PUSHPIN BULLETIN BOARD

WITH A TEXTURED AND EMBOSSED SURFACE

TO LOOK LHCE A FRAMED THREE-DIMENSIONAL OEL PAINTING

FHCLD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pushpin bulletin board with a decorative surface to look like a framed three-dimensional oil painting. More particularly, the decorative surface is an embossed and textured vinyl canvas sheet which is printed on using a solvent inkjet printer for printing a pattern, a picture or a painting thereon. The vinyl canvas sheet is adhered to a core fiberboard panel and then framed for forming the decorative pushpin

bulletin board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bulletin boards, tackboards, corkboards, display boards, decorative boards and the like, being used as a personalized message or communications system are well-known in the prior art. Heretofore, efforts to make such bulletin boards with a decorative surface have not met with great success. Problems have occurred such as the pushpins leave "tell-tale" pin holes in the decorative surface after repeated pushpin usage of the bulletin board.

There remains a need for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface to look like a framed piece of artwork, such that the printing of a painting on an embossed vinyl canvas is long-lasting after repeated pushpin usage having minimal "tell-tale" pinhole markings. Also, there is a need for an embossed vinyl canvas sheet which is printed on using

a solvent inkjet printer in order to allow the ink to get into the crevices of the embossed printed painting to minimize the pin hole markings on the bulletin board, and to provide the appearance of a framed three-dimensional oil painting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Bulletin boards, tackboards, corkboards, displayboards and decorative boards having a decorative painted surface and having various designs, configurations, structures and materials of construction have been generally disclosed in the prior art. For example: U.S. Patent No. 6,971,197 to SEIBER et al. assigned to Steelcase Development Corporation of Grand Rapids, Michigan discloses a display board system having a decorative surface. The decorative surface of the display board is attached to the facing sheet using hot melt adhesives. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the use of a vinyl canvas sheet

being adhered to a fiberboard panel by glue, or using a solvent inkjet printer for printing a decorative pattern on the embossed vinyl canvas.

U.S. Patent No. 5,486,391 to TYNER discloses a portable fabric covered divider

panel having a decorative outer cover for use as a tack board. The decorative over covering is attached to the plastic layer using a spray-on adhesive. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the use of a solvent inkjet printer for printing a decorative pattern on the vinyl canvas sheet or adhering the vinyl canvas sheet to a fiberboard panel and framing the vinyl canvas sheet to look like a framed artwork decoration.

U.S. Patent No. 4,641,726 to FEARON et al. discloses a composite panel having a decorative covering material for use as a bulletin board. The decorative covering is attached to the facing using a binder. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the use of a vinyl canvas sheet being adhered to a fiberboard panel by glue, and having a 4-sided picture frame surrounding the vinyl canvas sheet, or using a solvent inkjet printer for printing a decorative pattern on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0213964 to TILTON et al. assigned to Owens Corning of Granville, Ohio discloses a decorative panel with surface printing. The surface printing on the exposed face is printed by various printing techniques such as laser printing, lithography, heat transfer processing and the like. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the specific use of a solvent inkjet printer for printing a decorative pattern on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet, or having a 4-sided picture frame surrounding the vinyl canvas sheet.

U.S. Patent No. 4,011,676 to RITTER discloses a personalized message board having either a smooth or textured surface. The surface includes indicia on the aforementioned surface for giving information, instruction or a personalized message. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the use of a vinyl canvas sheet being adhered to a fiberboard panel by glue, and having a 4-sided picture frame surrounding the vinyl canvas sheet, or using a solvent inkjet printer for printing a decorative pattern on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet.

None of the aforementioned prior art references disclose or teach the basic structure of the claimed invention of a pushpin bulletin board having an embossed vinyl canvas sheet adhered to a fiberboard panel, and uses a solvent inkjet printer for printing a decorative picture, pattern or painting on the embossed and textured vinyl canvas sheet, and having a frame surrounding the printed vinyl canvas sheet to look like a framed piece of artwork, such as a three-dimensional oil painting.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface in the form of a printed 3-dimensional picture, pattern or painting in order to look like a framed piece of artwork, such as a textured oil painting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that uses a solvent inkjet printer for printing a pattern or a painting on the vinyl canvas sheet which allows the ink to get within the crevices of the embossed and textured vinyl canvas in order to minimize the pushpin pin holes on the painted vinyl canvas after the pushpins are removed from the bulletin board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that uses an embossed vinyl canvas sheet instead of polyester fabric in order to a create a 3-dimensional appearance on the printed decorative surface, as well as camouflage the pinholes on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that uses a fiberboard panel instead of a corkboard panel for tacking of notes/messages on the decorative surface using pushpins on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that is long-lasting, durable and is easy to clean for repeated use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pushpin bulletin board with a decorative surface to look like a framed artwork. The pushpin bulletin board includes a panel of fiberboard having an upper surface and an embossed vinyl canvas sheet adhered to the upper surface of the fiberboard panel. A painting is applied to the embossed vinyl canvas sheet by a solvent inkjet printer to provide a painting having texture and a 3- dimensional appearance for forming a decorative printed surface. The pushpin bulletin board also includes a frame surrounding the 3-dimensional painting to provide the appearance of a framed piece of artwork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the decorative pushpin bulletin board of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the bulletin board in operational use thereof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the decorative pushpin bulletin board of the present invention showing a solvent inkjet printer printing a painting on a continuous roll of the embossed vinyl canvas sheets;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the decorative pushpin bulletin board of the present invention showing a painted vinyl canvas sheet being adhered to a core fiberboard sheet;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the decorative pushpin bulletin board of the present invention showing a frame being attached to the painted embossed vinyl canvas sheet; and

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the decorative pushpin bulletin board of the present invention showing the painted vinyl canvas sheet being in place within the frame.

nF,TAϊT,FT) DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 10

The pushpin bulletin board 10 with a decorative surface 32 to look like a framed artwork A _F and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented by Figures 1 through 5 of the patent drawings. The pushpin bulletin board 10 is used for holding messages, notes, pictures, cards, or memorabilia 12 with pushpins or tacks 14 on the bulletin board 10, as shown in Figure 1.

The pushpin bulletin board 10 includes a core fiberboard panel 20 having a first (front) surface 22, a second (rear) surface 24; perimeter edges 26a to 26d; an embossed vinyl canvas sheet 30 having a decorative (front) surface 32 and a non-decorative (rear) surface 34; and a picture frame 40 having four sides 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d, as depicted in Figure 1. The bulletin board 10 can vary in size and shape, having a rectangular shape, a square shape,

an oval shape, a circular shape and other geometric shapes.

The front surface 32 of each individual vinyl canvas sheet 30, as shown in Figure 2, is made from a continuous roll Rc. A solvent inkjet printer P _s is used for printing a pattern, a painting or a picture 36 on the front surface 32 of the embossed vinyl canvas sheet 30 which allows the ink I to get within the crevices of the embossed and textured vinyl canvas sheet 30 for forming the decorative surface 32 for providing a 3-dimensional painting 36 thereon which has depth and texture lines 31. The solvent inkjet printer P _s prints on the textured and embossed vinyl canvas-like surface 32 for providing a 3-dimensional painting with the appearance and feel of a real oil painting. The solvent inkjet printer P _s is capable

of making multi-colored paintings 36 on the textured and embossed vinyl canvas sheet 30. As shown in Figure 2, the decorative surface 32 on the painted and embossed vinyl canvas sheet 30 is cut to size by a cutting apparatus C.

It is understood that the ink I within the crevices of the painted and embossed vinyl canvas sheet 30 minimizes the appearance of the pushpin pin holes 38 on the painted decorative surface 32 after the removal of the pushpin 14 from the bulletin board 10.

As shown in Figure 3, the cut and painted vinyl canvas sheet 30 with the decorative surface 32 facing outwardly is adhered to the front surface 22 of the fiberboard panel 20 using hot glues, spray-on adhesives, contact cements 28 or the like, such that the non- decorative (rear) surface 34 of the vinyl canvas sheet 30 is adhered to the front surface 22 of

fiberboard panel 20 (see Figure 4).

The frame sides 42a and 42d of picture frame 40, as shown in Figure 4, is then

detachably connected to the perimeter edges 26a to 26d of the combined vinyl canvas sheet 30 and fiberboard panel 20, respectively, to form the pushpin bulletin board 10 to look like a framed piece of artwork A _F (see Figure 1). The combined painted vinyl canvas sheet 30 and fiberboard panel 20 is held within the sides 42a to 42d of frame 40 using framing tape 50, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

It is understood that instead of using a fiberboard panel 20, one may use in its place a corrugated board or a foamcore board. Also, instead of using a vinyl canvas sheet 30, one may use a plastic sheet selected from the group consisting of vinyl, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene (PVDC), and polypropylene (PP), or layers thereof.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface in the form of a printed 3-dimensional picture, pattern or painting in order to look like a framed piece of artwork, such as a textured oil painting.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that uses a solvent inkjet printer for printing a pattern or a painting on the vinyl canvas sheet which allows the ink to get within the crevices of the embossed and textured vinyl canvas in order to minimize the pushpin pin holes on the painted vinyl canvas after the pushpins are removed from the bulletin board.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that uses an embossed vinyl canvas sheet instead of polyester fabric in order to a create a 3-dimensional appearance on the printed decorative surface, as well as camouflage the pinholes on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that uses a fiberboard panel instead of a corkboard panel for tacking of notes/messages on the decorative surface using pushpins on the embossed vinyl canvas sheet.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that is long-lasting, durable and is easy to clean for repeated use.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a pushpin bulletin board having a decorative surface that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.