CRAFT BOARD

Abstract

The invention provides a craft board comprising a base and a cover. The board also comprises a plurality of hinge locations about which the base and cover can rotate relative to each other and selectively engageable hinge means arranged to allow engagement and disengagement between the base and the cover at the plurality of hinge locations.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to British application No. GB 0719642.1, filed Oct. 9, 2007, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present invention relates to craft boards.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a craft board comprising a base, a cover, a plurality of hinge locations about which the base and cover can rotate relative to each other and a selectively engagable hinge mechanism arranged to allow engagement and disengagement between the base and the cover at the plurality of hinge locations.

Optionally, the hinge mechanism comprises a plurality of selectively engagable hinges at different hinge locations. Alternatively, the hinge mechanism comprises a relocatable selectively engagable hinge arranged to be relocatable to different hinge locations.

Optionally, the base comprises a planar base portion, the cover comprises a planar cover portion and, in one in-use configuration, the planar base portion lies adjacent the planar cover portion. The base and cover may have substantially the same plan profile shape.

One or more of the hinges may be selectively movable between an engaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is provided and a disengaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is not provided. The or each hinge may be selectively movable between an engaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is provided and a stowed position in which, in use, hinged engagement between the base and cover is not provided and the hinge does not obstruct a sheet material located between the base and cover and protruding therefrom.

The or each hinge may be selectively movable between an engaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is provided and a stowed position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is not provided and the hinge does not intercept an imaginary plane formed extending outwardly from an upper surface of the base.

One or more, or the or each, hinge may comprise a hinge part attached to the base and a hinge part attached to the cover.

A non-movable hinge part may be attached to the cover and a movable hinge part, arranged to move between the engaged position and the stowed position, is attached to the base.

Optionally, the non-movable hinge part is integrally attached to the cover.

Optionally, the hinge parts comprise a bar and a cylindrical recess, the bar being arranged to clip fit within the cylindrical recess and be rotatable therein.

Optionally, the base is shaped to provide a guide profile arranged to receive a craft member. Optionally, the craft member comprises a slidable cutter. Optionally, the guide profile comprises a track or rail. The guide profile may extend through the or each hinge location and the movable hinge part is profiled such that in the stowed position, the shape of the movable hinge part forms part of the guide profile such that the guide profile continues substantially uninterrupted.

The hinge may be urged to the stowed position.

Optionally, the board comprises a clip arranged to selectively attach the cover and the base together.

Optionally, the board comprises edges and the hinge locations are on edges of the board.

Optionally, the board has a generally rectangular plan profile. The board may have a square plan profile.

Each hinge location may have an associated hinge axis and the hinge axes are parallel to each other.

Optionally, each hinge location has an associated hinge axis and the hinge axes are spaced from each other. Optionally, the board comprises a square plan profile wherein the first hinge location is on a first side of the square and the second hinge location is on a second, opposite side of the square and the first and second hinge axes are parallel to each other.

Optionally, the base comprises a work surface and the cover comprises a window aperture which lies adjacent thereto when the board is in the one in-use position. The cover may comprise a template receiver arranged to receive a template such that the template covers some or all of the window in use. The template receiver may comprise a recess formed in the cover, the recess being arranged to receive a raised tab on the template. The raised tab may comprise a finger aperture arranged to facilitate lifting of the template from the cover.

Optionally, the template comprises an embossing template, a stippling template, a cutting template, a drawing template, a paper-pricking template, a quilting template, a stamping template, a pair of texturing templates or any other suitable craft template.

The work surface may comprise a replaceable mat. The replaceable mat may comprise a cutting mat, an embossing board, a stippling mat, a paper-pricking mat, a quilting mat, a stamping mat or any other suitable craft mat. The work surface may comprise a recess arranged to receive the replaceable mat.

Optionally, the base comprises a plurality of work surfaces.

Optionally, an urging mechanism, optionally a magnetic urging mechanism, is arranged to urge the base towards the cover.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a craft board comprising a base shaped to provide a desired profile, a cover, a selectively attachable hinge part attached to the base and movable between a first position in which the hinge part is engagable with the cover to form a hinged connection between the base and the cover, and a second position in which the hinge part is not hingedly engaged with the cover wherein in the second position, the desired profile is formed by the shape of the base and the hinge part.

Optionally, the desired profile comprises a continuous profile.

Optionally, the desired profile comprises a track or rail profile.

Optionally, the desired profile is arranged to receive a craft member. The craft member may comprise a slidable cutter.

Optionally, the base comprises a recess and the movable hinge part is arranged to be located within the recess in the second position.

Optionally, the base comprises a slot and the hinge part comprises a projection slidably located within the slot such that movement from the first position to the second position is guided by slidable movement of the projection through the slot.

Optionally, a retaining mechanism is arranged to retain the hinge part in the second position.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a craft template for use with a craft board comprising a template portion and a tab arranged to be located within a corresponding recess provided on the board such that the template is aligned in a desired position relative to the board.

The tab may comprise a raised tab.

Optionally, the tab comprises a finger aperture arranged to facilitate lifting of the template from the cover.

According to another aspect, there is provided a pair of texturing templates, each template of the pair comprising at least one embossing projection and at least one debossing projection, the embossing and debossing projections of one of the pair of templates being arranged to correspond to the embossing and debossing templates of the other of the pair when the templates overlie each other.

Optionally, the pair of templates comprises a template alignment mechanism arranged to facilitate desired alignment of one template relative to the other when the templates overlie each other.

Optionally, the pair of templates is arranged to be used with a craft board, wherein the template alignment mechanism comprises each template having a tab arranged to be located within a corresponding recess provided on the board such that each template is aligned in a desired position relative to the board and relative to the other template. The pair of templates may be arranged to be used with the craft board as specified in the first-mentioned aspect of the invention.

Optionally, on each template, the at least one embossing projection and the at least one debossing projection form a repeating pattern covering substantially the whole of the template.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a craft system comprising a craft board according to a first embodiment in an in-use position;

FIG. 2 shows the craft board of FIG. 1 with a first hinge unengaged in the in-use position;

FIG. 3 shows a base of the craft board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the base of FIG. 3 along with a slidable craft member;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows the craft board of FIG. 2 in another position; and

FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view through a pair of texturing templates according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a craft board 10 comprises a base 12 and a cover 14. The base 12 and cover 14 are rotatable relative to each other since they are attached to each other by a selectively engagable hinge mechanism in the form of a first selectively engagable hinge 16 and a second selectively engagable hinge 18. The first hinge 16 is provided at a first hinge location and the second hinge 18 is provided at a second hinge location. The first hinge 16 and the second hinge 18 are substantially identical and are arranged to allow a user to selectively hingedly attach the base 12 to the cover 14 if desired.

The terms horizontal, vertical, plan etc. used in the specification are intended to make the description clear. They are not intended to be unduly limiting—e.g. if the craft board is used on a non-horizontal surface then the skilled person will understand that different meanings can be given to these terms as appropriate.

In plan profile view, the base 12 and cover 14 comprise a generally square shape. Both the base 12 and cover 14 are generally planar. The base 12 and cover 14 are substantially the same-sized square in this embodiment such that in one in-use position (as seen in FIG. 1) the cover 14 lies substantially entirely adjacent and on the base 12. In use a sheet of material being worked upon is locatable between the base 12 and cover 14.

The cover 14 comprises a rectangular window aperture 20. Adjacent to two opposed sides of the window 20, recesses 22 are formed in an upper surface of the cover 14. These recesses 22 are generally part oval or crescent shaped (as shown in FIG. 1). The recesses may be other shapes in other embodiments.

The craft board 10 is part of a craft system which includes templates 24. In this embodiment, each template 24 is rectangular—it is sized and shaped to fit closely within the window 20. On opposed sides of the rectangular template 24, raised tabs 26 are formed. The raised tabs 26 comprise a part oval shape (as seen in FIG. 5) and are profiled to fit within the recesses 22 formed on the upper surface of the cover 14. Referring to FIG. 1, the template 24 shown comprises an embossing template. The raised tabs 26 of the embossing template also include a finger aperture 28—this is provided to facilitate removal and positioning of the template 24 on the window aperture 20. Other templates 24 for use within the craft system comprise a stippling template, a cutting template, a drawing template, a paper pricking template, a quilting template or a stamping template. In other embodiments any other suitable craft template may be provided. Also, in other embodiments a different form of template receiver may be provided (other than the tabs 26 and recesses 22).

Referring to FIG. 6, in this embodiment a template 24 is fitted in the window 20 and when the cover 14 is rotated away from the base 12, the template 24 is retained in position in the window 20. This is useful if a user wishes to unclamp a sheet of paper, move it and reclamp it without moving or removing the template 24. The tabs 26 and recesses 22 make this possible. The tabs 26 being raised ensure a particularly good engagement between the template and cover as the cover is rotated away from the base.

The first and second hinges 16, 18 are provided to move the base relative to the cover to and from the in-use position if required. As previously mentioned, the hinge mechanism comprises the first hinge 16 at the first hinge location and second hinge 18 at the second hinge location—since both are substantially identical, only the first hinge 16 will be described in detail.

The first hinge 16 comprises a fixed hinge part attached to the cover 14 and the movable hinge part 32 attached to the base 12. In other embodiments the movable hinge part may be attached to the cover and the fixed hinge part may be attached to the base.

In this embodiment, at the first hinge location, the cover and base are both recessed along their edges. The fixed hinge part comprises two cylindrical projections (or bars) 34 extending laterally (parallel to the edge of the cover) from the recess formed in the edge of the cover. The bars can be clearly seen in FIG. 2. A bar 34 is provided at each end of the first hinge location. A skilled person will understand that in other embodiments a single bar may be provided—for example a single bar which is located more centrally relative to the hinge location. The bars 34 are formed integrally with the cover 14.

The movable hinge part 32 is movable relative to the base 12 and is formed as a separate piece in this embodiment. The movable hinge part 32 is generally elongate. At a first upper end, the movable hinge part 32 includes a pair of coaxial, cylindrical recesses 36, one provided at each end of the first hinge location. The cylindrical recesses 36 define a channel which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movable hinge part and defines a first hinge axis when they are hingedly attached to the cover 12. The curved recesses 36 are sized, shaped and located such that the bars 34 can clip fit into the recesses 36 to provide the hinged attachment between the base 12 and the cover 14.

It will be appreciated that if both the first hinge 16 and the second hinge 18 are engaged such that the base 12 is attached to the cover 14 at both the first hinge location and the second hinge location then no substantial hinged movement between the base and the cover is provided. Hinged movement will only be provided if one of the hinges is disengaged. Each hinge 16, 18 is engagable or disengagable as required by a user.

It will be seen (e.g. from FIG. 2) that the movable hinge part 32 is able to move to and from hinged engagement with the cover 14. At its lower, outer end the movable hinge part 32 comprises a pair of generally vertical slots 38 (once again, at each end of the hinge location) arranged to locate pins 40 (not shown), which extend laterally from the edge of the base 12 into the recessed portion of the base. The pins 40 have a diameter substantially equal to the width of the slot 38 within which they are located such that they constrain and guide movement of the movable hinge part 32 relative to the base 12.

It will be noted that when the bars 34 are clip fitted into the curved recesses 36 and the base 12 is hingedly attached to the cover 14, the relative locations of the bars 34 (and therefore the first hinge axis), the location of the base pins 40 and the length of the slots 38 are such that the pins 40 are located at the lowermost point of the slots 38 in this embodiment.

When it is desired not to have the base 12 hingedly attached to the cover 14, the first hinge 16 can be disengaged by unclipping the bars 34 and the pins 40 will drop (by gravity) through the slots 38 to move the movable hinge part 32 downwards. After this is done, in this embodiment, no part of the movable hinge part 32 extends above the upper surface of the base 12. This can be advantageous since if a user is working on a sheet of material which extends beyond the edges of the base then the movable hinge part 32 will not obstruct this sheet of material. The movable hinge part 32 is still free to move around in this position. Once the cover 14 is out of the way, it is possible to move the movable hinge part 32 back into alignment with the edge of the base 12 into a stowed position (see FIG. 3). A retaining mechanism is provided to retain the movable hinge part 32 in the stowed position. The retaining mechanism comprises teeth (not shown) extending from the movable hinge part 32 and engagable within recesses formed in the base 12. In the stowed position, an outer profile 42 of the movable hinge part 32 matches an outer profile 44 of the base 12. It will be noted that in the stowed position, once again, no part of the movable hinge part 32 extends above the level of the base 12. Also, in the stowed position, the movable hinge part is retained and so can not move around freely—and is therefore less prone to wear and tear or damage.

In this stowed position, a desired profile of the edge of the board 10 is provided. The desired profile includes a continuous vertical wall provided by contiguous vertical walls of the base 12 and the cover 14. An outwardly extending step 46 is formed in the base 12 and provides part of the desired profile. In the recessed portion of the cover and the base at the first hinge location, the desired profile is interrupted (assuming the movable hinge part is not present) by the presence of the recess. Therefore the profile of the movable hinge part 32 being substantially identical to the profile of the desired profile (i.e. the base 12 in this embodiment) means that, when the movable hinge part is in the stowed position, the desired profile continues uninterrupted through the first hinge location. In this embodiment the desired profile is a track profile 48. The track 48 is arranged to receive a suitably profiled and sized slidable craft member 50 (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment the slidable craft member 50 comprises a slidable ruler 52 and cutter 54. The cutter 54 is able to cut along the length of the ruler 52. It will be appreciated that it is important in this embodiment to retain the desired profile since the slidable craft member 50 is then slidable along two different axes of the craft board 10, i.e. along either pair of opposed edges of the square base 12. This would not be possible if the desired profile of the movable hinge part 32 did not match the outer profile of the base 12 to form the uninterrupted desired profile when in the stowed position.

Clips 30 are provided on opposed sides of the cover 14—in this embodiment, the sides that do not include the first hinge 16 and the second hinge 18. The clips 30 are used for securing the cover 14 to the base 12 in the above mentioned in-use position, if desired. The clips 30 include teeth (not shown) which are engagable within corresponding recesses within the base 12. The clips 30 prevent undue lateral movement of the cover 14 relative to the base 12.

When the clips 30 are not engaged and the cover is entirely removed from the base it will be seen (from FIG. 4) that there is no part of the clip that intercepts the level of the top of the base (if a sheet material were to extend from the edge of the base then it would not be obstructed).

Referring to FIG. 3, the base 12 comprises a first work surface 56 and a second work surface 58. In this embodiment the first work surface is larger than the second work surface. The first work surface 56 is sized, shaped and located to correspond to the window 20 provided on the cover 14 when in the above mentioned in-use position. In this embodiment each work surface 56, 58 comprises a rectangular recess arranged to receive a replaceable mat 60.

Referring to FIG. 3, the replaceable mat 60 provided in the recess of the first work surface 56 comprises an embossing mat and the replaceable mat 60 provided in the recess of the second work surface 58 comprises a cutting mat. Other mats may be provided as required. The craft system of this embodiment also includes an embossing board, a stippling mat, a paper pricking mat, a quilting mat or a stamping mat. In other embodiments any other suitable craft mat can be provided.

In use, the craft board 10 provides manoeuvrability of a sheet material upon the craft board and around the different areas of the craft board. This is useful when working upon different parts of a sheet (for example a sheet of paper or a sheet of card). Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that it may be desirable for a user to move a sheet of paper 62 beyond the edges of the board 10 when working on the sheet 62. In such situations, the movable hinge parts 32 do not obstruct the sheet 62 in any way. In FIG. 3, the movable hinge parts are shown in the stowed position 32. They could also not be in a stowed position, but still disengaged from the cover 14, and as previously described they would still not obstruct the sheet material.

This feature means that the sheet 62 can be moved to, over or through a hinge location. In other embodiments different numbers of selectively engagable hinges may be provided at different hinge locations. This may not necessarily be with a square board either. For example boards having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or any other suitable number of sides may be provided and the hinge locations can be provided on different sides of the boards, or on the same side of a board or any combination that is suitable.

In this embodiment, having two hinge locations allows the user to select where they want to have a hinged attachment at any particular moment. This is useful since the location of an engaged hinge is the only restriction on where sheet 62 can be located. It may be useful to work close to a hinge location (to provide an additional clamping force). It may be useful to work far from a hinge location (to provide less clamping force and more freedom). In this embodiment, a seesaw hinge effect is provided and it is convenient to disengage the first hinge and engage the second hinge (or vice-versa). Both selectively engageable hinges 16, 18 may be engaged at the same time to provide a firm clamp for the sheet 62. In addition, if desired, the clips 32 can be engaged to provide further clamping and/or restrict any possible lateral movement of the base relative to the cover.

An advanced user may not require the clamping effect and so the cover can be removed from the base by disengaging the selectively enegagable hinges 16, 18. Used in this way, the second work surface 58 becomes particularly advantageous since an advanced user can have different mats in place on the first work surface 56 and the second work surface 58. Therefore two different craft disciplines (e.g. cutting and embossing) may be provided on the same base simultaneously.

Referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the invention provides a pair 70 of texturing templates—a first template 72, and a second template 74. A texturing template is one which is used to apply a textured finish to a sheet of material, such as a sheet of paper. This finish is usually a design which spreads over the extent of the sheet of paper. Texturing differs form embossing in that the textured finish is usually a design which is arranged to be applied to a sheet as a background deign, for example, and so not necessarily with the same degree of accuracy as a specific, embossed design. For example, a textured finish may comprise providing a repeating pattern of small designs across an entire (or most of) a sheet of paper. Debossing is the opposite of embossing—if embossing is the creation of raised portions in a sheet of paper, then debossing is the creation of depressed portions. It may be desired to produce a textured finish which includes both embossed and debossed parts. If this is the case, conventionally, a craft worker will emboss a first textured pattern on a sheet of paper, and then turn a sheet of paper around in order to emboss the sheet in the other direction. The finished sheet will have a textured finish including both embossed and debossed portions.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first texturing template 72 includes embossing projections 76 and debossing projections 78. Dashed line 80, represents the plane in which a sheet of paper would rest in use. It can be seen that the embossing projections 76 and debossing projections 78 would force the paper in different directions in use. Advantageously, in a single step both the embossing and debossing aspects of the textured finish are achieved. In use, a user brings the templates 72, 74 together such that they overlie each other and the embossing projections 76 and debossing projections 78 correspond exactly (the form of the first and second templates 72, 74 is substantially identical). In this example, a template alignment mechanism is provided in the form of tabs 82 on each template. The tabs 82 are arranged to cooperate with each other when they are brought together such that the templates overlie each other with their projections 76, 78 in desired alignment.

In this embodiment, the tabs 82 are profiled so that they can be used with the craft board as previously described. In other embodiments, the template alignment mechanism may be of a different form—it may not comprise such tabs. In yet further embodiments, no template alignment mechanism is provided—the user aligns the templates themselves.

In some embodiments pressure is applied to bring the templates together (with the sheet of material between them) by rolling a roller across the upper surface of the first template 72. The roller may comprise a rubber roller, for example a hard rubber roller. Or, it may comprise a plastic roller or a nylon roller.

Advantageously in all embodiments in which the pair of templates of this invention is used, there is no need to perform two separate steps. This also means that there is no need to carry out alignment of the sheet between the two separate steps—since it is likely that the embossed and debossed regions of the textured finish should be aligned relative to each other(for example, it may be that it is required that the embossed and debossed regions should not overlap).

In this embodiment, an urging mechanism, in the form of magnets 64 are provided on the upper surface of the base 12 and cooperate with corresponding magnetic portions on the lower surface of the cover 14 in order to urge the base and cover together and provide a further clamping and alignment mechanism.

Various modifications may be made to this invention without departing from its scope. For example, instead of providing a hinge at each hinge location, the hinge mechanism may comprise a relocatable selectively engagable hinge. Such a relocatable hinge is arranged to be relocatable to separate hinge locations. Therefore only one hinge can be selectively engaged at a plurality of hinge locations. In some embodiments a combination of relatable hinges and non-relocatable hinges may be provided.

Each feature of each dependent claim is inventive separately from the features of other dependent claims (whether it is dependent upon other claims or not).

Claims

1. A craft board comprising a base, a cover, a plurality of hinge locations about which the base and cover can rotate relative to each other and a selectively engagable hinge mechanism arranged to allow engagement and disengagement between the base and the cover at the plurality of hinge locations.

2. The board of claim 1 wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a plurality of selectively engagable hinges at different hinge locations.

3. The board of claim 2 wherein one or more of the hinges is selectively movable between an engaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is provided and a disengaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is not provided.

4. The board of claim 3 wherein the or each hinge is selectively movable between an engaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is provided and a stowed position in which, in use, hinged engagement between the base and cover is not provided and the hinge does not obstruct a sheet material located between the base and cover and protruding therefrom.

5. The board of claim 3, wherein the or each hinge is selectively movable between an engaged position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is provided and a stowed position in which hinged engagement between the base and cover is not provided and the hinge does not intercept an imaginary plane formed extending outwardly from an upper surface of the base.

6. The board of claim 2 wherein one or more, or the or each, hinge comprises a hinge part attached to the base and a hinge part attached to the cover.

7. The board of claim 6, wherein a non-movable hinge part is attached to the cover and a movable hinge part, arranged to move between the engaged position and the stowed position, is attached to the base.

8. The board of claim 1 wherein the base is shaped to provide a guide profile arranged to receive a craft member.

9. The board of claim 8 wherein the guide profile extends through the or each hinge location and the movable hinge part is profiled such that in the stowed position, the shape of the movable hinge part forms part of the guide profile such that the guide profile continues substantially uninterrupted.

10. The board of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a work surface and the cover comprises a window aperture which lies adjacent thereto when the board is in an in-use position.

11. A craft board comprises a base shaped to provide a desired profile, a cover, a selectively attachable hinge part attached to the base and movable between a first position in which the hinge part is engagable with the cover to form a hinged connection between the base and the cover, and a second position in which the hinge part is not hingedly engaged with the cover wherein in the second position, the desired profile is formed by the shape of the base and the hinge part.

12. The board of claim 11 wherein the desired profile comprises a continuous profile.

13. The board of claim 11 wherein the desired profile is arranged to receive a craft member.

14. The board of claim 13, wherein the craft member comprises a slidable cutter.

15. The board of claim 11 wherein the base comprises a recess and the movable hinge part is arranged to be located within the recess in the second position.

16. The board of claim 11 wherein a retaining mechanism is arranged to retain the hinge part in the second position.

17. A pair of texturing templates, each template of the pair comprising at least one embossing projection and at least one debossing projection, the embossing and debossing projections of one of the pair of templates being arranged to correspond to the embossing and debossing templates of the other of the pair when the templates overlie each other.

18. The pair of templates of claim 17 comprising a template alignment mechanism arranged to facilitate desired alignment of one template relative to the other when the templates overlie each other.

19. The pair of templates of claim 18 for use with a craft board, wherein the template alignment mechanism comprises each template having a tab arranged to be located within a corresponding recess provided on the board such that each template is aligned in a desired position relative to the board and relative to the other template.

20. The pair of templates of claim 17 wherein on each template, the at least one embossing projection and the at least one debossing projection form a repeating pattern covering substantially the whole of the template.