Patent Grant
9690396
This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/326,880 filed Dec. 15, 2011, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
The present invention relates to drafting tables, paperless blueprint drafting table systems, and methods of using paperless blueprint drafting table systems for efficiency.
Historically, construction blueprints have been handled in paper form. Paper is slow, expensive, and wasteful whereas digital blueprints reduce costs and increase efficiency. The present invention features a paperless blueprint drafting table system for full-scale viewing, editing, and annotating of paperless blueprints.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
The present invention features a paperless blueprint drafting table system for full-scale viewing, editing, and annotating of paperless blueprints. In some embodiments, the system comprises a base having a pivoting table top disposed thereon. In some embodiments, the table top comprises a planar table top surface and a table bottom surface. In some embodiments, a table top aperture is centrally disposed in the table top. In some embodiments, the table top is disposed at an adjustable angle with respect to the base.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a transparent window disposed in the table top aperture having a planar window top surface and a window bottom surface. In some embodiments, the window top surface is disposed flush with the table top surface on a window ledge. In some embodiments, the window is rigid, scratch resistant, and break resistant.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a display screen disposed in the base close to the window bottom surface. In some embodiments, the display screen is operatively connected to a microprocessor. In some embodiments, the display screen is operatively connected to a power supply. In some embodiments, the display screen is operatively connected to a storage medium.
In some embodiments, the display screen displays blueprints through the window for viewing, editing, and annotating via a stylus device.
Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a pivoting table top (120) located on the base top (111) thereon. In some embodiments, the table top (120) comprises a planar table top surface (121). In some embodiments, the table top (120) comprises a table bottom surface (122). In some embodiments, the table top (120) comprises a table first edge (123), a table second edge (124) opposed to the table first edge (123), a table third edge (125), and a table fourth edge (126) opposed to the table third edge (125).
In some embodiments, the table top (120) comprises a table top aperture (130) centrally located therein. In some embodiments, the table top aperture (130) is rectangular, square, polygonal, round, elliptical, or another shape.
In some embodiments, the table top (120) comprises a first linear stiffening brace (140) located on the table bottom surface (122) close to and parallel with the table first edge (123), a second linear stiffening brace (140) located on the table bottom surface (122) close to and parallel with the table second edge (124). In some embodiments, the first linear stiffening brace (140) and the second linear stiffening brace (140) each comprise a projection (141) having a support ledge (142). In some embodiments, each projection (141) extends out and away from the first linear stiffening brace (140) or the second linear stiffening brace (140) toward the table top aperture (130). In some embodiments, the table top (120) comprises a linear aperture brace (150) located on the table bottom surface (122) parallel with the first linear stiffening brace (140) and the second linear stiffening brace (140). In some embodiments, the linear aperture brace (150) traverses the table top aperture (130).
In some embodiments, the stiffening brace (140) along with the projection (141) and the support ledge (142) is critical to the present invention for providing stability to the display screen (180), the window (170) and the table top (120). In some embodiments, aperture brace (150) is critical to the present invention for providing stability to the display screen (180), the window (170) and the table top (120).
In some embodiments, the table top (120) is located at an adjustable angle with respect to the base (110) via a hinge (160) located between the table bottom surface (122) next to the table third edge (125) and the base top (111), and an adjustable support arm (161) located between the table bottom surface (122) and the base top (111). In some embodiment, the table top (120) can be positioned at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to the base, for example, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, or more.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a transparent window (170) located in the table top aperture (130) having a planar window top surface (171) and a window bottom surface (172). In some embodiments, the window top surface (171) is located flush with the table top surface (121) on a window ledge (173) located around a table top aperture inner periphery. In some embodiments, the window (170) is rigid, scratch resistant, and break resistant. In some embodiments, the window is ¼ inch thick. In some embodiments, the window is less than ¼ inch thick. In some embodiments, the window is greater than ¼ inch thick.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a display screen (180) having a display screen top surface (181) and a display screen bottom surface (182). In some embodiments, the display screen (180) is located in the table top aperture (130) of the table top (120). In some embodiments, the display screen top surface (181) is located at an offset from the window bottom surface (172). In some embodiments, a display screen gap (190) is located between the window bottom surface (172) and the display screen top surface (181). The gap between the transparent window and the display screen gap is 1/16 inch or more, for example about ⅛ inch, ¼ inch, ½ inch, etc.
In some embodiments, the display screen gap (190) is a critical feature of the present invention for visibility of the display screen (180) with a correct perspective and proper ventilation of the display screen (180).
In some embodiments, the display screen bottom surface (182) is affixedly located on the supporting ledges (142) of each of the first and second stiffening braces (140). In some embodiments, the display screen bottom surface (182) is affixedly located on a top surface of the linear aperture brace (150). In some embodiments, the present invention comprises two linear aperture braces (150).
In some embodiments, the display screen (180) is operatively connected to a power supply (201) and a microprocessor (200). In some embodiments, the microprocessor (200) is operatively connected to a power supply (201). In some embodiments, a stylus receiver (211) is operatively connected to the power supply (201) and the microprocessor (200). Display screens (180), power supplies (201), microprocessors (200), stylus receivers (211), and stylus devices (210) are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In some embodiments, the display screen (180) displays blueprints through the window (170) for viewing, editing, and annotating via a stylus device (210) operatively interacting with the stylus receiver (211) while interfacing with the window top surface (171) above the display screen (180) through the window (170).
In some embodiments, the window (170) is glass. In some embodiments, the window (170) is tempered.
In some embodiments, the system (100) further comprises a keyboard (203) operatively connected to the microprocessor (200). In some embodiments, a keyboard tray (220) is slidably located on the base (110). In some embodiments, a keyboard tray (220) is slidably located on the table bottom surface (122).
In some embodiments, the display screen bottom surface (182) is not encased to promote ventilation. In some embodiments, this feature is critical to the present invention.
In some embodiments, the display screen gap (190) is less than ¼ inch. In some embodiments, the display screen gap (190) is between ¼ and ½ inch. In some embodiments, the display screen gap (190) is greater than ½ inch.
In some embodiments, the present invention features a paperless blueprint drafting table system (100) for full-scale viewing, editing, and annotating paperless blueprints. In some embodiments, the system (100) consists of a free standing base (110) having a base top (111).
In some embodiments, the system (100) consists of a pivoting table top (120) located on the base top (111) thereon. In some embodiments, the table top (120) consists of a planar table top surface (121). In some embodiments, the table top (120) consists of a table bottom surface (122). In some embodiments, the table top (120) consists of a table first edge (123), a table second edge (124) opposed to the table first edge (123), a table third edge (125), and a table fourth edge (126) opposed to the table third edge (125). In some embodiments, the table top (120) consists of a table top aperture (130) centrally located therein. In some embodiments, the table top (120) consists of a first linear stiffening brace (140) located on the table bottom surface (122) close to and parallel with the table first edge (123), a second linear stiffening brace (140) located on the table bottom surface (122) close to and parallel with the table second edge (124). In some embodiments, the first linear stiffening brace (140) and the second linear stiffening brace (140) each consist of a projection (141) having a support ledge (142). In some embodiments, each projection (141) extends out and away from the first linear stiffening brace (140) or the second linear stiffening brace (140) toward the table top aperture (130). In some embodiments, the table top (120) consists of a linear aperture brace (150) located on the table bottom surface (122) parallel with the first linear stiffening brace (140) and the second linear stiffening brace (140). In some embodiments, the linear aperture brace (150) traverses the table top aperture (130).
In some embodiments, the table top (120) is located at an adjustable angle with respect to the base (110) via a hinge (160) located between the table bottom surface (122) next to the table third edge (125) and the base top (111), and an adjustable support arm (161) located between the table bottom surface (122) and the base top (111).
In some embodiments, the system (100) consists of a transparent window (170) located in the table top aperture (130) having a planar window top surface (171) and a window bottom surface (172). In some embodiments, the window top surface (171) is located flush with the table top surface (121) on a window ledge (173) located around a table top aperture inner periphery. In some embodiments, the window (170) is rigid, scratch resistant, and break resistant.
In some embodiments, the system (100) consists of a display screen (180) having a display screen top surface (181) and a display screen bottom surface (182). In some embodiments, the display screen (180) is located in the table top aperture (130) of the table top (120). In some embodiments, the display screen top surface (181) is located at an offset from the window bottom surface (172). In some embodiments, a display screen gap (190) is located between the window bottom surface (172) and the display screen top surface (181). In some embodiments, the display screen bottom surface (182) is affixedly located on the supporting ledges (142) of each of the first and second stiffening braces (140). In some embodiments, the display screen bottom surface (182) is affixedly located on a top surface of the linear aperture brace (150).
In some embodiments, the display screen (180) is operatively connected to a power supply (201) and a microprocessor (200). In some embodiments, the microprocessor (200) is operatively connected to a power supply (201). In some embodiments, a stylus receiver (211) is operatively connected to the power supply (201) and the microprocessor (200).
In some embodiments, the display screen (180) displays blueprints through the window (170) for viewing, editing, and annotating via a stylus device (210) operatively interacting with the stylus receiver (211) while interfacing with the window top surface (171) above the display screen (180) through the window (170).
Without wishing to limit the invention to any particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that the present invention is unique because some of the previous prior arts are dependent on paper, and work as a digitizer from the paper; whereas with the present system, there is no paper actually needed. The blueprint files are generated by a draftsman on a program like AutoCAD, which the present system can work directly with or can be transmitted to other file types and modified without ever printing paper at all.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.
The disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,850; U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,895; U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,777; U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,542; U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,243; U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,305; U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,720; U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,502; U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,282; U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,237; U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,088; U.S. Pat. No. 7,870,937 B1; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2004/0123780; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2004/0186818; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005/0047074; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005/0140677; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0075977; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2010/0090075; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2010/0103167; and U.S. Pat. No. D 403,005.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2522296 | Overstedt | Sep 1950 | A |
| 3981086 | Hoeflinger | Sep 1976 | A |
| 4408850 | Norek | Oct 1983 | A |
| 4451895 | Sliwkowski | May 1984 | A |
| 4490777 | Tanner et al. | Dec 1984 | A |
| 4716542 | Peltz et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
| 4811243 | Racine | Mar 1989 | A |
| 5033804 | Faris | Jul 1991 | A |
| 5341305 | Clarino et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5508720 | DiSanto et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5699225 | Yavitz | Dec 1997 | A |
| D403005 | Herman | Dec 1998 | S |
| 6075502 | McDowall et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6237507 | Yanagisawa | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6286440 | Jyringi | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6418860 | Hinderhofer | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6553919 | Nevin | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6766282 | Schettine | Jul 2004 | B1 |
| 6805237 | Curry | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| D510821 | Madison | Oct 2005 | S |
| 6980088 | Stambaugh | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 7029079 | Holt | Apr 2006 | B2 |
| D521770 | Madison | May 2006 | S |
| 7100516 | Riddiford | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| 7515143 | Keam | Apr 2009 | B2 |
| 7525538 | Bathiche | Apr 2009 | B2 |
| 7535489 | Nonaka | May 2009 | B2 |
| 7593593 | Wilson | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7870937 | Arnao | Jan 2011 | B1 |
| 8037832 | Pellegrini | Oct 2011 | B2 |
| 8060840 | Billow | Nov 2011 | B2 |
| 8356779 | Stengel | Jan 2013 | B2 |
| 8480188 | Cao | Jul 2013 | B2 |
| 8502789 | Tse | Aug 2013 | B2 |
| 8596728 | Rozestraten | Dec 2013 | B2 |
| 8749959 | Riley | Jun 2014 | B2 |
| 8896656 | Epstein | Nov 2014 | B2 |
| 8898588 | Cheon | Nov 2014 | B2 |
| 8902195 | McGibney | Dec 2014 | B2 |
| 9103488 | Stengel | Aug 2015 | B2 |
| 9146674 | Karlsson | Sep 2015 | B2 |
| 9298318 | Morrison | Mar 2016 | B2 |
| 20040123780 | Butts | Jul 2004 | A1 |
| 20040123782 | Korber | Jul 2004 | A1 |
| 20040186818 | Bowlus | Sep 2004 | A1 |
| 20050047074 | Shearman | Mar 2005 | A1 |
| 20050140677 | Chou | Jun 2005 | A1 |
| 20050145142 | Korber | Jul 2005 | A1 |
| 20070075977 | Chen et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
| 20070157856 | Skoog | Jul 2007 | A1 |
| 20080287200 | Yang | Nov 2008 | A1 |
| 20100090075 | Griffin | Apr 2010 | A1 |
| 20100103167 | Song et al. | Apr 2010 | A1 |
| 20110168063 | Rotlevi | Jul 2011 | A1 |
| 20120250238 | Cao | Oct 2012 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13326880 | Dec 2011 | US |
| Child | 14551999 | US |
