Patent Application
20180114459
The present invention is generally directed to sheet assemblies and methods of manufacturing sheet assemblies. More particularly, the present invention is directed to patterned sheets for writing lists, making notes, and drawing tables, charts, and graphs.
When creating lists, tables, charts and graphs it is helpful to have one or more grid-lined sheets to guide the creation of the lists, tables, charts, and graphs. It is desirable for such sheets to have uniformly positioned markings for horizontal and vertical orientation. Conventional graph paper has grids of horizontal and vertical solid lines. Dot grid paper has dots at the intersection points of invisible grid lines. In either case, the patterned sheets may not directionally guide the proper creation of the lists, tables, charts, and graphs. Additionally, graph paper and dot grid paper can be visually obtrusive and compete with a user's own writings and drawings.
A sheet assembly comprises a first grid comprising a first plurality of shapes on the sheet and a second grid comprising a second plurality of shapes on the sheet. The second plurality of shapes overlay the first plurality of shapes such that the second plurality of shapes are in a center of one or more squares defined by the first plurality of shapes. The first grid in combination with the second grid creates a template for the creation of one or more discrete components such as a list, a table, a chart and a graph. In some embodiments, the first grid comprises a plurality of crosshair shaped plus signs and the second grid comprises a plurality of dots. The two grid patterns are overlaid and offset from one another. The two patterns are offset such that the dots are located at the center of the squares defined by the crosshairs.
In one aspect, a sheet assembly comprises a first grid pattern comprising a first plurality of shapes on the sheet, a second grid pattern comprising a second plurality of shapes on the sheet, wherein the second grid pattern overlays the first grid pattern such that the second plurality of shapes are in a center of one or more squares defined by the first plurality of shapes, wherein the first grid pattern in combination with the second grid pattern describes a template for one or more discrete journal components. In some embodiments, the first plurality of shapes comprise a plurality of plus signs arranged in a grid pattern. In some embodiments, the second plurality of shapes comprise a plurality of dots arranged in a grid pattern. In further embodiments, the first grid pattern overlays the second grid pattern such that the first plurality of shapes are in a center of one or more squares defined by the second plurality of shapes. In some embodiments, the one or more discrete journal components comprise one or more of a list, a bullet list, a table, a chart, and a graph. In some embodiments, the one or more discrete journal components comprise one or more of a journal event, a journal module, journal signifier, and a journal task. In some embodiments, the first grid pattern comprises a 0.25-inch plus sign grid pattern. In some of these embodiments, the second grid pattern comprises the dot grid pattern at the same pitch as the plus sign grid pattern and offset from the plus sign grid pattern by 0.125-inches.
In a another aspect, a method of manufacturing a sheet assembly comprises patterning a first grid comprising a first plurality of shapes on the sheet and patterning a second grid comprising a second plurality of shapes, wherein the second grid is patterned on the sheet such that it overlays the first grid pattern such that the second plurality of shapes are in a center of one or more squares defined by the first plurality of shapes, wherein the first grid pattern in combination with the second grid pattern describes a template for one or more discrete journal components. In some embodiments, the second patterned grid comprises a transparent sheet that is deposited onto the first patterned grid to form a composite sheet. In further embodiments, the first patterned grid comprises a first transparent sheet and the second patterned grid comprises a second transparent sheet that are combined to form the composite sheet. In some embodiments, the first plurality of shapes comprise a plurality of plus signs arranged in a grid pattern. In some embodiments, the second plurality of shapes comprise a plurality of dots arranged in a grid pattern. In some embodiments, the first grid pattern overlays the second grid pattern such that the first plurality of shapes are in a center of one or more squares defined by the second plurality of shapes. In some embodiments, the one or more discrete journal components comprise one or more of a list, a bullet list, a table, a chart, and a graph. In further embodiments, the one or more discrete journal components comprise one or more of a journal event, a journal module, journal signifier, and a journal task. In some embodiments, the first grid pattern comprises a 0.25-inch plus sign grid pattern. In some of these embodiments, the second grid pattern comprises the dot grid pattern at the same pitch as the plus sign grid pattern and offset from the plus sign grid pattern by 0.125-inches.
In a further aspect, a system for journaling comprises a plurality of sheets, each sheet comprising a plus sign grid pattern and a dot grid pattern overlaying the plus sign grid pattern at the same pitch but offset so the dots are in the center of the squares defined by the plus signs, wherein the plus sign grid pattern in combination with the dot grid pattern describes a template for one or more of a jounal event, a journal module, a journal signifier, and a journal task. In some embodiments, the plurality of sheets are arranged in one of a book and a binder. In some embodiments, the dot grid pattern comprises a transparent sheet that is deposited onto the plus sign grid pattern to form a composite sheet. In further embodiments, the plus sign grid pattern comprises a first transparent sheet and the dot grid pattern comprises a second transparent sheet that are combined to form the composite sheet. In some embodiments, the plus sign grid pattern comprises a 0.25-inch plus sign grid pattern. In some of these embodiments, the dot grid pattern comprises a same pitch as the plus sign grid pattern and offset from the plus sign grid pattern by 0.125-inches.
Several example embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like components are provided with like reference numerals. The example embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. The drawings include the following figures:
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sheet assembly and method of manufacturing a sheet assembly. The sheet assembly comprises a first grid comprising a first plurality of shapes on the sheet and a second grid comprising a second plurality of shapes on the sheet. The second plurality of shapes overlay the first plurality of shapes such that the second plurality of shapes are in a center of one or more squares defined by the first plurality of shapes. The first grid in combination with the second grid creates a template for the creation of one or more discrete components such as a list, a table, a chart and a graph. In some embodiments, the first grid comprises a plurality of crosshair shaped plus signs and the second grid comprises a plurality of dots. The two grid patterns are overlaid and offset from one another. The two patterns are offset such that the dots are located at the center of the squares defined by the crosshairs.
Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of a sheet assembly and method of manufacturing the sheet assembly. In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions can be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application and business related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
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In operation, the present invention addresses functional deficiencies of both solid line grids and dot grids. Solid line grids can be visually obtrusive and compete with the user's own writing and drawing. Dot grids can be visually disorienting since the dots themselves lack any directional features. Dots are also readily obliterated when a single line is drawn through a dot, so there is no way to accurately draw additional lines at other angles through the same dot, thereby making it difficult to accurately draw tables, charts and graphs.
The present invention comprises two uniform grid patterns overlaid and offset from one another. In some embodiments, the primary grid pattern is comprised of crosshair “plus signs”. The secondary grid pattern is comprised of dots. The two grid patterns are offset such that the dots are located at the center of the squares defined by the crosshairs. In some embodiments, each plus sign comprises two orthogonal hash marks of such length as to minimize visual clutter while not being completely obscured by the width of an ink or pencil line passing through their intersection. Unlike dots, drawing a line through a plus sign only obscures one crosshair, while the orthogonal crosshair remains exposed and maintains the spatial reference of their intersection. The horizontal and vertical dot and crosshair spacing is such that it is able to guide note taking, list making and freehand drawing of tables, charts and graphs, nominally 0.25 inch or 6 mm, which is the common line spacing for conventional lined paper and graph paper.
Particularly, the combination of dots and crosshairs is unique, and provides practical advantages over simple dot grids for combined note taking and freehand drawing of tables, charts and graphs. Crosshairs are less visually obtrusive than solid line grid patterns, while retaining horizontal and vertical guidance for writing and drawing. The offset dots allow precise bisecting of horizontal and vertical lines defined by the crosshairs with minimal visual clutter—a feature that is useful for making charts and plotting graphs. The dots also facilitate precise location of individual letters, numbers and symbols at the center of the square defined by the four surrounding plus signs—a useful feature for freehand drawing of checklists and bullet lists. As such, the sheet assembly the method of manufacturing a sheet assembly as described herein has many advantages.
The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such references, herein, to specific embodiments and details thereof are not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made in the embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This Patent Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the the co-pending U.S. provisional patent application, Application No. 62/412,944, filed on Oct. 26, 2016, and entitled SHEET ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SHEET ASSEMBLY”, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62412944 | Oct 2016 | US |
