Abstract: A drafting template for preparing axonometric drawings or sketches comprising a unitary, clear, substantially planar, chevron-shaped body having an apex and an antapex, an upper face, a lower face, and at least six side edges. Various embodiments of the template provide for preparing trimetric, dimetric and isometric drawings or sketches. The template is provided with indicia on an upper or lower face thereof for measuring and scaling the drawing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for created star-shaped figures is disclosed. The apparatus for drawing a star having a plurality of points is includes a guide piece having a plurality of spokes corresponding in number to the plurality of points of the star and radiating from a central point and a triangular stencil having a plurality of guidelines extending from a first side of the stencil to a second side of the stencil and a vertical centerline placed over the guide piece.

Abstract: A drawing kit comprised of a plurality of plates, each having a texture disposed on at least one surface. The plates can be removably or permanently bound together in a binder, and said binder may have a recess on at least one cover adapted to receive a selected texture plate. The kit is used by overlaying a piece of paper on top of said texture plate and rubbing with a suitable marking implement. The paper may be of any size.

Abstract: A method and a system for teaching drawing skills to an individual is disclosed. The system provides sequential instructions to an individual on how to draw various figures on a touch-sensitive screen. A processor executes instructions to display a portion or an outline of a guide figure, and the individual completes the portion of the figure on the touch-sensitive screen. The system continues prompting the individual until a complete figure is entered on the touch-sensitive screen.

Abstract: An optical virtual touch pad system wherein reflective optics are used to superimpose a virtual image of a television screen display onto a touch-sensitive digitizing surface being operatively contacted by a user-controlled contact member. Alternatively, the system uses reflective optics to superimpose an uninverted virtual image of the digitizing surface and the contact member operating thereon onto the surface of the display. The system thereby, for example, can be used as a user interface to control interactive content on a home television.

Abstract: An improved reusable writing tablet, having raised document guides that define a document support surface, and a method for affixing and removing a cover sheet over the document support surface, where said document guides define a means to allow the insertion of tabs defined by a cover sheet, so that a cover sheet is held securely in place, and is easily removable from the base to allow the placement of documents between said cover sheet and the document support surface, and where said documents are viewed through the cover sheet, and are prevented from sideways movement by the cover sheet and raised document guides.

Abstract: A video coloring book includes a processor, a display device and a selecting device. The processor displays a coloring picture on the display device. The coloring picture has a plurality of selectable coloring regions. The processor further displays a plurality of selectable colors on the display device. The processor receives a first selection of one of the colors and a second selection of one of the coloring regions from the selecting device. The processor then fills the selected region with the selected color. Additional colors and/or regions can be selected. When a predetermined time expires, the processor animates the coloring picture.

Abstract: A template for guiding a writing or cutting implement which comprises a plurality of patterns along its outer edges. In one embodiment, the template has four outer edges, each comprising a different pattern. The template further comprises a plurality of voids or cut-outs defined by shape-defining edges, disposed within the face of the template. The template further comprises a plurality of corner hole edges, center hole edges and rectangular marker hole edges for facilitating the positioning of the template on to a transfer sheet. Another embodiment of the template includes a layering system, designed to enable stenciling of a unique layered pattern. The layering system comprises a plurality of sets of voids or cut-outs defined by shape-defining edges, each set having a plurality of marker holes associated therewith.

Abstract: An infant toy for drawing a colored picture, capable of carrying out a colorful multi-color display, to thereby be suitable as an intellectual training toy. The toy includes a pair of substrates (12a, 12b) and a multi-cell structure arranged between the substrates and including a number of cells (16), which are previously classified into a desired number of regions 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, . . . ). The toy also includes dispersions (20) encapsulated in the cells of the regions in such a manner that the regions adjacent to each other may exhibit colors different from each other, respectively. The dispersions each include magnetic particles (18) having a respective one of the different colors put thereon, a dispersion medium and a coloring agent constituting a background.

Abstract: A template for guiding a writing or cutting implement which comprises a plurality of patterns along its outer edges. In one embodiment, the template has four outer edges, each comprising a different pattern. The template further comprises a plurality of voids or cut-outs defined by shape-defining edges, disposed within the face of the template. The template further comprises a plurality of corner hole edges, center hole edges and rectangular marker hole edges for facilitating the positioning of the template on to a transfer sheet. Another embodiment of the template includes a layering system, designed to enable stenciling of a unique layered pattern. The layering system comprises a plurality of sets of voids or cut-outs defined by shape-defining edges, each set having a plurality of marker holes associated therewith.

Abstract: A portable unitary box for use by children in automobiles and similar conveyances including a housing having an interior in which is positioned both a continuous supply of writing paper in roll form, portions of which are successively moved over a supporting surface on the box exterior for sequential use and a removable container for writing instruments such as crayons together with a manually operable paper brake for guiding the strip movement and to permit used strip portions to be sucessively severed from the strip.

Abstract: A book kit for a drawing game which includes a book and a pen. The book has a front cover page which has a series of holes located along one edge thereof and a back cover page which has a series of holes located along one edge thereof. Such edge corresponds to the edge of the front cover page. A number of internal pages located between the front cover page and the back cover page. The internal pages each have a series of holes located along one edge thereof. The internal pages are transparent pages alternated with non-transparent pages. One side of each of the non-transparent internal pages contains a photograph or print of clouds in the sky. There is a binder which is a metal or plastic spiral or which has pliable prongs which extend through the holes along the side of the front cover page, the back cover page and the internal pages. The binder has a lateral cross-section which is round and has a central longitudinal passageway. A pocket is located on the internal face of the back cover page.

Abstract: An educational device having a housing with a flat surface to which a mirror is removable attached. A transparent or translucent sheet removable positioned over the mirror. A marking implement enables a user to apply marks to his or her own reflection in the mirror.

Abstract: A drawing apparatus including a frame portion. A liquid membrane is positionable within the frame portion. A planar portion is positionable within the frame portion below the liquid membrane. A drawing implement is used to press down on the liquid membrane to move a black pliable liquid around to expose images on the planar portion.

Abstract: Improved method of applying guide markings to a writing surface such as posterboard. The guide markings are visually perceptible at a writing distance away from the posterboard, and substantially imperceptible at a viewing distance away from the--writing surface.

Abstract: Toy painting apparatuses which provide means for finger painting a substrate without the user coming into direct contact with the paint. The painting apparatus has paint dispensing means and also provides a relatively thin, flexible, transparent, protective barrier between liquid paints that are dispensed onto the surface of a substrate and a user's fingers. The apparatus allows a user to apply paint to a substrate, such as paper, and manipulate the paint by smearing it with fingers, trowels, rollers and other similar implements which are moved across the surface of the barrier.

Abstract: An improved computer graphic work station is disclosed of the type that includes a digitizer for allowing an artist or other user to input a drawing into a computer, and an imaging device to produce an image of the drawing as it is being drawn. A beam splitter reflects at least a portion of the produced image to the eye of the user. The position and orientation of the beam splitter may be varied by a user relative to the imaging device in order to allow the user to align the workstation by causing the reflected image to appear, in the user's eye, to be substantially coincident with the drawing. Once aligned, the user may adjust the position and orientation of the digitizing surface without upsetting the alignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for automatically creating a connect-the-dots drawing from an existing image. Edge detection techniques are used to determine the edges in an image and corner points are determined along the edges. The corner points are then ordered and outputted with numbers to create the connect-the-dots drawing.

Abstract: The instant device is a drawing aid consisting of a transparent window plate receivable by a detachable handle that folds upon itself, which transparent window plate has a small hole in it through which flexible wire to which a clip is attached is threaded and further which transparent window plate is hingeably attached at one side to one end of a straightedged rod hingeably attached at its other end to a second straightedged rod.

Abstract: The drawing toy of the present invention includes: a paper retainer, to retain a piece of paper for drawing; a writing tool holder, for use in drawing on the paper; a first cam, keeping the information for moving the writing tool holder in a first direction along said paper; a second cam, carrying the information for moving the writing tool holder along the paper and in a second direction, perpendicular with the first direction; a cam driver, to drive the first cam and the second cam; and a drawing mechanism coupled to the first cam and the second cam, which moves the writing tool holder in response to the movements of both cams, whereby a drawing may be effected on the paper.

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 drawing game board comprising a cover board which is fastened to a drawing board by mating hook and loop pile fastener material. The surface of the drawing board which is hidden by the cover board is made of erasable marker board. The cover board has six doors, which, when opened, reveal portions of the erasable marker board underneath. Drawing game boards are distributed to each of six players. Each player draws part of a body on his drawing board and then passes his board on to the next participant who will then draw the next body part without being able to see what the first participant drew. Thus in round robin fashion the participants will draw an entire body, and, at the end of the game, the drawings will be displayed in full for a few laughs. This game is designed to instruct young children in drawing the parts of the human body while amusing them.

Abstract: A thermochromic drawing device is disclosed which can be marked and erased by selectively changing the temperature of its drawing surface. The drawing surface of the drawing device consists of a flexible substrate printed with thermochromic inks having at least two color states. The flexible substrate has low thermal mass thereby enabling it to readily assimilate temperatures induced by a user and, consequently, facilitating the transition of the thermochromic inks from one color state to another. The drawing surface is further provided with an insulating layer which isolates the flexible substrate from unwanted heat sinks and heat sources thereby preventing unwanted color transitions of the thermochromic inks. Thus, a user can selectively change the color state of portions of the drawing surface to create distinctive markings.

Abstract: An educational device in the form of a children's pad printing kit (10) which kit includes a smooth, preferably transparent, transfer sheet (32) upon which images may be drawn or traced, one or more water based felt tip ink pens 22, and a deformable rubber-like transfer pad (36) which is capable of lifting off an image from the surface of the transfer sheet when the rubber-like transfer pad is placed into contact with the ink image on the surface, the transfer pad being capable of depositing the lifted-off image upon another surface, such as the surface of a sheet of drawing surface. The kit may additionally include artwork (26) which has images to be traced, and stencils (24) which may be used for forming images on the surface of the transfer sheet. The ink pens use washable ink permitting the images drawn on the transfer sheet 12 to be changed as desired.

Abstract: A set of thin, flat stencil plates are stacked together face-to-face to form a three-dimensional article shaped as a decorative article. The stencil plates are held together in the three-dimensional form by a connecting member or by frictionally interlocking them to one another. The stencil plates each contain one or more apertures of unique shapes, so the plates can be disassembled from the three-dimensional form and used individually as separate stencils. The stencil plates have peripheral outer surfaces which cooperate to form the three-dimensional shape of a selected design figure when the plates are assembled in a particular sequence, and the article, in its assembled form, conceals the stencils contained inside the finished three-dimensional article. The invention has use as a puzzle in stacking together the stencil plates in the proper sequence, and the finished article can be an art object or a toy, for example.

Abstract: An educational game that aids in the development of the fundamentals of freehand drawing and assists players of the game in learning the relationship between all of the parts that comprise a whole. According to the present invention, there is provided a drawing area, such as a sheet of paper, erasable form board, etc., having imprinted thereon a single image which, when combined with several other images drawn by a player, results in a fully completed picture. In conjunction with the drawing area, a die or other selectiion device is used to determine each players' opportunity to complete the picture. Each side of the die presents the player with a different option for proceeding.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to portable drawing surfaces and more particularly to a base structure with interchangeable components. The invention permits the manufacture of a base structure that can be combined with an accessory unit and a working surface to create either a lighted drawing surface or a drawing surface with a utensil accessory tray. This results in substantial savings in manufacturing costs as tooling requirements are substantially lowered. The lighted drawing surface includes a working surface, a lighting accessory unit and a base structure to provide a backlit surface for tracing and drawing. The portable drawing surface replaces the lighting accessory unit with a utensil accessory unit and thereby provides a drawing surface with a tray for displaying and organizing utensils.

Abstract: An educational device in the form of a children's pad printing kit (10). The kit includes a smooth, preferably transparent, transfer sheet (32) upon which images may be drawn or traced, one or more felt tip ink pens 22, preferably water based, and a hand manipulable deformable rubber-like transfer pad assembly (20) which includes a transfer pad (36) which is capable of lifting off an image from the surface of the transfer sheet when the rubber-like transfer pad is placed into contact with the ink image on the surface, the transfer pad being capable of depositing the lifted-off image upon another surface, such as the surface of a sheet of drawing paper, when the pad is placed into contact with the other surface. The kit may additionally include artwork (26) which has images to be traced, and stencils (24) which may be used for forming images on the surface of the transfer sheet.

Abstract: A method and a kit for making a rough design on textile materials or leather goods are disclosed. The rough design is made on the surface of a textile material, for example, fabric by overlaying the original pattern on the surface thereof with a transparent or translucent, ink-permeable sheet material, tracing the original pattern on the sheet material with a writing element to form a copy pattern corresponding to the the original pattern on the surface of the sheet material, overlaying a fabric on the surface thereof with the sheet material having the copy pattern and thereafter tracing the copy pattern on the fabric with a writing element whereby ink from the element penetrates through the sheet material and onto the surface of the fabric to form the pattern thereon. According to a variant of the method and kit for making a rough design on the object, the sheet material may have a printed original pattern.

Abstract: An artist's drawing aid comprises a screen through which a three dimensional object can be observed. The screen is transparent allowing the object to be traced onto the screen using an eye piece to hold the eye position stationary. When traced, the object can be transferred to a translucent sheet of paper by placing the paper over the screen and by illuminating the screen through one edge so as to illuminate the traced lines. The screen is mounted on a easel construction with a shield above the screen. Edge illumination can be effected by a light bulb or by a cylindrical lens mounted on the edge of the screen and movable transversely of the edge to properly direct ambient light into the screen.

Abstract: A kit is arranged to provide a housing having a light-sensitive self-illuminating web receiving templates thereon, wherein a flashlight member is directed onto the templates, and more specifically to the template openings to provide for patterns to be illuminated by the self-illuminating web when the templates are removed. The kit structure is arranged to include a plurality of such templates stored within a housing cavity, and may optionally be provided with a lid arranged to secure the templates within the housing cavity, as well as a template mounted upon the web during use.

Abstract: A guide is disclosed, for the placement of images on non-flat objects and surfaces, useful in schools, business, industry and homes, of a moldable, shape-retaining material on which have been placed a plurality of holes defining a pattern, the material is fit against the non-flat object, marks are made through the holes of the sheet as a stencil directly onto the non-flat surface, after which the dots are connected to provide the pattern on the surface. Words, letters, faces, cartoons, any image, can be placed uniformly upon a number of such objects, which can be balloons, paper cups, pipes, walls, or any non-flat surface. The guide can be a foil, a sheet, a fabric, with or without supplemental shape-retainment structure or material content.

Abstract: A toy has a frame with a display area for receiving a water reactive paper. The paper has a brightly colored substrate covered by a surface layer of silica and resin which becomes transparent when wet and opaque when dry so that the bright color does or does not show through depending upon whether the surface is wet or dry. Thus, the paper appears to have disappearing ink.

Abstract: An art craft kit which makes it possible for a child to reproduce a painting, a map, or other multi-colored artwork printed on a master sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, the master sheet being adhered to the face of a blank canvas or other copy sheet. The printed artwork is dissected into stencil segments, the periphery of each segment being defined by a contoured line of perforations. To reproduce the artwork, the child runs a pointed tool along the contoured line defining a selected segment, thereby cutting this line and separating the segment which is then removed from the master sheet to expose a corresponding blank segment on the copy sheet. Using the removed stencil segment as a guide, the child colors in the blank segment of the copy sheet to match as best he can, the portion of the artwork appearing on the removed segment. This operation is subsequently repeated until all stencil segments on the master sheet are removed and the artwork is reproduced on the copy sheet.

Abstract: A computerized method is provided for helping students in acquiring and developing the ability to perform an art or skill. This is done in an interactive sequence wherein responses made by a student to inquiries and directives are digitized and compared with hidden idealized parameters and with previous responses, and an evaluation is communicated to the student with encouragements.

Abstract: An electronic sketching device. The electronic sketching device includes a display for providing a visual representation of a sketch on a display area. The electronic sketching device also including a cursor controller for moving a cursor on the display and a sketch controller for selectively storing the placement of the cursor on the display area as a pixel to create a sketch on the display area. A storage device, which is coupled to the sketch controller, stores a plurality of sketches. The electronic sketching device also contains a sketch memory for creating and storing a sequence of sketches which is coupled to the storage device. An animater, coupled to the storage device, sketch memory and the display, causes the stored sequence of sketches to be sequentially displayed on the display.

Abstract: An artist's sketching device wherein a sketch pad is bound to a back which presents a viewing window positioned adjacent the pad. A transparent sheet secured to the back has an upper portion over-laying the window, and a lower portion which is liftable so that pages of the pad can be placed beneath it and any single page upon it. Upper proportioning lines displayed in the upper portion of the sheet define sections of the window. Lower proportioning lines on the lower portion of the sheet are discernible through a page residing thereover to define areas of the page which correspond to proportionally similar sections of the window.

Abstract: An irridescent or luminescent drawing or sketching device that has a housing having a window therein, in which there is disposed a generally transparent imaging plate having an irridescent dye and disposed above an opaque pliable plastic sheet. Application of pressure will cause the opaque sheet to adhere to the imaging sheet at the points of applied pressure, causing an irridescent or luminescent image to appear at the imaging surface. Pressure is applied by a courser which is confined within intersecting slots of a pair of crossing courser arms whereby the movement of the individual courser arms along an X and Y axis causes the courser to translate accordingly. Included is an eraser disposed between the opaque sheet and imaging sheet to effect separation thereof to erase any image formed on the imaging sheet.

Abstract: An interactive writing skills instructional apparatus includes a display device, such as an LCD panel, for displaying single or multi-stroke characters and an input digitizer for accepting user-entered characters that are representative of the displayed character. A program controller microprocessor grades the user-entered stroke or strokes by scanning the digitized representation of the user-entered stroke for extreme points, dividing the user-entered stroked into segments and then analyzing each segment in terms of the position of its start and end extreme points, segment orientations, curvature, relative position, direction drawn, and size. Deduction points are then assigned for deviations from the ideal value to yield a `grade`. The user is provided with a indication of performance including both audio and visual indications as a function of the performance grade.

Abstract: A sound and/or visually stimulating stylus for encouraging learning to write. In accordance with the invention, the stylus (1) includes a moving equipment (2) and a sound source (4, 4a) modulated by a transducer which is sensitive to deformations of the moving equipment. The stylus is applicable to teaching.

Abstract: A logic design aid is produced by the use of distinct self-adhesive logic symbols. The logic symbols are applied to a firm dispenser board with a predetermined location. The dispenser board has a sticky material that allows the logic symbols and dispenser board to be orientated in any configuration in space. The distinct logic symbols are designed so that they can be easily removed without damage to the surface and reapplied to another position. The surface of each logic symbol has a blank area to allow text description to be entered to identify the logic process. The logic symbols are well suited for computer program flowchart development and electronic circuit design drawings.

Abstract: An improved toy drawing assembly is provided by a light table assembly, a pair of indexing systems along two perpendicular axes in the table assembly, a pair of selector elements and arm elements for transferring a preselected sequence of two-dimensional coordinates from a code book onto a writing material placed on the light table.

Abstract: An artist's sketching device wherein a sketch pad is bound to an oversized back which presents a rectangular viewing window positioned directly above the pad. The height and width of the window are in the same approximate proportion to one another as the corresponding dimensions of the sketch pad.

Abstract: A didactic device for providing a learning experience and/or entertainment by serving as a learning aid to improve penmanship and drawing skills. The didactic device combines an optical image processing system with a speech synthesis system, wherein a drawing surface is provided in registration with the field of view of an optical imager. The user of the didactic device is requested either visually via a display mounted on the housing of the didactic device in proximity to the drawing surface or verbally via speech synthesis electronics to write or draw something on the drawing surface. When the user has completed the assignment by drawing indicia on the drawing surface, the image processing system, which includes an imager chip, a matrix memory in which signal data output from the imager chip is stored, and a data processor having an object recognition comparator, is actuated.

Abstract: Drawing apparatus has a screen (4, 24) forming one wall of a chamber containing liquid or powder material and a scriber (2, 11, 26). A guide "pen" (3, 13) magnetically attracts the scriber into contact with the screen and as it is moved over the surface the scriber tracks it, making a visible line in the material adhering to the underside of the screen. The surface may have means for producing signals as the pen and scriber traverse, each signal being identifiable with a particular point. If the succession of signals match a stored program, a sound associated with the figure drawn is generated.

Abstract: A sketching aid is provided which includes an opaque frame mounting a rigid transparent plate, and having a slide arrangement allowing a transparent drawing film to be moved into face-to-face contact with the plate. A supply of transparent drawing films may be stored within the frame hand-held portion and a common pivotal blocking member can prevent sliding of the films out of the storage compartment and from engagement with the plate. The plate and frame may be coplanar, or may be pivoted together so that they are movable from the face-to-face position to a position wherein an angular relationship is provided. A resting bar may be adjustably mounted to the frame, facilitating support of the frame on a resting surface, and may have a drawing implement holding portion formed with it.

Abstract: An instructional and recreational device with means for producing a drawing, means for simultaneously developing ability in spatial relations and numerical or alphabetical usage. The device is a self-contained system including writing implements, game components, and writing surfaces. A plurality of variously shaped game boards are provided with variously shaped apertures therein for receiving complementarily-shaped element blocks having numbers, letters, or the like thereon. By placing a block in an appropriate aperture, a user may develop his spatial relations skills while increasing recognition of language symbols. The device also has means for drawing or writing, including a blackboard and a continuous, rolled supply of drawing paper.

Abstract: Thermoplastics films suitable for use as drafting materials comprise a filled film or a film composite having a filled layer, the fillers having a nominal particle size in the range 4 to 15 .mu.m and providing a roughened surface, and a matt layer adherent to the roughened surface comprising a binding resin and secondary filler particles having a nominal particle size in the range 1 to 15 .mu.m in an amount 10 to 100% by weight and having a coat weight of 0.05 to 2.0 g/m.sup.2. Also relates to a process for producing the films.

Abstract: A computerized method is provided for helping students in acquiring and developing the ability to perform an art or skill. This is done in an interactive sequence wherein responses made by a student to inquiries and directives are digitized and compared with hidden idealized parameters and with previous responses, and an evaluation is communicated to the student with encouragements.