Whiteboards are used in a variety of settings, such as schools and businesses, for teaching or brainstorming sessions. Dry-erase markers are generally used to write on the whiteboard, and dry erasers including a non-abrasive surface are used to remove the writing from the whiteboard. Using the dry eraser on its own to remove the writing on the whiteboard can leave remnants of the dry-erase marker on the whiteboard, and writing on a whiteboard for an extended period of time can result in difficulty in removing all of the dry-erase marker writing.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dry eraser that includes a hollow inner chamber that can be filled with a cleaning fluid. The dry eraser further includes a nozzle for dispensing the cleaning fluid from the hollow inner chamber. The cleaning fluid can thereby be dispensed directly on the whiteboard or on a cleaning material (e.g., a paper towel, fabric material, or the like) for cleaning the whiteboard. In some embodiments, the dry eraser includes a wipe cloth configured to be extended from the dry eraser for wiping the whiteboard with or without the cleaning fluid. Thus, rather than locating paper towels and a cleaning fluid for cleaning the whiteboard, the user can dispense the cleaning fluid directly from the dry eraser and use the incorporated wipe cloth for cleaning the whiteboard, simplifying the overall process for the user.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an exemplary dry eraser is provided. The dry eraser includes a body including a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls. The body includes a first hollow inner compartment configured and dimensioned to receive therein a cleaning fluid that is configured to be dispensed from the first hollow inner compartment via a nozzle disposed proximate to the front or rear wall of the body. The dry eraser includes an erasure material disposed on at least a portion of the bottom wall of the body.
In some embodiments, the erasure material can be a non-abrasive material (e.g., felt, or the like). The dry eraser can include a magnetic component mounted to the outside of the body or incorporated within the body for detachably securing the dry eraser to surrounding metal objects during storage. In some embodiments, the top wall of the body can include an opening extending into the first hollow inner compartment. The opening can be configured and dimensioned to receive therein a cartridge with the cleaning fluid. A puncturing mechanism can be disposed within the first hollow inner compartment of the body, such that introduction of the cartridge with the cleaning fluid into the first hollow inner compartment automatically punctures a portion of the cartridge on the puncturing mechanism to release the cleaning fluid from the cartridge and into a channel leading to the nozzle.
In some embodiments, at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, or the second side wall can include an opening formed therein. The first hollow inner compartment can be configured to be filled with the cleaning fluid through introduction of the cleaning fluid into the opening. In some embodiments, at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, or the second side wall can include an opening formed therein. The opening can be configured and dimensioned to receive therethrough a cartridge with the cleaning fluid to be disposed within the first hollow inner compartment.
At least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the first wall, the second wall, or the top wall can include a transparent window providing a view into the first hollow inner compartment for visualizing a fullness level of the first hollow inner compartment with the cleaning fluid. In some embodiments, the cleaning fluid can be dispensed from the nozzle by squeezing the body of the dry eraser. In some embodiments, the dry eraser includes an actuator configured to be depressed. Depression of the actuator dispenses the cleaning fluid from the nozzle.
In some embodiments, the dry eraser includes a wipe cloth detachably secured to the top wall of the body. In some embodiments, the body can include a second hollow inner compartment with a wipe cloth disposed therein and at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, or the second side wall includes an opening extending into the second hollow inner compartment. The dry eraser can include an actuator configured to be depressed or slid. Depression or sliding of the actuator extends at least a portion of the wipe cloth from the opening.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an exemplary dry eraser system is provided. The dry eraser system includes a container including a cleaning fluid and a dry eraser. The dry eraser includes a body including a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls. The body includes a first hollow inner compartment configured and dimensioned to receive therein the cleaning fluid. The front or rear wall of the body can include a nozzle for dispensing the cleaning fluid from the first hollow inner compartment. The dry eraser further includes an erasure material disposed on at least a portion of the bottom wall of the body.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an exemplary method of dispensing a cleaning fluid is provided. The method includes providing a dry eraser as disclosed herein. The method includes introducing the cleaning fluid into the first hollow inner compartment. The method includes actuating the dry eraser to dispense the cleaning fluid from the nozzle.
In some embodiments, introducing the cleaning fluid into the first hollow inner compartment can include introducing a cartridge with the cleaning fluid into the first hollow inner compartment. In some embodiments, introducing the cleaning fluid into the first hollow inner compartment can include filling the first hollow inner compartment with the cleaning fluid through an opening formed in at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, or the second side wall. In some embodiments, the method can include actuating the dry eraser to dispense the cleaning fluid from the nozzle comprises squeezing the body of the dry eraser. In some embodiments, actuating the dry eraser to dispense the cleaning fluid from the nozzle can include depressing an actuator on the body. In some embodiments, the method can include depressing an actuator to extend a wipe cloth from a second hollow inner compartment formed in the body.
Any combination and/or permutation of embodiments is envisioned. Other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed dry erasers and associated systems and methods, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein:
It should be understood that the relative terminology used herein, such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “top”, “bottom”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up” and “down” is solely for the purposes of clarity and designation and is not intended to limit embodiments to a particular position and/or orientation. Accordingly, such relative terminology should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, it should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments having specific dimensions. Thus, any dimensions provided herein are merely for an exemplary purpose and are not intended to limit the invention to embodiments having particular dimensions.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dry eraser that includes a hollow inner chamber that can be filled with a cleaning fluid. In particular, the dry eraser includes a non-abrasive erasure material on one side of the body, and further includes a nozzle for dispensing the cleaning fluid from the hollow inner chamber. The dry eraser can include a wipe cloth that is secured to the body or extended out of an inner chamber of the body. The cleaning fluid can therefore be dispensed directly on the whiteboard or on a cleaning material for cleaning the whiteboard, and the wipe cloth can be used to further clean the whiteboard. Thus, rather than locating paper towels and a cleaning fluid for cleaning the whiteboard, the user can dispense the cleaning fluid directly from the dry eraser and use the incorporated wipe cloth for cleaning the whiteboard, simplifying the overall process for the user.
The body 102 includes a hollow inner chamber or compartment 120 (e.g., a first hollow inner compartment) formed therein. The hollow inner compartment 120 can be configured and dimensioned to receive therein a cleaning fluid 122. In some embodiments, the hollow inner compartment 120 can be formed as a recessed area extending inwardly from the top wall 104 a partial distance towards the bottom wall 106 (e.g.,
The hollow inner compartment 120 can be in fluidic communication with a nozzle 128 disposed proximate to the front wall 112 (or alternatively the rear wall 114) of the body 102 via an elongated internal channel 130. Thus, the cleaning fluid 122 introduced into the hollow inner compartment 120 can travel along the channel 130 to be dispensed via the nozzle 128. In some embodiments, the body 102 of the dry eraser 100 can be fabricated from a flexible material that can be squeezed to force the cleaning fluid 122 through the channel 130 and out of the nozzle 128. In some embodiments, the dry eraser 100 can include an actuator 132 (e.g., a depressible or slidable button) for dispensing the cleaning fluid 122 from the nozzle 128. In some embodiments, the actuator 132 can function through mechanical means to dispense the cleaning fluid 122 from the nozzle 128. In some embodiments, depression of the actuator 132 can activate an electrical circuit configured to control the dispensing of the cleaning fluid 122 through the nozzle 128. In such embodiments, the electrical circuit can be powered by one or more batteries, which can be housed by the body 102. It should be understood that the actuator 132 can be located on any wall of the body 102. In some embodiments, the hollow inner compartment 120 can receive a standard spray bottle filled with the cleaning fluid 122. One or more sides of the body 102 can include a transparent or substantially transparent window formed therein providing a view into the hollow inner compartment 120, thereby allowing a user to visualize the fullness level of the hollow inner compartment 120 (or the cartridge 124) with the cleaning fluid 122.
In some embodiments, the hollow inner compartment 120 can be formed internally within the body 102 (e.g.,
In some embodiments, rather than implementing a cartridge 124, the hollow inner compartment 120 can be filled with the cleaning fluid 122. For example, the rear wall 114 can include an opening 138 leading into the hollow inner compartment 120 configured and dimensioned to receive a dispensing portion of a container with the cleaning fluid 122. The dispensing portion of the container can be introduced into the opening 138, and the cleaning fluid 122 can be poured through the opening 138 and into the hollow inner compartment 120. A plug or similar device can be used to close the opening 138 prior to use of the dry eraser 100.
In some embodiments, the dry eraser 100 can include a wipe cloth 140 (e.g., a dry cloth) detachably secured to the body 102. For example, the top wall 104 and the wipe cloth 140 can include one or more complementary attachment mechanisms 142 (e.g., VELCRO™ strips, or the like) for detachably securing the wipe cloth 140 to the top wall 104. The cleaning fluid 122 can therefore be dispensed from the nozzle 128, and the wipe cloth 140 can be removed from the body 102 to clean the whiteboard. In some embodiments, the cleaning fluid 122 can be dispensed or sprayed on the wipe cloth 140, and the presoaked wipe cloth 140 can be used to clean the whiteboard. After use, the wipe cloth 140 can be attached to the appropriate position on the body 102 for storage.
The dry eraser 200 includes a second hollow inner compartment 202 formed internally within the body 102. The dry eraser 200 includes a second elongated opening 204 formed in, e.g., the rear wall 114, and extending into the second hollow inner compartment 202. The second hollow inner compartment 202 can be configured and dimensioned to retain therein a wipe cloth 206. In some embodiments, the wipe cloth 206 can be folded and inserted into the second hollow inner compartment 202 for storage. In some embodiments, the second hollow inner compartment 202 can include a mechanism 208 configured to rotate within the second hollow inner compartment 202.
The wipe cloth 206 can be at least partially wrapped around the mechanism 208 and an actuator 210 can be depressed or slid to rotate the mechanism 208 and extend the wipe cloth 206 from the elongated opening 204. In some embodiments, the actuator 210 can function through mechanical means to the wipe cloth 206 from the second hollow inner compartment 202. In some embodiments, depression of the actuator 210 can activate an electrical circuit configured to control the extension of the wipe cloth 206 (e.g., the rate of extension, the amount of extension, or the like). In such embodiments, the electrical circuit can be powered by one or more batteries, which can be housed by the body 102. In some embodiments, the mechanism 208 can be spring-loaded such that after release of the extended wipe cloth 206, the wipe cloth 206 automatically retracts into the second hollow inner compartment 202. It should be understood that the size and/or position of the first and second hollow inner compartments 120, 202 is provided for illustrative purposes only, and each of the first and second hollow inner compartments 120, 202 can be of different configurations/sizes and in different locations of the body 102.
In some embodiments, the body 102 can be formed from first and second body halves 102a, 102b that can be disengaged to expose at least the second hollow inner compartment 202 such that the wipe cloth 206 can be placed therein. In such embodiments, after placement of the wipe cloth 206 into the second hollow inner compartment 202, the two body halves 102a, 102b can be engaged or interlocked to maintain the wipe cloth 206 within the second hollow inner compartment 202. In some embodiments, the two body halves 102a, 102b can be disengaged to expose the first hollow inner compartment 120 for inserting a cleaning fluid cartridge 124 therein. Thus, rather than introducing the cartridge 124 and the wipe cloth 206 through the elongated openings 134, 204, respectively, introduction of such components can be performed by disengagement of the two body halves 102a, 102b.
The hollow inner compartment 304 can include resilient members 308, 310 (e.g., formed as arched spring steel) that are biased inwardly towards each other and away from side walls of the inner compartment 304. Initial introduction of the dispenser container 306 into the hollow inner compartment 304 can deflect or flex the resilient members 308, 310 outwardly away from each other. As the dispenser container 306 approaches an inner surface 312 of the front wall 112, the resilient members 308, 310 can gradually return to the inwardly biased position shown in
The front wall 112 of the body 102 can include a central opening 314 configured and dimensioned to receive therethrough a nozzle 316 of the dispenser container 306. As the dispenser container 306 is positioned against the inner surface 312 of the front wall 112, the nozzle 316 passes through the opening 314 and extends from the front wall 112 of the dry eraser 300. In such configuration, a rear wall 318 of the dispenser container 306 can be substantially aligned with the rear wall 114 of the dry eraser 300. The cleaning fluid 122 can be dispensed from the nozzle 316 by, e.g., squeezing the dry eraser 300, actuating an actuator disposed on the dry eraser 300, or the like.
To remove the dispenser container 306 from the hollow inner compartment 304 (e.g., for replacement or refilling), pressure can be imparted against the nozzle 316 in the direction of the rear wall 114 to overcome the biasing force of the resilient members 308, 310. Upon partial extension of the rear wall 318 of the dispenser container 306 from the elongated opening 302, the dispenser container 306 can be grasped and fully pulled out of the hollow inner compartment 304.
In some embodiments, the bottom wall 106 of the dry eraser 350 can also define a concave central section 360 that gradually transitions from the front and rear walls 112, 114. In some embodiments, the body 102 can be formed from a flexible material such that pressing the dry eraser 350 against a planar surface (e.g., a whiteboard) flexes the body 102 to position the entire bottom wall 106 against the surface (e.g., the concave central section 360 is flexed to define a substantially planar bottom wall 106 until force on the dry eraser 350 is removed).
In some embodiments, one or more walls of the dry eraser 350 can include features 362 (e.g., a textured surface, rubber strips, rubber surfaces, or the like) to further improve the grip of the user on the dry eraser 350. For example, as shown in
At step 410, the dry eraser can be actuated to dispense the cleaning fluid from the nozzle. In some embodiments, at step 412, the body of the dry eraser is squeezed to dispense the cleaning fluid from the nozzle. In some embodiments, at step 414, an actuator on the body can be depressed or slid to dispense the cleaning fluid from the nozzle. In some embodiments, at step 416, an actuator can be depressed or slid to extend a wipe cloth from a second hollow inner compartment formed in the body.
Thus, in addition to a non-abrasive erasure material disposed on one side of the dry eraser, the exemplary dry eraser provides an inner compartment for storage of a cleaning fluid. In particular, the inner compartment can receive a cleaning fluid cartridge or can be filled directly with the cleaning fluid, and the dry eraser can be actuated to dispense the cleaning fluid from a nozzle onto the whiteboard or a cleaning material. The dry eraser can also include a wipe cloth stored on an outer surface of the body or within a second inner compartment. The wipe cloth can be removed or extended from the dry eraser for further cleaning of the whiteboard. Thus, rather than locating paper towels and cleaning fluid for cleaning the whiteboard, the user can dispense the cleaning fluid and the wipe cloth directly from the dry eraser, simplifying the overall process for the user.
While exemplary embodiments have been described herein, it is expressly noted that these embodiments should not be construed as limiting, but rather that additions and modifications to what is expressly described herein also are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations, even if such combinations or permutations are not made express herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/381,338 filed on Aug. 30, 2016, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
873550 | Hudson | Dec 1907 | A |
2127794 | Wastman | Aug 1938 | A |
2490440 | Jacobs | Dec 1949 | A |
2828500 | Peacock | Apr 1958 | A |
2859463 | Hirsch | Nov 1958 | A |
2972768 | Petion | Feb 1961 | A |
3031711 | Herman | May 1962 | A |
3110917 | McPeek | Nov 1963 | A |
3118166 | Bell | Jan 1964 | A |
3135990 | Bergmann | Jun 1964 | A |
3328830 | Corwin | Jul 1967 | A |
3397818 | Rey | Aug 1968 | A |
3444579 | Thomford | May 1969 | A |
3603692 | Ball | Sep 1971 | A |
3704072 | Kaufman | Nov 1972 | A |
3713744 | Sims | Jan 1973 | A |
3837747 | Seymore | Sep 1974 | A |
D236072 | Tsang et al. | Jul 1975 | S |
4183684 | Avery, Jr. | Jan 1980 | A |
4415288 | Gordon | Nov 1983 | A |
4481126 | Trinh | Nov 1984 | A |
4543680 | Vlahos | Oct 1985 | A |
4693840 | Trinh | Sep 1987 | A |
D294989 | Jinkins | Mar 1988 | S |
4776716 | Huang | Oct 1988 | A |
4873728 | Bono | Oct 1989 | A |
4903365 | Kaufman | Feb 1990 | A |
4925327 | Wirt | May 1990 | A |
4955747 | Tarver | Sep 1990 | A |
D318158 | Ediger | Jul 1991 | S |
5267369 | O'Neil | Dec 1993 | A |
5362165 | Kluga | Nov 1994 | A |
5540354 | Armand | Jul 1996 | A |
5595223 | Hayao | Jan 1997 | A |
5704471 | Yamada | Jan 1998 | A |
6250831 | Craven | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6321941 | Argentieri | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6639185 | McConnell et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6742951 | Schultz | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6960349 | Shantz et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7195677 | Morrisey-Hawkins | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7261701 | Davis | Aug 2007 | B2 |
7264414 | McReynolds | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7309181 | Hawkins | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7470078 | Banco | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7549815 | Wong | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7572079 | Wong | Aug 2009 | B2 |
7731056 | Tramontina | Jun 2010 | B2 |
7967520 | Hawkins | Jun 2011 | B2 |
8044325 | Cooper | Oct 2011 | B1 |
8186897 | Kaufman | May 2012 | B2 |
8348913 | Hoang | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8556529 | Law | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8684619 | Uchiyama | Apr 2014 | B2 |
8834055 | Uchiyama | Sep 2014 | B2 |
9016967 | Law | Apr 2015 | B2 |
9498094 | Van Diepen | Nov 2016 | B2 |
10136789 | Zohar | Nov 2018 | B2 |
10405643 | Wu | Sep 2019 | B2 |
20020030045 | Nakamura et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20040205919 | Sims | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20050260028 | Gu | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20060000043 | Jou-Chen | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20060249524 | Headrick | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20070193597 | Hurwitz | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20080142535 | Adler et al. | Jun 2008 | A1 |
20080217354 | Newman et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20080289993 | Flannery | Nov 2008 | A1 |
20100067972 | Ashworth | Mar 2010 | A1 |
20110011767 | Gehring et al. | Jan 2011 | A1 |
20110011879 | Johnson | Jan 2011 | A1 |
20110052307 | Weng | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20110240514 | Bandoh et al. | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20130047358 | Shafer | Feb 2013 | A1 |
20160144654 | Green | May 2016 | A1 |
20180056708 | Rogers et al. | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20180056710 | Boettcher | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20190118573 | Nelson, Jr. | Apr 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
H11-18987 | Jan 1999 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180056709 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62381338 | Aug 2016 | US |