Patent Application
20090092957
This application is directed to an educational tool, and more particularly, to an eraser element for use in erasing markings on chalk boards and white boards.
In many elementary school classrooms, each student often has an individual chalkboard or whiteboard in order to help them to respond, in written form, to questions posed by the teacher. Writing on a chalk board or white board is carried out by using either chalk (for the chalk board) or a marker (for the white board) and then erasing what has been written by means of some type of eraser mechanism.
In some situations, the student will erase by using his or her finger to clean the board. However, this is disadvantageous since the student's fingers will likely become black from erasing what the student had written with the marker.
While there are various eraser products available in the marketplace, none is desirable for a student who has behavioral issues or who is otherwise difficult to control. For example, miniature erasers, smaller versions of the ones used on chalk boards, are readily available, which enables each student to have his/her own personal eraser. However, the use of a personal eraser is disadvantageous as students are likely to throw them around in a classroom, distracting the student from his work and causing the teacher to have to frequently retrieve and clean up the thrown eraser.
Another option is to use cut-up pieces of felt. However, this is less than desirable since the felt material can be easily lost by the young student.
A further option is to use erasable markers that have an eraser built in on the cap. The problem with using such erasable markers is that these are substantially more expensive to purchase than ordinary markers. In the school setting, young students often do not replace the cap on the marker, causing the marker to dry out. Therefore, the marker has to be replaced often, and if it is more expensive, the cost incurred is substantially increased.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an eraser mechanism for boards such as chalk boards and white boards that overcomes the above disadvantages.
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an eraser for use in erasing markings on boards, such as chalk boards and white boards, is provided. The eraser comprises a form-fitted finger element made from a knitted or felted fabric. The finger element consists of a tubular member that defines a longitudinally extending finger passage. The tubular member has one open end and one closed end. The open end is sized such that the finger of the eraser user is insertable through the open end, so that at least a portion of the finger is received within the finger element passage.
Preferably, the open end of the finger element is formed with an annular elastic member in order to prevent the finger element from sliding off one's finger when the finger element is being worn.
The finger element of the invention may be made by cutting off the fingers from conventional knit gloves, or it may be specially constructed. Each child in a classroom setting receives a single finger eraser, which they typically keep on one of their fingers of their non-writing hand while writing on the white board with an erasable marker.
When students are writing on a white board, the inventive finger eraser fits snugly on a finger of the opposite hand of a student. This provides a place to locate the finger eraser when it is not being used to erase markings on the board. This is contrast to conventional eraser products, which have to be placed next to the student, either on the floor or on a table when not in use. In addition, the finger eraser of the invention stays on the student's finger at all times, making it easier for use in the erasing process.
Alternatively, when the finger eraser is not being used, it can be placed over the end of the marker for storage purposes.
Furthermore, the inventive finger eraser can provide instructional value to the student. The student can wear the finger eraser on the index finger of the writing hand and trace over the letters/words that have been written on the board. This can provide for multi-sensory instruction, which is extremely beneficial for struggling students.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved eraser mechanism for use in erasing markings on boards such as chalk boards and white boards.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved eraser mechanism that is suitable to be worn on the finger of an individual.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved eraser mechanism which is not likely to be thrown or lost by a student.
Still another object of the invention is to provide and improved eraser mechanism for enhancing the learning process.
A further object of the invention is an improved eraser mechanism that can be worn while writing on a board.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the following description.
The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and relation of elements which will be exemplified in the description herein and the scope of the invention will be found in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken into connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring first to
Finger element 41 includes a tubular portion 43 having a closed end 45 and an open end 47. Open end 47 is sized such that an individual's index or other finger can be inserted therethrough so that at least a portion of the finger is received within and covered by tubular portion 43 of finger element 41. Preferably, open end 47 of finger element 41 is formed with an annular elastic member or band 49 for preventing finger element 41 from detaching from one's finger while being worn.
Finger element 41 is shown being used in conjunction with an erasable white board 11 defined by a frame 13 and having a writing surface 15. As is well known in the art, an individual may use an erasable marker 31 to write or draw a desired marking or markings along surface 15 of board 11, such as the letters A-B-C, as shown in
When writing or drawing along surface 15 of white board 11, cover 37 of marker 31 is first removed. The user then holds marker 31 in his or her dominant or writing hand by grabbing marker 31 with thumb 23 and index finger 25, as shown in
At the same time, and as shown in
When finger element 41 is not being used in erasing markings along surface 15 of board 11, finger element 41 may be stored along the end of marker 31 that is opposite to the end from which tip 35 extends (see
In addition, finger element 41 may be worn along the index finger 25 or other finger of the dominant or writing hand of the user. In this manner, finger eraser 41 can provide instructional value to the user. The user can trace/erase over the letters or words written on the white board 11, thus providing multi-sensory instruction, something which is especially beneficial for students who are struggling in the classroom.
The inventive finger eraser is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood, however, that numerous variations are possible, while still adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.
The scope of the invention will now be set forth in the following claims.
