BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
STATEMENT RE FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rail assembly for supporting a work board and more particularly to a rail assembly in an office environment for supporting a work board assembly, rail assembly which is simple and versatile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Marker boards, tack boards and flip charts are all well known devices for communicating in a workplace. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,518,217; 5,152,490; 4,258,893; 4,239,170; and 3,975,837. Unfortunately, none of the prior related art offers the versatility, simplicity and ease of use needed in present day office environments.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The lack of versatility offered by previous devices has been overcome by the present invention. What is described here is an office rail assembly for supporting a work board assembly and having structure to receive a hook attached to said work board assembly, the office rail assembly including a rail, a rail end cap and a rail hanger bracket.
There are a number of advantages, features and objects achieved with the present invention which are believed not to be available in earlier related devices. For example, the rail assembly disclosed herein is extremely versatile, simply constructed, reliable, robust and easy to assemble and use. The rail assembly is also relatively inexpensive.
A complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, advantages and features thereof will be gained from a consideration of the present specification which provides written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using the invention, set forth in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph). Furthermore, the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing provided herein represents an example of the invention in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph), but the invention itself is defined in the Claims section attached hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a portion of a room illustrating several embodiments of a work board assembly.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a work board assembly including a board, a hook assembly on a rail assembly.
FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of the board and hook assembly.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the board and hook assembly shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the board and hook assembly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the board and hook assembly shown in FIGS. 3-5.
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the board and hook assembly shown in FIGS. 3-6.
FIG. 8 is an upward looking, exploded isometric view illustrating the hook assembly.
FIG. 9 is a downward looking, exploded isometric view of the hook assembly shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 10 is a downward looking isometric view of the rail assembly.
FIG. 11 is an upward looking isometric view of the rail assembly illustrated in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevation view of the rail assembly illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a portion of the rail assembly illustrated in FIGS. 10-12.
FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the rail assembly illustrated in FIGS. 10-13.
FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of a portion of the rail assembly shown in FIGS. 10-14.
FIG. 16 is a rear elevation view of a portion of the rail assembly shown in FIGS. 10-15.
FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a rail hanger bracket.
FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the hanger bracket and a rail.
FIG. 19 is an isometric view of the rail being mounted to the rail hanger bracket.
FIG. 20 is an isometric view of two rails being mounted to the rail hanger bracket.
FIG. 21 is an isometric view showing the two rails mounted to the rail hanger bracket.
FIG. 22 is an isometric view illustrating the rail being lockingly engaged with the rail hanger bracket.
FIG. 23 is an exploded isometric view illustrating a portion of the rail and a rail end cap.
FIG. 24 is an isometric view of the rail end cap installed in the rail.
FIG. 25 is an isometric view of a portion of the board and hook assembly being mounted on the rail assembly.
FIG. 26 is an isometric view of a flip chart holder.
FIG. 27 is an isometric view of the flip chart holder mounted to a board and hook assembly, where the flip chart is illustrated in a closed position.
FIG. 28 is an isometric view of the flip chart holder mounted to the board and hook assembly where the flip chart holder is in an open position.
FIG. 29 is an enlarged isometric view of the upper portion of the board and hook assembly showing the mounted flip chart holder.
FIG. 30 is a rear elevation view of the door portion of the flip chart holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiment illustrating the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention is shown in the various figures of the drawing and will be described herein in detail, pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph). It is understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular embodiment, form or example which is disclosed herein. To the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalent structures and methods, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended Claims section attached hereto, pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (second paragraph).
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a versatile office work board system 10 in several embodiments which highlight the versatility of the system. Two rail assemblies 12, 14 are mounted to a first wall 16 and a second wall 18, respectively, of a conference room 19. The first board and hook assembly 20 shows the board and hook assembly mounted in an operative position on the rail assembly 12 so that a front surface 22 is exposed. A user of the board may use the front surface for writing or drawing purposes or, if the board is a tack board, a user may use the front surface to hang one or more sheets of paper.
A second board and hook assembly 24 includes a flip chart 26 mounted over the front surface 27 of the board.
A third board and hook assembly 28 is illustrated straddling both rail assemblies 12, 14 allowing the board and hook assembly to be placed in a comer of the room where the two walls 16, 18 intersect.
A fourth embodiment of the board and hook assembly 30 is illustrated partially in broken line to show how the board may be swiveled or rotated one hundred and eighty degrees from an exposure of a front surface 32 to the exposure of a rear surface 34. This is accomplished simply by removing one hook assembly from the rail assembly and rotating the other hook assembly. This operation will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
The structural simplicity of the work board system is illustrated in FIG. 2. The system includes a rail assembly 40 shown in more detail. The rail assembly includes two rail hanger brackets 42, 44, a rail 46 and two rail end caps 48, 50. The system also includes a work board assembly 52 having a central panel 54 with a front surface 56. Formed around the panel is a frame 58, and a tray 60 with connector end pieces 59, 61 is mounted to a lower portion of the panel. The board assembly 52 is suspended from the rail assembly 40 by two hook assemblies 62, 64.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, the work board assembly includes a panel with the front surface 56 as well as a rear surface 66. The front and rear surfaces may be identical to one another. It should be noted that the tray 60 extends outwardly from the panel in front and rear directions so that markers, chalk or the like may be deposited in the tray on either or both sides of the board. The frame 58 includes left and right vertical members 68, 70, a top horizontal member 72 and the tray 60. As may be appreciated, the hook assemblies 62, 64 are fastened to the top frame member 72. The board may be made of synthetic resin material or tackable material or both. The frame and tray may be made of aluminum and the connector end pieces may be made of synthetic resin.
The hook assembly 64, FIGS. 8 and 9, includes three parts, a hook 80 having a generally C-shaped cross section with an inner surface 82 having a shape generally complementing the shape of the outer surface of the rail 46. Projecting from the bottom of the hook is a post 83 which is received through a central opening 84 in a board bracket 86. The board bracket is generally U-shaped including two arms 88, 90 and a base 92. As shown in FIG. 4, the two arms 88, 90 straddle the board. The base 92 of the board bracket includes two fastener openings 94, 96 which may be used when attaching the board bracket to the top and side members of the board frame. A push nut 98 and a spring washer 99 engage the post 83 from the opposite side of the base 92 of the bracket. The arrangement allows the hook 80 to lift slightly away from the bracket and be rotated about the central axis of the post thereby allowing the attached board to rotate. Rotation allows exposure of both the front and the rear board surfaces as desired by the user. When force on the hook is released, the hook returns to an abutting position against the bracket.
The hook assembly 64 also includes a detent formed by two projections 100, 102 formed on the upper surface 104 of the bracket base 92 and two recesses 106, 108 formed in a bottom surface 110 of the hook. The hook may be positioned in any rotational attitude relative to the bracket, however, when the hook is aligned with the bracket as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the recesses 106, 108 received the projections 100, 102 so that tactile and audible indications are received by the user to indicate a predetermined alignment of the hook and the bracket of the hook assembly. The hook assembly may be made of synthetic resin.
Referring now to FIGS. 10-24, the rail assembly 40 is illustrated in more detail. As described in relation to FIG. 2, the rail assembly includes a rail 46, two rail hanger brackets 42, 44 and the two rail end caps 48, 50.
The rail hanger bracket 42 has a generally L-shaped configuration including a horizontal leg portion 120, FIGS. 12 and 17, and a vertical wall mounting portion 122. The hanger bracket also includes two rotatable cam portions 124, 126, a handle 128 and a fastener 130. The leg portion 120 includes a curved base 132 for allowing rotation of the two cams and a projecting foot portion 134. The handle includes a slot 135 formed around the fastener whereby the handle may be moved relative to the fastener. The fastener is threaded to an opening in the leg portion (not shown) so that after the handle and cams are rotated, the fastener may be tightened against the handle to lock the handle in place. This will be explained in further detail below.
The rail 46 has, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a generally C-shaped cross section including an outer wall 136, an inner wall 138, an inner surface 140 which has a curved upper portion 142 and a generally flat lower wall 144 terminating in an upturn lip 146. The rail may be an aluminum extrusion and the hanger brackets and end caps may be formed of a zinc alloy.
Referring to FIGS. 18-22, the operation of lockingly engaging the rail with the rail hanger bracket is illustrated in two variations. The rail generally slides over the cam portions 124, 126 of the rail hanger bracket so as to initially connect the two as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Alternatively, when two rails 46, 46a are brought together or abutted, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the hanger bracket may be used as a connector as well as a supporter for the rails. Once the rail or rails are connected to the hanger bracket, the lever 128 of the hanging bracket is depressed or lowered by rotating the fastener 130 so as to rotate the cams 124, 126. This causes the cams to tightly engage the rail at the upper curved portion 142 of the interior surface 140, and the foot portion 134 of the hanger bracket tightly engages the lower wall 144 and the lip portion 146. This results in a frictional and an interference fit between the rail and the hanger bracket. To maintain the rail and the hanger bracket in a locked position, the screw fastener 130 may be rotated to press down upon the handle and lock it in the lowered position. To disassemble the rail assembly, a user merely counter-rotates the fastener and lifts the handle so that the hanger bracket cams and foot portion release the rail and the rail is allowed to slide away from the hanger bracket.
Referring to FIGS. 23, 24, the end rail cap 48 is also constructed to engage the inner surface 140 of the rail 46. The rail end cap includes an end wall 150 and a rail engaging arm 152. The engaging arm includes an outer surface 154 which complements the inner surface 140 of the rail and allows a frictional engagement between the two surfaces to result. A fastener opening 156 is also provided in the engaging arm so that a screw may be inserted to lock the end cap and the rail together by abutting or depressing the inner wall 138.
Referring to FIG. 25, the operation of the hook assembly is illustrated in more detail. Once the rail assembly 14 is fastened to the wall 18, the board and hook assembly may be mounted as shown in FIG. 25 as well as in FIG. 1. FIG. 25 also illustrates the ability of the board to rotate even while the hook portion 80 of the hook assembly 64 is still mounted to the rail 46. As mentioned earlier, the rotatable hook assembly allows the board to swivel, thereby exposing both its front and rear surfaces. It is to be understood that the board may swivel one hundred eighty degrees to allow the front surface to be exchanged for the rear surface. The rotation of the hook assembly could go as high as three hundred sixty degrees if clearance is also provided. It is also to be understood that the rotational distance could be less than one hundred eighty degrees such as is shown in FIG. 25 and in FIG. 1 where rotation may stop at about forty-five degrees to allow the board 28 to straddle the intersecting walls 16 and 18.
Referring now to FIGS. 26-30, the flip chart holder 26 is illustrated in more detail. The flip chart holder is designed to support a tablet or pad 160 shown in broken line in FIGS. 27 and 28. The use of a flip chart broadens the versatility of the work board system because a user is offered the ability to use only the flip chart or the board or a combination of the two. The flip chart includes a flip chart hanging bracket 162, a door 164, a hinge 166, a latch 168 and a finger grip 170. The hanging bracket 162 includes an upper channel 172 so that the flip chart holder may conveniently hang over the top frame member 72 of the board 24. Attached to a lower portion 174 of the hanging bracket is the hinge 166 which attaches the hanging bracket 162 to the door 164.
The door includes an outer surface 176 and an inner surface 178. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the door is rotatable between a closed position shown in FIG. 27 and an open position shown in FIG. 28. Formed along the inner surface of the door are two channels, upper channel 180 and lower channel 182, and slidably captured in the channels in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the door are two hook strips 184, 186. A pair of hooks 188, 190 are formed in the strips and provide an arrangement for hanging the pad 160 onto the rotating door no matter what the size or brand of the pad. The latch 168 is provided to restrain the door in its closed position.
In operation, the flip chart holder may be easily installed on or removed from a board simply by placing the flip chart hanging bracket over the top frame member 72 of the board. If the flip chart holder is to be used, a fresh pad or tablet may be installed simply by opening the door and have the pad engage the adjustable hooks 188, 190. Because the hooks slide along the door, they may be adjusted to the size of the pad mounting holes. The door may then be closed and the user may write on the pad.
The door to the flip chart holder may be opened so that the top sheet and subsequent sheets of the pad may be folded back to present a fresh sheet. When the door is returned to its closed position, the turned over sheets of the pad are maintained out of the way.
It should be noted that even when the flip chart is installed, the board and hook assembly combination may be swiveled to expose the rear surface of the board.
The above specification describes in detail several preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other examples, embodiments, modifications and variations will, under both the literal claim language and the doctrine of equivalents, come within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, modifications to the shape of the hanger bracket or to the rail are all considered equivalent structures and will also come within the literal language of the claims. Still other alternatives will also be equivalent as will many new technologies. There is no desire or intention here to limit in any way the application of the doctrine of equivalents nor to limit or restrict the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20050145769
