Patent Application
20160009122
The following information is provided to assist the reader in understanding technologies disclosed below and the environment in which such technologies may typically be used. The terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document. References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the technologies or the background thereof. The disclosure of all references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
Reversible or erasable “magic” slates have been used as, for example, toys or educational tablets. Such slates include a plurality of layers of material which may, for example, be formed of plastic and/or paper. Pressure exerted on a top layer or cover of the slate, which is typically formed from a clear plastic film, results in a visible mark created from the temporary adhesion of a lower translucent (typically, cloudy or milky-colored) layer to, for example, a lower, colored (typically, black or dark gray) layer. The translucent layer releasably or nonpermanently adheres to the lower layer when pressure is applied to the top cover. This temporary adhesion results in intimate contact between the two layers allowing the transmittance of the color of the lower layer through the translucent layer and the top cover layer.
A number of slate systems enable erasing by physically lifting the top sheets to separate from the colored adhesive layer, by rubbing the surface which pushes captured air bubbles across and/or shifts upper layer resulting in separation of two layers, or by sliding a bar or other abutment member positioned between the wax-coated bottom black layer and the semi-transparent layer which separates these layers. All of these methods have drawbacks. Physical separating requires a multiple task motion of lifting one end of top film up and then replacing it so that it lies smoothly and squarely on the pad, thus requiring the use of two hands. The rub to erase method can only be used on smaller surfaces, requires multiple rubbings in many cases, and often fails to completely erase markings. Bar-types erasers add complexity, and have been reported to present difficulties in operating and erasing.
A magic slate erase system using an air pump to erase images pneumatically is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,643. The air pump is intended to erases images without requiring manual lifting of the top sheets to separate them from the wax-coated black layer, rubbing the surface, or pulling a bar. However, the air pump of U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,643, which is operatively connected to the cloudy/milky layer and the wax-coated black layer, does not efficiently remove air from the magic slate pad after the first erasing action. In inefficient removal of air makes it difficult for a user to draw subsequent next words/images because some air is left between the cloudy layer and the wax-coated layer. This residual air erases new writings/drawings immediately. Thus, the air left between the cloudy layer and the wax-coated layer requires users to wait for a long time before subsequent drawing action. Air remaining between the cloudy layer and the lower, colored, wax-coated layer makes the slate irreversible. There is a lack of consistency and reproducibility of the slate system in enabling marking while being able to easily and consistently erase such markings.
In one aspect, an erasable slate system includes a translucent layer adjacent a colored bottom layer, wherein application of a force to the translucent layer causes temporary adhesion of the translucent layer to the colored bottom layer in an area wherein the force is applied. The erasable slate system further includes an extending channel in fluid connection with the translucent layer and the colored bottom layer. The extending channel extends around at least 25% of the length of a perimeter of the bottom colored layer. The erasable slate system further includes an air pump in fluid connection with the extending channel via which pressurized air can be introduced into the extending channel to cause the translucent layer to be separated from adhesion to the colored bottom layer, thereby erasing markings, and via which air can exit the extending channel of the erasable slate system. In a number of embodiments, the extending channel extends around at least 50%, at least 75% or even 100%, of the length of a perimeter of the bottom colored layer.
The air pump may, for example, be placed in fluid connection with the extending channel via a port in fluid connection with the extending channel. In a number of embodiments, the air pump is in fluid connection with the port via a length of tubing. The tubing may, for example, have a length suitable to space the pump from the remainder of the erasable slate system (for example, the components of the slate as described herein), so that the pump need not rest upon or contact the components of the slate. The pump may, for example, include a bellows pump or a bulb pump.
In a number of embodiments, the colored bottom layer includes an adhesive coating so that application of the force to the translucent layer causes temporary adhesion of the translucent layer to the colored bottom layer in an area wherein the force is applied. The adhesive may, for example, include a wax.
In a number of embodiments, the erasable slate system further includes a frame. The extending channel may, for example, be formed in a volume between the frame and the colored bottom layer. The frame may, for example, have a thickness in the range of 0.01 to 10 mm. The air pump may, for example, be connected to the frame or formed within the frame
In a number of embodiments, the erasable slate system further includes a base positioned below the colored bottom layer. The extending channel may, for example, be formed in the base. The extending channel may, for example, have a width in the range of 0.01 to 30.0 mm.
The extending channel of the erasable slate system hereof may, for example, be sealed from fluid connection with an environment outside of the erasable slate system other than via the port. The erasable slate system may, for example, further include a transparent (or substantially transparent—for example, having a transparency of 95% of white light) layer above the translucent layer to which the force is applied.
In another aspect, a method of fabricating an erasable slate system, includes positioning a translucent layer adjacent a colored bottom layer, wherein application of a force to the translucent layer causes temporary adhesion of the translucent layer to the colored bottom layer in an area wherein the force is applied, providing an extending channel in fluid connection with the translucent layer and the colored bottom layer, the extending channel extending around at least 25% of the length of a perimeter of the bottom colored layer, and providing an air pump in fluid connection with the extending channel via which pressurized air can be introduced into the extending channel to cause the translucent layer to be separated from adhesion to the colored bottom layer, thereby erasing markings, and via which air can exit the extending channel.
The present devices, systems, and methods, along with the attributes and attendant advantages thereof, will best be appreciated and understood in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described representative embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the representative embodiments, as illustrated in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely illustrative of representative embodiments.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a layer” includes a plurality of such layers and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth, and reference to “the layer” is a reference to one or more such layers and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value, as well as intermediate ranges, are incorporated into the specification as if individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contraindicated by the text.
In a number of embodiments, slates, slates tablets, slate systems or slate pads hereof are erasable via a pneumatic or air pump attached to the slate. In a number of such embodiments, slates hereof include a mechanism or system for effectively injecting air into the slate pad and also quickly removing the air from the slate pad. For example, narrow, extending channel may be provided around at least a portion of the perimeter of a lower adhesive-coated (for example, wax-coated) sheet to facilitate air travel therethrough.
The slates hereof have numerous applications including, but not limited to, use by children in a school classroom, use by children and others as a toy, use by persons that are not able to converse because of a tracheotomy or other condition, use by or with people with hearing impairment, use in underwater communications where regular papers get wet etc. A well-sealed, air-pump-driven, erasable slate enables communication between underwater divers in an inexpensive manner and may eliminate the need for complicated electronic communication devices. In addition, in sports wherein locating where a ball hits a club, stick, or bat, etc., an easily erasable slate may be used to improve one's play. For example, an easily erasable pad placed on the surface of a driver or other golf club to locate the spot upon the club face where the golf ball is struck will be useful for improving a golfer's ability to strike a golf ball. In applications as a toy, the slates hereof may, for example, be used as a writing/drawing pad or as an erasable target for toy guns, darts, etc. that shoot relatively soft projectiles.
As, for example, illustrated in
In the embodiment of
Air pump 200 may be formed separately from slate 10 and connected by tubing or hose 210 to be spaced from slate 10. As compared, for example, to a system including an integral air pump sitting on an edge of a slate, the edge (and the slate) can be made smaller, which saves material cost for mass production. Air pump 200 may, for example, be formed as a small bellows or bulb pump as known in the air pump arts. The volume of air transferred to extending channel 140 may, for example, in in the range of 1 mL to 100 mL depending upon the size of channel 140 and slate 10.
After an erasing action to erase images, air between the wax-coated layer and the cloudy layer would quickly move to extending channel 140, and then finally move back to air pump 200, in such a way, that there is no air left between the wax-coated layer and the cloudy layer, and would be ready for the next drawing action.
Top or upper layer 100 may, for example, be a protective transparent or clear pliable layer that can be from 0.05 mm to 0.50 mm thick. Upper layer 100 may, for example, be formed from a polymer material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. Intermediately, translucent layer 110 may, for example, be a thin pliable polymeric/plastic layer having a thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.30 mm. Translucent layer 110 is translucent or semi-transparent and may, for example, be slightly colored. In a number of embodiments, translucent layer 110 has a cloudy white color, but other colors that provide good contrast with the color of adhesive-coated/wax-coated bottom layer 130 are also suitable. In a number of embodiments, bottom layer 130 is black. Suitable materials for translucent layer 110 include, but are not limited to, polyacetal, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, high density polyethylene (HDPE), etc. As described above, there is a slight gap 160 and/or normally no adhesion between translucent layer 110 and bottom layer 130 as illustrated in
Channel 140 provides for both ease of pumping air into and eliminating air from device 10. Drawing and erasing actions are, for example, illustrated in
In the construction of slate 10 the edges or the perimeters of translucent layer 110, frame 120, and base layer 150 are, for example, sealed together with glue or an adhesive to form an airtight seal so that no air escapes to the outside upon actuation of pump 200, but, instead, “inflates” device to create volume or gap 160 (see, for example,
Device 10 requires only one quick, simple operation, the press of a button-like air pump, to effect complete erasure of images/markings. Device 10 also eliminates the necessity of waiting for air to move toward the pump for next drawing action as well as uneliminated, residual air within device 10.
The slates hereof may, for example, be used for fun, education, or for situations where verbal communication is not possible because of health or medical issues, noise issues or other situations where verbal communication needs to be replaced with written communication.
The foregoing description and accompanying drawings set forth a number of representative embodiments at the present time. Various modifications, additions and alternative designs will, of course, become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings without departing from the scope hereof, which is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes and variations that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/024,269, filed Jul. 14, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62024269 | Jul 2014 | US |
