Patent Application
20220297461
The present invention relates to a self-contained stenciling kit for producing multicolor and/or unicolor composite images, as well as to methods of using the kit.
Stencil art is a good way for children and adults to engage in a rewarding creative activity. Stencil art can be enjoyed as a craft hobby, as well as for therapeutic and relaxation purposes. However, there often is a need to assemble all the tools and supplies needed to create a piece of stencil art, particularly if the desire is to prepare a multicolor composite image with different colors, or even a unicolor image, or using different stencil patterns to produce a single composite image, whether multicolor or unicolor or shades of the same or different colors. Therefore, there is a need for a more self-contained kit for producing this sort of stencil art.
The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.
The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a self-contained stenciling kit for producing multicolor and/or unicolor composite images on a target surface. The present disclosure also relates to, inter alia, a method of using the self-contained stenciling kit to produce a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a self-contained stenciling kit for producing a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface, said kit comprising: a foldable case comprising a front compartment, a rear compartment, and a hinged spine, said front compartment and rear compartment each being pivotally or flexibly mounted adjacent to said hinged spine; wherein said front compartment comprises an easel pivotally or flexibly mounted to the bottom of the front compartment and a first storage region behind the easel, wherein said easel comprises an alignment pocket and a clip, said alignment pocket being located along the bottom edge of the easel for holding and aligning the target surface and the stencil plate during operation, and said clip being attached at its top edge of the easel for securing the target surface and stencil plate in place during operation, wherein said rear compartment comprises a pen/pencil (marking device) holder pivotally or flexibly mounted to the bottom of the rear compartment and a second storage region behind the pen/pencil (marking device) holder, said second storage region suitable for storing multiple stencil plates.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of producing a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface, said method comprising: (a) providing a self-contained stenciling kit according to any one of claims 1-6 and a collection of stencil plates; (b) securing a target surface and a stencil plate at a desired position on the easel using the clip and alignment pocket of the easel; (c) tracing, marking, and/or coloring the image of the stencil plate to the target surface; (d) removing the stencil plate from the easel; and (e) optionally repeating steps (b)-(d) for a desired number of stencil plates from the collection of stencil plates to produce the multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on the target surface.
For the purpose of illustrating aspects of the present invention, there are depicted in the drawings certain embodiments of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments depicted in the drawings. Further, as provided, like reference numerals contained in the drawings are meant to identify similar or identical elements.
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a self-contained stenciling kit for producing multicolor and/or unicolor composite images on a target surface. The present disclosure also relates to, inter alia, a method of using the self-contained stenciling kit to produce a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a self-contained stenciling kit for producing a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface. In certain embodiments, the kit includes a foldable case having a front compartment, a rear compartment, and a hinged spine.
In certain embodiments, the front compartment and rear compartment are each pivotally or flexibly mounted adjacent to the hinged spine.
In certain embodiments, the front compartment includes an easel pivotally or flexibly mounted to the bottom of the front compartment and a first storage region behind the easel.
In certain embodiments, the easel includes an alignment pocket and a clip. The alignment pocket is located along the bottom edge of the easel and is used for holding and aligning the target surface and the stencil plate during operation.
As used herein, operation of the kit of the present disclosure refers to the use of the kit and its component parts to apply one or more stencil patterns to the target surface to produce an image, including, without limitation, a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image.
In certain embodiments, the clip is attached at its top edge of the easel for securing the target surface and stencil plate in place during operation.
In certain embodiments, the rear compartment includes a pen/pencil (marking device) holder pivotally or flexibly mounted to the bottom of the rear compartment and a second storage region behind the pen/pencil (marking device) holder. The second storage region is suitable for storing multiple stencil plates or other items, such as embellishments, rules, additional paper, etc.
In certain embodiments, the clip is pivotally attached to the top edge of the easel.
In certain embodiments, the front compartment further includes side rails disposed along either the left side, right side, or both the left and right sides of the front compartment. The side rails are configured to align the target surface and stencil plate in a desired position during operation.
In certain embodiments, the kit further includes a closing mechanism for securing the foldable case in the closed position.
As used herein, the target surface can include, without limitation, a piece of paper, cardstock, or any other surface suitable for applying a stencil pattern thereto.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of producing a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface. This method involves providing a self-contained stenciling kit according to the present disclosure and at least one stencil plate or a collection of stencil plates. During operation, the target surface and a stencil plate are secured at a desired position on the easel using the clip and alignment pocket of the easel. The user then traces, marks, and/or colors the image of the stencil plate to the target surface using any marking, coloring, tracing, or writing device. Once the stencil design is applied to the target surface, the stencil plate is removed from the easel. If desired, the user can then repeat the above steps for a desired number of stencil plates (e.g., from the collection of stencil plates) to produce a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on the target surface.
In certain embodiments, the tracing, marking, and/or coloring are performed using a pen, pencil, marker, crayon, or any other marking or coloring device.
Various aspects and elements of the kit of the present disclosure are shown in
More specifically,
For illustration purposes, reference is made to the
In certain embodiments, the easel (21) includes an alignment pocket (22) and a clip (24). The alignment pocket (22) is located along the bottom edge (23) of the easel (21) and is used for holding and aligning the target surface (100) and the stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) during operation.
As used herein, operation of the kit (1) of the present disclosure refers to the use of the kit (1) and its component parts to apply one or more stencil patterns to the target surface (100) to produce an image, including, without limitation, a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image.
In certain embodiments, the clip (24) is attached at its top edge (25) of the easel (21) for securing the target surface (100) and stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) in place during operation.
In certain embodiments, the rear compartment (30) includes a pen/pencil (marking device) holder (31) pivotally or flexibly mounted to the bottom of the rear compartment (30) and a second storage region (70) behind the pen/pencil (marking device) holder (31). The second storage region (70) is suitable for storing multiple stencil plates (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) or other items, such as embellishments, rules, additional paper, etc.
In certain embodiments, the clip (24) is pivotally attached to the top edge (25) of the easel (21).
In certain embodiments, the front compartment (20) further includes side rails (26, 26a, 26b) disposed along either the left side, right side, or both the left and right sides of the front compartment (20). The side rails (26, 26a, 26b) are configured to align the target surface (100) and stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) in a desired position during operation.
In certain embodiments, the kit (1) further includes a closing mechanism (80) for securing the foldable case (10) in the closed position.
As used herein, the target surface (100) can include, without limitation, a piece of paper, cardstock, or any other surface suitable for applying a stencil pattern thereto.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of producing a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on a target surface (100). This method involves providing a self-contained stenciling kit (1) according to the present disclosure and at least one stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) or a collection of stencil plates (50, 50a, 50b, 50c). During operation, the target surface (100) and a stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) are secured at a desired position on the easel (21) using the clip (24) and alignment pocket (22) of the easel (21). The user then traces, marks, and/or colors the image of the stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) to the target surface (100) using any marking, coloring, tracing, or writing device. Once the stencil design is applied to the target surface (100), the stencil plate (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) is removed from the easel (21). If desired, the user can then repeat the above steps for a desired number of stencil plates (50, 50a, 50b, 50c) (e.g., from the collection of stencil plates) to produce a multicolor and/or unicolor composite image on the target surface (100). In certain embodiments, the tracing, marking, and/or coloring are performed using a pen, pencil, marker, crayon, or any other marking or coloring device.
The kit of the present disclosure and the method of using the kit to produce images, including multicolor or unicolor images, is unique in that all components of the kit can be contained in a single foldable case. Any foldable case made of any suitable material is contemplated by the present disclosure, In a particular embodiment, the foldable case is a hard case made of plastic, cardboard, polymer, composites, or any other suitable material that can be used with the component parts of the kit described herein.
In a particular embodiment, the kit opens so that the left and right compartments can be used during operation. One of the compartments will include the hinged easel and related storage region behind the hinged easel, and the opposite compartment will include the hinged pen/pencil holder and related storage region behind the hinged pen/pencil holder. The hinged easel compartment can be on either the left or the right side of the opened foldable case, as long as the opposite side is (whether left or right as the case may be) is the hinged pen/pencil holder compartment. The respective first and second storage areas can include paper, embellishments (e.g., stickers and the like), stencil plates, and any other items that can fit behind the hinged easel (on one side) and the hinged pen/pencil holder (on the other side). The hinged pen/pencil holder can include any writing, marking, or coloring device, including, without limitation, mechanical colored pencils or regular colored pencils, markers, pens, painting devices, and the like. In one embodiment, behind the hinged pen/pencil holder are included stencil plates that can be used to produce the multicolor and/or unicolor composite images.
In reference to
To trace and/or color the stencil design for the first stencil plate, the user would take any writing/coloring device (e.g., colored pencils, crayons, etc.), which can be stored in the right hinged, pen/pencil holder panel, or elsewhere. The user may choose any color or colors to use for each stencil plate. Once the tracing/coloring of the first stencil plate is completed, the rotating clip can be disengaged (opened) to allow the user to remove the first stencil plate. The first stencil plate can then be returned to where it was being stored or set aside elsewhere, as the user desires.
In certain embodiments, the different stencil plates can be numbered sequentially (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.) so as to provide the user with a suggested order for applying the respective stencil patterns of each stencil plate to the paper.
After the first stencil plate is removed from on top of the paper, the user can take a second stencil plate from a stored location (e.g., the first or second storage regions as described herein), and secure it on top of the paper using the same techniques as used for the first stencil plate. The user can then trace and/or color the pattern of the second stencil plate onto the piece of paper using the same techniques as used for the first stencil plate. This process can be repeated for as many stencil plates as desired by the user, until a completed multicolor or unicolor composite image is drawn/colored onto the piece of paper.
The self-contained stenciling kit of the present disclosure is designed so that each stencil plate is secured in the same, repeatable location on the paper, so as to allow for accurate and precise application of each stencil pattern from each stencil plate onto the single piece of paper.
Once the multicolor or unicolor composite image is complete, the piece of paper and be removed from the front hinged, easel panel (e.g., left panel) and left as is, or further embellished with stickers or any other craft embellishments. The self-contained stenciling kit of the present disclosure can include any such embellishments in one or more storage regions of the kit, including, without limitation, the storage regions behind the left and right front, hinged panels.
The completed multicolored or unicolored composite images can be stored in the kit, or displayed elsewhere. The kit can then be closed up for transporting or for storing until the user or a new user is ready to use the kit.
Any type of drawing or coloring device can be used to apply the stencil patterns to the desired surface (e.g., a piece of paper). Suitable drawing or coloring devices can include, without limitation, mechanical colored pencils, non-mechanical (standard) colored pencils, markers, brushes using paint, black lead or ink, pens.
Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.
This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/163,773, filed Mar. 19, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63163773 | Mar 2021 | US |
