WO2014188367A1

WO2014188367A1 - A drawing aid and a method of drawing an object

Info

Publication number: WO2014188367A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/061618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lex VAN HEERDEN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-05-22
Filing date: 2014-05-22
Publication date: 2014-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-22

Abstract

A drawing aid 10 includes an opaque screen 12 for supporting a printed sheet element 26 having a printed image 28 displayed thereon, a support structure 14 for supporting the screen 12, and a drawing board 18 for supporting a drawing sheet 20 which defines a drawing surface 22. The structure 14 includes a support panel and a pair of spaced apart hinges 32 for hingedly mounting the screen 12 to the panel. The panel supports the screen 12 in a spaced arrangement from the drawing surface 22 upon which a drawer 35 renders the image 28 by hand. The panel supports the screen 12 in an arrangement wherein the screen 12 obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface 22 and wherein sufficient space is defined between the surface 22 and the screen 12 so as to accommodate the drawer's hand while the drawer 35 renders the image 28 on the drawing surface 22. The hinges 32 permit displacement of the screen 12 to a position wherein the screen 12 does not obstruct the drawer's view.

Description

A DRAWING AID AND A METHOD OF DRAWING AN OBJECT

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a drawing aid and to a method of drawing an object.

In this specification, any reference to an "object" shall be interpreted to mean any two-dimensional or three-dimensional article and shall include a sheet element having an image displayed thereon, such as, for example, a picture or a photograph.

In this specification, any reference to the term "drawing" shall be interpreted sufficiently broadly to include any type of drawing, sketch, painting or other visual representation. In this specification any reference to the term "render" shall be interpreted to mean to portray or produce a representation of any visual features or characteristics of an object or of a part of the object in a drawing. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a drawing aid including: an object support formation for supporting an object to be rendered in a drawing; and a support structure for supporting the object support formation in a spaced arrangement from a drawing surface upon which a drawer renders the object, in use, by hand, the support structure supporting the object support formation in an arrangement wherein one of the object and the object support formation obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface and wherein sufficient space is defined between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation so as to accommodate the drawer's hand while the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface.

More specifically, sufficient space may be defined between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation, so as to also accommodate a hand-held drawing instrument held in said hand of the drawer while the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface using the hand-held drawing instrument. The drawing aid may include drawing support means for supporting a drawing sheet which defines the drawing surface on an outer side thereof. The drawing support means may include holding means for holding the drawing sheet so as to prevent movement of the drawing sheet relative to the object support formation when the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface of the drawing sheet.

In one embodiment of the invention, the object support formation may include an opaque screen which defines a support surface upon which the object is supported, the opaque screen being operable to obstruct the drawer's view of the drawing surface. The opaque screen may be displaceably mounted to the support structure so as to permit displacement of the opaque screen to a position wherein the opaque screen does not obstruct the drawer's view of the drawing surface. More specifically, the opaque screen may be hingedly mounted to the support structure.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the object support formation may be in the form of a transparent screen which defines a support surface upon which an object in the form of a sheet element having an image displayed on an outer side thereof, is supported. The drawing aid may include mounting means for displaceably mounting the sheet element to the transparent screen in an arrangement wherein the sheet element is displaceable between an obstructing position wherein the sheet element obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface, and an un-obstructing position wherein the sheet element is displaced away from the transparent screen to a position wherein the sheet element does not obstruct the drawer's view of the drawing surface.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of drawing an object, the method comprising: supporting by means of an object support formation the object which is to be rendered in a drawing, in a spaced relationship relative to a drawing surface and in an arrangement wherein one of the object and the object support formation obstructs a drawer's view of the drawing surface, and wherein sufficient space is provided between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation to accommodate the drawer's hand, so as to permit the drawer to render the object on the drawing surface by hand.

The method may include providing sufficient space between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation so as to also accommodate a hand-held drawing instrument held in said hand of the drawer while the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface using the hand-held drawing instrument.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features of the invention are described hereinafter, by way of a non- limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a drawing aid, in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2 to 4 show perspective views of the drawing aid of Figure 1 , shown in use; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a drawing aid in accordance with the invention;

Figures 6 and 7 show perspective views of the drawing aid of Figure 5, shown in use; and

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a drawing aid in accordance with the invention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a drawing aid, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The drawing aid 10 is adapted for use in a method of drawing and is particularly advantageous for teaching drawing skills, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

The drawing aid 10 includes broadly an object support formation in the form of an opaque screen 12; a support structure 14 for supporting the screen 12 and drawing support means in the form of a drawing board 18 for supporting a drawing sheet 20 which defines a drawing surface 22 on an outer side thereof.

The screen 12 is of a moulded plastics material and defines a support surface 24 having a planar configuration for supporting an object in the form of a printed sheet element 26 thereon. The printed sheet element 26 has a printed image 28, displayed on an outer side thereof. The support structure 14 is formed of a moulded plastics material and includes a support panel 31 and a pair of spaced apart hinges 32. The support panel 31 has an upper end and a lower end and projects upwardly from a peripheral region of the drawing board 18, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings. The support panel 31 of the support structure 14 supports the screen 12 in a spaced arrangement from the drawing surface 22, to permit a drawer 35 to render the image 28 on the drawing surface 22, by hand, using a hand-held drawing instrument 36 held in a hand 38 of the drawer 35, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. More specifically, the support panel 31 is dimensioned to provide sufficient space between the screen 12 and the drawing surface 22 to accommodate the drawer's hand 38 and the drawing instrument 36, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings. The distance between the screen 12 and the drawing surface 22 is between 10 centimetres and 30 centimetres. More specifically, the distance between the screen 12 and the drawing surface 22 is ideally 13 centimetres. The pair of spaced apart hinges 32 are configured for hingedly connecting the screen 12 to the support panel 31 , as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings, for reasons which will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. In use, the screen 12 is hingedly displaceable between an obstructing position, shown in Figures 1 ,2 and 4 of the drawings, wherein the support structure 14 supports the screen 12 in an arrangement wherein the screen 12 obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface 22 and the drawing instrument 36 held in the drawer's hand 38; and an un-obstructing position, shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, wherein the screen 12 is disposed at a position wherein the support structure 14 supports the screen 12 in an arrangement wherein the screen 12 no longer obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface 22 and the drawing instrument 36, for the reasons which will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. The drawing board 18 has holding means in the form of a non-slip coating 40 applied to a central region of the drawing board 18. The non-slip coating 40 is configured to stabilize the drawing sheet 20 when the drawing sheet 20 is located upon the non-slip coating 40 to prevent movement of the drawing sheet 20 relative to the screen 12, in use, when the drawer 35 renders the image 28 on the drawing surface 22 with the drawing instrument 36.

A method of drawing an object, in accordance with the invention, will be described hereinbelow, with reference to the use of the drawing aid 10.

In a first step, the drawer 35 will secure the printed sheet element 26 to the screen 12 by means of adhesive tape or the like (not shown). The drawer 35 will then position the drawing aid 10 with respect to the drawer 35, in the manner illustrated in either Figure 2 or in Figure 4 of the drawings. More particularly, if required to draw with the drawing sheet 20 in a so-called portrait orientation, the drawer 35 will position the drawing aid 10 with respect to the drawer 35 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. Alternatively, if required to draw with the drawing sheet 20 in a so-called landscape orientation, the drawer 35 will position the drawing aid 10 with respect to the drawer in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. In both the case wherein the drawing sheet 20 is in its portrait orientation and the case wherein the drawing sheet 20 is in its landscape orientation, it will be appreciated that when the screen 12 is in its obstructing position, the screen 12 completely obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface 22 and the drawing instrument 36. In a second step, the drawer 35 will focus his vision on a selected starting point defined on a selected part of the image 28 which the drawer 35 wishes to render on the drawing surface. In a third step, the drawer 35 will displace the screen 12 into its un-obstructing position, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, while keeping the drawer's eyes fixed, i.e. maintain his eyes in the same position at which his vision was focused on the starting point (prior to moving the screen 12). The drawer will then position his hand 38 such that a drawing tip of the drawing instrument 36 corresponds with the position of the starting point, as referenced by the position on the drawing surface 22 upon which the drawer's fixed eyes focus. It will be appreciated that the term corresponds used in the above context means that the tip is located such that when perceived from the drawer's point of view or visual perspective, it is aligned with the starting point when the screen 12 is later displaced into the obstructing position. It is, however, understood that the starting point and the tip are located in different planes. It is also understood that the screen 12 and the drawings surface 22 are opaque, and as such, the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 and the starting point cannot visually be verified to be aligned, but are rather estimated to correspond, as described hereinabove.

In a forth step, the drawer 35 will again displace the screen 12 into its obstructing position, while maintaining the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 still. While doing this, the drawer 35 will take note of the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 to ensure that the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 corresponds with the position of the selected starting point of the part of the image 38 at which the drawer 35 wishes to begin drawing. The applicant has found that it may help the drawer 35 to imagine that the printed sheet element 26, the image 28, and the screen 12, are all transparent and to imagine that the drawer can see the tip of the drawing instrument through the printed sheet element 26, thought the image 28 and through the screen 12. In a fifth step, while maintaining the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 still, and while again fixing the drawer's vision on the selected starting point of the image 28, the drawer will again displace the screen 12 into its un-obstructing position, in order to check and ensure that the tip of the drawing instrument 36 corresponds with the position of the starting point of the image 28 at which the drawer 35 wishes to begin rendering the image 28 on the drawing surface 22.

In a sixth step, the drawer 35 will, while maintaining the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 still, displace the screen 12 into its obstructing position, as illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 4 of the drawings.

In a seventh step, while the screen 12 is in its obstructing position, the drawer 35 will focus his vision on the selected starting point of the image 28 and will move his eyes so as to follow the contour of the parts of the image which the drawer 35 wishes to render on the drawing surface 22. Simultaneously, the drawer 35 will move his hand so that the tip of the drawing instrument 36 draws on the drawing surface 22 and follows the drawer's gaze.

While drawing, the drawer 35 must ensure that he simultaneously draws on the drawing surface 22 while viewing the contour of the image 28. Also, the drawer 35 must ensure that the drawer 35 maintains a strict relationship between the part of the contour of the image that his vision is following and the part of the image that the drawer 35 is rendering on the drawing surface 22 with the drawing instrument 36. More particularly, the applicant has found that it is important to ensure that the speed of movement of the eyes and the speed of movement of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 correspond with one another, to ensure that the drawer 35 learns to "draw with his eyes" i.e. to draw what the drawer sees, while he sees it. Furthermore, it is important that the drawer 35 ensures that the position of the tip of the drawing instrument 36 at all times corresponds with the part of the image 28 that the drawer's eyes are viewing.

When the drawer has completed rendering the particular part of the image 28 and wishes to begin to rendering another part of the image 28, the drawer can then select another starting point on the image 28 and repeat steps 2 to 7 above.

The applicant envisages that the drawer 35 might, for example, choose to begin by selecting an arbitrary starting point on the image 28, such as, for example, a starting point on the chin. Once the drawer 35 has rendered the chin by following steps 2 to 7 above, the drawer 35 can then select another arbitrary starting point such as, for example, a starting point on the ear and again follow steps 2 to 7 hereinabove until the whole image 28 is rendered on the drawing sheet 20.

The applicant envisages that the drawing aid 10 and the practice of the drawing method described hereinabove, is particularly advantageous for teaching the drawer 35 to draw artistically. Furthermore, the applicant believes that the drawing method and the drawing aid 10 is particularly advantageous as a remedial tool for teaching children with learning difficulties. The applicant envisages that the drawing aid 10 is also advantageous for use in art therapy for addressing and ameliorating adverse symptoms of various mental and/or developmental disorders such as, for example, autism spectrum disorder. Furthermore, the applicant believes that the drawing method and the drawing aid 10 is particularly advantageous for developing improved concentration. The applicant envisages that one advantage is derived from the fact that the drawing aid 10 and the method described hereinabove, forces the drawer 35 to focus on parts of the image 28 while rendering the image on the drawing surface 22. As such, the drawer 35 does not need to rely on his visual memory of the image but rather draws directly from the drawer's observation, while observing the image 28. It will be appreciated in this regard that prior to the method and the drawing aid 10, the drawer 35 would observe the image 28 and then the drawer would focus on the drawing surface while rendering the image on the drawing surface, as such, the drawer would be relying on a visual memory of the image.

The applicant envisages that another advantage of the method and the drawing aid 10 is derived from the fact that the method described hereinabove and the drawing aid 10 trains the drawer's visual memory and the drawer's sense of proportion, by training the drawer 35 to focus on the dimensions, proportions, shape and contour of the image 28.

The applicant has also found that the method and the drawing aid 10 helps train the drawer's ability to observe and interpret visual information and to draw from observation i.e. to draw what the drawer 35 sees. Furthermore, the applicant envisages that the method and the drawing aid 10 described hereinabove helps train and thereby improve hand eye coordination, thereby improving drawing. The applicant has found that improvement to the drawer's ability particularly occurs during periods of obstructed drawing. The applicant envisages that, in use, the printed sheet element 26 and the printed image 28 may be replaced with another type of object to be rendered in a drawing, such as, for example, a three-dimensional object such as, for example an apple.

The applicant also envisages that, in use, the printed sheet element 26 and the printed image 28 may, alternatively, be replaced with another type of object to be rendered in a drawing, such as, for example, a tablet computer which is supported upon the support surface 24 and which has an image displayed on a screen thereof.

Furthermore, the applicant envisages that the drawing sheet 20 and the drawing surface 22 may also be replaced with a tablet computer which is supported upon the drawing board 18. As such, the drawer may thus draw upon the screen of the tablet computer with a stylus or, alternatively, with the drawers fingers.

With reference to Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, another embodiment of a drawing aid, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 100. There are some similarities between the drawing aid 10 of Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings and the drawing aid 100 of Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings. In Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, those features of the drawing aid 100 which are the same and / or similar to features of the drawing aid 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, are designated by the same and / or similar reference numerals in Figures 5 to 7. What is stated above with respect to the drawing aid 10 applies generally to the drawing aid 100.

The drawing aid 100 includes broadly an object support formation in the form of a transparent screen 1 12; a support structure 1 14 for supporting the screen 1 12; drawing support means in the form of a drawing board 1 18 for supporting a drawing sheet 120 which defines a drawing surface 122 on the outer side thereof; and mounting means in the form of masking tape 129 for hingedly mounting a printed sheet element 126 to the screen 1 12, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

The drawing aid 100 of Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings differs from the drawing aid 10 in that the support structure 1 14 comprises only a support panel 131 and does not include a pair of hinges. As such, the screen 1 12 is fixedly supported by the support panel 131 and is therefore not hingedly displaceable relative to the support panel 131 . More specifically, the screen 1 12, the support panel 131 and the drawing board 1 18 are integrally formed with one another and are produced from a single sheet of transparent plastics material which is heated and bent at right angles, so as to form the screen 1 12, the support panel 131 and the drawing board 1 18. The drawing aid 100 of Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings further differs from the drawing aid 10 in that the transparent plastics material of the drawing aid 100 has non-slip properties which prevent movement of the drawing sheet 120 located thereon relative to the drawing board 1 18, in use, when the drawer 35 renders the image 128 on the drawing surface 122 with the drawing instrument 36.

The masking tape 129 is operable to hingedly mount the printed sheet element 126 to the screen 1 12 such that the printed sheet element 126 is hingedly displaceable between an obstructing position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings and an un-obstructing position, shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. More particularly, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, when the printed sheet element 126 is in its obstructing position, the printed sheet element 126 obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface 122 and the drawing instrument 36 held in the drawer's hand. As shown in Figure 7, in the un-obstructing position of the printed sheet element 126, the drawer 35 has used his other hand to hingedly fold the printed sheet element 126 away from the screen 1 12, such that the printed sheet element 126 no longer obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface 122 and the drawing instrument 36.

With reference to Figure 8 of the drawings, yet another embodiment of a drawing aid, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 200. There are some similarities between the drawing aid 200 of Figure 8 and the drawing aid 100 of Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings. In Figure 8 of the drawings, those features of the drawing aid 200 which are the same and / or similar to features of the drawing aid 100 shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, are designated by the same and / or similar reference numerals in Figure 8. What is stated above with respect to the drawing aid 100 applies generally to the drawing aid 200.

The drawing aid 200 includes broadly an object support formation in the form of an opaque screen 212; a support structure 214 for supporting the screen 212; drawing support means in the form of a drawing board 218 for supporting a drawing sheet 220 which defines a drawing surface 222 on the outer side thereof; and mounting means in the form of masking tape 129 for mounting a printed sheet element 226 to the screen 212, as will be explained in more detail herein below. The drawing aid 200 of Figure 8 of the drawings is virtually identical to the drawing aid 100 of Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, the difference being that whereas the screen 1 12 of the drawing aid 100 is transparent, the screen 212 of the drawing aid 200 is opaque. Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, the use of the drawing aid 200 differs from the use of the drawing aid 100,10 in that when the drawer positions the drawing tip of the drawing instrument 36, the drawer is required to lower his head so as to peek under the screen 212, as illustrated in Figure 8, in order to check the position of the drawing tip of the drawing instrument 36. This is necessary particularly because the screen 212 is opaque and not transparent as is the screen 1 12 of the drawing aid 100 and furthermore because the screen 212 is not hingedly displaceable relative to the support structure 214 as is the screen 12 of the drawing aid 10.

The applicant envisages that the drawing aid 10,100,200 will be made available in a number of different sizes so as to accommodate drawing sheets of different sizes, such as, for example, sizes A2, A3, A4 and A5.

The applicant envisages that in an alternative embodiment (not shown), other mounting means other than masking tape 129 may be used, such as, for example, bulldog clips, paper clamps or the like. Furthermore, the applicant envisages that in yet another alternative embodiment (not shown), the sheet element 226 may be replaced with a plurality of bound printed sheet elements which are bound together to form a book. As such, the mounting means may be configured for mounting the book to the screen.

It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the drawing aid in accordance with the invention, may vary greatly, while still incorporating the essential features of the invention, as described hereinabove.

Claims

1. A drawing aid including: an object support formation for supporting an object to be rendered in a drawing; and a support structure for supporting the object support formation in a spaced arrangement from a drawing surface upon which a drawer renders the object, in use, by hand, the support structure supporting the object support formation in an arrangement wherein one of the object and the object support formation obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface and wherein sufficient space is defined between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation so as to accommodate the drawer's hand while the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface.

2. The drawing aid as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein sufficient space is defined between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation, so as to also accommodate a hand-held drawing instrument held in said hand of the drawer while the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface using the hand-held drawing instrument.

3. The drawing aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the drawing aid includes drawing support means for supporting a drawing sheet which defines the drawing surface on an outer side thereof.

4. The drawing aid as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the drawing support means includes holding means for holding the drawing sheet so as to prevent movement of the drawing sheet relative to the object support formation when the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface of the drawing sheet.

5. The drawing aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the object support formation includes an opaque screen which defines a support surface upon which the object is supported, the opaque screen being operable to obstruct the drawer's view of the drawing surface.

6. The drawing aid as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the opaque screen is displaceably mounted to the support structure so as to permit displacement of the opaque screen to a position wherein the opaque screen does not obstruct the drawer's view of the drawing surface.

7. The drawing aid as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the opaque screen is hingedly mounted to the support structure.

8. The drawing aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the object support formation is in the form of a transparent screen which defines a support surface upon which an object in the form of a sheet element having an image displayed on an outer side thereof is supported.

9. The drawing aid as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the drawing aid includes mounting means for displaceably mounting the sheet element to the transparent screen in an arrangement wherein the sheet element is displaceable between an obstructing position wherein the sheet element obstructs the drawer's view of the drawing surface, and an un-obstructing position wherein the sheet element is displaced away from the transparent screen to a position wherein the sheet element does not obstruct the drawer's view of the drawing surface.

10. A method of drawing an object, the method comprising: supporting by means of an object support formation the object which is to be rendered in a drawing, in a spaced relationship relative to a drawing surface and in an arrangement wherein one of the object and the object support formation obstructs a drawer's view of the drawing surface, and wherein sufficient space is provided between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation to accommodate the drawer's hand, so as to permit the drawer to render the object on the drawing surface by hand.

1 1 . The method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the method includes providing sufficient space between the drawing surface and said one of the object and the object support formation so as to also accommodate a hand-held drawing instrument held in said hand of the drawer while the drawer renders the object on the drawing surface using the hand-held drawing instrument.