Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
DISPLAY SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to display products, and more particularly Lo display
S systems that can be mounted on a wall or other mounting surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE IT~VENTION
Display systems including display boards are useful to display a variety of
information, such as business information, advertising information, and
educational information. Some systems are portable in that the display board
can
be easily removed from a mounting surface, allowing the display board to be
removed from one position and reattached at another position. However, these
systems can be unstable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a display system for use in any number of
different applications. More specifically, the invention provides a display
system
including a rail. The rail has a mounting portion and a first hook portion.
The
first hook portion defines an axis that is angled relative to the mounting
portion.
The display system also includes at least one display board removably coupled
to
the rail. The display board has a board hook portion that is removably coupled
to
the first hook portion along the axis such that the display board is also
angled
relative to the mounting portion.
In one embodiment, the angle relative to the; mounting portion causes at
least a portion of the display board to flex away from the mounting portion
when
the display board is coupled to the rail. In another embodiment, the rail
includes a
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
second hook portion and at least one accessory item coupled to the second hook
portion. In another embodiment, the first hook portion has a width and the
board
hook portion has a gap width approximately equal to the width of the first
hook
portion. In another embodiment, the angle of the axis relative to the mounting
portion is about 1 S°.
The invention also provides a portable display board configured to be
removably coupled to a mounting surface. The portable display board includes a
top edge, a bottom edge, and a board hook portion coupled to the display
board.
The display board is configured to cooperate with the mounting surface such
that
when the display board is rcmovably coupled to the mounting surface, at least
a
portion of the display board engages the mounting surface to securely couple
the
display board to the mounting surface.
The invention also defines a method of mounting a portable display board
to a mounting surface. The method includes coupling a rail to the mounting
1 S surface, the rail including a first hook portion defining an axis,
providing at least
one display board having a board hook portion, and moving the board hook
portion into position with the rail, thereby removably coupling the board hook
portion to the rail along the axis.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to
2U those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description,
claims,
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display system embodying aspects of the
25 present invention.
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
Fig. 2 is a front view of a display board for use in the display system of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
5 Fig. 4 is a side view of a rail for mounting the display board of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the display board of Fig. 2 mounted to the rail of
Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a flip chart holder to be used with the
display system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a side view of the flip chart holder of Fig. 6 engaging a pad of
paper.
Fig. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-.$ of Fig. 7 with the pad of paper
removed.
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a marker caddy for use with the
disptay system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative rail of the display system of
the present invention.
Fig. 11 is an exploded view of the alternative rail of Fig. 10.
Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of
construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also,
it
is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the
purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including,"
-3-
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
"having," and "comprising" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass
the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional
items.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
5 Fig. 1 illustrates a display system 14 according to the invention. The
display system 14 includes a rail 30 that is designed to support a variety of
different portable display boards. In the illustrated embodiment, the rail 30
supports a white board assembly 18, a chalk board assembly 22, and a peg board
assembly 26. In addition to these surfaces, the present invention could
include a
10 magnetic surface, cork, or any other suitable display material or
combination of
materials.
The rail 30 extends along a desired length of a wall 48. It is understood
that white the rail 30 of the illustrated embodiment is a continuous rail
extending
along the wall 48, the rail 30 can instead include a plurality of spaced apart
rail
15 segments and still fall within the scope of the present invention. Other
features of
the rail 30 will be described in more detail below with respect to Fig. 4.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the portable white board assembly 18 for use in the
display system 14 in more detail. In the illustrated embodiment, the white
board
assembly 18 includes a white board 32 having a dry erase surface 34 that
allows
20 for easy addition and removal of information using a suitable dry erase
marker.
The white board assembly 18 further includes a frame SO surrounding at least a
portion of the edges of the white board 32. The frame SO includes corner
portions
54 that protect the corners of the white board 32 and a side molding 58
coupled to
the bottom and sides of the white board 32. The side molding SS has a rounded
-4-
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
exterior and includes an inner protrusion 70 that interacts with a
corresponding
cavity 74 in the board 32 to secure the side molding 58 to the board 32.
The frame 50 further includes a top molding 78 coupled to the top of the
board 32. The top molding 78 includes an inner protrusion 86 that interacts
with a
corresponding cavity 90 in the top of the board 32 to secure the top molding
78 to
the board 32. The top molding 78 further include s an outer protrusion 92 that
can
flex to accommodate variations in the width of the rail 30 when the white
board
assembly 18 is coupled to the rail 30. The top molding 78 further includes a
board
hook portion 94 that defines a gap having a width W, that is designed to
couple
the board assembly 18 to the rail 30.
With reference to Fig. 4, the rail 30 is designed to be coupled to a
mounting surface, such as the wall 48. The rail 30 includes a mounting portion
102, a first hook portion 106, and a second hook portion 110 capable of
receiving
an accessory. The mounting portion 102 includes an aperture 114 through which
a fastener 116 can be inserted to couple the rail 30 'to the wall 48. The
fastener
could be a screw, a nail, a bolt, a rivet, glue, mating layers of hook and
loop
material, or any other appropriate fastener.
The first hook portion 106 has a width WZ that is approximately equal to or
slightly larger than the gap width W, of the board hook portion 94. The first
hook
portion 106 defines an axis 118 that is angled relative to the mounting
portion
102. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis 118 is angled approximately
15°
relative to the mounting portion 102. However, it is understood that the axis
118
could be any appropriate angle, such as greater than about S° and less
than about
45°, and preferably greater than about 10° and less titian about
25°. The chosen
angle will depend on the height H of the white board 32 and the flexibility of
the
-5-
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
board. For example, a white board 32 having greater flexibility could be
mounted
at a steeper angle than a board with less flexibility.
Fig. S illustrates the white board assembly 18 coupled to the rail 30.
Coupling the white board assembly I8 to the rail 30 angles the white board
S assembly 18 with respect to the mounting portion 102 of the rail 30, causing
a
portion of the white board assembly 18 (near the bottom edge 62) to engage and
press against the wall 48. This pressure engagement causes the assembly 18 to
flex away from the mounting portion 102 of the rail 30. It is understood that,
while the white board assembly 18 contacts the wall 48 near the bottom edge 62
10 of the board assembly 18 in the illustrated embodiment, any portion of the
white
board assembly 18 can contact the wall and still fall within the scope of the
present invention.
The pressure engagement of the white board assembly 18 to the wall 48
securely couples the white board assembly 18 to th.e rail 30 such that when a
user
15 exerts pressure in the dry erase surface 34, such as by writing on the
surface 34,
the white board assembly 18 does not move with respect to the wall 48. Thus,
the
white board assembly 18 is securely coupled to the rail 30 and is stable for
ease of
use by the user.
It is understood that in other embodiments (not shown}, the first hook
20 portion 106 (and thus the axis 118) can be substantially parallel to the
mounting
portion 102. In these embodiments, the pressure engagement between the white
board assembly 18 and the wall 48 is due to factors other than the angle of
the
axis. For example, the bottom edge 62 of the white board assembly I 8 could
have
a greater width than the remainder of the board, resulting in engagement
between
25 the bottom edge 62 of the white board assembly 18 and the wall 48. Tn this
-6-
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
embodiment, the white board assembly 18 would flex away from the mounting
portion 102 of the rail 30 as the display board is coupled to the rail 30
(i.e., it
would be flexed to allow coupling of the board assembly 18 to the rail 30).
Referring back to Fig. i, the display system of the illustrated embodiment
also includes a plurality of accessories coupled to the second hook portion I
10 of
the rail 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the accessories include a marker
caddy
122 coupled to one portion of the second hook portion 110, and a flip chart
126
coupled to another portion of the second hook portion 110.
With reference to Figs. 6-8, the flip chart 126 is coupled to the second
hook portion 110 via a flip chart holder 130. The flip chart holder 130
includes a
chart hook portion 134, extended side walls 138, 142, and a protrusion 146.
The
chart hook portion 134 is of appropriate size and curvature to cooperate with
the
second hook portion 110 of the rail 30 to secure the flip chart holder 130 to
the
rail 30. The side walls 138, 142 extend downwardly from the chart hook portion
134 to surround both sides of the top edge of the flip chart 126. The
protrusion
146 extends inwardly from the inner surface I 50 of one of the side walls I
38, 142.
With reference to Fig. 8, the protrusion 146 includes a plurality of outwardly
extending tabs 154 that are in pressure engagement with the flip chart 126.
The
tabs 154 secure the flip chart 126 within the flip chart holder I30.
Fig. 9 illustrates the marker caddy 122 in more detail. The marker caddy
122 includes a base 158 and a tool-receiving portion i62. The base 158 and
tool-
receiving portion 162 are preferably injection molded of plastic and includes
a
caddy hook portion 166 at the top of the base 158. The caddy hook portion 166
is
of appropriate size and curvature to cooperate with the second hook portion
110 of
the rail 30 to secure the marker caddy 122 to the rail 30.
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
The tool-receiving portion 162 includes a plurality of holding areas 174.
At least one of the holding areas 174 includes recesses 178, 182 of different
sizes
capable of receiving tools (e.g., markers) of different sizes. In the
illustrated
embodiment, one of the holding areas 174 includes a large recess 186 that is
sized
5 to hold an eraser {not shown) for use with the dry erase surface 34 of the
white
board assembly 18.
The display system 14 described above can also be used to perform a
method of mounting a portable white board assembly 18 to a mounting surface
(such as the wall 48). The rail 30 is coupled to the wall 48 by inserting a
fastener
116 through the aperture I 14. The board hook portion 94 is moved into
position
over the first hook portion 106 of the rail 30, and then slid down over the
first
hook portion 106. Sliding the board hook portion 94 over the first hook
portion
l06 along the axis 118 causes the pressure engagement between the white board
assembly 18 and the wall 48. The white board assembly I8 is secured to the
rail
I 5 30 via the interaction between the board hook portion 94 and the first
hook portion
106 of the rail 30 and via the pressure engagement between the white board
assembly 18 and the wall 48. In the illustrated embodiment, coupling the white
board assembly 18 to the rail 30 along the axis 118 includes angling the white
board assembly 18 with respect to the wall 48, and with respect to the
mounting
portion 102.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternate system for mounting the board using
a different rail 200. The rail 200 is designed to cooperate with the top 204
of a
wall 208 of a cubicle. Cubicles are often used to divide space in an office
setting
and are well known in the art. The rail 200 includes a mounting portion 2l 2
that
is substantially normal to a first hook portion 216. The mounting portion 212
is
_g_
CA 02470728 2004-06-10
configured to cooperate with the top 204 of the cubicle wall 208 and includes
a
channel 220 therethrough.
The rail 200 also includes an adjustment bracket 224 that allows the rail
200 to be adjusted to cooperate with cubicte walls 208 of varying thicknesses.
The adjustment bracket 224 is designed to cooperate with the backside 226 of
the
cubicle wall 208, opposite the first hook portion 216. The adjustment bracket
224
includes a top portion 228 that includes an aperture 232 that cooperates with
the
channel 220 in the mounting portion 212. The adjustment bracket 224 also
includes a side portion 236.
To couple the rail 200 to the wall 208, the top portion 228 of the
adjustment bracket 224 is placed along the top 204 of the wall 208. The
mounting
portion 212 of the rail 200 is then placed on top of the adjustment bracket
224
such that the channel 220 aligns with the aperture 232. The adjustment bracket
224 is then adjusted until the side portion 236 is in contact with the
backside 226
of the wall 208. A fastener, such as a screw 240, is then inserted through the
channel 220 and the aperture 232 and tightened to couple the mounting portion
212 and adjustment bracket 224 securely together. A display board can then be
coupled to the first hook portion 216. The rail 200 can easily be removed from
the wall 208 and be readjusted to fit on another cubicle wall of differing
width.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
_g_
