Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02350427 2001-06-14
Title
MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR WHITEBOARD
Scope of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting arrangement for a display board
and, in particular, to a mounting arrangement for mounting whiteboards and the
like
on upright partitions of a modular office furniture system.
Background of the Invention
Many display boards such as whiteboards, blackboards, chalk boards, tack
boards, cork boards, magnetic boards and the like are known as having a planar
display panel upon which information, writing and the like may be displayed as
by,
for example, writing with coloured erasable ink on whiteboards, writing with
erasable
chalk on blackboards and chalk boards, pinning materials and messages on tack
boards and cork boards and securing magnetic letters and magnets to hold
notices on
magnetic boards. When such display boards are placed in an office, they are
known
to be fixed to a wall or other structure with a disadvantage that they are
often difficult
to attach and cannot be readily detached and moved to other locations. Other
display
boards are known which are provided with their own independent supports as,
for
example, on easels, or self-supporting frames so that the display boards can
be moved
within the office. The disadvantage of these types of display devices is that
they may
not be stable and can continue to occupy significant office space when not in
use or
when they are to be stored.
Modular office furniture systems utilizing modular partitions are known
including such systems which utilize a panel assembly consisting of
rectangular
frames including vertical and horizontal frame members with cladding panels
mounting to the framework. Known systems include interchangeable cladding
panels
in which one cladding panel has an outer surface which f'unctions as a
whiteboard.
Such whiteboard cladding panels have the disadvantage that they are relatively
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
expensive since they are coupled to the framework in the same manner as other
covers. As well, such known whiteboard cladding panels require the replacement
of
an entire cladding panel in a modular manner and typically are not adopted for
off
modular use or for ease of installation, use or storage.
Summary of the Invention
To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of previously known
devices, the present invention provides a mounting arrangement for a display
board,
preferably a whiteboard, which can be easily mounted on an upright partition
of a
modular office furniture system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting arrangement for
a display board which can facilitate the mounting of the display board in an
upright
position on a modular office furniture system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting
arrangement which allows a display board to be mounted over any cladding panel
of
an upright partition as desired by a user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive display
board assembly which can form an integrated part of a modular partition.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a mounting
arrangement for a display board comprising:
an upright partition having a supporting framework formed of horizontal
beams and vertical posts with the beams spaced vertically from each other,
a plurality of cladding panels mounted to the framework to cover the same,
each cladding panel having an outer surface spanning between a top and a
bottom
thereof, each cladding panel disposed outwardly of the horizontal beams with
the top
of each cladding panel proximate one horizontal beam and access to said one
horizontal beam being provided via an opening adjacent the top of the cladding
panel
along the length of the cladding panel;
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
a display board member comprising a thin planar display panel having an
outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface adapted for overlying at
least one
cladding panel with the inner surface of the display panel in opposed relation
to the
outer surface of the cladding panel, the board member having at a top edge of
the
display panel a flange extending inwardly over the top of' the at least one
cladding
panel through the opening and being coupled to the beam proximate the top of
the
adjacent cladding panel to support the board member therefrom.
The present invention provides a display board which comprises a thin panel
member adapted to be supported on an office wall partition to closely overlie
a cover
of a partition.
The display board is preferably coupled to an internal frame of the partition
by a mounting bracket which extends laterally inwardly over the top of a cover
into
engagement with the internal frame. With an inner surface of the display board
lying
on an outerface of the cover coupling to the framework to merely provide for
support
against vertical downward movement of the display board can be sufficient.
Separate
mounting brackets which extend from the framework outwardly above a cover are
advantageously provided for ease of connection. Preferably, a tray member may
be
provided below the display board as to hold items such as pens, eraser brushes
and
the like. The tray member may be integral with the display board or preferably
independently mounted therebelow as by a mounting bracket extending laterally
inwardly under the bottom of a cover into engagement with the internal frame.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the following description taken together with accompanying drawings in
which:
Figure 1 shows a front perspective elevation view of an assembled modular
office furniture partition wall including a number of partitions to which two
display
board assemblies are mounted in accordance with the preserit invention;
3
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
Figure 2 is a frontal perspective view of the partition wall of Figure 1 with
the
display board assemblies and some of the cladding panels removed to reveal the
internal frame;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing schematically a section of a rectangular
frame of a partition having the same construction as shown in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of a display board assembly in accordance with a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of portions of
Figure 1 showing one display board assembly;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along section line vi-vi' of Figure 5
showing
the display board assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of Figure
4;
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the top end of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the bottom end of Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a schematic exploded perspective rear view showing coupling of a
display board member to a mounting bracket in accordance with the first
embodiment
shown in Figure 4;
Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a tray member in accordance
with the first embodiment of Figure 4;
Figure 11 is a rear perspective view similar to that of Figure 9, however, of
an
upper portion of a display board member in accordance with a second embodiment
of
the present invention;
Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional side view similar to Figure 8,
however, of a display board member in accordance with a third embodiment of
the
present invention;
Figure 13 is a schematic side view similar to Figure 8, however, of a tray
member in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention;
Figure 14 is a schematic side view similar to Figure 8, however, of a display
board member in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
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Detailed Description of the Drawings
Reference is made first to Figure 1 which shows an assembled modular office
furniture partition wall on which there are mounted two display board
assemblies 20
in accordance with the present invention.
The partition wall includes a number of partitions of the type disclosed in
U.S.
Patent 6,088,981 to Edwards issued July 18, 2000. The partition wall comprises
a
plurality of rectangular partitions 10 shown to be arranged end-to-end for
convenience. Each partition 10 comprises a generally rectangular frame
including
vertical posts 1 and horizontal beams 2 and 2'. As best illustrated in Figure
3 which
shows a schematic partial view of the frame of one partition 10, the beams 2,
2' are
preferably arranged in parallel pairs outwardly on both sides of each post 1
with the
beams on each side vertically above each other and vertically spaced from each
other.
The beams 2 and 2' are connected to the outward opposing front and rear
surfaces of
each post 1. Both the posts 1 and the beams 2, 2' are preferably tubular in
cross-
section as shown. The posts 1 and beams 2, 2' are connected with brackets 3
having a
saddle portion 3a of internal profile mating with the external profile of the
beams 2,
2'. The brackets 3 include flange portions 3b above and below the saddle
portions 3a
which overlie and are connected to the outward face of the associated post 1
as by
screws, rivets, welding and the like.
As seen in Figure 2, each of the posts 1 has an adjustable height foot 4 at
the
base thereof to support the partition and level the partition on a floor
surface. The
posts 1 of adjacent partition assemblies are shown connected as in Figure 2 in
line
with posts 1 of adjacent partitions as by connectors generally indicated as 6.
Cladding panels or covers generally indicated as 5 but also specifically
indicated as 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, are coupled to the frame as may be seen, for
example,
in Figures 2 and 6, laterally outwardly of the beams 2, 2'. Coupling
mechanisms are
provided for removably mounting the covers 5 to the frame, however, such
mounting
mechanisms are only schematically illustrated for the purpose of simplicity in
Figure
CA 02350427 2001-06-14
6 as clips 7 mounted to inward faces of the covers 5 near their tops and
bottoms for
releasable engagement with complementary resilient clips 8 carried on the
beams 2, 2'
or on the posts.
As shown, many of the covers and those particularly indicated as 5, 5c and 5d
are full covers in the sense that they preferably span vertically between
adjacent
parallel vertically spaced beams 2 on the same side of the posts. In the
middle
portion of the partition, there are shown partial covers 5a and 5b which
generally span
about half the distance between two adjacent beams and may be, for example,
coupled to each post intermediate the beams.
As seen in Figures 1 and 6, removable top caps 90 are provided to cover the
top of each partition 10. As is known, the covers 5 and the top caps 90 or at
least
some of them are preferably readily removable to permit access to the interior
of the
partition.
A feature of the partition 10 is that an opening 100 exists above each cover
5,
preferably substantially along the length of each cover, which permits access
from in
front of a cover inwardly past the cover to the framework and, particularly,
to beam 2,
2' which is disposed along the top of any one of the covers 5. This opening
100 is
provided above the top of each cover 5 whether, as seen in Figure 6, between
an
uppermost cover 5c and the top cap 90 thereabove or between an intermediate
cover
5b and the cover 5c thereabove. It also follows that this opening 100 is
provided at
the bottom of each cover 5.
Reference is now made to Figure 4 which shows an exploded view of a
display board assembly 20 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of
the
present invention. The display board assembly 20 comprises a display board
member
22, two mounting brackets 24, two side flange members 26 and a tray member 28.
The board member 22, the mounting brackets 24, the flange members 26 and the
tray
member 28 are preferably made of thin sheet material, preferably a thin sheet
of metal
as by a stamping operation. Preferably, the mounting brackets 24 are identical
and
6
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
interchangeable. Preferably, the flange members 24 are also identical and
interchangeable.
The display board member 22 comprises a flat planar panel 21 with an
elongate flange 50 provided substantially along the entire length of an upper
edge of
the panel 21. Two generally downwardly extending coupling tabs 52 are provided
on
the flange 50 as best seen in Figure 9. As will be described later, the tabs
are adapted
to be inserted into respective slots 46 in the mounting brackets 24 as
illustrated in
Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the panel 21 has a front surface 51, a rear surface
53, an
upper edge 91, bottom edge 92 and side edges 93 and 94. The front surface 51
of the
panel 21 is adapted for displaying information thereon. In the preferred
embodiment,
the front surface 51 is provided with a suitable white coating to facilitate
writing with
erasable colour markers such that the display board comprises what is known in
the
industry as a "whiteboard".
As seen in Figure 1, the display board assembly 20 is adapted to be mounted
to the partitions 10 to at least partially overlie the covers 5. Reference is
made to
Figure 5 which shows an enlarged front view of the display board assembly 20
overlying the cover indicated as 5c. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view
along
section line v-vi' in Figure 5. Figures 7 and 8 show enlarged side views of
the top and
bottom portions of Figure 6.
As will be explained in greater detail, each of the mounting brackets 24 are
coupled to the beams 2, 2' at the top of the cover 5c. The display board
member 22
with the two-side flange members 26 attached along the side edges 93 and 94 of
the
panel 21 are supported over the cover 5c by the flange 50 of the board member
22
engaging the mounting brackets 24. Independently of the display board member
22
and its mounting brackets 24, the tray member 28 is mounted on two beams 2 and
2'
disposed proximate the bottom of the cover 5c.
The two flange members 26 are elongate angle members having a first flange
54 and a second flange 56 disposed in planes at right angles to each other.
The flange
members 26 are secured along each vertical side edges 93 and 94 of the panel
21 with
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
the first flange 54 in a plane parallel to that of the panel 21 and the second
flange 56
extending normal to the plane of panel 21 and outwardly from the front surface
51 of
the panel 21. The outwardly extending second flange 56 provides a physical
barrier
which assists in preventing the covers 5 from being contaminated by materials
used
on the display panel 21. For example, the second flanges 56 assist in
preventing
marker pens and/or brushes to erase markings from being brought into contact
with
adjacent covers 5. The flange members 26 may be secured by suitable methods
including adhesion, welding, riveting, mechanical fasteners and the like.
Reference is made to Figures 7 and 8 which best show the mounting brackets
24 and the manner in which they are adapted to engage a pair of horizontal
beams 2,
2' proximate the top of the cover 5c.
Each mounting bracket 24 is of a generally S-shape in cross-section as best
seen in Figure 7. A first L-shape section 30 is provided for engagement with
an outer
portion and an upper portion of the beam 2 on the left-hand side of the post
1. A
second L-shaped section is provided for engagement with an outer portion and a
lower portion of the beam 2' on the right-hand side of the post 1. An
intermediate
ramped bridging section 34 connects the first and second L-shaped sections 30
and
32. The first L-shaped section 30 is shown as having a horizontal top portion
36 to
engage the top of the beam 2 and a downwardly extending side portion 38 to
engage
the outer side surface of the beam 2. A supporting ledge portion 44 extends
outwardly to the left from the side wall portion 38.
The second L-shaped section 32 has a bottom portion 40 and a side portion 42
which extends upwardly therefrom. The bottom portion 40 is adapted to engage
the
bottom of the beam 2 and the side portion 42 is adapted to engage the outer
side
surface of the beam 2'.
The ledge portion 44 is disposed to extend outwardly generally horizontally.
As best seen in Figure 9, an elongate slot 46 is provided in the ledge portion
44
extending parallel to the ledge. This slot 46 is preferably provided at the
junction of
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
the wall portion 38 and the ledge portion 44. As best seen in Figure 9, the
slot 46 is
adapted to receive the tab 52 of the flange 50 of the display board member 22.
For assembly, having regard to Figure 7, the top cap 90 may be removed and
each mounting bracket 24 may be manipulated to become coupled to the beams and
adopt its configuration as shown in Figure 7 with or without the cover 5c in
place.
Subsequently, with the cover 5c in place, the board member 22 is placed over
the
cover 5c with the rear surface 5:3 of the panel 21 to be located closely in
front of the
front surface of the cover 5c, with the flange 50 to overlie the ledge portion
44 and
with the tab 52 on the flange 50 to extend downwardly into the slot 46.
Preferably, as
shown in Figure 7, the flange 50 abuts on the ledge portion 44 lying
substantially
coplanar thereto and with the panel 21 substantially coplanar and engaging the
front
surface of the cover 5c. With the display 5c in place, the top cap 90 may be
replaced.
The tray member 28 is best shown in Figures 8 and 10. The tray member 28
includes a bracket section generally indicated 58 and a tray section generally
indicated 76. The bracket section 58 has a cross-section substantially the
same as that
of each mounting bracket 24. Identical reference numbers are used to refer to
equivalent elements of the bracket section 58 of the tray member and the
mounting
brackets 24. As seen, however, in Figures 8 and 10, in the tray member 28, the
ledge
portion 44 extends outwardly to the left generally horizontally below the
cover 5c
where it merges into the tray section 76. In this regard, the tray section 76
is formed
by a downward extending wall portion 78, an outwardly and downwardly slanted
floor portion 80, an outwardly and upwardly slanted floor portion 82 and an
upwardly
extending wall portion 84. Together the wall portion 78, floor portions 80 and
82 and
the wall portion 84 form an elongated channel or tray for holding devices such
as
marker pens, brushes to erase markings, pencils, pens, magnets and the like as
may be
useful.
Regarding assembly, the tray member 28 shown in Figure 8 is preferably
applied prior to application of the display board member 22. To apply the tray
member 28, preferably, the cover 5c thereabove is removed and the tray member
28
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
manipulated in place to become coupled to the beams 2 and 2'. With the ledge
portion 44 extending from the beam 2 towards the left above the top of the
cover 5b,
the cover 5c may then be coupled to the beams 2 thereabove and the ledge 44
will
extend outwardly via the opening 100 between the top of the panel 5b and the
bottom
of the panel 5c.
In the preferred embodiment, two bracket members 24 are shown and the
display board member 22 is shown as carrying two complementary tabs 52. It is
to be
appreciated that merely one bracket member 26 can be sufficient. Preferably,
more
than one bracket member is provided, preferably two, however, three or more
bracket
members can be utilized. The bracket members 24 are adapted to engage the
beams 2
and 2' in varying positions between the posts. This is advantageous to permit
the
display board members to be mounted at various locations over different of the
covers
5. For example, as seen in Figure 1, a display board assembly 20 is shown as
mounted over cover 5d. The display board member 22 mounted over cover 5d is
shown to be of a length which is less than the length of the cover 5d. This
display
panel may, therefore, as desired by a user, be mounted so as to be centered or
moved
to the left and right relative to cover 5d.
Referring to Figure 1, the display board member 22 mounted over cover 5c is
shown to be of the same length as the cover 5c and to substantially cover the
panel 5c.
This is not necessary. The panel 21 of any display board member 22 may have a
length between side edges 93 and 94 which is equal to, less than or greater
than the
length of any cover to be covered. The panel 21 may also have a width between
top
and bottom edges 91 and 92 which is equal to, less than or greater than the
vertical
extent of any cover. In that the mounting brackets may engage the beams 2 at
any
locations, it is to be understood that, for example, the display board member
22
shown as mounted on top of cover 5c in Figure 1 could be mounted so it
partially
overlies cover 5c and partially overlies a cover 5 adjacent to cover 5c. Thus,
a first
mounting bracket 24 could engage the beams of one partition 10 and a second
mounting bracket 26 could engage the beams of a second partition 10.
CA 02350427 2001-06-14
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show a display board member 22 mounted over the cover
5c which is disposed immediately underneath the top cap 90 and with the flange
50 to
extend through opening 100 between the top of the cover 5c and the top cap 90.
It is
to be appreciated that a display board member 22 in accordance with the
present
invention may be mounted over any of the covers 5 with the flange 50 to extend
through the opening 100 between the vertically arranged covers as, for
example, is
the case with the display board member 22 mounted over cover 5d in Figure 1.
Such an opening 100 between the vertically arranged covers is illustrated, for
example, in Figure 8 as between the cover 5c and the cover 5d.
In accordance with the first embodiment, the bracket members 24 may
preferably be sized so that they frictionally engage the beams 2 and 2'. In
this regard,
each of the generally downwardly extending side portion 38 and the upwardly
extending side portion 42 of the bracket member 46 may extend inwardly towards
their respective beam so as to frictionally clip onto the beams 2 and 2'
although this is
not necessary. It is also advantageous to have the mounting bracket 24 sized
to be
longitudinally slidable along the beams to assist in location of the mounting
brackets
24 at desired locations.
It is to be appreciated that internal wiring, cabling and the like may be
provided to extend in an interior space defined within the beams 2, 2' and the
posts.
In accordance with the present invention having the mounting brackets 24 to be
of
relatively small size permits the mounting brackets to be placed at different
locations
and/or for cabling within the partition to be moved.
If desired, the flange 50 of the board member 22 may be provided with a
plurality of the tabs 52 so as to permit the mounting brackets 24 to be
located at
different longitudinal locations along the beams 2 yet be located under a
selected one
of the tabs 52.
The preferred embodiment shows, as best seen in Figure 4, a display board
assembly 20 including a number of components. Manufacturing the display board
assembly 20 as a number of components is preferred but is not necessary in
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
accordance with the present invention. Manufacture as a plurality of
components has
advantages from the point of view of manufacture and from the point of view of
storage, installation and removal. In this regard, the front surface 51 of the
panel 21
is preferably provided with a surface or covering which will function as a
display
surface. For example, in the context of being a whiteboard, a suitable white
coating is
to be applied thereto. As a matter of convenience for construction, it is
advantageous
to have the element comprising merely the panel 21 and its flange 50 as a
separate
element which can readily have the suitable white coating applied thereto.
The side flange members 26 are not necessary but are preferred. Providing
each as a separate element can be advantageous so that the side flange members
26
may have a different coating or painting than the panel 21. It is to be
appreciated that
rather than provide the side flange members 26 as separate elements, they
could
readily form an integral part of the panel 21 by being flanges bent to extend
outwardly therefrom.
To simplify manufacture, it is preferred that the mounting brackets 24 be
separate elements from the board member 22. This is not necessary, however,
and
bracket members having a configuration identical to that shown in Figure 4
could be
provided as an integral extension of the flange 50 as by permanently securing
the
flange 50 to the ledge portion 44 as by rivets or the like and eliminating the
tabs 52.
Even with the bracket members 24 permanently attached to the panel 21, the
resultant
panel could still relatively readily be manipulated to suitably insert the
bracket
members 24 for engagement with the beams while a top cap 90 or cover 5
thereabove
has been removed.
Reference is made to Figure 11 which shows a second embodiment of the
board member 22 which carries a mounting bracket section 96 as an integral
part
thereof. The mounting bracket section 96 shown is adapted to engage merely one
beam, beam 2, on one side of the post. The mounting bracket section 96
includes not
only an outward wall portion 38 and a top portion 36 but also a downwardly
extending inner wall portion 37 to engage an inwardly directed surface of the
beam 2.
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
As is to be appreciated, a series of such mounting bracket sections 96 could
be
provided along the length of the board member 22.
Reference is made to Figure 12 which shows a cross-sectional side view
similar to that of Figure 8, however, in which a tray section 97 is provided
as an
integral part of the board member 22 as an extension of the bottom edge 92 of
the
panel 21 as floor portions 80 and 82 and wall portion 84 depending therefrom.
A
whiteboard which incorporated the features of both Figures 11 and 12 could be
formed from a unitary piece of sheet material, preferably metal.
In the first preferred embodiment illustrated, for example, in Figure 6, panel
21 extends vertically a height such that the bottom edge of the pane121 is at
the same
height as the bottom edge of a cover 5c. However, in Figure 6, the tray
section 76 is
shown as located at a height below panel 5c and extending to overlap cover 5b
below
cover 5c. It is to be appreciated that the vertical width of the panel 21 can
be selected
so that it may extend vertically over one or more covers or may be of a height
less
than any one cover.
The third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 12 illustrates an
arrangement in which the tray section is disposed at a height above the top of
cover
5b therebelow as can be of assistance in permitting easy removal of the cover
5b
without the need to first remove the interference from a tray member.
It can be advantageous to have a tray member 28 which is separate from the
display board member 22 yet coupled to the display board member 22. In this
regard,
reference is made to Figure 13 which shows as a fourth embodiment a
configuration
identical to that shown in Figure 8, however, with the tray member 28 includes
an
upwardly extending catch portion 97 which is adapted to extend upwardly above
the
lower edge 91 of the panel 21 so as to engage the lower edge 91 of the panel
21 and
assist in holding the panel 21 against movement of its lower edge outwardly
away
from the cover 5c. The catch portion 97 may preferably bias the lower end of
the
panel 21 inwardly into the cover 5c.
13
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
Reference is made to Figure 14 which shows a further embodiment. Figure 14
is identical to that shown in Figure 8 with the exception that the panel 21 is
provided
with an extension portion 72 along its lower edge 91 which extends downwardly
to
vertically overlap with the wall portion 78 of the tray member 22 outwardly
thereof.
An outwardly disposed outer surface of the wall portion 78 and an inner
surface 53 of
the panel 21 overlap and may be provided with complementary touch fastening
mechanisms such as VELCRO brand hook and eye fasteners.
The display board member 22 in accordance with the present invention may
have a panel 21 which is adapted for various display and indication purposes.
The
panel 21 may preferably comprise a whiteboard as is known for marking with
erasable markers. In accordance with the first preferred embodiment, the panel
21 is
a thin sheet of metal with a white coating layer on its outer surface 51 to
form a
whiteboard. The panel 21 may also comprise a blackboard or a chalk board which
would provide a surface which could be marked by chalk. Blackboard and chalk
board surfaces are known which can be applied as a coating to a planar
substrate such
as a metal sheet.
The panel 21 can be a metal sheet to which magnets can be magnetically
attached with such magnets being themselves letters or indicia which display
information. Alternatively, magnets could be used to secure paper notices and
the
like to the display surface.
Reference is made to Figure 11 which shows a layer 74 of material secured to
panel 21 to overlie the panel. The layer 74 may comprise a material forming a
whiteboard, a blackboard, chalk board or the like. The layer of material 74
could also
comprise a layer of cork or other soft material so as to provide what is
conventionally
known as tack board or a cork board being a display board which permits
securing of
paper and other articles thereto as by sticking tacks, pins and the like into
the soft
surface layer. The panel 21 could carry various other surfaces and substrates
which
are preferably substantially planar and provide for marking and/or display.
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CA 02350427 2001-06-14
The display board assemblies in accordance with the present invention have
been particularly described for use with partitions of the type shown in U.S.
Patent
6,088,981. The invention is not so limited and the invention may be utilized
with any
partitions having members which can structurally support the display board
assemblies and are accessible through openings above covers. Such support
members
may include horizontal beams, troughs, channels and the like of an internal
frame.
The first embodiment as illustrated in Figure 9 shows the flange 50 on the
panel 21 to overlie the ledge portion 44 and to be coupled thereto by tab 52
extending
into slot 46. Various other arrangements may be provided to couple the flange
50 to
the ledge portion 44. For example, tabs could be provided on the ledge 44 to
extend
upwardly into a slot in the flange 50. The flange 50 and ledge portion 44
could be
made to carry complementary hook and loop touch fasteners such as sold under
the
trade mark VELCRO. Preferably, the coupling of the flange 50 to the ledge
portion
44 sets the distance the panel 21 is forward of the cover 5. In Figure 9, the
relative
location of the tabs and slots can be established so that the panel 21 abuts
the front
surface of the cover.
In the preferred embodiment, the panel 21 is merely a thin sheet of material
preferably no more than one inch thick, more preferably less than 1/4 inch
and, more
preferably, less than 1/32 inch thick.
The preferred mounting brackets 26 as shown in Figure 7 do not extend
forwardly of the covers and may be left in place after a display board member
22 may
be removed. Alternatively, the mounting brackets may extend further forwardly
above the cover for coupling with the panel 21 whether or not an equivalent of
a
separate flange 50 may be provided.
The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments.
Many modifications and variations will now occur to persons skilled in the
art. For a
definition of the invention, reference is made to the appended claims.
