WHITEBOARD ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A white board assembly including a wall mountable base structure upon which a frame structure constructed of a plurality of frame members that each have grooves defining a panel receiving space into which a display panel may be inserted through and removed from a slot provided by at least one of the frame members. The frame structure is affixed to the base structure in such a way that allows the frame structure to be moved between an open and closed position. A writing panel is mounted to at least one of the base structure and the frame structure in such a way that when the frame structure is in the closed position, the writing panel is concealed and the display panel is displayed. When the frame structure is in the closed position, the writing panel is displayed.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention is generally related to writing panels, and more particularly, but not by way of limitations, to an improved whiteboard assembly.

Conventional whiteboards are typically either very large or exceedingly unattractive in a home or professional office. Persons with a desire to teach their children in a home school environment do not want to suspend a whiteboard on their wall for teaching. Their home décor typically would not be complimented by the whiteboard on the wall. Further, whiteboards are not commonly used in the homes of its users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a whiteboard constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein shown in a closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the whiteboard assembly shown in a partially open condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the whiteboard assembly shown in a fully open condition.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the whiteboard assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not limited in its application to the details of construction, experiments, exemplary data, and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventive concepts are capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, shown therein is a whiteboard assembly 10 constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The whiteboard assembly 10 includes a base structure 12, a frame structure 14 affixed to the base structure 12, and a pair of writing panels 16 mounted to the base structure 12 and the frame structure 14 whereby when the frame structure 14 is in a closed position the writing panels 16 are concealed from view and when the frame structure 14 is in an open position, the writing panels 16 are displayed.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the base structure 12 is adapted to be wall mounted and is generally in the form of a frame 18 constructed of a plurality of frame members 18a-18d. The frame 18 is shown to be rectangular in shape, but it should be appreciated that the frame 18 may be constructed in a variety of geometrical shapes, such as square, triangular, circular, or other fanciful shapes, such as, a star or heart. The base structure 12 may be made of any rigid, durable material, such as wood, plastic, metal, or the like.

The base structure 12 may be mounted on a wall using conventional picture hanging techniques. For example, the back side of base structure 12 may be provided with keyhole hangers 22 positioned in the top and bottom frame members 18a and 18c. Alternatively, the base structure 12 may be mounted on wall with conventional picture hanging materials, such as wire and hooks.

The frame structure 14 may be similar in construction to the base structure 12. That is, the frame structure 14 is generally in the form of a frame 24 constructed of a plurality of frame members 24a-24d. The frame 24 is shown to be rectangular in shape, but it should be appreciated that the frame 24 may be constructed in a variety of geometrical shapes, such as square, triangular, circular, or other fanciful shapes, such as, a star or heart. Also, the dimensions of the frame structure 14 may be varied. The frame structure 14 may be made of any rigid, durable material, such as wood, plastic, metal, or the like.

The frame members 24b-24d are each provided with grooves 26b-26d, respectively, along the interior side of the frame members 24b-24d. The grooves 26b-26d cooperate with one another to define a picture receiving space 28. The frame member 24a is provided with a slot 29 that provides access to the picture receiving space 28 whereby a display panel, for example, a picture, (not shown) may be inserted into or removed from the picture receiving space 28. In one embodiment, the slot 29 has a length extending from the groove 26b to the groove 26d and a width that substantially corresponds with the width of the grooves 26b-26d. The frame structure 14 may be provided with a cavity (not shown) formed on the back side of the frame member 24c for storing and supporting writing utensils, such as markers.

The writing panels 16 may be dry erase writing panels which are each superimposed over and mounted to the frames 18 and 24, respectively. The writing panels 16 may be a white smooth faced rigid polypropylene sheet having a sufficient thickness so that the sheet is rigid enough to provide a satisfactory writing surface, yet not so thick as to add needlessly to the overall cost and weight of the whiteboard assembly 10. The dry erase writing panels may be fabricated in a conventional manner using a white pigmented polypropylene and molded using conventional extrusion molding techniques. In one embodiment the pigment is titanium dioxide.

The smooth surface enables the user to employ conventional dry wipe markers. These markers are known in the art and are available in the commercial market. One suitable dry wipe marker, for example, is available under the trademark EXPO dry erase marker sold by the Sanford Corp., Bellwood, Ill. These markers use solvent base ink which dries to a powder after it has been applied to a smooth plastic surface. The markers commonly come in different colors for example, red, blue, black and green. It has been determined that the a polypropylene surface, in particular a white pigmented polypropylene panel as above described forms a particularly suitable smooth white surface for receiving conventional solvent base inks used in conventional dry wipe markers. When the user writes on the writing panels 16 using conventional dry wipe markers, e.g., EXPO dry erase markers, the ink easily adheres to the polypropylene surface and can be applied in thick or thin strokes. The ink after it dries will adhere to the polypropylene surface for a considerably long time, for example, at least several months without significantly flaking or otherwise peeling away from the writing surface. The ink may be applied to the surface of polypropylene writing panels 16 even in fine lines. The dry wipe marker ink, e.g., EXPO dry wipe ink when applied to the writing panels 16 readily dries to a powder and may be easily wiped away with a cloth or felt eraser.

The base structure 12 and the frame structure 14 can be affixed to one another using any suitable device, such as a piano hinge 32.

While the whiteboard assembly 10 has been illustrated as having one picture receiving space 28, it should be appreciated that the picture frame structure 14 may be constructed to have a plurality of panel receiving spaces. By way of example, the frame structure may be constructed in the form of two or more frames that are each pivotally attached to the base structure 12 and which open and close similar to French doors with each frame member provided with a picture receiving space.

The whiteboard assembly 10 of the present invention when in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, conceals the writing panels 16 and displays any desired picture or painting disposed in the panel receiving space 26 of the frame structure 14. A display panel, for example, a picture, (not shown) is easily positioned in the frame structure 14 by inserting the picture through the slot 29 which is aligned with the panel receiving space 28. The picture may also be easily removed and replaced with a different picture.

When it is desired to use the writing panels 16, a user simply opens the frame structure 14 until the frame structure 14 lies flush against the wall to which the base structure 12 is mounted (FIG. 3).

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it is decorative and exceedingly useful to home school parents and professional offices. It is easy to match the décor of a home or office with this picture frame, but still utilize a whiteboard when needed. Matching a standard whiteboard with an established home décor is nearly impossible. Further, the whiteboard is concealed when not in use.

From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein, as well as those inherent in the invention. While several embodiments of the inventive concepts have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

Claims

1. A white board assembly, comprising:

a base structure adapted to be wall mounted;

a frame structure constructed of a plurality of frame members, each of the frame members having a groove that defines a panel receiving space along an interior side of the frame structure, and at least one of the frame members having a slot that provides access to the panel receiving space such that a display panel may be inserted into and removed from the panel receiving space, the frame structure being affixed to the base structure in such a way that the frame structure is moveable between a closed position and an open position; and

at least one writing panel mounted to at least one of the base structure and the frame structure in such a way that when the frame structure is in the closed position the at least one writing panel is concealed from view by the frame structure and the display panel inserted in the panel receiving space is displayed, and when the frame structure is in the open position the at least one writing panel is displayed.

2. The white board assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel receiving space has a length and a width, and the slot has a length which substantially corresponds with at least one of the length and the width of the panel receiving space.

3. The white board assembly of claim 1, wherein the writing panel has a smooth surface adapted for marking thereon with dry wipe marking ink.

4. A white board assembly, comprising:

a base structure adapted to be wall mounted;

a frame structure constructed of a plurality of frame members, each of the frame members having a groove that defines a panel receiving space along an interior side of the frame structure, and at least one of the frame members having a slot that provides access to the panel receiving space, and the frame structure being affixed to the base structure such that the frame structure is moveable between a closed position and an open position;

a display panel disposed in the panel receiving space, the display panel being slidably removable from the panel receiving space through the slot; and

at least one writing panel mounted to at least one of the base structure and the frame structure in such a way that when the frame structure is in the closed position the at least one writing panel is concealed from view by the frame structure and the display panel inserted in the panel receiving space is displayed, and when the frame structure is in the open position the at least one writing panel is displayed.

5. The white board assembly of claim 4, wherein the panel receiving space has a length and a width, and the slot has a length which substantially corresponds with at least one of the length and the width of the panel receiving space.

6. The white board assembly of claim 4, wherein the writing panel has a smooth surface adapted for marking thereon with dry wipe marking ink.