AU712329B3

AU712329B3 - Writing board

Info

Publication number: AU712329B3
Application number: AU43413/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gwo-Nan Tsuar
Original assignee: TSUAR GWO NAN
Current assignee: TSUAR GWO NAN
Priority date: 1999-08-05
Filing date: 1999-08-05
Publication date: 1999-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2005-08-05

Description

II I/WUUUI 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

PETTY PATENT Invention Title: WRITING BOARD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- WRITING BOARD The invention relates to a writing board, more particularly to a writing board having a tray that is movable between unfolded and folded positions to facilitate transportation and storage.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a conventional writing board 1 is shown to include a rectangular board member 11, a protective frame member 12 mounted on each side of the board member 11, a corner member 13 mounted on each corner of the board member 11, a tray 14 removably connected to a lowermost one of the frame members 12, and a fastener 15 for connecting the tray 14 to the board member 11. To facilitate packaging and transport, the tray 14 is removed from the board member 11. When unpacked, the tray 14 is assembled to the lowermost frame member 12 by means of the fastener 15. Although such a construction can reduce the size of the writing board 1 to facilitate packaging and transport, the user has to assemble the tray 14 to the board member 11 before use, which is very inconvenient.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a writing board having a tray that is movable between unfolded and folded positions to facilitate transport and storage.

Accordingly, the writing board of the present invention includes a rectangular board member, a protective frame member on each side of the board member, and a tray connected to a lowermost one of the frame members and movable between unfolded and folded positions. The lowermost one of the frame members has a front side formed with a longitudinally extending retaining portion. The retaining portion is defined by a forwardly extending upper wall, a forwardly extending lower wall disposed below and parallel to the upper wall, a first vertical wall extending downwardly from a distal end of the upper wall toward the lower wall, a second vertical wall extending upwardly from a distal end of the lower wall toward the upper wall, and a retaining flange inclining downwardly and extending rearwardly from a distal end of the second vertical wall.

The retaining portion confines a longitudinally extending space which is accessible via an opening that is defined by the distal ends of the first and second vertical walls. The tray has a main tray portion and an anchoring portion. The anchoring portion extends rearwardly and forms an obtuse angle with the main tray portion. The anchoring portion further has a distal end formed with a longitudinally extending rearward anchor projection that is substantially T-shaped in crosssection, and that has a head part extending into the space of the retaining portion via the opening. The head part of the anchor projection engages a juncture of the upper wall and the first vertical wall inside the space of the retaining portion to support the tray in the unfolded position, where the main tray portion is generally transverse to the board member. The head part of the anchor projection engages the lower wall and a distal end of the retaining flange inside the space of the retaining portion to retain the tray in the folded position, where the main tray portion is generally parallel to the board member.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a writing board of the prior art; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a writing board of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figure 3, the preferred embodiment of a writing board 2 of the present invention is shown to include a rectangular board member 21, a protective frame member 22 on each side of the board member 21, a corner member 23 at each corner of the board member 21, and a tray 24 connected to a lowermost one of the frame members 22 and movable between unfolded and folded positions.

Referring to Figure 4, which is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3, the lowermost one of the frame members 22 has a front side formed with a longitudinally extending retaining portion 221. The retaining portion 221 is defined by a forwardly extending upper wall 2210, a forwardly extending lower wall 2211 disposed below and parallel to the upper wall 2210, a first vertical wall 2212 extending downwardly from a distal end of the upper wall 2210 toward the lower wall 2211, a second vertical wall 2213 extending upwardly from a distal end of the lower wall 2211 toward the upper wall 2210, and a retaining flange 2214 inclining downwardly and extending rearwardly from a distal end of the second vertical wall 2213. The first and second vertical walls 2212, 2213 are substantially aligned. The retaining portion 221 further confines a longitudinally extending space 222. The space 222 is accessible via an opening 223 that is defined by the distal ends of the first and secondvertical walls 2212, 2213.

The corner members 23 are provided to position the frame members 22 firmly on the board member 21, and may have the same configuration.

The tray 24 is adapted for receiving writing instruments, and has a main tray portion 240 and an anchoring portion 241. The anchoring portion 241 extends rearwardly and forms an obtuse angle with the main tray portion 240. The anchoring portion 241 further has a distal end formed with a longitudinally extending rearward anchor projection 2410 that is substantially T-shaped in cross-section, and that has a head part extending into the space 222 of the retaining portion 221 of the lowermost frame 22 via the opening 223. The headpart of the anchor projection 2410 engages a juncture of the upper wall 2210 and the first vertical wall 2212 inside the space 222 of the retaining portion 221 to support the tray 24 in the unfolded position, where the main tray portion 240 is generally transverse to the board member 21. The head part of the anchor projection 2410 engages the lower wall 2211 and a distal end of the retaining flange 2214 inside the space 222 of the retaining portion 221 to retain the tray 24 in the folded position, where the main tray portion 2410 is generally parallel to the board member 21.

The tray 24 further has opposite lateral edges provided with a respective edge protecting sleeve Each of the lateral edges of the tray 24 is provided with at least one retaining stud 242. Each of the edge protecting sleeves 25 is formed with a retaining groove 251 for engaging the retaining stud 242 on the respective one of the lateral edges of the tray 24.

During assembly, the frame members 22 are fitted onto the four sides of the board member 21. The tray 24 is then connected to the lowermost frame member 22 by inserting the head part of the anchor projection 2410 of the anchoring portion 241 into the space 222 of the retainingportion221 via the opening 223. Subsequently, the corner members 23 are respectively fitted onto the four corners of the board member 2 to position the frame members 22 firmly on the board member 21. Lastly, the retaining grooves 251 of the edge protecting sleeves fittingly engage the respective retaining studs 242 on the lateral edges of the tray 24 to complete the writing board 2. As can be understood from the above description, the writing board 2 of the present invention can be assembled in an easy and quick manner.

Compared to the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: 1. As the tray 24 is movable between unfolded and folded positions with respect to the lowermost frame member 22 of the board member 21, the writing board 2 occupies less space and is therefore convenient to store.

2. As the writing board 2 occupies less space, it is also convenient to transport.

3. As the corner members 23 have the same configuration, each can match any one of the corners of the board member 21 to facilitate assembly.

4. The arrangement of the retaining studs 242 on the opposite lateral edges of the tray 24 to engage 7 retaining grooves 251 in the edge protective sleeves prevents undesired removal of the edge protective sleeves

Claims

1. A writing board including a rectangular board member, a protective frame member on each side of the board ,member, and a tray connected to a lowermost one of the frame members and movable between unfolded and folded positions, wherein: the lowermost one of the frame members has a front side which is formed with a longitudinally extending retaining portion that is defined by a forwardly extending upper wall, a forwardly extending lower wall disposed below and parallel to the upper wall, a first vertical wall extending downwardly from a distal end of the upper wall toward the lower wall, a second vertical wall extending upwardly from a distal end of the lower wall toward the upper wall, and a retaining flange inclining downwardly and extending rearwardly from a distal end of the second vertical wall, the retaining portion confining a longitudinally extending space which is accessible via an opening that is defined by the distal ends of the first and second vertical walls, the tray having a main tray portion and an anchoring portion that extends rearwardly and that forms an obtuse angle with the main tray portion, the anchoring portion having a distal end formed with a longitudinally extending rearward anchor projection that is substantially T-shaped in cross-section and that has a head part extending into the space of the retaining portion via the opening; the head part of the anchor projection engaging a juncture of the upper wall and the first vertical wall inside the space of the retaining portion to support the tray in the unfolded position, where the main tray portion is generally transverse to the board member; the head part of the anchor projection engaging the lower wall and a distal end of the retaining flange inside the space of the retaining portion to retain the tray in the folded position, where the main tray portion is generally parallel to the board member.

2. The writing board as defined in Claim i, wherein the first and second vertical walls are vertically aligned.

3. The writing board as defined in Claim 1, wherein the tray has opposite lateral edges provided with a respective edge protecting sleeve, each of the lateral edges being provided with at least one retaining stud, each of the edge protecting sleeves being formed with a retaining groove for engaging the retaining stud on the respective one of the lateral edges of the tray. DATED this 5th day of August 1999. GWO-NAN TSUAR WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN. VIC. 3122