Patent Application
20100099073
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to displays and message boards, and more particularly to a combination chalkboard and corkboard that provides a display surface upon which the user can write with chalk, and which also receives pushpins, thumbtacks or the like in a manner typically associated with corkboards.
2. Description of the Related Art
Message-type display boards are well known in the art. Conventional bulletin boards, for example, are typically made from a cork or other tack penetrable material, and are used to pin or tack notes or signs to the display surface. Other typical message boards include dry-erase boards, permanent signage, illuminated displays and chalkboards. Conventional message boards typically only include a single function; i.e., a conventional chalkboard, for example, cannot be written upon with a dry erase marker or receive thumbtacks. Thus, the user must obtain and display multiple message boards in order to provide the functionality of each type of display. It would be desirable to provide a display having multiple functionality. Thus, a combination chalkboard and corkboard solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The combination chalkboard and corkboard is a display, allowing for erasable writing thereon with chalk, and the removable attachment thereto of paper and the like via pushpins or thumbtacks. The combination chalkboard and corkboard includes a frame, a cork layer having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a mesh layer having opposed upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface of the mesh layer is positioned above the upper surface of the cork layer, and the cork and mesh layers are held together by the frame. The upper surface of the mesh layer is at least partially exposed through the frame such that it may be marked by chalk. Apertures formed through the mesh layer and the upper surface of the cork layer are adapted for receiving pushpins.
Additionally, a backing layer, having opposed upper and lower surfaces, may be further provided. The upper surface thereof is positioned below the lower surface of the cork layer, and the cork, mesh and backing layers are all held together by the frame. Further, a batting layer may be sandwiched between the upper surface of the cork layer and the lower surface of the mesh layer.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
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Mesh layer 14 is positioned above cork layer 24, and layers 14, 24 and 26 are received within, and held by, frame 12. As shown, a layer of polyester batting 22 or the like may be positioned between the mesh layer 14 and the cork layer 24. Frame 12 may be any suitable frame and may have any desired dimension or configuration. Frame 12 may be formed from wood, metal, plastic or any other suitable material, and may include ornamental features. The layers 14, 22, 24 and 26 may be held within frame 12 through the use of any suitable fastener, such as adhesive, nails, staples, screws, or the like, or by frictional engagement. Alternatively, layers 14, 22, 24 and 26 may be held together via adhesive or the like without the use of an external frame.
Mesh layer 14 may be any suitable mesh having openings or apertures formed therethrough capable of receiving and holding the pin of a pushpin, thumbtack or the like (such a exemplary pushpins 16), and which is further formed from a material upon which erasable markings can be made with chalk. Such mesh materials are often marketed as sun shade or solar shade mesh screens, and can be formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated polyester, fiberglass, nylon, PVC, aramids, steel (which would allow for a ferromagnetic surface), aluminum or the like. It should be understood that any suitable mesh material may be utilized.
Layers 14, 22, 24 and 26 may be held together within frame 12 through the application of additional adhesive layers or the like. As noted above, layer 24 is preferably at least ½ an inch in thickness, in order to accommodate conventional pushpins. Alternatively, backing layer 26 could be formed from foam or a similar material, capable of receiving the pin of a pushpin, and the combination of layer 24 and layer 26 would then preferably be at least ½ an inch in thickness.
As a further alternative, the layer 26 could be removed, and the mesh screen 14 would be placed on the layer 22, as in the previous embodiment, which is preferably formed from polyester batting or soft foam, and these layers are then supported on cork layer 24 alone. In this alternative, the batting layer 22 is preferably approximately ¼ of an inch in thickness, and the cork layer 24 is preferably approximately ½ of an inch in thickness. The polyester batting or soft foam of layer 22 acts to reduce the possibility of deformation of mesh screen 14 during writing, and further acts as a noise and vibration damper when mesh screen 14 is being written upon. As a further alternative, an additional layer of thin fabric material may be sandwiched between the polyester batting layer 22 and the mesh screen 14 in order to protect the polyester fibers of layer 22 from projecting through the apertures of mesh screen 14.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
