwardly for limiting potential precipitation being blown onto the writing surface.
25. The writing stand of any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the cover comprises a roof coupled to the platform but spaced apart therefrom by opposing side walls.
26. The writing stand of claim 25 when dependent on claim 4 wherein the side walls are provided transverse to the inlet.
27. The writing stand substantially as described hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.