Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-19
2001-07-31
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
C015S021100, C015S097100, C434S411000, C434S417000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266841
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an erasing device, more particularly to an automatic erasing device for erasing chalk marks from a writing board by water.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/170,942 filed by the applicant, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,297 an automatic erasing device
1
is disclosed to include an erasing mechanism adapted to be mounted on a writing board
10
for erasing chalk marks on the writing board
10
. The writing board
10
has left and right end portions that extend in a longitudinal axis thereof and an intermediate portion between the left and right end portions.
As illustrated, the erasing mechanism includes an elongated housing
11
disposed frontwardly of and slidable relative to the writing board
10
. The elongated housing
11
extends in a transverse axis relative to the longitudinal axis, and has upper and lower portions, a rear wall formed with an elongated rear opening
111
to confront the writing board
10
, a front wall and an accommodating space
13
defined between the front and rear walls, and between the upper and lower portions. The elongated rear opening
111
extends from the upper portion to the lower portion. Upper and lower axles
132
are journalled in the elongated housing
11
proximate to the upper and lower portions, respectively. The axles
132
extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. A transmitting belt
133
is trained on the upper and lower axles
132
under tension, and is rotated upon rotation of the upper and lower axles
132
for movement along a rear route proximate to and in alignment with the elongated rear opening
111
, and a front route parallel to the rear route and distal to the elongated rear opening
111
. A plurality of eraser members
134
are disposed detachably on, and are spaced apart from one another along a circumferential outer surface of the transmitting belt
133
. Each of the eraser members
134
, when moving along the rear route, protrudes outwardly and rearwardly of the rear wall via the elongated rear opening
111
and is adapted to abut against the writing board
10
. A driving motor
131
is disposed to drive either one of the upper and lower axles
132
so as to move the eraser members
134
along the front and rear routes. The elongated housing
11
is driven to move reciprocally in the longitudinal axis between the left and right end portions of the writing board
10
, and is biased by two biasing units
17
toward the writing board
10
while the elongated housing
11
is being moved reciprocally in the longitudinal axis. Each of the biasing units
17
includes a shaft
170
disposed transversely between left and right walls of the elongated housing
11
and guided to move in an urging direction towards the rear opening
111
, a roller
171
rotatably mounted on the shaft
170
by means of a screw
173
, and a spring member
174
mounted by means of a spring retention unit
172
to bias the shaft
170
to move in the urging direction so as to bring the roller
171
to abut against the transmitting belt
133
. An additional biasing unit
12
is provided to enhance contact between the eraser members
134
and the writing board
10
when the eraser members
134
are aligned with the rear opening
111
in the elongated housing
11
. Preferably, the front wall of the elongated housing
11
is provided with a plurality of spaced scrubbing brushes
15
thereon in alignment with and capable of scrubbing the eraser members
134
when the latter are moved along the front route. The housing
11
further has a detachable front cover
14
, and a dustbin
16
provided at the lower portion thereof and in communication with the accommodating space
13
by a connecting pipe
161
for collecting the chalk powder that results when the chalk marks are erased by the eraser members
134
.
Some of the disadvantages that result from the use of the aforesaid erasing device
1
are as follows:
(i) The eraser members
134
, though scrubbed by the brushes
15
, can not wipe the chalk marks thoroughly from the writing board
10
after long term use. The chalk marks more or less adhere on the eraser members
134
, thereby resulting in a poor wiping effect.
(ii) Constant rubbing of the accumulated chalk on the eraser member
134
against the writing board
10
may hinder smooth reciprocal movement of the elongated housing
11
along the longitudinal direction, and subsequently result in the generation of noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide an automatic erasing device that can erase chalk marks on a writing board by water and that Is clear of the aforementioned disadvantages.
Accordingly, an automatic erasing device of the present invention is used for erasing chalk marks on a writing board, which has left and right end portions extending in a longitudinal axis thereof and an intermediate portion between the left and right end portions. The automatic erasing device includes an erasing mechanism consisting of an elongated housing, and an eraser unit. The housing is adapted to be disposed frontwardly of and slidable relative to the writing board, and extends in a transverse axis relative to the longitudinal axis. The housing has an upper portion, a lower portion formed with a water tank that is adapted to receive water therein, and a rear wall formed with an elongated rear opening to confront the writing board. The rear opening extends from the upper portion to the lower portion of the housing. The eraser unit is disposed within the housing, and is biased to protrude outwardly and rearwardly of the rear wall via the rear opening and to abut against the writing board. The eraser unit is connected to the water tank in such a manner that water flows from the water tank into the eraser unit so as to soak the eraser unit while the eraser unit is adapted to move on the writing board. The housing is driven to move reciprocally in the longitudinal axis between the left and right end portions of the writing board.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5319820 (1994-06-01), Forst
patent: 5649828 (1997-07-01), Kawashima
patent: 6073297 (2000-06-01), Lee
patent: 1059272 (1979-07-01), None
patent: 0656881 (1979-04-01), None
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Chin Randall E.
Huey Yeau Co., LTD
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