The invention relates to a sketching aid which facilitates the sketching or drawing of a real-life scene, allowing duplication of proper perspective and proper spatial relationships between component parts of the scene to be sketched. Utilizing the present system, a skilled artist or draftsman can much more quickly, and with good accuracy, construct a perspective view of a scene or object. For a relatively unskilled artist or draftsman, it becomes possible, utilizing the sketching aid according to the present invention, to make a sketch or drawing having a much higher degree of realism than would otherwise be possible. The sketching aid according to the invention can be used by a wide variety of people, both for enjoyment or in the normal course of their profession, or in accordance with a course of study.
The sketching aid according to the present invention is constructed so that it is easy to handle and transport, is versatile, is complete, and allows the basic functions for which it is designed to be practiced readily by any user. The device according to the invention provides for storage of transparent drawing films directly with it, appropriate mounting of a drawing implement with the sketching aid, and comfortable and functional support of the aid by a single hand of the user, at any desired relative position with respect to the user.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the sketching aid comprises an opaque frame member, having a portion thereof large enough to be readily grasped by a human hand and small enough to be readily supported by a human hand alone, a rigid transparent plate, and means for operatively attaching the plate to the frame so that the plate is held stationary with respect to the frame. Means are also associated with the frame for holding a transparent drawing film, such as an acetate film of substantially the same size as the plate, in face-to-face contact with the plate. Storage means are provided for holding a supply of transparent drawing films, the storage means formed in the portion of the frame adapted to be held by the user's hand. The storage means may comprise means defining a cavity within the frame portion of substantially the same size and shape as a stack of transparent drawing films, the cavity being open on one end thereof to allow sliding movement of the films from the cavity, and a movable abutment mounted adjacent to the cavity for releasably blocking the cavity open end so that the films may not be removed.
The means for operatively attaching the plate to the frame may comprise means for pivotally mounted the plate to the frame so that it is movable from a first position wherein the frame portion adapted to be grasped by the user's hand and the plate are in parallel planes, in face-to-face relationship, to a second position wherein the plate makes an angle of between 90.degree. and 180.degree. with respect to the frame portion. A drawing implement may then be held between the frame portion and plate at the hinge, which hinge may comprise a flexible strip.
The plate may be considered to have x and y imaginary orthogonal axes disposed in the plane thereof, when held stationary in the frame member, with a z imaginary axis extending orthogonally to the plane of the plate. The means associated with the frame for holding a film in face-to-face contact with the plate comprises means formed intergrally with the frame preventing substantial movement of the film in either direction along the y axis, preventing movement in one direction along the z axis while the plate prevents movement in the other direction along the z axis, and preventing movement along a first direction along the x axis while allowing sliding movement of the film with respect to the frame and plate in a second direction along the x axis, opposite the first direction. A releasable blocking means is disposed at the side of the frame and actuatable by hand to either prevent or allow slidable movement of film in the second direction along the x axis. The dimensions of the film and plate are preferably about 5".times.8", with the effective size of the plate and film, as defined by the frame and the attachment means, being about 41/2".times.65/8".
The device may also be provided with a resting bar means for resting on a surface to steady the frame member during use of the aid. For instance the resting bar may rest on a person's lap, a table, or a like surface, to insure steady support of the aid when being used. Means are provided for mounting the resting bar to the frame member so that the position thereof with respect to the frame member is adjustable, supporting the frame member in each position to which it is moved. Means may be provided supporting a drawing implement on the resting bar means so that when the resting bar means is moved away from the frame member the drawing implement is removable, but when the resting bar means abuts the frame member the drawing implement is not removable from the aid.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple, versatile, complete, and readily transportable sketching aid. This and other object of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention, and from the appended claims.