Abstract: A compact viewing frame is described for use by artists to change the size and shape of viewed subject area. The viewing frame includes an opaque frame having a central opening, and an opaque panel which is slidable within the frame to change the size and shape of the opening in the frame. By moving the panel inwardly and outwardly relative to the frame, the artist can easily determine the most desirable composition of the subject to be painted, sketched, etc. It can also be used by photographers or cinematographers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable and removable device for positioning and resetting a vanishing point of a perspective drawing which is to be construed on a support. The device comprises at least one stick of a given length and having opposite ends, one of these ends being provided with a transversal pin. The device further comprises a supporting member which can be removably fastened to the support. The supporting member further comprises a device for locking and positioning the stick to the member. The pin at the one end of the stick is positioned at a given distance from the member and used to locate the vanishing point. The device for positioning and locking the stick includes an adjustable abutment adapted to position the stick in a given direction. The abutment is able to remain in such an orientation after removal of the stick and the device for locking and positioning so as to reset the given direction of the stick.

Abstract: An artist's drawing device for maintaining a constant three-dimensional perspective while rendering a subject or object. The drawing device includes a first visually-defined perimeter of a planar geometric figure having a first size, a second visually-defined perimeter of a planar geometric figure having proportionate dimensions but a larger overall size than the first planar figure, and means for seeing the first and second planar geometric perimeters in a concentric spaced relation along the artist's line of sight, the smaller geometric perimeter being closer to the artist. The artist secures the device in position for viewing a subject or object therethrough such that the perimeter of the second geometric figure is eclipsed from sight by the perimeter of the first geometric figure. This fixes the artist's perspective on said subject/object in all of three dimensions, and any deviation from said fixed perspective becomes immediately apparent when the state of eclipse is lost.

Abstract: An alignment mechanism and method for using the same are disclosed in which the alignment mechanism includes a sheet of translucent (including transparent) material with a plurality of horizontal and vertical intersecting traces positioned to form a grid. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet of translucent material is made of static cling vinyl to allow the sheet to hold itself to glass and other smooth surfaces. The sheet of material can also include centered X and Y axes to enable the user to determine the center of the sheet--thereby allowing the user to appropriately position art works relative to one another without relying on unaided perception.

Abstract: A pad device includes a hole formed in the edge portion for engaging with a screw. A board has an opening engaged with the screw and has two legs and a gap formed between the legs. The legs each has a recess formed in the bottom portion. A knob is threaded to the screw for securing the board to the pad. A rule has a shaft engaged in the recesses of the legs such that the rule may rotate relative to the board and such that the rule may be disengaged from the pad when the board is secured to the pad. The rule includes one or two edges each having a metal strip for protecting the rule from being cut.

Abstract: A device for stretching, aligning, and mounting fabric with a visible weave pattern, particularly needlepoint fabric, to a substrate prior to framing. This is done in such a way as to render the weave accurately square. This device or apparatus is comprised of a flat, square shaped, rigid sheet of material upon which the work to be stretched is placed. Along the perimeters of this rigid base is a wood fillet wrapped with a hook and loop fastening material upon which tabs made of reciprocating hook and loop fastening material are placed. Elastic cords extend across and over the needlepoint fabric to be stretched and are secured at each end by these tabs which are selectively placed along the wrapped wood fillet so as to produce a squared elastic grid. The accuracy of the square grid is made possible by the placement of a measurement system along the perimeters of the rigid base just inside the wrapped wood fillet.

Abstract: A portable drafting device and learning tool for laying out perspective drawing lines to enhance the realism of standard 30 degree base line isometric drawings and other similar drawings with different base line angles. The device comprises a rectangular drawing board including a plurality of holes disposed linearly in the upper corner portions thereof for pivotally mounting a plurality of articulated arm members in functional relationship with the drawing surface. The articulated arms comprise upper arm portions which are pivotally coupled to straight-edge members, each being disposed at approximately thirty degrees to horizontal. Upper arm portions are provided with a plurality of adjustment holes for alternate placement of pivot pins, or a slot to effect vertical adjustment of the articulated arms in relation to the drawing surface. Straight-edge members may be pivoted at varying angles in relation to upper arm members to enable selective adjustment of the desired vanishing point distance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for teaching skills related to the preparation and interpretation of mechanical drawings, including a box with two opposing, hingedly-attached panels that open to form a pair of work surfaces, a set of cards depicting isometric views and orthographic projections, a set of cubes, a set of pieces for use in constructing isometric views and orthographic projections, a timer, and dice. The interior of the box may contain a plurality of compartments dimensioned for storing the components of the apparatus, a turntable and a slot for holding a card. The apparatus enables the user to practice a variety of drawing-related skills, including: using the pieces and cubes to construct two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations, respectively, of an object represented on a card; using the pieces to construct two-dimensional representations of a three-dimensional object constructed with the cubes; and preparing isometric views from orthographic projections and vice versa.

Abstract: A device (10) for use by artists, draftsmen and the like for aid in perspective viewing. The device comprises first (11) and second (12) framework units, which when moved with respect to one another form a variable dimension rectangular aperture to vary the field of view of the user.

Abstract: A drawing production aide is disclosed which is designed to be placed over a working surface where an artist, engineer or architect is drawing. The device includes a carrier for a drawing and a light and lens system designed to project the drawing on the working surface. In a further aspect, the inventive aide includes an adjustable grid device designed to be used to visualize a scene in terms of a plurality of subsections, to best facilitate drawing the scene.

Abstract: A convenient and economical artwork analysis device that visually aids an observer in determining the existence of geometric interrelationships among the artistic elements making up a work of art. The device includes a transparent sheet of synthetic resin material, a plurality of opaque indicia impressed on the sheet presenting a plurality of geometric patterns with small indication circles surrounding and drawing attention to key points of intersection of the indicia. A handle is integral with the sheet for positioning the sheet in order to visually superimpose the indicia on the work of art to aid the observer in determining the existence of and analyzing geometric interrelationships among the artwork elements. In use, the observer holds the device to observe the work of art therethrough and to visually superimpose the indicia thereon.

Abstract: A guide having a unique folding construction which enables the guide to have all of its components oriented in a straight line condition or enabling the end components to be oriented in perpendicular relation through a novel hinge structure at the juncture between the two end components. The hinge structure includes a triangular rigid component that is connected to the end components by a hinge structure having angularly disposed hinge axes between a triangular connecting member and two end components so that the end components can be oriented in perpendicular relation, in overlying relation or in longitudinal alignment. The foldable guide device may be used for various purposes and is preferably constructed of transparent material and provided with various indicia, guide lines and the like which enable it to be used for various purposes including assistance in accounting entries in a ledger or the like.

Abstract: A device including a support base mounting a transparent plate thereon is provided wherein a pattern for knitting is secured between the transparent plate and the base. The base includes spaced upstanding wall bars wherein a left bar includes a lineal measuring gauge and the right bar includes a plurality of gauges and an associated slide for each gauge for accounting of the number of rows in a knitting procedure as well as the associated pattern utilized in a particular knitting procedure. The plate is secured within the base by a plurality of forward corner braces and rearwardly by utilizing fasteners directed through apertures formed within the plate received within the base. Further, a sliding gauge is slidedly mounted overlying the plate for effecting a counting of stitches utilized within a knitting operation.

Abstract: A perspective drafting device including a pair of straight edges pivotally connected to a centerpiece removably fixable to the horizontal arm of a drafting machine in place of the horizontal scale. Each of the straight edges is slidable through a vanishing point guide which latter is provided with a pin on its bottom surface extending substantially orthogonally to the drafting table and projectable downwardly for pivotal seating movement within a selected one of a number of holes provided in the surface of the drafting board at the left and right margins in rows spaced vertically along the drafting board. The vertical spacing of the holes selects the particular horizon desired, whereas the horizontal spacing of the holes provides horizontal rotation of the perspective view as desired.

Abstract: A drafting table includes vertical and horizontal straight edged supports together with drive mechanisms for moving the vertical straight edge such that it will always point to a viewing point and for moving the horizontal straight edges in plural different modes. In a first mode, the two horizontal straight edges are moved such that their edges always point to respective vanishing points. In a second mode the horizontal straight edges are moved such that one continues to point to a vanishing point while the other maintains a fixed angle with respect to horizontal, and so that their edges always intersect at a point along the line of view. The drive mechanisms for the horizontal straight edge supports can be disabled, reversed or their drive ratios changed in accordance with the particular drawing being made.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for allowing the accurate calculation of the minimum number of linear feet of carpet which must be cut from a standard width roll and delivered to an installation site to completely, properly and efficiently cover the floor at the installation site. The present invention provides a length of measurement tape which is scaled in width to the width of a standard roll of carpet. The measurement tape is perforated at increments along its length and width, and includes indicators of carpet grain direction and pattern repetition intervals along its length and/or width.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to measure a plurality of physical attributes of a human body in relation to the values of these attributes in a theoretically ideal human body. In one embodiment, by means of a novel proportional panel and measurement guide, a wide range of human body heights can be accommodated in a single measuring structure.

Abstract: An artist's aid comprising a sheet member which includes a transparent green filter for determining the differences in reflected light among various surfaces appearing in a visual field, a square aperture for framing a selected portion of the visual field, a circular aperture for visually isolating a relatively small portion of an object appearing in the visual fields, and three apertures arranged at the vertices of a triangle for visually separating a plurality of objects appearing inthe visual field.

Abstract: A preplanned system entitled "preliminary recording activity by guide and point" is a topmost sheet and also a perforating point for perforating the said topmost sheet and going onto an underlying sheet to process, symbolize, chart, map, layout, draw, write, and record on the said underlying sheet; this system invention has replaced scale and ruler with detachable, disposable said topmost sheet, said perforating point and straight edge; this invention has also brought the rough, repliminary recording phase closer to and has substituted part of the activity for finishing the processed said underlying sheet and thereby also replaced all previously used marks and their removal for all correct activity on the said underlying sheet transferring all these temporarily used marks onto the detachable, disposable said topmost sheet for a cleaner processed and quickly finished said underlying sheet; the novelty is the positioning, perforation point hole indicators made by the said perforating point through the said topm

Abstract: A drawing aid for use in making drawings in perspective, having at least one transparent chart unit with proper angle, distance and height scales needed for making drawings in perspective. A drawback of known drawing aids of this kind is that they have been provided with scales which are exceedingly difficult to read and that, in the course of drawing, auxiliary lines are invariably produced which clutter up the drawing. The chart unit of the invention has a first chart corresponding to the horizontal plane and marked with radial angles and arcs corresponding to distance, a second chart corresponding to the vertical plane and marked with radial angles and vertical lines corresponding to distance, and an image plane chart corresponding to the image plane, the latter usually serving as a drawing substrate with coordinates consistent with the angle scales of the first and second charts.

Abstract: Perspective drawing apparatus comprises a straightedge assembly having a blade for guiding a tool and at least one flexible member on a tensioned spool, a free end of the flexible member being connected to an anchor device for location at a vanishing point. The assembly is provided with reference points for determining when the blade is aligned with a ray portion of the flexible member intersecting the vanishing point. Preferably at least two of the flexible members are provided for selectively referencing a plurality of vanishing points of the drawing. The apparatus includes an anchor device incorporating an adjustable arm for locating the vanishing point within or without the drawing surface, the arm being selectively located along an edge of the drawing surface by a clamp having a threaded member conveniently located above the drawing surface. The clamp includes a movable spacer member for accommodating variant thickness of the drawing surface.

Abstract: A needlework guide includes a sheet steel backing and a sheet steel frame defining a central, rectangular window therein. A picture to be produced in needlework is positioned on the backing. The picture is either superimposed on graph paper or a transparent overlay with a rectilinear grid thereon is positioned thereover. Magnetic strips hold the frame to the backing with the picture and any transparent overlay sandwiched therebetween. Vertical scales are positioned along opposite sides of the window with graduations equal to the spacing of the rectilinear grid and with numbers corresponding to the weft row to be woven. A horizontal scale also has graduations spaced at the same interval and duplicate sets of numbers ascending in both directions from the center of the scale. The numbers on the horizontal scale correspond to the warp yarns to be woven. Different colors of yarns are woven in correspondence with the colors on the image mounted between the frame and the backing.

Abstract: A spacer device for use in placing contour lines between known points of elevation when plotting stadia, in spacing of architectural units, and in making perspective drawings, includes a parallelogramic frame comprising a plurality of frame elements pivotally connected together at their respective ends. A single elongate filament is threaded through openings in an opposed pair of frame elements to arrange the filament in parallel equally spaced apart spacer elements. The spacing between adjacent spacer elements may be readily selectively varied by adjusting the parallelogramic frame to thereby facilitate interpolation when using the spacer device to make topographical contour maps, and the like.

Abstract: A drafting instrument (14) is provided for drawing perspective lines without physically preestablishing and marking a vanishing point. A carriage (16) and drawing blade (18) are supported on roller means (20) for movement along a drawing surface. Control means (24) adjustably pivots the roller means such that each point along the drawing blade scribes an arc about a common point as the carriage moves. The drawing blade defines substantially parallel lines in perspective radiating substantially from the common point as a vanishing point as the carriage moves.

Abstract: A removable handguide for painters or draftsman, adapted to be secured on an easel, and comprising a frame constituted by an upper crosspiece, a lower crosspiece, and two uprights, and at least one horizontal bearing bar slidably mounted on the uprights. At least the upper and lower crosspieces are each comprised by two separate half crosspieces, and a sliding member slidably mounted on the half crosspieces allows the adjustment of at least the width of the frame to the dimensions of a panel to be painted. The horizontal bearing bar has two legs each of which is provided at its free end with locking structure for locking the bearing bar along the uprights and each of which legs is secured by hinges to a sliding member slidably mounted on the uprights. The locking structure is preferably comprised by ferrules made of a material which is highly resistant to sliding, thereby preventing sliding of the bearing bar along the uprights when the bearing bar is in service position.

Abstract: A drafting template having printed thereon a pattern of non-concentric elliptical portions, preferably forming complete ellipses, a vertical measuring line extending upwardly from a common point for the pattern or from a base point for the vertical measuring line, and a horizon line mounted at a scaled height above the base point and being parallel to the major axes of the elliptical portions or ellipses. The pattern is a perspective view of concentric circles or portions thereof taken at a scaled distant station point and scaled height above the plane for the circles. The horizon line is mounted at a scaled height above the base point. By selecting one or more vanishing points on the horizon (line), and drawing lines on an overlaying drafting sheet correlated to the base point between the vanishing point(s) and base point, such drawing lines intersecting the elliptical portions or ellipses, a lined grid field can be ultimately produced on the drafting sheet.

Abstract: A transparent perspective hand-held tracing board is shown for use with a sheet of transparent drawing material. This board is formed of a rigid plastic or glass panel. A measured pattern is imprinted on the panel to assist in judging distance and relative angles. A supporting handle is mounted from one side edge of the panel for use by one hand in holding the panel in space so that an object being drawn at a distance may be sighted both through the drawing material and the board, and the angle and distance of the board may be adjusted to fit on the said measured patterns so the object may be traced on the drawing material.

Abstract: A lettering machine is disclosed, which comprises a tracer support mechanism supporting a tracer at a corner such that the tracer can be freely moved to trace a letter or the like engraved on a tracing plate, a parallelogrammic horizontal component transmission mechanism via an inclination angle setting mechanism and capable of transmitting only the horizontal component of the tracing motion of the tracer on an equal scale, an enlarged scale or a reduced scale and/or a preset inclination angle, a parallelogrammic vertical component transmission mechanism coupled to the tracer support mechanism and capable of transmitting only the vertical component of the tracing motion of the tracer on an equal scale, an enlarged scale or a reduced scale, a resultant motion reproducing mechanism coupled to the parallelogrammic horizontal and vertical component transmission mechanisms and capable of combining the horizontal and vertical components of tracer motion transmitted from the respective transmission mechanisms to rep

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use in conjunction with a tiltable rectangular drafting table for producing perspective drawings within a working area centered on the table. The apparatus comprises a left side, right side and bottom holding means and an elongated drawing guide associated with each holding means. The extremities of the drawing guides which are located within the working area are pivotably joined at a juncture. Manual movement of the juncture causes simultaneous pivotal movement of the drawing guides about vanishing points in a manner to enable straight lines to be drawn for a perspective drawing.

Abstract: A device for copying panoramic images includes a screen provided with structure for inclining and fixing the screen. There are defined two like, adjacent sectors successive in height, one of which is transparent and through which the panoramic image to be copied is visible, and the other serving as a graphic board for the reproduction of the panoramic image. The screen is provided with means for transferring the image and preferably a transparent ruler which can move transversely by sliding or by rolling on wheels or bearings, on end guides and, if necessary, also on a central rail in the line of separation between sectors, or without any rail, by means of wheels and threads, and permanently perpendicular to the line of joining between the transparent sector and the opaque sector of the screen.

Abstract: The four sides of a rectangular piece of screening are secured into an open frame to form a grid. Opposite lengthwise sides of the frame are grooved on the edges to make a track along which a separate piece can slide. This piece consists of a long, rectangular, magnifier lens, of a length equal to the width of the grid screen, bonded at each end into a framework the total length of which extends over the two sides of the grid frame hooking into the two side grooves of the grid frame. Height of the lens framework is dependent upon distance necessary for maximum magnification of lens. The grid frame is placed over a picture or design to be copied and, as the lens is slid along the grid frame vertically, a graph of the design is magnified for reproduction square by square into any material compartmentalized to receive the graphic presentation. The invention is particulary adapted for needlepoint rendering.

Abstract: A variable angle aperture card includes an elongated flat rule foldable compactly and unfolded to provide a horizontal rule with a longitudinal slot with a slide member having a foldable vertically positionable aperture card thereon with a generally rectangular viewing opening therein of a standard photographic print size, which card is slidably adjustable in the slot. Degree of Acceptance and Equivalent Lens Focal Length scales are adhered to the rule on either side of the slot, so that the aperture card is adjustable to a position thereon properly framing the subject, whereat the photographer reads from the scales the angle of view for different camera formats, and determines which lens must be used to photograph the subject from the position at which the framing was made. The combined rule and aperture card may be folded flat for transportation and storage.

Abstract: A copying easel for copying three-dimensional objects including a support frame, a copy frame rotatably attached to the support frame and an open sighting awning rotatably attached to the support frame. The copy frame is constructed to cooperate with the support frame to support the device during use and includes a rigid, transparent copy base material over which is placed a removable, transparent, flexible copying medium upon which the copy is made. The sighting awning defines a sighting opening to view the object through the transparent copying medium and the transparent copy base. The awning further has sufficient thickness to block the vision of the unused eye and has two positioned indentations to accommodate the nose of the user depending upon which eye is to be used.

Abstract: A set of four channel-like clips positioned on opposite edges of a canvas have fasteners to which elastic threads are secured to form a grid over the canvas. Some of the fasteners are spaced one distance apart from each other to form a first grid portion of a small scale and others are spaced apart a distance which is a multiple of the one distance to form a second grid portion of a larger scale. The clips are numbered and lettered. A second identical set of four clips positioned on opposite edges of a picture that is to be painted or drawn on the canvas have strings similarly arranged. The clips may be slid along the edges to locate the grid portions of the desired sizes at desired portions of the picture and the canvas, and the elastic cords over the canvas may be held to one side or temporarily removed during the painting to provide space while only temporarily interrupting the grid patterns.

Abstract: A device for enabling an artist to achieve correct proportions when drawing to a different scale than that of the object being reproduced. The device employs a flat transparent elongated plate having two parallel sides of unequal length, one straight and interconnecting these sides and being perpendicular to both sides, the opposite end being curved and interconnecting the two sides while being perpendicular to neither side. An elongated rectangular flat transparent arm lies in a plane parallel to the plate and adjacent to the plate and adjacent one major surface of the plate, one end of the arm being pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the straight end and longer side, the other end of the arm extending past the curved end of the plate. The curved end defines the arc of a circle centered at the point of pivot of the arm. Clamping means on the other end of the plate can be manually operated to clamp the arm to the curved edge of the plate in any desired position thereacross.

Abstract: This device consists primarily of parallel spaced apart bars which through brackets, bolt, spring and wingnut fastenings will adjust to adapt to a painting canvas, the parallel members having equally spaced apart slot means in which will be received thread so as to form grid lines for the purpose of copying, enlarging or decreasing photographs, paintings, pictures, plans and the like from one area to another.