The present invention relates to displays or display boards or to means for displaying indicia generally, and in particular to displays used in imparting information, such as for example in a lecture, lesson, demonstration or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a white board or similar and to improvements in white boards. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a portable white board, typically a portable white board having a flexible writing surface.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to one form of a portable white board, it is to be noted that the present invention is not limited in scope to the described embodiment but rather the scope is more extensive so as to include other arrangements of the white board and other applications of the white board than specifically described.

Whiteboards themselves are well known and have wide applications in academia, research areas, offices, and homes. Normally white boards are of one of two types. The first type is a fixture which is adapted to be permanently, or at least semi-permanently, mounted on or attached to a suitable solid support surface, such as for example, a wall of a room, partition, room divider or similar and normally has a solid or rigid writing area of a white colour formed from a laminate or like material having an outer layer which is impervious to water based or solvent based marker pens and a frame surrounding the rigid writing surface which frame is connected to or otherwise attached to the support surface upon which the white board is permanently mounted. In this form the white board has a single face only to display information.

The other type of white board currently in use which is a

movable or transportable white board is provided with an external frame or similar which is usually mounted on wheels, castors, or a stand and the white board itself is mounted within the frame. This form of white board is often mounted for rotation about a central horizontal axis so that a board having two sides can be rotated about the horizontal axis to enable the use of both sides to display or provide information. In this form of the white board the white board itself is provided with a rigid and/or solid writing surface or display surface.

Whilst this second form of white board is transportable having a wheeled frame or a stand, it can by no means be considered portable due to the rigid nature of the white board itself which makes it inconvenient to carry, particularly by one person due to the size and weight of the white board. Additionally, the frame must also be carried which further adds to the inconvenience of carrying the white board by a single person.

There are many occasions and applications where the use and provision of a portable white board would be desirable.

For example, where salesmen or demonstrators visit an area where there is no white board, it can often be most desirable for them to have access to such a board to explain their product and its use or the like. Also, in many areas, or situations the use or provision of a fixed white board would simply not be appropriate but having access to a white board for a short duration would be of assistance. In other circumstances it would be beneficial to have access to a white board on a temporary basis.

Therefore, there is a need for a white board which is truly portable and can be used in a variety of situations where existing white boards are not available or are inappropriate which white board has a writing surface which can be written upon to display legible indicia and other

information which can then be erased if required.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a white board which is highly portable and which can be used readily in various applications. In another aspect it is an object to provide a white board which is usually non obtrusive but is nevertheless readily available for use when required. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a white board which is portable by being light in weight and small of size and can easily be carried by a single person and quickly made ready for use as well as being able to be written upon with the information being legible and erasable.

According to one aspect of the present invention, in its broadest sense, there is provided a white board comprising a display surface which has an impervious outer layer for receiving an image from a marker pen when written upon in use for displaying information and from which the image can be erased, the display surface being comprised of a flexible material and being connected to a oveable means whereby the display surface can be extended for use and retracted for transporting or storage.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable white board convertible between an in use configuration and a transport or storage configuration comprising a flexible display surface for displaying information or indicia, a mounting means for temporarily or semi-permanently mounting the white board to a solid surface and a movable means for allowing conversion of the white board between the in use configuration and the storage/transport configuration wherein said flexible display surface is provided with a surface upon which information can be written so as to be displayed and removed, said display surface extending from the moveable means in the in use configuration and in the

storage/transport configuration the display surface is retracted by the moveable means.

It is to be noted that the use of the word "white board" to describe the present invention as used herein is in a generic sense only for the sake of ease of description and clarity of meaning and is not meant to be limiting in any way. The writing surface of the white board does not necessarily have to be white, but may, in some applications, be of a pastel colour or other colour which may be equally satisfactory or even preferred, and further the white board of the present invention is not a board in the sense of being solid and/or rigid, but rather the display surface or writing surface is flexible. Even more typically, the writing surface is such that it is capable of being wound upon itself to form a roll, typically around a roller mechanism.

Typically, the moveable means is a roller or similar, more typically a roller blind mechanism.

Typically, the roller is provided with mounting means whereby it can be temporarily fixed to a supporting surface or substrate or it may be provided with means whereby a semi-permanent or permanent connection can be made to the supporting surface or substrate.

The writing surface or display surface of the white board of the present invention is typically made of a flexible sheet material which may be a synthetic paper or a plastic material having at least one face thereof, such as a polypropylene material or the like. More typically, the flexible sheet is a surface which is of the required colour upon which it is possible to write with a marker pen or similar.

This writing surface itself whilst being flexible may be

relatively hard and impervious so that when a water based or solvent based marker is used thereon, the marker can provide a good image.

Alternatively, there may be a transparent film laminated over the colour background sheet which film provides the required surface on which the marker can be used and, because of the colour of the background sheet, and the transparency of the film, as far as visual appearance is concerned, writing on the film gives the impression of writing on the surface itself.

In either case, the writing or other indicia produced by the marking can be removed by normal methods, either by the use of a soft cloth or a board eraser or by washing with either cold or warm soapy water. Alternatively, the display surface may be of a construction that allows erasure of the writing or other indicia by lifting or otherwise separating the overlay film from the background sheet and when the writing has been erased replacing the overlay film over the background sheet.

In one embodiment the writing area or surface is connected along one edge thereof, normally the upper edge in use of the writing surface, to a roller which may be of a type of well known locking roller which can be extended either fully or partially, and locked in the desired position and which, during extension, causes a build up of energy in a spring, normally a multi turn spiral spring so that when the lock is released, often by a small downward movement of the writing surface to release the lock, the flexible material forming the writing surface can be wound up on the roller to adopt a fully retracted position for transporting or storing the white board.

The roller can be located in a casing or housing having a lengthwise extending slot through which the material of the

white board extends. When in the storage/transport configuration the material of the white board is rolled upon itself around the roller inside the housing so that only the outer or lower edge is visible or extends from the slot whereas in the in use position the material of the white board extends substantially all the way out of the housing to the full length of the white board.

In one embodiment the housing of the roller may have means whereby it can be temporarily attached to a surface. One satisfactory method of connecting the white board to a suitable supporting substrate is by suction cups associated with the roller. In the simplest form, there may be two suction cups, one located at or towards each longitudinal end or in other forms, and where the roller has a casing, there could be other forms provided for attaching the white board to a suitable substrate located at spaced apart locations along the length of the roller, that is at spaced apart locations across the width of the white board.

The present invention will now be described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the white board made in accordance with the present invention showing the writing surface of the white board in a partially extended position. Figure 2 is a top plan view of one end of the white board of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of one end of the white board of figure 2 showing the writing surface in a fully retracted position. Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of one form of the white board showing the writing surface in a fully retracted position. Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through

the line 6-6 of figure 2.

In figure 1 there is shown one form of the white board of the present invention generally denoted as 2. White board 2 comprises two main parts, the first being a flexible writing surface 10 upon which information or other indicia may be written or displayed which writing surface extends from a housing 20 which is adapted to be mounted on or attached to a supporting surface.

Flexible writing surface 10 is in the form of a flexible white sheet of a paper or plastics product having a display surface or writing surface on one side. A rod or similar 12 is provided along or at the lower in use edge of writing surface 10. In one embodiment writing surface 10 is rolled around rod 12 to form a pocket 18 in which rod 12 is located. A pair of retaining clips 14 are provided at spaced apart locations along the lower edge in use of writing surface 10 and are held in position by being clipped around rod 12. Clips 14 can engage with complimentary retaining members (not shown) or are provided to assist in ease of operation to fully extend or retract writing surface 10 by forming handles or gripping means. One form of clip 14 is provided with a centrally located aperture 16 for engaging with a suitably complimentary shaped fastening element.

Housing 20 is provided with a longitudinal slot 22 which extends in the length wise extending direction of casing 20 for the entire length of casing 20. The lower in use end of writing surface 10 extends through slot 22. The upper in use end or edge of writing surface 10 is attached or otherwise connected to roller shaft 24. Roller shaft 24 extends along the entire length of white board 2 and is journalled for rotation at either end of housing 20. In the fully retracted position as shown in figure 5 writing surface 10 is wound around roller shaft 24 to form a

plurality of concentric loops in wound relationship around shaft 24. It is to be noted that any suitable method of attaching the upper in use edge of writing surface 10 to roller shaft 24 is possible, such as for example by roller shaft 24 being fixedly attached within a pocket provided along the upper in use edge of writing surface 10 or by roller shaft 24 being provided with a longitudinally extending slot or similar for receiving the upper in use edge of writing surface 10.

Mounting means in the form of a pair of spaced apart suction cups 30 are provided on the rearwardly facing side of housing 20. Suction cups 30 are for mounting the white board 2 to a suitable supporting substrate 32 such as for example a wall or partition of a room. Suction cups 30 are attached to housing 20 by any suitable means such as for example a self tapping screw or similar 34. It is to be noted that any suitable fastener may be used to attach suction cup 30 to housing 20. Although a pair of spaced apart suction cups 30 are shown at or towards either end of housing 20 it is to be noted that any other suitable mounting means may be provided for mounting white board 2 to substrate 32.

Suction cup 30 is provided with a tab 36 at or close to the outer periphery of the cup portion to assist in removing the suction cup 30 from the solid substrate 32 after use.

The outer conical surface of the cup portion of suction cup 30 is also provided with two diametrically opposed strengthening ribs 38 to assist in operation of the suction cup 30.

A pair of end caps 40 are located one at either end of housing 20. In one form of the present invention end caps 40 are provided with suitable journal means for receiving the ends of roller shaft 24 allowing rotation of roller shaft 24. One form of end cap 40 is provided with a

suitable flat abutment surface for contacting a suitable supporting surface 32 in flat relationship. End cap 40 are each provided with a pair of bores 44 through which suitable fastening means 46 may be received for securely attaching end cap 40 to substrate 32. One form of end cap 40 is shown in the drawings and is provided with bores 44 having a tapered cut away surface 48. One suitable form of fastening means 46 is a screw or similar fastener.

In one form roller shaft 24 is provided with a roller blind mechanism allowing the writing surface 10 to be fully extended from housing 20 and held at a predetermined location and when writing surface 10 is to be fully retracted the locking mechanism of the roller blind assembly can be released to allow shaft 24 to rotate thereby rewinding flexible writing surface 10 around shaft 24 to fully retract the writing surface. In this configuration, the white board 2 is in the storage/transport configuration as shown in figure 5. The in use configuration in which writing surface 10 is more or less fully extended from housing 20 is shown in figure 4.

When the white board 2 is to be used, it is only necessary to find a flat surface 32 which itself is relatively smooth such as for example a wall or vertical partition of a room and to connect the white board assembly 2 to the wall at a height equivalent to the top of the white board by means of its suction cups 30 or the like and to pull the writing surface 10 downwardly to present the writing surface of the white board to a user. If automatic locking means is provided on the roller 24, a slight tug or other releasing movement of the writing surface 10 will allow the white board to lock into the desired position with the writing surface more or less fully extended.

The orientation of the housing 20 when on the wall or other vertical support 32 is such that the writing surface 10 of

the white board 2 is located closely adjacent to the support surface 32 so that when one writes on the writing surface 10 of the white board 2, it is supported by the surface 32 therebehind, thereby allowing the writing implement to mark the writing surface 10 to produce clear and legible information or other indicia on the white board.

It is to be understood that the material to be placed on the writing surface of the white board could have been placed thereon before the white board was located on the support surface 32 and the white board can simply be used in a display manner. In this arrangement it is possible that writing or drawing on the writing or display surface can be effected after the white board is positioned to add to the prepared display.

Before the writing surface 10 is wound up on the roller 24, the information or indicia thereon can be removed therefrom, as previously described, or if it is required to keep this material, the writing surface 10 can be simply retracted by being permitted to re-roll onto the roller 24 and the material will be maintained whilst the white board is being transported or stored. The information can be subsequently displayed at another location if required.

A second form of white board made in accordance with the present invention is substantially similar to that described above except that the housing or casing 20 forming a frame or cover for the roller 24 may be provided with end extensions or end caps 40 which are adapted to receive screws 46 or similar fasteners to permit the white board 2 to be more or less permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the support surface 32 by the fasteners 46. Once fixed, the operation of this form of the white board is identical to that of the embodiment described earlier herein.

The white board of the present invention, irrespective of which form it takes, can be most useful in an office, boardroom, or room of a house where it is not required that a white board be continually available to users but rather the white board can be used only when required by being mounted or attached to a suitable substrate and then used as desired. When not required the white board can be easily and quickly retracted and demounted from the supporting substrate and stored when in the storage/transport configuration, or may simply be rolled up and left in position fully retracted.

Further, the white board of the present invention finds particular application in situations involving the display of sensitive material which may be displayed or written on the white board and the white board removed entirely whilst still retaining the sensitive material or information. In this manner the white board can be kept secure or under security whilst still retaining information.

Whilst two forms of the white board made in accordance with the present invention have been described, it will be appreciated that other forms of the white board are equally feasible. For example, and particularly relating to the form of the white board which can be more or less semi¬ permanently attached to a supporting substrate, the roller may simply be a spring loaded roller having a spring bias which tends to act to rewind the writing surface at all times such that no locking mechanism is provided with the roller but rather clips 14 or similar retaining means are provided at, along or on or towards the lower edge in use of the writing surface which clips 14 or similar can be associated with some complementary members fitted to the wall or like supporting surface such that the clips and complementary members can be engaged with each other when the white board is extended, to locate the white board in its fully extended in use position. By simply disengaging

the chips and members from each other, the writing surface of the board can be permitted to retract to it storage position where it is more or less fully rolled about the roller.

Alternatively, the lower edge of the writing surface of the white board itself can be provided with suction caps or the like at spaced apart locations along the lower in use edge or at or towards either end of the writing surface so that the writing surface of the board can be extended and held in position by engaging the suction caps with the supporting surface thereby holding the white board in its fully extended position.

In each case, it will be appreciated that the writing surface should be as close to the support surface as possible and if required, and a large surface was needed, means to move the longitudinal lengthwise extending axis of the roller towards the support surface can be provided as the white board is unrolled to effect this.

Whilst we have described herein certain forms of white board, it is to be understood that these are by no means limiting to the invention and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Advantages of the white board of the present invention include that the white board is highly possible in that it is small in size and light of weight and can be easily carried by one person. Furthermore, the white board can be retracted into a housing or casing by being rolled upon a suitable roller means. As one preferred form of the housing is a long cylindrical tube the white board in one form uses a roller blind mechanism to allow the white board to be fully extended and retracted and thus in the retracted position occupies only as much room as a rolled up blind.

A further advantage includes the white board being able to be located anywhere there is a substantially flat surface by means of the suction cups adhering to the flat surface.