Patent Application
20050168707
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates generally to rear projection units and more specifically to a convertible assembly that projects an image through a projecting space and onto a screen when the assembly is configured to provide a projecting function and that may use the projecting space for a different function when the assembly is configured to provide a non-projecting function.
This section of this document is intended to introduce various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Modern office facilities typically include several types of systems that help facilitate sharing of ideas between employees. One particularly useful type of system for sharing ideas has been erasable/writable whiteboards where special ink pens can be used to manually provide information on the boards during a sharing session and, thereafter, the information can be erased and the board surface reused.
Another useful type of system for sharing information has been projection systems that enable video presentation of information on relatively large display screens. These types of projection systems have generally taken two different forms including front and rear projection systems. Front projection systems, as the label implies, include a projector that projects images on the front surface of a display screen from the viewing side of the display screen. Here, the projector may be supported on a table or mounted to a ceiling while the display screen may be mounted to a wall or to a ceiling.
While front projectors are typically easily portable and therefore can be used in many different locations, unfortunately, these system have several shortcomings. First, the screens used with front projectors typically are relatively large and are not easily portable. For this reason, where a projector is to be used in many different location, a separate screen usually has to be available at each of the locations.
Second, often, the best place for a person presenting information to be located is directly next to the information so that the presenter can physically point out various parts of the information on the large projected image. In the case of a front projector, unfortunately, a presenter's presence between the projector and the image results in a shadow being cast on the display screen and temporary loss of at least some of the presented information.
Third, where a projector is portable, when a projector is brought into a room for use, prior to using the projector several power, data and control linkages are typically required. While projector manufacturers have taken steps to streamline the projector linkage tasks, these tasks are often time consuming and are generally viewed as tedious and as an impediment to use.
Fourth, where a front projector is used, often, there is a minimum projector-to-screen distance requirement that cannot be met in small spaces such as modest offices or cubicles. For this reason, in many cases, a limited number of conference rooms in a facility may be the only suitable locations in which to use front projector systems even when the number of people that attend a presentation is small.
Rear projection systems, as the label implies, include a projector that projects images on a rear surface of a translucent screen where screen viewers view the images on a front surface that faces in a direction opposite the rear surface. In most cases rear projection systems comprise wholly integrated systems wherein the projector is mounted within a housing and the display screen is mounted in one side of the housing for presenting the images. Here, one or more reflecting mirrors or the like are often provided in the housing between the projector and the screen so that the image size can be increased while still maintaining a relatively narrow assembly depth (i.e., dimension from the screen to the back of the housing).
Some rear projection units have been equipped with an erasable marker type display screen surface (e.g., a translucent marker board type surface) so that information can be added to projected images by a system user. In some cases, when information is added to a display screen via a pen or the like, the system is equipped to recognize the information and to record the information for addition to the images. One such system for identifying data added to a whiteboard display surface is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/452,178 which is entitled “Electronic Whiteboard”, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety be reference.
Rear projection systems like the ones described above solve many of the problems associated with front projection systems. For instance, rear projection systems typically require less space than front projection systems and therefore are useable in many different facility locations. In addition, rear projection systems are fully integrated so typically at least some of the data, power and control linkages need only be made once by a manufacturer or a trained technician. Moreover, with a rear projection system, a user can stand directly in front of an image between the screen and an audience without casting a shadow on the resulting image. Furthermore, with a rear projection system that includes a whiteboard type surface, information can easily be added to displayed images during viewing.
Unfortunately, while rear projection systems provide many advantages, rear projection systems also have several shortcomings. First, because rear projection systems require a dedicated housing structure for defining the projection path of images from a projector, rear projection systems are typically relatively bulky. Because of their size, a relatively large space is typically required to store a rear projection system.
Second, because of their large size, while most rear projection systems may fit within relatively small rooms, such systems are rarely used in small rooms. For instance, while a rear projector may fit within a standard sized cubicle, such systems would leave little room for a presenter and an audience within the cubicle and therefore are only rarely used within such a small space. This is especially true in cases where cubicles already include other office furniture including a desk, book shelves, one or more chairs and/or one or more working surfaces.
Third, in addition to being of a large size, many rear projectors are also relatively heavy so that, despite being transportable, most rear projectors are only rarely moved from one location to another for remote use. In fact, because of their bulkiness, despite requiring less space than typical front projection systems, in many cases rear projection systems are rarely moved within even a single facility.
Fourth, because rear projection systems require a support structure, a housing assembly and often one or more reflecting mirror assemblies, the overall costs of these systems is relative high.
Fifth, because rear projection systems are typically integrated into a complete housing, many people do not understand how rear projection systems operate. While lack of operational knowledge may not appear to be an important concern at first blush, it is believed that, as with many emerging technologies, lack of operational knowledge has, in the past, lead to underutilization of rear projection systems.
Sixth, while some rear projection systems include a screen surface suitable for use as a whiteboard, in most cases projection screens are not employed for this purpose when conventional whiteboard functionality without projection is required. Instead, where both rear projection capabilities and conventional whiteboard capabilities are routinely separately required within a facility, typically separate dedicated projection systems and whiteboard systems are provided.
Seventh, to increase stability (i.e., minimize the possibility of tipping), rear projection systems typically have a relatively low profile. This is particularly true of system that are relatively heavy. While low profiles increase stability, such profiles typically reduce the height of the projection screen and thus reduce the usefulness of a system for presenting information to large audiences. A related limitation is that the height of a rear projection screen typically is not adjustable.
Thus, it would be advantageous to have an inexpensive, easily portable, easily height adjustable, easily storable information sharing assembly that is intuitive to use for displaying images as well as for presenting manually applied information.
Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the invention originally claimed herein are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.
It has been recognized that various common office facility structures can be easily converted from their normal configurations into part of a rear projection system thereby providing a dual function and hence reducing system costs appreciably. More specifically, various common office facility structures can be used to support a display screen, a reflecting member and a projector in functionally operable juxtapositions.
It has also been recognized that the display screen, reflecting member and projector may be designed to have forms that are relatively easy to handle, are easily portable and that require minimal storage space.
Based on these recognitions, at least certain embodiments of the present invention include a common facility structure that has a first purpose and that can be converted for use with other components to provide a rear projection system. For instance, in at least some embodiments, when shelf members are removed from vertical shelf support members, the uprights are useable to mount a display screen and a reflecting member and to support a projector so as to form a rear projection configuration wherein images are projected through the space from which the shelf members were removed. Thus, in these cases, the vertical shelf supports are useable in either a rear projection configuration or in a shelving configuration.
In the above shelf-projection example, the screen and reflecting member may be relatively light weight and therefore easy to manipulate and transport. In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that the screen and reflecting member may be couplable to the vertical supports at different heights to adjust the height of the projected image to suit specific optimal user requirements.
In many cases it is contemplated that coupling hardware or features used to support the shelves may also be useable to support the screen and reflecting member. Thus, for instance, where shelves are supported by pins that extend from the vertical support members, those pins may be useable to support a suitably configured screen and reflecting member. Here, where the pin heights along the lengths of the vertical supports are adjustable, screen height may be modified by altering the heights of screen supporting pins. Other coupling configurations are contemplated (e.g., tracks, pins extending from the screen/reflecting member and receivable in vertical supports slots, etc.).
As another instance, in at least some embodiments, a display screen and a reflecting member are used to form an easel where a rear surface of the reflecting member and a front surface of the screen face outwardly while a reflecting surface of the reflecting member generally faces the rear surface of the screen. Here, the easel can be used to provide the typical supporting functions associated with an easel or, where a projector is added to the assembly and arranged properly with respect to the reflecting surface, to provide a rear projecting assembly.
In some cases the screen may be completely removable from the supporting structure while, in other cases, the display member may be semi-permanent and useable to facilitate at least one function when the support structure is used for its normal use. For instance, in some embodiments where the structure is an easel, a conventional whiteboard may be swappable for the rear projection screen while in other embodiments the screen may comprise a translucent whiteboard material so that the screen is useable as a whiteboard, a projection display, or both. As another instance, in some embodiments where the structure includes vertical shelf supports, the screen may be completely removable to facilitate unfettered access to the shelf space while in other embodiments the screen may comprise a sliding shelf door member that slides about on a track to restrict or allow access to the shelf space.
In cases where the screen includes a writable/erasable front surface and is removable from the supporting structure, the screen may be used as a conventional whiteboard in any environment and separate from the reflecting member and the projector. In addition, with at least certain projectors, the projector may be used separately from the screen and reflecting member as a front projector with a conventional front projecting screen.
Consistent with the above, at least some of the inventive embodiments include a convertible projection assembly comprising at least a first support member including at least a first portion adjacent a projecting space that is bound on a first side by a screen receiving space, at least a first accessory member removably supportable by the first portion so as to reside substantially within at least one of the projecting space and the screen receiving space, the first accessory member removable from the at least one of the projecting space and the screen receiving space to provide a substantially unobstructed space, a screen member including oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, the screen member releasably supportable by the support member within the screen receiving space with the front surface at least partially vertically oriented and a projector unit supportable by the support member outside the projecting space to project an image, when the first accessory member is removed from the at least one of the projecting space and the screen receiving space, the projected image passing through the projecting space and subtending the rear surface of the screen member.
In addition, some embodiments include a shelving and display assembly for use with a projector unit that projects a projection image along a trajectory, the assembly comprising a shelving assembly including at least first and second support members and a plurality of shelf members supportable substantially within a projecting space by the support members, at least a first sub-set of the shelf members removable from the projecting space to form an essentially unobstructed projecting space bound on one side by a screen receiving space, a projection screen member including oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, the screen member releasably mountable to the first and second support members within the screen receiving space with the front surface at least partially vertically oriented, a reflecting member including a reflecting surface, when the sub-set of shelf members is removed from the projecting space, the reflecting member supportable by at least one of the screen member and the support members at least partially within the projecting space with the reflecting surface forming an angle with the rear surface and a projector support member linked to at least one of the support members and forming at least one surface for supporting the projector unit outside the projecting space, wherein, when the first sub-set of the shelves is removed from the projecting space and the projecting unit is received on the projector support member, an image projected by the projector unit is reflected off the reflecting surface and passes through the projecting space toward the rear surface of the screen member.
Some embodiments include a projector screen assembly for use with a projector unit and a support structure, the projector unit supportable by the support structure for projecting a projection image along a projection path, the assembly comprising a screen assembly including a projection screen member including oppositely facing front and rear surfaces and a screen edge and a reflecting member including a reflecting surface, the reflecting member mounted to the screen member along the screen edge with the reflecting surface facing at least partially in the direction of the rear surface, wherein, the screen assembly is releasably mountable to the support structure such that the front surface is at least partially vertically oriented, the reflecting surface is at least partially within the projection path and reflects the projected image along a reflected path and the rear surface forms an angle with the reflecting surface such that the reflected image is directed at the rear surface.
Moreover, some embodiments include an easel-screen assembly comprising an easel support structure at least in part defining a projecting space bound on one side by a screen receiving space, a reflecting member mounted to the easel support structure along one boundary of the projecting space, the reflecting member including an at least partially reflecting internal surface facing the projecting space and an oppositely facing external side, the external side for presenting information and a translucent screen member including a front viewing surface and an oppositely facing rear surface, the screen member receivable within the screen receiving space such that the rear surface forms an angle with the reflecting surface.
Furthermore, some embodiments include an easel-screen assembly for use on a substantially flat ambient surface, the assembly comprising an easel support structure, a translucent screen member including a viewing front surface and an oppositely facing rear surface, a reflecting member forming an internal surface and an oppositely facing external surface, the internal surface of the reflecting member at least in part forming a reflecting surface, wherein, the first and second planar members are mounted to the support structure on opposite sides of a projecting space with the rear surface facing the reflecting surface, the front surface forming an acute angle with the ambient surface and the rear surface forming an acute angle with the reflecting surface.
In addition, at least some embodiments include a convertible projection assembly comprising a support structure, a translucent screen member including a viewing front surface and an oppositely facing rear surface, the screen member releasably mountable to the support structure and a reflecting member forming an internal surface and an oppositely facing external surface, the internal surface of the reflecting member at least in part forming a reflecting surface, the reflecting member releasably mounted to the support structure such that the reflecting surface at least in part faces the rear surface of the screen member.
Moreover, the invention also contemplates a method for use with a shelf assembly including an upright support structure and a plurality of removable shelves that are supportable by the support structure in substantially horizontal juxtapositions within a projecting space, the method for converting a shelf assembly to a rear projection assembly and comprising the steps of removing the shelves from within the projecting space, supporting a screen member on the upright support structure with a front screen member surface substantially vertically upright and supporting a reflecting member having a reflecting surface via at least one of the support structure and the screen member with the reflecting surface forming an angle with the screen member surface and positioning a projector unit with respect to the reflecting surface so that the a projected image from the projector is directed along a trajectory that reflects off the reflecting surface and toward the rear surface of the screen member.
These and other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention and reference is made therefore, to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.
The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
Hereinafter, several exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described, each having certain distinguishing features. Nevertheless, it should be apparent that certain of the features may be useable in several of the embodiments.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numeral correspond to similar elements throughout the several views and, more specifically, referring to
Support structure 12 is formed of a rigid material such as steel or aluminum. In the illustrated embodiment, structure 12 includes four upright or vertical support members 22, 24, 26 and 28, and six horizontal support members 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40. The four vertical support members 22, 24, 26 and 28 are arranged to form first and second spaced apart pairs including a front pair 22 and 24 and rear pair 26 and 28. Front pair 22 and 24 are spaced apart such that facing surfaces 43 and 45 thereof define a shelf width dimension W1. Rear pair 26 and 28 are similarly spaced to define dimension W1. Front pair 22 and 24 are spaced apart from rear pair 26 and 28 so that vertical members 22, 24, 26 and 28 form a rectangle when viewed from the top. Front pair members 22 and 24 include flat front facing surfaces 57 and 59, respectively.
Three of the horizontal support members 30, 32 and 34 are rigidly secured proximate the lower ends of vertical members 22, 24, 26 and 28 so as to maintain the relative juxtapositions of those lower ends. More specifically, horizontal member 30 is rigidly secured between the lower ends of vertical members 22 and 26 and horizontal member 32 is secured between the lower ends of vertical members 24 and 28. Horizontal member 34 is rigidly secured between horizontal members 30 and 32 to maintain their relative juxtapositions. Horizontal members 36, 38 and 40 are rigidly secured to the top ends of vertical members 22, 24, 26 and 28 to maintain the relative juxtapositions of the vertical members. More specifically, horizontal member 36 is rigidly secured between the top ends of vertical members 22 and 26, horizontal member 38 is rigidly secured between the top ends of vertical members 24 and 28 and horizontal member 40 is rigidly secured between the top ends of vertical members 26 and 28.
Referring to
As best seen in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Although not illustrated, in at least some embodiments, it is contemplated that grooves may be provided on the undersurface of each shelf for receiving the top edges of shelf supporting pins 52. In other embodiments it is contemplated that the top edges of pins 52 may be flattened to better support the undersurface of a shelf support thereby and that the pins 54 that extend into holes 42 may have more unique structure to better engage the holes. Indeed, in some embodiments the pins may be permanently secured to the support members 22, 24, 26 and 28 while in other embodiments slots may be provided in the support members while pins that are receivable by the slots are integrally formed at the ends of and extend from the shelf members 14a-14f.
At this point, it should be appreciated that the assembly described above is configurable to provide a full shelving configuration as illustrated in
Referring now to
Screen member 60 is formed of a translucent material such that images and information that are projected onto rear surface 68 are viewable by an assembly user viewing front surface 66. In some embodiments, front surface 66 of member 60 will be formed of a writable/erasable material wherein erasable marker pens are useable to manually apply information to surface 66. Here, surface 66 may be useable as an erasable whiteboard tool to present information.
Reflecting member 62 comprises a rigid rectilinear member having a front reflecting surface 74, top and bottom edges 76 and 77, respectively, and first and second lateral edges 79 and 81 (see
Referring now to
Slot member 80 is a rigid member that forms a downwardly opening slot 84 sized to receive one of shelf supporting pins 52 (see again
Referring still to
Projector unit 20 is a conventional projector type assembly as known in the art and therefore will not be described herein detail. Here, it should suffice to say that unit 20 may be a dedicated rear projection type assembly or may be a front-rear projector useable in different modes for various projection purposes.
Referring now to
Next, two pins 16a and 16b are recoupled to holes 20 formed by rear pair 26 and 28 near the lower ends of projecting space 100. In the illustrated embodiment (see
Continuing, assembly 18 is retrieved from storage and is positioned in the juxtaposition illustrated in
Next, four pin members 16 are re-coupled to the front pair of vertical support members 22 and 24 as illustrated best in
Referring to
When assembly 10 is assembled in the rear projector configuration, assembly 10 can be used in several different ways. First, where surface 66 is rigid and is writable/erasable, assembly 10 may be used as a conventional whiteboard to manually apply information to and present information on surface 66 without using projector unit 20. Second, unit 20 may be employed to project information and information may be simultaneously added to surface 66 via an erasable pen.
In some cases where information is manually added to surface 66, an additional assembly (not illustrated) may be used to capture the added information for digital storage. Systems for capturing information from a board surface including camera systems and instrument sensing systems are known in the art and therefore are not described here in detail. Here, it should suffice to say that an exemplary system for capturing information is described in the pending U.S. application titled “Electronic Whiteboard” that has been incorporated above. Here it is contemplated that some embodiments may include sensing configurations.
Although experiments have shown that in many office and shared space environments typical projector units 20 project images that are sufficiently bright that no additional structure is required to enclose the projecting space 100 to generate good images, in at least some cases it is contemplated that some type of side light blocking shroud may be provided to generate even better projected images.
Referring again to
Referring now to
In general, there are three primary differences between the first and second embodiments. First, instead of providing a single assembly 18 that includes both the screen member and the reflecting member, in this second embodiment, the screen member is separate from the reflecting member and the screen member and reflecting member mount separately to the support structure 12. Second, the mounting structure for the screen member in this second embodiment is different than the mounting structure described above with respect to the first embodiment. Third, the mounting structure for the reflecting member is different.
Referring to
Referring to
In this embodiment, a second L-shaped track member 106 is secured to the rear surface 68′ proximate top edge 70′ of screen member 60′ and forms a rib member 108 that extends toward bottom edge 71′. Rib 108 is dimensioned to be receivable within channel 109. Two limiting members 110 and 112 are provided on the rear surface 68′ of screen member 60′, a separate limiting member 110, 112 positioned at each of the lower corners of member 60′. In at least some embodiment limiting members 110 and 112 include a rubber distal end.
Referring still to
Referring now to
Screen member 60′ is lifted up such that rib 108 is aligned above channel 109. Thereafter, screen member 60′ is moved downwardly until rib 108 is received in channel 109 as in
There are several advantages to this second embodiment. First, because screen member 60′ mounts to support members 22 and 24 independent of the holes 42 and pin members 16 used to support the shelf members 14a-14f and because none of the shelves extends into the screen receiving space 29′ when supported by members 22′, 24′, 26′ and 28′, screen 60′ may be supported by track 102′ and used as a whiteboard even while the shelf members remain supported within the projecting space. In fact, screen member 60′ may be useable with any L-shaped track member 102 regardless of whether or not a shelf stack exists therebehind.
Second, in some respects, because reflecting member 62′ is separate from screen member 60′, it will be easier to manipulate the assembly components. Similarly, the coupling assemblies in this embodiment should render the assembly task more manageable.
According to a third embodiment of the present invention, a screen member similar to the screen members described above may be mounted on tracks to be moved laterally to any of several different positions with respect to an extended shelving assembly. Here, the screen member, when not being used for displaying projected images, may be used as a sliding door member or the like to hide materials therebehind.
Referring now to
The primary differences between this third embodiment and the second embodiment described above are that the third embodiment is used with two or more shelving stacks 126 and 128 that are arranged in a side-by-side orientation, the L-shaped track member 102″ extends along the entire width of the combined shelf stacks, a second “L” shaped track member 125 is mounted to the front surfaces 57″, 59″ and 61 of the stacks 126 and 128 below the first track member 102″ and a screen member 60″ includes a second “L” shaped extension 130 that extends along a lower edge 71″. Extension 130 mates with track member 125 when screen member 60″ is mounted to the stacks. Here, as indicated by arrows 120 and 122, screen member 60″ is movable along tracks 102″ and 125 so that the screen member 60″ is either aligned with first shelving stack 126 in a screen receiving space 100 or second shelving stack 128 in a storage space 121 adjacent screen receiving space 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, lower track 125 is mounted just above a set of the holes 42 formed by the stack support members (e.g., 22″ and 24″) so that track 125 does not impede use of any of the shelves when assembly 10″ is assembled as a shelving configuration. Here, as in the case of the second embodiment 10′, screen 60″ may be used with a projector unit 20 to display projected information or without a unit 20 as a whiteboard where surface 66″ is writable/erasable. Where screen member 60″ is used without a projector 20, all or a subset of the shelf members may be mounted within the projecting space 100.
While an embodiment is described above including upper and lower tracks 102″ and 125, at least some embodiments are contemplated that only include an upper track 102″ and members 110 and 112 (see again
Referring to
In addition to being able to advantageously convert a shelving configuration into a rear projection configuration in the manner described above, it has also been recognized that other structure commonly available within an office or other type shared environment can likewise be converted for use as a rear projection type assembly. To this end, more specifically, according to yet one additional aspect of the present invention, several types of easel/projection assemblies are contemplated wherein the configurations may be used either as a conventional easel configuration or, in the alternative, may be used as a projection type configuration.
One easel/projection assembly 150 is illustrated in
Referring specifically to
Easel support structure 152 includes first and second partially vertical planar support members 170 and 172, a single horizontal member 173, a door member 188, a plurality of wheels or casters 190 and a locking member 178. First support member 170 is generally rectilinear including top and bottom edges 180 and 182, respectively, and lateral edges (not numbered). Member 170 forms first and second openings 174 and 177, respectively. Opening 174 has a width dimension W5 and a length dimension L2 that are slightly larger than the width dimension W4 and length dimension L1 of screen member 154 such that screen member 154 is receivable within opening 174. Member 170 has a thickness and forms a rib 176 that extends inwardly along the rear edge of opening 174 such that, when member 154 is placed within opening 174, rib 176 restricts passage therethrough and supports member 154 within opening 174 with front surface 165 flush with the front surface of member 170. Here the space formed by opening 174 that receives screen member 154 is referred to as a screen receiving space 169 which bounds a projecting space 200 (see
Referring still to
Second opening 177 is below opening 174 and door member 188 is hingedly mounted therein. Although not illustrated, door member 188 may be swung open on its hinges to gain access to the projecting space between member 170 and 172.
Referring still to
Referring still to
When one or the other of members 154 and 156 is not being used, if the projecting space 200 is not currently being employed for projecting purposes, the unused board 154 or 156 may be placed within space 200 for storage and transport.
Based on the above discussion, it should be appreciated that a versatile easel assembly 150 has been described which may be used in a conventional manner as a easel to support a conventional whiteboard writing surface, a pad of paper or some other presentation accessory or, in the alternative, may be used as a rear projection type assembly. To this end, referring to
Although not illustrated, in some embodiments, some type of clip member or other support or mounting member may be provided on the front surface of support member 170 to hold a pad of paper thereto or other presentation materials. Similarly, in at least some embodiments, additional mechanical structure is contemplated that may be added to the rear surface 181 of second support member 172 for holding a paper pad or the like thereon.
Referring now to
The main difference between this fifth embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that a translucent rear projecting screen member 154′ is permanently positioned within an opening 174′ formed by the first easel support member 170′. Here, in some cases, no additional whiteboard member may be provided and instead the front surface 165′ of member 154′ may be a writable/erasable surface. In the alternative, whether or not surface 165′ is writable/erasable, an additional whiteboard member 156′ may be provided that can be secured via a board coupler (e.g., a clip member 209) or the like mounted at the top end of member 170′ or supported over front surface 165′ to facilitate conventional write/erase functionality.
Referring now to
The primary difference between this sixth embodiment and the fourth embodiment described above is that first easel support member 170″ is replaced by a translucent member 222 which is suitable for displaying rear projection images. Thus, entire member 222 is formed of the same material and can pass rear projection images. In at least some cases, it is contemplated that the portion of member 222 that will pass projected images may have a reduced thickness so that clear images are projected while member 222 still provides sufficient support to other easel components. In
Referring now to
Horizontal member 360 is mounted proximate the lower ends of members 370, 372, 374 and 376 just above wheels 362 and forms a substantially horizontal support surface 361. Projector unit 358 is positionable on surface 361 so as to direct images generally upwardly and toward the space between second support pair 374 and 376.
Referring still to
As illustrated, projecting unit 358 is positionable such that images projected thereby reflect off surface 365 and toward the rear surface (not labeled) of screen member 354 such that the images are viewable on front surface 355. As in the above embodiments, here surface 355 may be a writable/erasable surface such that, in addition to facilitating rear projection viewing, surface 355 also facilitates manual application of information for sharing purposes.
Referring now to
The primary difference between assembly 350′ and assembly 350 is that an optional projector unit shelf assembly 381 for supporting projector 358′ at an optimal angle with respect to reflecting surface 365′ is provided as part of assembly 350′. To this end, shelf assembly 381 includes first and second arm members 382 and 384 and an angled support member 380. Arm members 382 and 384 are mounted to an undersurface (not labeled) of horizontal member 360′ and extend laterally therefrom. At distal ends, each of arm members 382 and 384 extend substantially vertically upward below tray 378′. Angled support member 380 is mounted to the distal top ends of arm members 382 and 384 and is angled upwardly and rearwardly toward reflecting surface 365′. Unit 358′ is receivable on a generally top surface of angled member 380 so that unit 358′ projects at an optimal angle toward surface 365′. Although not illustrated, in at least some embodiments, it is contemplated that the angle of member 380 may be alterable such that an optimal projecting angle for all circumstances is definable.
Referring now to
Several features of cart 262 facilitate conversion of cart 262 into a projection configuration. To this end, specifically, a top surface of cart 262 forms two grooves 298 and 292 for receiving the lower ends 296 and 290 of a screen member 260 and a reflecting member 261, respectively. Groove 298 that receives the lower end 296 of screen member 260 runs along the front edge of cart 262 above doors 264 and 266. Groove 292 runs along the length of a rear edge of cart 262. As illustrated, in at least one contemplated embodiment, members 260 and 261 are secured at their top ends by a hinge 282 to form a screen/reflecting member assembly 259. As illustrated, a length of reflecting member 261 is greater than the length of screen member 260 such that, when the lower ends 290 and 296 of members 261 and 260, respectively, are received within channels 292 and 298, respectively, member 261 is angled and member 260 is substantially vertically positioned and supported. In at least some embodiments it is contemplated that some type of locking mechanism to rigidly lock the relative juxtaposition of members 260 and 261 will be provided.
In addition to forming channels 292 and 298, the top surface of cart 262 also forms an opening 304 through which projector 270 can project information toward reflecting member 261. In at least some embodiments, although not illustrated, it is contemplated that a top member, similar to shelf member 272, may be provided that is dimensioned to be received within opening 304 to thereby close opening 304 when not being used for projection purposes.
Referring now to
Horizontal member 408 is mounted proximate the lower ends of members 412, 414, 416 and 418 just above casters 422 and forms a substantially horizontal support surface 430. Projector unit 410 is positionable on surface 430 so as to direct images generally upwardly and toward the space between second support pair 416 and 418.
Referring still to
Reflecting member 406 is a rigid rectilinear member having a top edge 438 and a bottom edge 439 and first and second lateral edges 442 (only one illustrated and labeled) that forms a reflecting surface 440. A pair of posts 444 and 446 extend laterally from lateral edge 442. A first post 444 extends laterally from lateral edge 442 proximate top edge 434 while the second post 446 extends laterally from edge 442 proximate lower edge 439. Similarly, a pair of posts (only one illustrated) including a top post 448 and a bottom post (not illustrated) extend from the second lateral edge of member 406, the top post 448 proximate the top edge 438 and the bottom post proximate bottom edge 439. As illustrated, the bottom posts (e.g., 446) are sized and dimensioned so that they are receivable within slots 420 to hold reflecting member 406 there above. Top posts 448 and 444 extend laterally such that combined lengths of posts 444 and 448 and the width of member 406 is greater than the distance separating horizontal members 413 and 415. Thus, as illustrated, reflecting member 406 can be mounted within the space between screen member 404 and rear member 407 by placing posts 448 and 444 on the top edges of members 415 and 413, respectively, and placing the bottom posts (e.g., 446) within slots 420 at similar heights in rear support members 416 and 418. The angle of reflecting member 406 can be changed by simply moving reflecting member 406 upward or downward and placing the bottom posts 446 in a different set of slots 420.
As illustrated, projecting unit is positionable such that images projected thereby reflect off surface 440 and toward the rear surface (not labeled) of screen member 404 such that the images are viewable on front surface 432. As in the above embodiments, here the surface 432 may be a writable/erasable surface such that, in addition to facilitating rear projection viewing, surface 432 also facilitates manual application of information for sharing purposes.
Referring still to
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. For example, while various coupling assemblies are described above, many other coupling assemblies are contemplated for mounting screen members and reflecting members to supporting structure. For instance, one exemplary mounting structure is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/094,395 which is entitled “Display Board System” where mounting brackets clip to the top edge of a display board and include horizontal pads suitable to support the board in a hanging position from a horizontal surface. The brackets described in that application may be suitable in some cases to support a screen member in a position hanging from a shelf member or the like. Other coupling structure is contemplated.
As another example, in at least some cases where supporting structure is provided for the screen and reflecting member within a closet, in a cabinet or over a work surface, storage cart, etc., embodiments of the present invention may be employed.
Thus, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
To apprise the public of the scope of this invention, the following claims are made:
