Patent Application
20110013375
Many drawing display units are known in the art, such as, for example, chalkboards, dry erase boards, or simply a frame or an easel on which to place a work piece. Generally, such units are designed to display drawings and artwork under daylight or well lit conditions. The units may also utilize various light sources in order to adequately illuminate a drawing or artistic composition for viewing by observers. The lighting illuminates the entire work, including any drawings and a substrate on which the drawings are created. These devices do not take advantage of clear drawing substrates or unique illumination characteristics available therein.
Embodiments of the invention include an illuminated-display unit having a base, a clear plate, and a clear dome. A user draws one or more drawings, images, or other figures on surfaces of the plate and the dome. The plate is then received by a top surface of the base via a receptacle thereon. The dome is placed on the base and receives the plate within an interior void of the dome. A user activates one or more light sources housed within the base in order to illuminate the drawings placed on surfaces of the plate and the dome. When viewed under low ambient light conditions, the drawings on the plate and the dome are illuminated by the light sources in the base and provide a pleasing and exciting glowing effect to the drawings. Additionally, the dome may be rotated about the base in order to provide an animated view of the drawings on the dome with respect to the plate.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:
The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps or components or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps as explicitly described.
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an illuminated-display unit and methods for illuminating a drawing. In an embodiment, an illuminated-display unit is described. The illuminated-display unit includes a base including a top surface that includes a receptacle and an annular channel. The base also includes light sources disposed within the base. The illuminated-display unit also includes a plate configured to be at least partially disposed within the receptacle. The plate has a generally planar shape and includes surface properties suitable to at least temporarily accept an ink thereon. A dome is also disposed atop the top surface of the base and engages the annular channel. The dome has a hollow domed structure configured to accept the plate therein and has surface properties suitable to at least temporarily accept the ink thereon.
In another embodiment, a method for illuminating a drawing is described. An illuminated-display unit is provided that includes a base with a top surface having a receptacle and an annular channel and light sources disposed within the base. The illuminated-display unit also includes a plate configured to be at least partially disposed within the receptacle, has a generally planar shape, and includes surface properties suitable to at least temporarily accept an ink thereon. The illuminated-display unit also includes a dome that is disposable atop the top surface of the base and engages the annular channel. The dome has a hollow domed structure configured to accept the plate therein and has surface properties suitable to at least temporarily accept the ink thereon. The ink is applied to surfaces of the plate and dome. The plate is inserted into the receptacle of the top surface of the base. The dome is disposed over the plate and engages the annular channel. The light sources in the base are illuminated.
In another embodiment, an illuminated-display unit is described. The illuminated-display unit includes a base including a top surface having a receptacle and an annular channel, a control panel on an exterior surface having components for controlling light sources housed within the base. A plate that is disposed within the receptacle, has a generally planar shape and comprises a material with surface properties suitable to at least temporarily accept an ink thereon is also included. Additionally, the illuminated-display unit includes a dome rotatably disposed atop the top surface of the base and engages the annular channel. The dome has a hollow domed structure configured to accept the plate therein and comprises a material with surface properties suitable to at least temporarily accept the ink thereon. The ink is disposed on a surface of the plate and/or dome. The light sources illuminate the ink on the one plate and dome. And the dome is manually or mechanically rotated atop the base.
With reference now to the figures, and in particular
Ridges 114 are included on each side of the receptacle 110 in order to form the sides of the receptacle 110 and/or to reinforce the receptacle 110. The receptacle 110 is of sufficient dimensions to accept a bottom edge 116 of the plate 104 and to retain the plate 104 in a generally vertical orientation perpendicular to the platform 108. One or more light sources are housed within the base 102 and are exposed along a bottom surface of the receptacle 110 in order to illuminate the plate 104 as described below. The light sources are composed of any light source available in the art include, for example, and not limitation, incandescent lights, light emitting diodes, fluorescent lights, and the like.
The annular channel 112 formed about the platform 108 is of sufficient dimensions to accept a bottom edge 118 of the dome 106, a sufficient distance to hinder lateral movement of the dome 106 with respect to the base 102. One or more lights are housed in the base 102 and are exposed along a bottom surface of the channel 112 such that when illuminated, the lights transmit light into the bottom edge 118 of the dome 106. The channel 112 may also include one or more roller bearings, ball bearings, or other bearing or reduced-friction surfaces to allow the bottom edge 118 of the dome 106 to slide within channel 112 to produce rotational movement of the dome 106. In an embodiment, the channel 112 includes a means for mechanically rotating the dome 106 with respect to the base 102, such as for example a motor coupled to one or more drive wheels, gears, cogs exposed within the channel 112 and contacting the dome 106 when placed on the base 102. In an embodiment, the light source(s) are housed within the base 102 and optical wave guides, fiber optics, or the like are employed to direct light from the light source to the channel 112 for transmission into the dome 106 or into the receptacle 110 for transmission into the plate 104.
The base 102 also includes, on an exterior surface, a control panel 120 that protrudes a distance from the exterior surface of the base 102. The control panel includes one or more buttons 122 and switches 124 for controlling one or more of lighting of the plate 104 and dome 106 and motion of the dome 106. The buttons 122 and the switch 124 include any buttons or switches known in the art including momentary buttons and toggle switches, among others, which are suitable for use in activating and deactivating lights or motors housed within the base 102. The control panel 120 also includes a front panel 123 on which a label 125 is placed.
The base further includes, equally spaced at three locations around the circumference of the exterior surface of the base, recesses 126 and scallops 128. The recesses 126 extend in a lateral direction perpendicular to the height of the base 102. The recesses 126 are each configured to removably accept a marker 130. As such, a marker 130 is inserted into a recess 126 for storage while not in use.
The markers 130 comprise a dry-erase marker having ink characteristics and drawing characteristics suitable for use with the plate 104 and the dome 106. The markers 130 include an ink of a predetermined composition that does not mar or stain the plate 104 or the dome 106 after prolonged exposure or repetitive use of the markers on the plate 104 and the dome 106. Further, the markers 130 utilize an ink composition that is easily erasable from the plate 104 and the dome 106 such that drawings may be placed on the plate 104 and the dome 106 and easily erased or removed therefrom. The markers 130 are described herein as dry-erase markers so as not to distract from the explanation of embodiments of the invention, however, this is not intended to limit embodiments of the invention to use of dry-erase markers. Any compatible marking device is useable and is contemplated in embodiments of the invention.
The scallops 128 are located beneath the recesses 126 around the circumference of the base 102. The scallops 128 provide an easily graspable portion of the base 102 to allow a user to grip and lift the base 102 from a surface.
The plate 104 comprises a flat section of material having sufficient dimensions to be received by receptacle 110 of the base 102 and to fit within the interior of the dome 106. The plate 104 thus has a straight bottom edge 116 and a curved upper edge 136 that mimics the interior shape of the dome 106. In an embodiment, the curved upper edge 136 is parabolic in shape. The plate surface 132 is a broad, flat surface upon which a user uses the markers 130 to draw one or more images, pictures, or other drawings thereon (hereinafter “drawings”). In an embodiment, the plate has any desired form or shape. The plate 104 has two opposite sides, each of which comprises a flat plate surface 132 upon which a user may draw.
The dome 106 is a hollow parabolic dome having a circumference at the bottom edge 118 sufficient to be received by the channel 112 of the base 102. Alternatively, the dome 106 may have any dome shape, such as for example and not limitation, elliptical, saucer, spherical, or any other dome shape suitable for use in embodiments of the invention. The interior of the dome 106 is of sufficient size and dimension to accept the plate 104 therein. The dome 106 further includes a knob 138 located at an apex or at the top of the dome 106 on an exterior surface. The knob 138 is of any configuration suitable for use in allowing a user to grasp the knob to lift and/or rotate the dome 106 on the base 102. The dome 106 also includes an outer surface 140 on which a user places one or more drawings. The dome 106 and the plate 104 are comprised of a polycarbonate clear plastic, but may be comprised of any clear material such as, for example and not limitation, acrylics, glass, or any other suitable material. In an embodiment, the dome 106 is tinted or has one or more translucent or opaque sections.
With continued reference to
A user activates one or more light sources housed within the base and exposed along a bottom surface of the channel 112 and the receptacle 110 using the buttons 122 and the switch 124. The location of the one or more lights is generally indicated in
The light sources included within the base 102 provide light within a predetermined spectrum or range of wavelengths that is suitable to illuminate the ink of the markers 130. Such wavelengths may be in the blue region of the visible light spectrum or any other visible or non-visible spectrums of light. As such, the lights may illuminate the ink of the markers 130 by reflection of all or a portion of the light from the ink on the plate 104 or dome 106, or the light may cause, produce, or catalyze a physical or chemical reaction in the ink which releases energy in the form of light. The light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs), halogen lights, incandescent lights, black lights, or any other light technology. Further, the light sources may be of a single color such as blue, or may be multicolored, among various other configurations.
Lighting of the dome 106 and the plate 104 may take on many different configurations, including constant on or off of the light sources for both the plate 104 and the dome 106, intermittent lighting of the plate 104 and/or the dome 106, flashing of the lighting of the plate 104 and/or the dome 106, or strobing of the light sources. Additionally, light sources contained beneath the channel 112 may be sequenced in a marquee fashion such that one or more light sources are illuminated at a time and de-illuminated to create the effect of lights moving through the channel 112 about the circumference of the base 102.
As such, by providing drawings in a sufficient configuration about the dome 106, a perception of animation of the figures drawn thereon is provided. The buttons 122 and the switch 124 also control rotation of the dome 106 about the base 102. The buttons 122 and the switch 124 may activate one or more drive means within the base 102 that cause the dome 106 to rotate about a central axis on top of the base 102 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Alternatively, the dome 106 may be rotated manually via the knob 138 at the apex of the dome 106. In another embodiment, the plate 104 is also provided with rotational motion either manually or mechanically to provide an additional source of animated viewing.
With reference now to
The base 202 also includes recesses 212 and scallops 214 as described above with respect to the unit 100. Additionally, illuminated-display unit 200 includes a plate 216 and a dome 218, also as described previously. Each of the components 202-216 of the unit 200 operate as described above with respect to the unit 100.
With reference now to
The base 302 also includes along an upper surface 320 a thumb ring 322. The thumb ring 322 forms at least a portion of a channel (not shown) such as channel 112 of the unit 100 for receiving a bottom edge (not shown) of the dome 306. As such, the thumb ring 322 removably couples to the dome 306 when the dome 306 is placed atop the base 302. The thumb ring 322 is rotatably coupled to the base 302. Thus, a user rotates the thumb ring 322 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about base 302 in order to rotate the dome 306 in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion about the base 302.
The plate 304 is similar in configuration to that described with respect to plate 104 of the unit 100. The dome 306 is also similarly configured to the dome 106 of the unit 100, except that no knob is present on the dome 306.
In operation, the illuminated-display unit operates similarly to that of the unit 100, including the operation of buttons 310 and the switch 312. Illumination of the plate 304 and the dome 306 also occur similarly, and rotational movement of the dome 306 may be provided by mechanical means included in the base 302 or by manual means by manipulating the thumb ring 322.
Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading the disclosure. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the invention. Certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated.
This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 61/226,926 filed Jul. 20, 2009 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61226926 | Jul 2009 | US |
