Patent Application
20160129362
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to modeling and more particularly to paper craft modeling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modeling refers to the fabrication of a scale representation of a person, place or thing. Historically, modeling has employed the use of several different core materials including plastic, wood and paper. Paper modeling in particular has remained popular for nearly a century. Paper modeling involves the use of paper as a core material in fabricating a scale model of a person place or thing. Paper modeling can be broadly classified as either paper folding or paper cutting. Paper folding, also known as origami, requires the production of a three-dimensional object through the exclusive performance of folding operations on a piece of paper. Kirigami, in turn, permits the use of cutting and securing of different pieces of paper in order to produce a model.
Card modeling as a form of kirigarmi, refers to the assembly of scale models from sheets of cardstock on which the parts are printed, oftentimes in full color. The printed pieces then are cut out, folded, scored and glued together so as to form the model. Pepakura, or paper crafting, refers to the advanced art of combining model types produced through card modeling in order to create complex models such as large buildings, human and animal figurines and the like. In paper crafting, typically a sheet of cut-out parts each with pre-defined securing tabs is provided in which different components are assembled from the cut outs by folding portions of each of the cut outs and inserting one or more securing tabs in corresponding pre-defined slits of the cut outs so as to secure the formation of different three-dimensional objects. Thereafter, one or more of the securing tabs of one of the three-dimensional objects can be inserted into a pre-defined slit of another of the three-dimensional objects so as to create a compound three-dimensional object.
In fabricating a paper crafting kit of different sheets of cut outs, at the minimum the individual parts with securing tabs must be printed onto a paper substrate such as card stock. Optimally, so as to permit the “punching out” of each of the parts, an outline of each part can be perforated, laser cut, or die punched. Required folds can be facilitated with the pre-scoring of the folds. Once the cut outs are removed from the sheets, the cut outs can be folded as directed, secured utilizing the securing tabs, and optionally glued to form the atomic three-dimensional objects of the model, and combined with other three-dimensional objects to form the final model, and then painted and sealed to preserve the final model.
Of note, the customary use of securing tabs inserted into slits to secure the atomic three-dimensional objects to one another allow for a secure and stable structure. However, the securing tab and slit methodology does not permit the articulation of any one of the atomic three-dimensional objects relative to one another. In fact, to attempt to articulate one of the atomic three-dimensional objects of a paper model in respect to another is to cause the bending or tearing of the paper model. Consequently, the tactile appeal of a paper model can be lost upon the end user in favor of a plastic or wooden model.
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to paper craft modeling and provide a novel and non-obvious paper craft model with articulating elements and a method of manufacturing thereof. In an embodiment of the invention, a paper craft model sheet includes a paper substrate that includes a cut out including a multiplicity of scored lines adapted to facilitate a folding of the cut out into a first atomic three-dimensional object. The sheet also includes a spherical orifice defined on one surface of the first atomic three-dimensional object. Finally, the sheet includes an additional cut out disposed within the paper substrate, the additional cut out including a multiplicity of scored lines adapted to facilitate a folding of the additional cut out into a second atomic three-dimensional object. In this regard, the additional cut out defines an articulation tab including a neck extending from the additional cut out and a head disposed at a distal end of the neck. The neck has a width that does not exceed a diameter of the orifice, and the head has a width that exceeds the diameter of the orifice.
In one aspect of the embodiment, a scored line defines a crease where the articulation tab meets the additional cut out, such that the neck of the tab perpendicularly extends from the additional cut out. In another aspect of the embodiment, the neck of the articulation tab extends from the additional cut out in a same plane as the additional cut out. In even yet another aspect of the embodiment, the additional cut out includes multiple articulation tabs formed proximately to one another, each articulation tab including a neck extending from the additional cut out and a head disposed at a distal end of the neck, with the neck having a width that does not exceed a diameter of the orifice, and with the head having a width that exceeds the diameter of the orifice. Consequently, the first and second atomic three-dimensional objects when secured to one another by way of inserting the articulation tab into the orifice, form part of a paper craft model, for example, a model of a monster, a human being, a cartoon character, a vehicle, a weapon or a building.
In another embodiment of the invention, a paper craft model manufacturing method is provided. The method includes defining in a paper substrate multiple different cut outs, each of the cut outs defining one or more different lines along which the cut outs are to be folded into an atomic three-dimensional object. The method also includes further defining within one of the cut outs a spherical orifice. Finally, the method includes yet further defining in connection with a different one of the cut outs an articulation tab comprising a neck extending from the different one of the cut outs and a head disposed at a distal end of the neck, the neck having a width that does not exceed a diameter of the orifice, the head having a width that exceeds the diameter of the orifice.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the cut outs are defined by perforating an outline of the cut outs and the lines are defined by scoring. In another aspect of the embodiment, a scored line defines a crease where the articulation tab meets the different one of the cut outs, such that the neck of the articulation tab perpendicularly extends from the different one of the cut outs. In yet another aspect of the embodiment, the neck of the articulation tab extends from the different one of the cut outs in a same plane as the different one of the cut outs. In even yet another aspect of the embodiment, the different one of the cut outs include multiple articulation tabs formed proximately to one another, each including a neck extending from the different one of the cut outs and a head disposed at a distal end of the neck, the neck having a width that does not exceed a diameter of the orifice, the head having a width that exceeds the diameter of the orifice. In this way, each atomic three-dimensional object formed by the cut outs when secured to one another by way of inserting the articulation tab into the orifice, form part of a paper craft model.
Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
Embodiments of the invention provide for a paper craft model with an articulating element and a method of manufacturing thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a paper craft model is defined by one or more atomic three-dimensional elements aggregated together. Each of the atomic three-dimensional elements is formed from a corresponding cut out defined in a sheet that includes a paper substrate. Each cut out includes a multiplicity of scored lines adapted to facilitate a folding of the cut out into a first one of the atomic three-dimensional objects. A spherical orifice also defined on one surface of the first one of the atomic three-dimensional objects.
Of note, the sheet also includes an additional cut out disposed within the paper substrate. The additional cut out includes a multiplicity of scored lines adapted to facilitate a folding of the additional cut out into a second one of the atomic three-dimensional objects. In this regard, the additional cut out defines an articulation tab including a neck extending from the additional cut out and a head disposed at a distal end of the neck. The neck has a width that does not exceed a diameter of the orifice, and the head has a width that exceeds the diameter of the orifice. As such, the second one of the atomic three-dimensional objects can be affixed to the first one of the atomic three-dimensional objects by inserting the articulation tab of the second one of the atomic three-dimensional objects into the orifice of the first one of the atomic three-dimensional objects while permitting the articulation of the first and second ones of the atomic three-dimensional objects relative to one another.
In further illustration,
Specifically an orifice 130 can be defined within one of the atomic three-dimensional objects 110A, 110E, whilst an articulation tab 140 can be defined on a corresponding one of the atomic three-dimensional objects 110B, 110L. The articulation tab 140 can include both a neck 150 and a head 160. The neck 150 can extend from a surface of a corresponding one of the atomic three-dimensional objects 110B, 110L either perpendicularly therefrom as in the case of atomic three-dimensional object 110B, or within the same plane as a plane of the surface from which the neck 150 extends as in the case of the atomic three-dimensional object 110L. In either case, the head 160 has a length L that exceeds a diameter D of the orifice 130, and the neck 150 has a width W that does not exceed the diameter D of the orifice 130. In this way, the atomic three dimensional objects 110B, 110L can be coupled respectively to corresponding atomic three dimensional objects 110A, 110E whilst maintaining an ability to articulate relative to one another.
Of note, each of the atomic three-dimensional objects 110A-110L can be formed through a folding of different cut outs defined in one or more sheets of a paper substrate such as card stock the securing of one or more of the different folded portions of the cut outs using securing tabs and slits defined within the cut outs. In further illustration,
Each cut out 210A, 210B can include lines 230A, 230B specifying folds necessary to form respective atomic three-dimensional objects. Preferably the lines 230A, 230B are scored to facilitate folding. Further, complementary sets of slits 240A, 240B and securing tabs 280A, 280B are defined so as to facilitate the securing of different flaps of the cut outs 210A, 210B in order to form respective atomic three-dimensional objects. Of import, an orifice 250 can be defined in one of the cut outs 210A, and a corresponding articulation tab 260 can be defined on a different one of the cut outs 210B.
Of note, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Also, the corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:
