Modular Illustration Board

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of U.S. Patent Application Number 14/946,533, filed on November 19, 2015, incorporated herein by its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED

RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

[0001] The present general inventive concept relates to illustration boards, and more particularly, to a modular illustration board useful, for example, in planning and conducting role-playing games, strategy games, and the like, or in illustrating business or educational activities.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Illustration boards of the type that provide a surface for illustration thereon are commonly used for a variety of purposes. For example, one such application in which illustration boards are commonly used is role-playing games. More specifically, many role-playing games and strategy games exist which involve the narrative control by the players of characters in fictional settings. For example, in the adventure role-playing game "Dungeons and Dragons™," players each typically control a single character which represents an individual in a fictional setting. When working together as a group, each player may direct the actions and speech of his or her character, thereby allowing the players to collectively form a narrative of a story or series of fictional adventures encountered by the player characters. In the case of the game "Dungeons and Dragons™" and similar games, a referee, often referred to as a "Dungeon Master™," "DM™," "Game Master," or "GM," oversees the game and serves to determine the results of the players' choices and the overall storyline for the game. Often, the referee controls various non-player characters, such as adversaries, bystanders, etc., which interact with the player characters within the narrative.

[0003] In various role-playing and strategy games, an illustration board may be used as a game board to provide a surface for planning and illustration in order to assist the players in visualizing gameplay. For example, in the game "Dungeons and Dragons™" and similar games, participants may optionally use a game board having indicia and/ or playing pieces thereon in order to assist the players and the referee in keeping track of player characters' positions in relation to one another and in relation to various non-player elements of the narrative, such as for example non- player characters, scenery, or other objects within the setting. Typical game boards for use in role-playing and strategy games often include permanent indicia thereon to serve as basic guides in illustrating gameplay, and additional indicia may be added thereon by the players or the referee during or prior to gameplay to further illustrate the gameplay. For example, various game boards exist having a working surface defining permanent indicia thereon in the form of a grid, such as for example a Cartesian grid, hexagonal grid, triangular grid, curvilinear grid, etc. In several such game board designs, additional indicia may be added to the working surface in order to allow customized illustrations to appear on the working surface. For example, in various game board designs, the working surface is a reusable writing surface of the type that allows nonpermanent markings to be marked thereon via chalk, wet- or dry-erase marker, pencil, or the like. [0004] Other applications in which illustration boards are commonly uses are business and/ or educational settings. For example, illustration boards, such as chalk boards, dry-erase boards, or the like, are commonly used in classrooms in order to allow a teacher to illustrate instructive concepts to a class. Similar illustration boards may be used, for example, in an office setting as a tool for illustration of topics of discussion during meetings, business plans and strategies, or the like.

[0005] In various applications for illustration boards, it is often desirable to store and/ or transport a board for future use. For example, in various role-playing and strategy games, a single game may continue over a series of meetings before the game narrative is completed, and gameplay may continue through multiple games in order to complete a series of related game narratives, often referred to as a "campaign." Thus, in such games, it is often desirable to store and/ or transport a game board for future play in subsequent meetings. One prior art device that allows for transportation and storage of a role-playing and strategy game surface is a gaming mat of the type consisting of a large, flexible surface formed from a vinyl- type material and printed with a grid. Such a gaming mat may be stored and transported by folding or rolling the mat. However, a significant limitation exists in that a gaming mat of this type tends to "remember" its folded or rolled shape. Thus, when unfurled for play, creases, unevenness, deformation or curling of the edges can result, making play difficult. A further limitation exists in that a gaming mat of this type, while large, contains only a limited number of cells in the grid printed thereon. Thus, should gameplay progress to the point of involving nonpermanent illustrations along a periphery of the mat, and should players wish to proceed beyond such periphery, the mat must be cleaned and new nonpermanent indicia must be made in order to continue illustrating the gameplay.

[0006] In various types of prior art game boards and game mats for use in role-playing and strategy games, a further limitation exists in that such devices often do not provide a stable, secure surface upon which gameplay may be illustrated. For example, various prior art game mats are constructed of relatively lightweight, thin, and flexible material and have relatively smooth and slick top and bottom surfaces. Thus, when illustrating gameplay on such game mats during a game, it is often possible to inadvertently slide the game mat along a support surface, such as a table or floor surface, or to inadvertently bend, wrinkle, or crease the game mat during illustration. This can be highly disruptive to a game, for example if such inadvertent movement of the game mat results in disruption and disorganization of game pieces positioned thereon.

[0007] In light of the above, there exists a need for a modular illustration board which provides a relatively smooth, stable, and secure surface upon which illustrations may be made. There further exists the need for a modular illustration board which allows modular connection of multiple boards, such that a working illustration surface may be created having a customized size and shape, and such that the periphery of the illustration working surface may be extended to include additional adjacent board modules. There further exists the need for a modular illustration board which allows for quick and convenient breakdown, storage, transportation, and reassembly of the board modules.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present general inventive concept, in various example

embodiments, provides a modular illustration board providing a customizable surface for illustration thereon. Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a plurality of modular tiles, each tile defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of edges forming a shape capable of monohedral tessellation. Each upper surface may have permanent indicia visible thereon and may be fabricated from a material capable of readily receiving non-permanent indicia thereon and allowing for speedy and convenient erasure of such non-permanent indicia. Each lower surface may be of a frictional material configured to establish and maintain frictional engagement with a support surface. A plurality of connectors may be provided, at least one connector disposed along each edge of each tile and configured to allow the edge to be releasably connected to an edge of an adjacent tile to form a monohedral tessellation of adjacent tiles. Thus, when the plurality of modular tiles are releasably connected in monohedral tessellation, the upper surfaces of the tiles may cooperate to form a surface for illustration thereon.

[0009] In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, each connector may be defined by a piece of magnetic material mounted along an edge of a tile and configured to magnetically attract a corresponding piece of magnetic material mounted along an adjacent edge of another tile. In some embodiments, each edge of each tile may have a plurality of connectors mounted along a length thereof, at least one connector of each edge demonstrating a certain polarity and at least one other connector of each edge demonstrating an opposite polarity. In various embodiments, each of the connectors of each edge of each tile may be ordered about the perimeter of the tile in alternating polarity. In various embodiments, each connector may be mounted proximate an intersection of a pair of adjacent edges of a tile and may have a first end disposed proximate a first edge of the adjacent edges and an opposite second end disposed proximate the second edge of the adjacent edges. In various embodiments, each first end of each connector may demonstrate a certain polarity and each second end of each connector may demonstrate an opposite polarity.

[0010] In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, each tile may comprise a plurality of layers, each layer terminating along each of the edges of the tile. In various embodiments, the plurality of layers may comprise a top layer comprising a sublayer of material having the permanent indicia printed thereon and a laminate bonded thereto, the laminate forming the upper surface. In various embodiments, the permanent indicia may comprise a grid. In some embodiments, the sublayer may be fabricated from polyvinyl-chloride. In some embodiments, the laminate may be a dry-erase material. In certain

embodiments, the laminate may further allow for the receipt thereon of a mark from a wet-erase marker and may allow for easy wet erasure of such mark. In various emboidments, the plurality of layers may comprise an intermediate layer defining a plurality of recesses, each connector being received within a corresponding recess. In some embodiments, the plurality of layers may further comprise a top layer and a bottom layer, each of the top and bottom layers overlying the recesses of the intermediate layer and connectors received therein. In certain embodiments, each connector may terminate along at least one edge of an associated tile.

[0011] Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present general inventive concept.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following example embodiments are representative of example techniques and structures designed to carry out the objects of the present general inventive concept, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to these example embodiments. In the accompanying drawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, and qualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments will be more readily understood and appreciated through the following detailed description of the example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a modular illustration board constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the modular illustration board of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the connection of multiple modular illustration board of Figure 1 to form a combined illustration surface;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a modular illustration board constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept;

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the connection of multiple modular illustration board of Figure 4 to form a combined illustration surface;

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing another embodiment of a modular illustration board constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept;

Figure 7 is a top plan view showing another embodiment of a modular illustration board constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept;

Figures 8A-8C are simplified top plan views showing additional

embodiments of modular illustration boards constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept; and

Figures 9A-9D are simplified top plan views showing additional

embodiments of modular illustration boards constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Reference will now be made to the example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures. The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modification, and equivalents of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of fabrication operations described are merely examples, however, and the sequence type of operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, description of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

[0014] Note that spatially relative terms, such as "top," "bottom," "up,"

"down," "right," "left," "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0015] According to various examples of the present general inventive concept, a modular illustration board is provided. One embodiment of a modular illustration board, or "board," is illustrated generally at 10 in the figures. With reference to Figure 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the board 10 includes generally a tile having a plurality of edges 12a-12f, an upper surface 14, and a lower surface 16. As will further be discussed below, the upper surface 14 has permanent indicia 26 appearing thereon and is fabricated from a material capable of readily receiving non- permanent indicia thereon and allowing for speedy and convenient erasure of such non-permanent indicia. The lower surface 16 is of a frictional material which is configured to establish and maintain frictional engagement with a support surface, such as a table or floor surface, upon which the board 10 is placed. At least one connector 18 is provided along each of the edges 12a-12f to allow each edge to be readily joined to, and disconnected from, a corresponding edge of an adjacent board 10. Thus, multiple boards 10 may be modularly joined along corresponding adjacent edges to create a gaming surface having a customizable size and shape. In various embodiments, the edges 12a-12f of the board 10 define a shape which is capable of monohedral tessellation, such that multiple boards 10 may be joined along respective edges to form a continuous, flat, two-dimensional surface.

[0016] With reference to Figures 1-3, in one embodiment, the board 10 comprises a plurality of layers 20, 22, 24, each layer terminating along the various edges 12a-12f of the board 10. In various embodiments, a top layer 20 of the board 10 has an upper surface 14 which has permanent indicia 26 visible thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the permanent indicia 26 is in the form of a hexagonal grid printed along the upper surface 14. The various cells in the grid 26 are sized, and the grid 26 is oriented along the upper surface 14, such that the grid forms repeating patterns along each of opposite edges 12a-12f of the board 10. In other words, the pattern of the grid 26 along the first edge 12a and the pattern of the grid 26 along the opposite fourth edge 12d are such that, when the first edge 12a of a first board 10 is positioned adjacent the fourth edge 12d of a second board 10, the interface between the mated edges 12a, 12d forms a continuous pattern of cells in the grid 26 along both boards. The same is true for the remaining sets of opposite edges along the board 10, i.e., the second edge 12b of the board 10 is matable with the fifth edge 12e of an adjacent board 10 to form a continuous pattern of cells in the grid 26, and the third edge 12c of the board is matable with the sixth edge 12f of an adjacent board to form a continuous pattern of cells in the grid 26. In several embodiments, the grid 26 is oriented such that each edge 12a-12f of the board 10 is matable with any edge 12a- 12f of an adjacent board 10 to form a continuous pattern of cells in the grid along both adjacent boards. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the various edges 12a-12f of the board 10 form a regular hexagon shape, and the grid 26 is sized and oriented such that each edge 12a-12f defines a row of bisected halves of cells of the grid 26. Thus, each edge 12a-12f of the board 10 may be placed adjacent an edge 12a- 12f of another board 10, such that the rows of bisected halves of cells along each of the mated edges cooperate to form a row of complete cells of the grid 26, thereby completing the pattern of cells in the grid 26 across both boards.

[0017] Those of skill in the art will recognize other patterns and orientations of permanent indicia 26 which may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept, and many such patterns and orientations may be used to form repeating patterns of permanent indicia along adjacent boards 10. For example, in various embodiments, the permanent indicia 26 may be defined by any of a variety of grid patterns, such as for example various sizes and orientations of Cartesian grids, hexagonal grids, triangular grids, curvilinear grids, etc. In other embodiments, the permanent indicia 26 may be in the form of shapes, patterns, illustrations, or the like, which may be used to assist in illustrating a gameplay narrative. For example, in various embodiments, the permanent indicia 26 may comprise repeating patterns of illustrations of trees, walls or other building structures, stars or other sky patterns, or the like.

[0018] In various embodiments, the upper surface 14 of the top layer 20 is fabricated from a dry-erase material, that is, a material which is capable of receiving thereon a mark from a dry-erase marker and allowing easy dry erasure of such mark. In several embodiments, dry-erase material defining the upper surface 14 of the top layer 20 further allows for the receipt thereon of a mark from a wet-erase marker, and which allows for easy wet erasure of such mark. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the top layer 20 is fabricated from a sublayer of polyvinyl- chloride having the above-discussed permanent indicia 26 printed thereon. A transparent polymer laminate is bonded thereto along an upper surface thereof, such that the transparent polymer laminate forms the upper surface 14 of the top layer 20. Thus, in the present embodiment, marks from wet- and/ or dry-erase markers may be made along the upper surface 14 and subsequently erased without disturbing the permanent indicia 26 printed along the sublayer, beneath the laminate. Those of skill in the art will recognize other materials suitable for forming the upper surface 14 and/ or the top layer 20, and such materials may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, in other embodiments, the top layer is fabricated from a single sheet of dry-erase material having the permanent indicia 26 printed along the upper surface thereof.

[0019] It will be recognized that the above-discussed upper surface 14, which is compatible with marks from wet- and dry-erase markers, in combination with the above-discussed permanent indicia 26, provides several unique advantages over various prior art devices. For example, in various applications of the board 10, a user may determine that certain illustrations to be made along the upper surface 14 should be semi-permanent, while other illustrations to be made along the upper surface 14 should be non-permanent, such that the non-permanent illustrations may be erased without necessarily erasing the semi-permanent illustrations. In such instances, the user may mark the semi-permanent illustrations along the upper surface 14 using a wet-erase marker, and may mark the non-permanent illustrations along the upper surface 14 using a dry-erase marker. Thereafter, the user may perform dry erasure of the non-permanent illustrations, thereby erasing the non- permanent illustrations without erasing the semi-permanent illustrations. Upon determining that the semi-permanent illustrations should be erased, the user may perform wet erasure of the semi-permanent illustrations. To this end, it will be recognized that the permanent indicia 26 may, in various embodiments, serve to assist the user in determining the placement of either or both of the semi-permanent and/ or non-permanent illustrations.

[0020] In various embodiments, the upper surface 14 is fabricated from a material which is further compatible with marks from permanent markers, such that ink from a permanent marker may be placed on the upper surface 14 to form a line, absent beading or other disruption of the permanent marker ink. In such embodiments, it will be recognized that, in addition to the above-discussed semipermanent and non-permanent indicia, a user may place permanent indicia along the upper surface, such that certain of the indicia placed by the user may be dry- erased, certain of the indicia may be wet-erased, and certain of the indicia may be permanent. It will be recognized that the upper surface 14 may also be fabricated from a material suitable to accept numerous other types of markings, such as for example graphite, wet or dry chalk, pen ink, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

[0021] In the embodiment of Figures 1-3, the bottom layer 24 defines a lower surface 16 which is configured to maintain at least intimate contact with a support surface, such as a table or floor surface, upon which the board 10 is placed. In various embodiments, the lower surface 16 is fabricated from a frictional material which is configured to frictionally engage the support surface in order to discourage, and in some embodiments prevent, sliding of the board 10 along the support surface. In certain more discreet embodiments, the material from which the lower surface 16 is fabricated is also a relatively soft material which is configured to limit scratching or other abrasion of the support surface. For example, in several embodiments, the bottom layer 24 is fabricated from ethylene- vinyl acetate ("EVA"). In these embodiments, upon placing the board 10 on a support surface, the lower surface 16 establishes mild frictional engagement with the support surface to assist in retaining the board 10 in a stationary location along the support surface. At the same time, to the extent the board 10 is slid along the support surface, the EVA material of the lower surface serves as a padded contact surface between the board 10 and the support surface in order to limit abrasion of the support surface. Those of skill in the art will recognize other materials suitable for use in fabricating the bottom layer 24 of the board 10, and such materials may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. [0022] In accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept, in several embodiments, a plurality of connectors 18 are provided about the various edges 12a-12f of the board 10 and are configured to allow each edge 12a-12f to be quickly and conveniently held adjacent an edge of another board, and also to allow for quick and convenient release of the adjacent edges of the boards. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, each edge 12a-12f defines a recess 30 within which there is mounted a piece of magnetic material 18. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, an intermediate layer 22 is provided between the top layer 20 and bottom layer 24. The intermediate layer 22 defines a plurality of cutout recesses 30, with each recess 30 being disposed at a midpoint along a corresponding edge 12a-12f. For each recess 30, a piece of magnetic material 18 is provided having a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the intermediate layer 22 and having a shape which is keyed to the shape of the recess 30. Each piece of magnetic material 18 is mounted within its corresponding recess, for example via an adhesive between the magnetic material 18 and corresponding portions of the top, intermediate, and bottom layers 20, 22, 24, or via other means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, each piece of magnetic material 18 is positioned along a corresponding edge 12a-12f such that the magnetic material terminates flush with the edge 12a-12f. In the illustrated embodiment, each recess 30 and corresponding piece of magnetic material 18 defines a substantially rectangular shape. However, it will be recognized that the present general inventive concept is not limited to such shape. To this end, each recess 30 and corresponding piece of magnetic material 18 may, in various embodiments, define other shapes, such as for example circular shapes, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, each piece of magnetic material 18 mounted along each edge 12a-12f is of a different polarity than the pieces of magnetic material mounted along the adjacent edges. In other words, the pieces of magnetic material 18a mounted along the non-adjacent first, third, and fifth edges 12a, 12c, 12e of the board 10 are of one polarity, while the pieces of magnetic material 18b mounted along the non-adjacent second, fourth, and sixth edges 12b, 12d, 12f of the board 10 are of the opposite polarity. Thus, in the present embodiment, each of the first, third, and fifth edges 12a, 12c, 12e of each board 10 is configured for magnetic attraction to the second, fourth, and sixth edges 12b, 12d, 12f of an adjacent board. Likewise, each of the second, fourth, and sixth edges 12b, 12d, 12f of each board 10 is configured for magnetic attraction to the first, third, and fifth edges 12a, 12c, 12e of an adjacent board. Thus, when, for example, a first edge 12a of a first board 10 is brought adjacent a second edge 12b of a second board 10, the magnetic pieces 18 of the two adjacent edges attract one another, thereby holding and maintaining the adjacent edges in intimate contact with one another. In this way, the portions of the permanent indicia 26 along each of the adjacent edges are maintained in a configuration such that a continuous pattern of permanent indicia 26 is formed along the adjacent top surfaces 14 of the adjacent boards 10. Conversely, the adjacent boards 10 may be readily and conveniently separated from one another by pulling the adjacent boards 10 away from one another with sufficient force to overcome the magnetic force of attraction between the magnetic pieces 18 of the two adjacent edges.

[0024] It will be appreciated that the inclusion of the intermediate layer 22 between the top and bottom layers 20, 24 allows for the formation of the various recesses 30 along the edges 12a-12f of the board such that the recesses 30 are closed to the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16 of the board 10. Thus, in the present embodiment, the magnetic pieces 18 are mounted within the interior of the board 10, offset from both the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16 of the board 10, such that the top and bottom layers 20, 24 of the board 10 overlie respective upper and lower surfaces of the magnetic pieces 18. In this embodiment, the upper surface 14 of the board 10, and the associated permanent indicia 26 visible thereon, is uninterrupted by the magnetic pieces 18. Likewise, the lower surface 16 of the board serves to shield any support surface upon which the board 10 is placed from contact with the magnetic pieces 18. However, it will be recognized that inclusion of the intermediate layer 22 is not necessary to accomplish certain embodiments in accordance with the present general inventive concept. For example, in certain embodiments, the top and bottom layers 20, 24 are configured in overlying intimate contact with one another. In certain of these embodiments, each of the recesses 30 is defined in the bottom layer 24. More specifically, in certain embodiments, each of the recesses 30 is defined by a cutout in the bottom layer 24, such that each of the recesses is open to the lower surface 16 of the board 10. In other embodiments, each of the recesses 30 is defined by an indent in an upper surface of the bottom layer 24, such that each of the recesses 30 is closed to the lower surface 16 of the board 10. In still other

embodiments, the recesses 30 may be cooperatively defined by overlying indents in both the top and bottom layers 20, 24. In still other embodiments, the recesses 30 may be defined by the top layer 20, and in various such embodiments, the recesses 30 may be either open or closed to the upper surface 14. Those of skill in the art will recognize other suitable configurations for mounting the magnetic pieces 18 along the various edges 12a-12f of the board 10, and such configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

[0025] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of a board 10a constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept. In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, each of the edges 12a-12f of the board 10a has a pair of magnetic pieces 18a, 18b mounted along the length thereof, with each magnetic piece 18a, 18b of each edge 12a-12f being located toward one of opposite ends of the edge. In the illustrated embodiment, each pair of magnetic pieces 18a, 18b mounted toward opposite ends of each edge 12a-12f consist of a first magnetic piece 18a of a first polarity and a second magnetic piece 18b of an opposite polarity. Furthermore, the various magnetic pieces 18a, 18b are ordered about the perimeter of the board 10a in alternating polarities. In other words, for each edge 12a-12f, a first magnetic piece 18a having a first polarity is disposed toward a first end thereof, and a second magnetic piece 18b having an opposite polarity is disposed toward an opposite second end thereof. Each first end of each edge 12a-12f is situated adjacent a second end of an adjacent edge, such that each first magnetic piece 18a of each edge 12a-12f is located at an end of the edge proximate the second magnetic piece 18b of the adjacent edge. Thus, as shown in Figure 5, each edge 12a- 12f of the board 10a may be readily magnetically joined to any edge 12a-12f of an adjacent board 10a.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, each edge 12a-12f of the board 10a has two magnetic pieces 18a, 18b mounted along the length thereof, with each of the two magnetic pieces 18a, 18b displaying opposite polarity.

However, it will be recognized that more or fewer magnetic pieces 18a, 18b may be used, and in different configurations, to allow the various edges 12a-12f of each board 10a to be magnetically joinable to edges of other boards 10a without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 6, each edge 12a-12f of the board 10b has a single elongated magnetic piece 18c mounted along the length thereof. In this

embodiment, a first end of each magnetic piece 18c has a certain polarity, and is located toward a first end of its associated edge, while an opposite second end of each magnetic piece 18c has an opposite polarity, and is located toward a second end of the associated edge. In the embodiment of Figure 7, a single elongated magnetic piece 18d is mounted along each corner of each adjacent edge 12a-12f. In this embodiment, a first end of each magnetic piece 18d has a certain polarity, and is located toward a first end of one edge, while an opposite second end of each magnetic piece 18d has an opposite polarity, and is located toward an adjacent second end of an adjacent edge. In each of these embodiments, the above-discussed configuration of alternating magnetic polarities is maintained about the perimeter of the board 10b, 10c. Thus, in each of these embodiments, each edge 12a-12f of the board may be readily magnetically joined to any edge 12a-12f of an adjacent board. [0027] As discussed above, in various embodiments, the edges 12a-12f of the board 10 form a shape which is capable of monohedral tessellation, such that multiple boards 10 may be joined along respective edges to form a continuous, flat, two-dimensional surface. For example, in the illustrated embodiments of Figures 1- 7, the board 10 defines a regular hexagonal shape, i.e., six edges 12a-12f having equal length and forming equal angles between adjacent edges. It will be recognized that the board may be configured to conform to other shapes, such as for example triangular shapes, rectangular shapes, or other shapes capable of tessellation, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, Figures 8A-8C and 9A-9D illustrate various additional embodiments constructed in accordance with the present general inventive concept. In each of the embodiments of Figures 8A-8C, the board defines a regular triangular shape having three edges. In each of the embodiments of Figures 9A-9D, the board defines a square shape having four edges. Those of skill in the art will recognize other suitable shapes which may be used in fabrication of the board without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

[0028] Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of a board lOd constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept. In the embodiment of Figure 10, in addition to the upper surface 14 of the top layer 20 being fabricated from a material which is compatible with marks from dry-erase, wet-erase, and permanent markers, the bottom layer 24a defines a lower surface 16a which is also fabricated from a material which is compatible with marks from dry- erase, wet-erase, and permanent markers. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower surface 16a is fabricated from a similar material to the upper surface 14, and includes similar permanent indicia printed thereon. Thus, it will be recognized that, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower surface 14, 16a of the board lOd are reversible, that is, each board lOd of a group thereon may be joined adjacent another board lOd with either the upper surface 14 or the lower surface 16a facing upward, such that either surface 14, 16a may be presented for use in illustrating temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent indicia thereon. It will be recognized that this particular configuration offers several unique advantages. For example, in one application of the board lOd, upon marking a first set of indicia upon a first of the surfaces 14, 16a, the board lOd may be turned over to expose the other of the surfaces 14, 16a, whereupon a second set of indicia may be marked thereon. Thus, for example, multiple sets of indicia may be marked along the two surfaces 14, 16a and stored thereon for subsequent use. Furthermore, upon marking a first of the surfaces 14, 16a with a first set of indicia, the other of the surfaces 14, 16a may be exposed to produce an unmarked surface for subsequent use, absent the need to first clean the first set of indicia from the board lOd.

[0029] It will be recognized that, in embodiments in which both the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16a are fabricated from materials which are compatible with marks from dry-erase, wet-erase, and/ or permanent markers, such as the

embodiment depicted in Figure 10, the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16a may be printed with any of a wide variety of permanent indicia thereon without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. Furthermore, it will be recognized that the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16a need not be printed with identical indicia thereon. For example, in one embodiment a first of the surfaces 14, 16a may be printed with the above-discussed permanent indicia thereon, while the other of the surfaces 14, 16a may include no indicia printed thereon. In other embodiments, each of the surfaces 14, 16a may have different permanent indicia printed thereon. Thus, in these embodiment, a user may select which of the surfaces 14, 16a to face upward for illustration thereon based on the specific indicia, or lack thereof, printed thereon.

[0030] With reference again to Figures 1-3, in certain embodiments, the lower surface 16 of the bottom layer 24 may optionally include one or more fastener materials or apparatus to allow the board 10 to be secured to a support surface, such as for example an inclined or vertical surface such as a wall, chalk board, white board, or the like, or an upper surface such as a ceiling. For example, in one embodiment, the lower surface 16 includes an adhesive material disposed along a length and width thereof, such that, upon placement of the board 10 along, for example, a wall-mounted white board with the lower surface 16 adjacent the white board, the adhesive material serves to releasably secure the lower surface 16 of the board 10 against the white board. In various embodiments, the adhesive material may be a one-time use adhesive material. In other embodiments, the adhesive material may be a reusable adhesive material of the type known to one of skill in the art. In still other embodiments, one or more fasteners (not shown), such as for example magnets, suction cups, or the like, may be provided along the lower surface 16 to allow the above-discussed releasable fixation of the board 10 along the support surface. In still other embodiments, each of the fasteners 18 may, in addition to being configured to allow each board 10 to be joined along an edge thereof to an edge of an adjacent board, be configured to allow the board 10 to be releasably secured to the support surface.

[0031] It will be recognized that the above-discussed optional fastener materials or apparatus may provide several unique advantages to the board 10. For example, in certain applications, a user may releasably secure one or more boards 10 along a permanent illustration surface, such as a vertically-oriented white board, chalk board, or the like. In such embodiments, the white board or chalk board may provide a first illustration surface, while the one or more boards 10 may provide a second, temporary illustration surface which is removable from the underlying white board or chalk board. In this manner, the one or more boards 10 may be used in conjunction with an existing white board, chalk board, or the like, in order to provide additional illustrating surfaces which may be removed and replaced along the existing surface as desired.

[0032] It is noted that the above-described simplified diagrams and drawings do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineering judgment. Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and

accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/ or any element can be duplicated.

[0033] From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by one of skill in the art that a modular illustration board has been provided. In various

embodiments, the modular illustration board allows for the customizable

construction of a surface for illustration thereon which includes permanent indicia appearing thereon and which allows for both dry-erase and wet-erase temporary indicia to be marked thereon. While the present general inventive concept has been illustrated by description of several example embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the general inventive concept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, the descriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additional embodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and drawings. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.