Abstract: A tracing instrument for producing symmetrical sketches includes a transparent or translucent base plate, an illuminating source for projecting light through the base plate, and a transparent top plate disposed on an opposite side of the base plate from the illuminating source, and being spaced apart from the base plate such that a narrow space is formed therebetween, and wherein the top plate forms a surface to support a tracing paper or the like for tracing thereon. Further, a mounting piece is provided which has at least a window therein and is insertable in the narrow space between the base plate and the top plate, wherein a seed drawing is positioned at the window such that light from the illuminating source passes through the window and seed drawing to form an image on the tracing paper for tracing. Also, a shifter is provided for shifting the mounting piece with respect to the tracing paper such that the image is projected onto different portions of the paper.

Abstract: A set of characters is provided wherein each character is formed by arranging a number of relatively small like characters in a pattern that presents a filled-in outline of the character. Each of the small like characters are printed by a thermographic process to provide a character which protrudes slightly from the media surface thus providing tactile feedback when the character is touched or traced with a finger.

Abstract: A method of tracing graphic material present on an underlying substrate onto an overlying tracing paper. The method comprises providing a sheet of tracing paper and providing a thin coat of transparent, light tack adhesive applied in a single uniform layer array on both the lengthwise and widthwise dimension on one side of the sheet in a quantity sufficient for permitting the tracing paper to be temporarily but securely adhered to the underlying substrate without wrinkling, stretching or movement during the tracing process; applying the tracing paper with the adhesive thereon to the substrate; making the tracing together with any added material to the tracing paper; and removing the tracing paper from the substrate without damage to the tracing paper or to the underlying substrate while retaining all of the adhesive on one side thereof.

Abstract: An activity kit for drawing, painting, sewing or the like, comprising a rigid case providing a flat activity surface and a cavity within the case for receiving a roll of medium, such as paper on which the activity is to be carried out. Medium from the roll is fed between medium guide positioned on the activity surface adjacent in the direction of dispensing of the medium. A medium dispensing control may be provided to restrict the medium which can be pulled at one time to only so much as would cover the activity surface. The kit according to the present invention provides a portable, compact activity center for young children in which the wastage of medium, such as drawing paper may be minimized through use of the medium dispensing control.

Abstract: A magnetic tracing apparatus comprising an enclosure within which a mixture of nonmagnetic particles and magnetically attractive fragments are contained, at least one surface member of the enclosure being provided for the formation of a design image upon the inner surface upon it by causing the aforementioned mixture of materials to be attracted to the inner surface, and a permanent magnetic tracing device being provided for movement over the outer surface of the member and cause magnetically attractable fragments in the aforementioned mixture to be attracted to the tracing device to remove the attached mixture of particles and fragments from the inner surface of the member as moved along the outer surface of the member and fall therefrom; the principal improvement being the inclusion of supports of a number of different types which are attached in various ways to the enclosure and are operable to move the enclosure about at least one axis to agitate the mixture within the enclosure and thereby destroy the af

Abstract: A puzzle is provided comprising a base formed from a transparent material and including a generally planar bottom wall and a frame extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a puzzle recess. The puzzle further comprises a plurality of transparent puzzle pieces dimensioned to be received within the puzzle recess of the base. The transparent puzzle pieces are formed from a material that removably accepts markings thereon. The puzzle can be used by placing the base and the assembled puzzle pieces over a selected image which can be traced with a suitable marker. The puzzle pieces with the traced image thereon can be removed from the base and subsequently reassembled. The image created on the puzzle pieces can further be removed therefrom to enable the creation of a new puzzle.

Abstract: This application discloses a method for scrambling and unscrambling illustrations to form the basis of a puzzle, drawing game. The method also includes the scrambling and unscrambling of titles, names, captions, letters, and other visual matter which may be appropriate for use in conjunction with specific illustrations. The apparatus for carrying out the method's scrambling and unscrambling process is also described.

Abstract: Wall murals are readily achieved by the do-it-yourself exponent with the use of apparatus contained in a kit. The kit of the invention includes a case which has brackets enabling the case to be supported on a wall or stabilized on a table or the like. Inside the case is a projector and a slide transparency bearing an outline of the intended mural in which different areas are designated according to the color intended for that area. The case includes a series of paint pots each containing a different corresponding colored paint and each bearing the corresponding designation of the paint color. To produce the mural the image of the slide is projected onto the wall and the different areas are painted with a different colored paint in accordance with the indicated designations.

Abstract: A book for children made of a plurality of sheets bound between a front and rear cover, each sheet being printed with pictures or the like, and when the book is opened, the right side pages are topsy-turvy to the left side pages for being seen from opposite directions.

Abstract: A drawing/tracing/template apparatus (10) that can be used by an artist and/or a teacher to perform or teach various artistic tasks including basic drawing, manuscript and cursive writing, block printing, finger painting and template/block recognition exercises. The apparatus (10) is comprised of three assemblies: a template/block assembly (12), a drawing/tracing assembly (14) and a light panel/paper roller assembly (16). Each assembly may be used independently as the drawing/tracing assembly (14) may be used in combination with the light panel/paper roller assembly. Additionally, all three assemblies may be integrally attached to form a single package that allows the apparatus (10) to be easily carried and stored.

Abstract: A drawing toy including a housing supporting a roll of paper for rotational extraction and a battery powered light source. The paper passes over a light transmitting platen disposed above the light source and a selectively insertable transparency bearing a graphic design. An opening in the housing provides access to the portion of the paper passing over the transparency, platen and light source to permit repetitive tracing of the graphic design. Storage for additional transparencies and drawing materials is also provided in the housing.

Abstract: An object intended for concealment or a facsimile thereof is used to generate the pattern by creating shadows on a flat surface at several elevation angles, with the resulting set of shapes then rotated in azimuth, in order to produce an abundance of quasi-object shapes within the pattern. The shapes are created in such a way as to be viewing-angle independent, thus producing a background upon which the object is difficult to see from any viewing angle. Selected azimuth and/or elevation angles can also be employed, resulting in patterns that are viewing-angle dependent.

Abstract: A combination of a thin sheet of marshmallow, or the like, that is enclosed and sealed in plastic-like film. The film may be suitably frosted to allow creative markings thereon to serve as patterns on the marshmallow sheet for making cutouts from the sheet. Such cutouts may be used in decorating a food stuff, creating edible crafts, substituting for heavy sugar substances and creating other confectionary ideas.

Abstract: A method of applying a sign to a translucent or transparent panel such as a glass frontage of a shop. The method comprises applying a film of material onto one side of the panel, providing a mirror image of the sign visible on the film to a viewer on the one side of the panel, making cuts in the film corresponding to the mirror image and removing from the panel areas of the film so cut as to leave behind on the panel areas of the film forming the sign. The sign is intended to be seen from the other side of the panel.

Abstract: A method of making prototype vehicles by first building a skeletal body of interlocking substantially rigid templates on a frame. The frame is built of tubing members and panels to precise specifications and is fitted with wheels to facilitate transporting the prototype. The templates are then traced on polystyrene foam pattern pieces which are sized to fill the spaces between the templates. The pattern pieces are then attached to the frame and shaped to the design contour surface. The surface is then removed to a predetermined depth in two steps and filled with a hardenable material, such as an epoxy resin based pliable material. After the hardenable material cures, the prototype is surface sanded, primed, painted and fitted with trim pieces and hardware.

Abstract: The device comprises a casing composed of a bottom tray having an upstanding pivot post and a hinged cover having an open window. Three concentric flat rings have partial designs embossed thereon to provide raised design portions, the inner ring being rotatable about the post, the intermediate ring rotatable about the inner ring and the outer ring rotatable about the intermediate ring. By individually rotating or angularly positioning the rings relative to each other, any of the partial designs can be radially aligned to form a composite design. After the composite design has been formed, a piece of paper is placed over at least the segments constituting the preselected design. Closing of the cover on the tray clamps the rings in a fixed relation with each other so that the user can then rub a marking implement, such as a colored pencil or crayon, over the portion of the paper appearing in the open window in order to transfer the preselected design onto the overlying paper.

Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate the learning and practice of realistic free-hand drawing and painting. Instead of paper or canvas, a panel of specifically configured, relatively thin, film-like, transparent material is used. Such transparent panel is temporarily secured to heavier, rigid and also transparent panel while sketching, drawing or painting is being done on its face, using specifically configured and modified artists materials. Specifically configured supporting apparatus adjustably supports, positions and maintains such panels of clear materials at the desired proximity in front of the artist, while he sketches, draws or paints on such transparent panel whatever he sees when looking directly through it. Additional assisting means are provided for his optional use.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of being used by a child for the production of rubbings includes a housing which is divided into a first section and a second section. The second section is hinged to the first section. At least two elements are located in the first section. Each of the elements has a plurality of independent surfaces with raised relief indicia located on the surfaces. The elements are rotatably mounted in the first section so as to locate at any one time one of the surfaces on each of the elements in a working plane. Each of the surfaces so located in the working plane is capable of supporting material which is capable of receiving a rubbing. The second section is positionable on the first section in a holding position, so as to hold the material against the surfaces in the working plane during the production of the rubbing. The rubbing is produced by drawing a crayon or the like over the surface of the material to transfer the outline of the raised relief on to the material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drawing toy which includes a plurality of light transmitting carriers that are manually movable past a writing platen which supports portions of the carrier. Each carrier has on its surface a series of different figure fragments which inhibit light from passing through the carrier where a figure fragment is displayed. Selectively moving the carriers to the platen positions different figure fragments over the platen. There is a light source adjacent to the platen and on the side of the platen opposite the carrier so that light passes through the platen and then through the carrier. Preferably, a transparent protective member overlies the portion of the carriers supported by the platen, with the carriers being sandwiched between this member and the platen. A translucent sheet of paper is placed over the protective member opposite the platen.

Abstract: A camouflaged and deceptive preception distorted aircraft comprising an aircraft fuselage with nose tail top bottom and side surfaces having a real cockpit canopy on the top surface with length, width and height dimensions and a simulated cockpit canopy on the bottom surface positioned substantially in the same general area as the real cockpit canopy so that only one of the cockpit canopies is visible when the aircraft is perceived directly above the top surface or directly below the bottom surface, the simulated cockpit canopy having dimensions simulating the length, width and height of the real cockpit canopy, and at least one of the simulated cockpit canopy dimensions being greater than the corresponding length, width or height dimension of the real cockpit canopy; and the method for producing the simulated cockpit canopy.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for making laminate patterns for a resin matrix composite structural component. A sheet of paper (28) is temporarily adhered to a model (26) of the structural component. Pen (13) is positioned on paper (28) with spindle (24) touching the model surface opposite the pen. The pen and spindle are moved along the path that maintains the aforementioned contacts. The resulting line (31) traced on paper (28) is a model constant-thickness locus and provides a pattern for a single lamination of resin-impregnated fabric. The steps are repeated to make other patterns and each time the steps are repeated the distance between the tracer and the spindle is changed to correspond to the thickness of a lamination.

Abstract: An educational device utilizing light as the displaying medium is provided. The device has a light-impervious housing having a hole in the top and a light source therein. There is a plexiglass panel inside said housing, accessible through the hole in the top of the housing. The light source is located directly offset one edge of the plexiglass panel such that light rays from said light source enter the plexiglass panel through this edge and are entrapped therein. The housing also has slits in the sides thereof directly below the plexiglass panel so that paper inserts can be placed inside the housing directly beneath the plexiglass panel. The device is employed by turning on the light and by either inserting materials into the above-described slit or by writing on the outer surface of the plexiglass panel with a grease pencil. The light entrapped in the plexiglass panel will escape thru the top of the plexiglass panel and illuminate the inserts and the writing for the user's viewing.

Abstract: An image-transfer system in which from the original a first tracing is made on transparent sheet material and transferred from the transparent sheet material to a net-like or reticulate material by a second tracing, from which the image is then transferred to a final substrate such as an article of clothing by a third tracing through the net-like material interstices; finally the transferred image on the substrate is completed by retouching; color as well as line can be transferred using this system.

Abstract: A magnetic tracing stand capable of being illuminated by various sources of battery operated lights, such as flashlights, lanterns, and by household light fixtures, consisting of a magnetically attractable surfaced base, a rigid, adjustably angled transparent sheet that is removably and reversibly fastened to the front of the base leaving open space over a major portion of the base, with magnetic and fastening means, to accommodate and utilize various sources of light.