PANTOGRAPH
United States Patent 3858324
A folding pantograph comprises a pair of flat sheet supports hingedly interconnected along confronting edges, a pantograph linkage pivotally mounted on one of these supports and having a stylus adapted to trace the outline of an image thereon, and a writing instrument reaching over the hingedly connected edges to inscribe an enlarged version of the pattern upon a sheet of paper carried by the other support. A transparent overleaf disposed over at least a portion of the first support can be lifted to insert the master thereunder so that the scribing operation does not damage the original.
US Patent References:
Radius tool
Parker - April 1930 - 1755152
Instrument for individual vary-sizing of type
Schnable - February 1933 - 1899775
Writing coordinator
Wride - January 1939 - 2143426
Universal drafting and measuring instrument
Morris - July 1947 - 2423786
Educational toy
Shulman - March 1951 - 2543998
Radius tool
Parker - April 1930 - 1755152
Instrument for individual vary-sizing of type
Schnable - February 1933 - 1899775
Writing coordinator
Wride - January 1939 - 2143426
Universal drafting and measuring instrument
Morris - July 1947 - 2423786
Educational toy
Shulman - March 1951 - 2543998
Application Number:
05/381437
Publication Date:
01/07/1975
Filing Date:
07/23/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A63H33/22; B43L13/10; B43L13/10
Field of Search:
33/25,23R,115,106
US Patent References:
| 3308543 | Foldable measuring rules | March 1967 | Fenton |
Primary Examiner:
Haroian, Harry N.
Assistant Examiner:
Shepperd, John W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Ross, Karl Dubno Herbert F.
Claims:
I claim
1. A pantograph comprising:
2. The pantograph defined in claim 1 wherein said support boards are hinged together along said confronting edges by a tape applied to the opposite surfaces of said support boards whereby said edges abut upon spreading of said boards.
3. The pantograph defined in claim 1 wherein said surfaces of said support boards are provided with rectangular outlines representing the reproduceable field of the master and of the reproduced image.
4. The pantograph defined in claim 3, further comprising an image permanently formed on said surface of said one of said support boards within its outline and a corresponding figure permanently formed on said surface of said other support within its outline.
1. A pantograph comprising:
2. The pantograph defined in claim 1 wherein said support boards are hinged together along said confronting edges by a tape applied to the opposite surfaces of said support boards whereby said edges abut upon spreading of said boards.
3. The pantograph defined in claim 1 wherein said surfaces of said support boards are provided with rectangular outlines representing the reproduceable field of the master and of the reproduced image.
4. The pantograph defined in claim 3, further comprising an image permanently formed on said surface of said one of said support boards within its outline and a corresponding figure permanently formed on said surface of said other support within its outline.
Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
My present invention relates to a pantograph and, more particularly, to a device for enlarging or reducing images using the pantograph principle and especially for children.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous pantograph systems have been provided heretofore for the enlargement or reduction of an image, the systems being provided in high precision arrangements for accurate drafting, as toys or the like with low accuracy, and in a variety of intermediate forms. In general, each such pantograph comprises a support and an arrangement of articulated bars pivotally mounted to the support at an axis perpendicular thereto. The arrangement of articulated bars includes a stylus which is intended to trace the small images and a scribing, writing or drawing instrument, e.g. a pen or pencil, adapted to trace the large image, or vice versa. The support is provided at two laterally spaced locations with means for retaining a master image to be reproduced in larger size or smaller size, and a sheet of paper or some other substrate adapted to receive the reproduced image. One location lies beneath the stylus while the other lies beneath the drawing instrument.
One of the principal difficulties of conventional pantographs is that they are inordinately large if any substantial size enlargement or reduction is contemplated. While the articulated bar arrangement may be contracted in space, it has not been possible heretofore to transport or store a system of the character described with ease or convenience, because of the large size of the support which, as noted, had two locations respectively receiving the master and the copy sheet.
Furthermore, conventional pantograph systems require the use of a sharp-pointed stylus if image enlargements are to be made since, in this case, each line of the master must be traced with great care to avoid the inaccurate reproduction that results by multiplication of errors. Such sharp stylii may damage the master and even tear it to a point that the master is unusable for other purposes.
Furthermore, conventional pantograph systems are of complex and expensive construction which it has not been possible to avoid heretofore without considerable loss of precision.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved pantograph, especially for use as a toy, whereby the aforedescribed disadvantages can be obviated.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a low cost but relatively accurate pantograph which is compact and is capable of preventing damage to the master or original copy when making enlargements therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the present invention, wherein a pantograph for use as a child's toy or other enlargement and reduction purposes, comprises a two-part support having juxtaposed edges hingedly interconnected so as to enable the support to be folded at the hinged edges with respective surfaces of the two parts lying outwardly. At the opposite edge of one of these surfaces of one of these supports, a pantograph bar arrangement is pivoted for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to this surface. The pantograph bar arrangement comprises at least one long arm formed at an end with a socket for a scribing instrument, e.g. a pen, pencil, felt-tip or other marker, this arm reaching over the other support part when the support is opened or spread. On the first part, proximal to the pivot, I provide means for retaining a master image in place while the other part of the pantograph is provided with means for retaining a reproduction sheet in place so that, when a stylus scribes the outline of the master on the first support part, an enlarged but geometrically similar outline is reproduced on the other support part.
According to an essential feature of the invention, the first support part is provided with a transparent overleaf of a celluloid or synthetic resin material, preferably by hingedly securing this overleaf to the said surface of the first part whereby the master can be introduced below this overleaf and is covered thereby over a region corresponding to the practical drawing window of the second support part. Thus the scriber engages only the transparent overlay and cannot tear the overlying master.
According to another feature of the invention, the field of the first support part corresponding to the drawing window, is outlined directly upon the first support part and is coextensive with the transparent overlay so that the user may readily ascertain the region of the master which can be reproduced upon the paper sheet fixed to the second support part. I have found it to be desirable within this field to provide a multi-color image and a correspondingly enlarged multi-color image in the window of the second support part so that the user, generally a child of young age, can readily ascertain the correlation between parts of the framed original or master and parts of the copy.
According to still another feature of the invention the scriber holder is a bifurcated portion of the long pantograph arm, having legs which straddle and hug the drawing instrument. It has been found to be advantageous to provide at least one of the articulations of the pantograph bar assembly, a pin or post which rides upon the surface of the first support part and constitutes, with the drawing instrument and the stylus, a three-point support. The pin may have a head and preferably is received within a space or sleeve formed or one of the bars and accommodating an eye of the other bar so that the pin simultaneously holds the two bars in articulating relationship. The or each articulation may be a similar pin which may have a length equal to the thickness of the two barts at their junction or may project therebeyond to provide additional support. A similar pin may mount the bar upon a pedestal as will be apparent hereinafter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view drawn to a considerably reduced scale of a pantograph embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line II -- II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view in the direction of arrow III of FIG. 1 showing the stylus in place;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV -- IV of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V -- V of FIG. 1.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
The pantograph, according to the present invention comprises a support consisting of a pair of flat hardboard or cardboard support parts 11 and 12 hingedly interconnected at 13 so as to be spreadable into the position shown in FIG. 1. The support 10 is provided with a pedestal 14 upon which an articulated pantograph bar arrangement 15 is pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to a face 16 of the support 11.
The articulated bar arrangement 15 comprises a first bar 17 of a length intermediate that of bars 20 and 24 which is pivotally mounted at 18 to the pedestal 14 and at 19 to the long bar 20. At an intermediate location 21, the bar 17 is pivotally connected to a bar 22 which lies parallel to the bar 20 and is also articulated at 23 to a bar 24 parallel to the bar 17.
The bar 24 is formed at one end with a socket 25 adapted to receive a stylus 26 which, as shown in FIG. 3, has a large diameter upstanding portion 27 and a slender shank 28 prolonged in a sharp point 29.
At its other end, the bar 24 is articulated at 30 to the bar 20 which, as noted, is articulated at its end to the bar 17.
The distances between articulations 19 and 21 and between articulations 23 and 30 are equal as are the distances between the articulations 21 and 23 and the articulations 19 and 30. The result is paralellogrammatic linkage having a prolonged bar 20 at the end 32 of which, a bifurcated arrangement is provided to removably receive a writing or drawing instrument such as a pen, pencil felt-tip or nylon tip marker, brush or the like.
The support 12 is provided with means, e.g. clips 33 and 34 for retaining paper sheets in place within a drawing window outline at 35. For convenience in illustrating the operation of the device, a figure, here a clown, is represented at 36 within the window.
On the first support I provide a transparent overleaf 38 of tape so that it can be swing unpwardly to receive the master image therebelow. This overleaf has an outline corresponding to the rectangular field outline marked at 39 on the surface 16 and enclosing the reduced-image counterpart 40 of the image within the window on the second sheet. Thus, when the stylus is placed upon any portion of the image beneath the overleaf 37, the scribing instrument at the free end 32 of arm 20 will be disposed directly upon the corresponding image at the right side of the device.
To enable the support part 12 to be folded under the support part 11 as shown in FIG. 5, a tape hinge 42 is provided along the juxtaposed edges 43 and 44 of the support parts.
It has been found to be advantageous to provide the pantograph assembly as a multiplicity of replaceable and relatively interconnectable parts so that in case any part is damaged it may be removed without tools and replaced by a corresponding part.
To this end, the pedestal 14 (FIG. 5) comprises a frustum-shaped base 50 which lies upon the surface 16 of support board 11 and is formed with a central bore 51. A plug 52 of an anchor 53 traversing the board 11, is tightly fitted into the bore 51 and is hugged by the wall thereof.
The pedestal also comprises a cylindrical portion 54 terminating in a cylindrical boss 55 so that a step or shoulder 56 is formed at the top of the pedestal. The boss 55 forms a pivot for the arm or bar 17 which, like all the bars described is generally molded in synthetic-resin material with a channel profile and is formed with a cylindrical bore 58 receiving the boss 55. The bar 17 rests upon the shoulder or step 56 and the assembly is held in place by a pin 59 whose head 60 overlies the upper surface of the bar 17 and is of a larger diameter than that of boss 55. The pin 59, also molded from synthetic-resin material, is tightly held in the bore 15. The axial length of boss 55 may be slightly greater than the thickness of the bar 17 to permit free pivotal motion.
At least at one of the articulations of the bars 17, 22, 24 and 20 with one another, there is provided a pin 70 which is analogous to pin 59 but is prolonged at 71 to reach the surface 16 of the support. The articulation 19 between the bars 17 and 20 is here shown to have the prolonged pin 70, 71. To this end, the bar 17 underlies the bar 20, both of which are of channel configuration, but is formed with a cylindrical boss 69 over which the bore 68 of bar 20 is fitted. Here again the axial length of the sleeve 69 is slightly greater than the thickness of the bar 20 to permit free rotation. The head 67 of the pin is of a greater diameter than the sleeve 69 so that the two bars cannot be separated unless the pin is first removed. The pin 70, 71 is force-fitted into the bore 66 of the bar 17.
In operation, the removable stylus 26 is snugly inserted into the socket 25, a drawing instrument such as a pencil is fitted into the bifurcated end 32, a master image is placed beneath the transparent overleaf 37 and a sheet of paper is anchored within the region defined by the outline 35, to the other support part 12 via the clips 33 and 34. By following the outlines of the image beneath the overleaf 37, a reproduction of this image is obtained at the sheet held to the board 12.
My present invention relates to a pantograph and, more particularly, to a device for enlarging or reducing images using the pantograph principle and especially for children.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous pantograph systems have been provided heretofore for the enlargement or reduction of an image, the systems being provided in high precision arrangements for accurate drafting, as toys or the like with low accuracy, and in a variety of intermediate forms. In general, each such pantograph comprises a support and an arrangement of articulated bars pivotally mounted to the support at an axis perpendicular thereto. The arrangement of articulated bars includes a stylus which is intended to trace the small images and a scribing, writing or drawing instrument, e.g. a pen or pencil, adapted to trace the large image, or vice versa. The support is provided at two laterally spaced locations with means for retaining a master image to be reproduced in larger size or smaller size, and a sheet of paper or some other substrate adapted to receive the reproduced image. One location lies beneath the stylus while the other lies beneath the drawing instrument.
One of the principal difficulties of conventional pantographs is that they are inordinately large if any substantial size enlargement or reduction is contemplated. While the articulated bar arrangement may be contracted in space, it has not been possible heretofore to transport or store a system of the character described with ease or convenience, because of the large size of the support which, as noted, had two locations respectively receiving the master and the copy sheet.
Furthermore, conventional pantograph systems require the use of a sharp-pointed stylus if image enlargements are to be made since, in this case, each line of the master must be traced with great care to avoid the inaccurate reproduction that results by multiplication of errors. Such sharp stylii may damage the master and even tear it to a point that the master is unusable for other purposes.
Furthermore, conventional pantograph systems are of complex and expensive construction which it has not been possible to avoid heretofore without considerable loss of precision.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved pantograph, especially for use as a toy, whereby the aforedescribed disadvantages can be obviated.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a low cost but relatively accurate pantograph which is compact and is capable of preventing damage to the master or original copy when making enlargements therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the present invention, wherein a pantograph for use as a child's toy or other enlargement and reduction purposes, comprises a two-part support having juxtaposed edges hingedly interconnected so as to enable the support to be folded at the hinged edges with respective surfaces of the two parts lying outwardly. At the opposite edge of one of these surfaces of one of these supports, a pantograph bar arrangement is pivoted for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to this surface. The pantograph bar arrangement comprises at least one long arm formed at an end with a socket for a scribing instrument, e.g. a pen, pencil, felt-tip or other marker, this arm reaching over the other support part when the support is opened or spread. On the first part, proximal to the pivot, I provide means for retaining a master image in place while the other part of the pantograph is provided with means for retaining a reproduction sheet in place so that, when a stylus scribes the outline of the master on the first support part, an enlarged but geometrically similar outline is reproduced on the other support part.
According to an essential feature of the invention, the first support part is provided with a transparent overleaf of a celluloid or synthetic resin material, preferably by hingedly securing this overleaf to the said surface of the first part whereby the master can be introduced below this overleaf and is covered thereby over a region corresponding to the practical drawing window of the second support part. Thus the scriber engages only the transparent overlay and cannot tear the overlying master.
According to another feature of the invention, the field of the first support part corresponding to the drawing window, is outlined directly upon the first support part and is coextensive with the transparent overlay so that the user may readily ascertain the region of the master which can be reproduced upon the paper sheet fixed to the second support part. I have found it to be desirable within this field to provide a multi-color image and a correspondingly enlarged multi-color image in the window of the second support part so that the user, generally a child of young age, can readily ascertain the correlation between parts of the framed original or master and parts of the copy.
According to still another feature of the invention the scriber holder is a bifurcated portion of the long pantograph arm, having legs which straddle and hug the drawing instrument. It has been found to be advantageous to provide at least one of the articulations of the pantograph bar assembly, a pin or post which rides upon the surface of the first support part and constitutes, with the drawing instrument and the stylus, a three-point support. The pin may have a head and preferably is received within a space or sleeve formed or one of the bars and accommodating an eye of the other bar so that the pin simultaneously holds the two bars in articulating relationship. The or each articulation may be a similar pin which may have a length equal to the thickness of the two barts at their junction or may project therebeyond to provide additional support. A similar pin may mount the bar upon a pedestal as will be apparent hereinafter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view drawn to a considerably reduced scale of a pantograph embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line II -- II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view in the direction of arrow III of FIG. 1 showing the stylus in place;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV -- IV of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V -- V of FIG. 1.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
The pantograph, according to the present invention comprises a support consisting of a pair of flat hardboard or cardboard support parts 11 and 12 hingedly interconnected at 13 so as to be spreadable into the position shown in FIG. 1. The support 10 is provided with a pedestal 14 upon which an articulated pantograph bar arrangement 15 is pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to a face 16 of the support 11.
The articulated bar arrangement 15 comprises a first bar 17 of a length intermediate that of bars 20 and 24 which is pivotally mounted at 18 to the pedestal 14 and at 19 to the long bar 20. At an intermediate location 21, the bar 17 is pivotally connected to a bar 22 which lies parallel to the bar 20 and is also articulated at 23 to a bar 24 parallel to the bar 17.
The bar 24 is formed at one end with a socket 25 adapted to receive a stylus 26 which, as shown in FIG. 3, has a large diameter upstanding portion 27 and a slender shank 28 prolonged in a sharp point 29.
At its other end, the bar 24 is articulated at 30 to the bar 20 which, as noted, is articulated at its end to the bar 17.
The distances between articulations 19 and 21 and between articulations 23 and 30 are equal as are the distances between the articulations 21 and 23 and the articulations 19 and 30. The result is paralellogrammatic linkage having a prolonged bar 20 at the end 32 of which, a bifurcated arrangement is provided to removably receive a writing or drawing instrument such as a pen, pencil felt-tip or nylon tip marker, brush or the like.
The support 12 is provided with means, e.g. clips 33 and 34 for retaining paper sheets in place within a drawing window outline at 35. For convenience in illustrating the operation of the device, a figure, here a clown, is represented at 36 within the window.
On the first support I provide a transparent overleaf 38 of tape so that it can be swing unpwardly to receive the master image therebelow. This overleaf has an outline corresponding to the rectangular field outline marked at 39 on the surface 16 and enclosing the reduced-image counterpart 40 of the image within the window on the second sheet. Thus, when the stylus is placed upon any portion of the image beneath the overleaf 37, the scribing instrument at the free end 32 of arm 20 will be disposed directly upon the corresponding image at the right side of the device.
To enable the support part 12 to be folded under the support part 11 as shown in FIG. 5, a tape hinge 42 is provided along the juxtaposed edges 43 and 44 of the support parts.
It has been found to be advantageous to provide the pantograph assembly as a multiplicity of replaceable and relatively interconnectable parts so that in case any part is damaged it may be removed without tools and replaced by a corresponding part.
To this end, the pedestal 14 (FIG. 5) comprises a frustum-shaped base 50 which lies upon the surface 16 of support board 11 and is formed with a central bore 51. A plug 52 of an anchor 53 traversing the board 11, is tightly fitted into the bore 51 and is hugged by the wall thereof.
The pedestal also comprises a cylindrical portion 54 terminating in a cylindrical boss 55 so that a step or shoulder 56 is formed at the top of the pedestal. The boss 55 forms a pivot for the arm or bar 17 which, like all the bars described is generally molded in synthetic-resin material with a channel profile and is formed with a cylindrical bore 58 receiving the boss 55. The bar 17 rests upon the shoulder or step 56 and the assembly is held in place by a pin 59 whose head 60 overlies the upper surface of the bar 17 and is of a larger diameter than that of boss 55. The pin 59, also molded from synthetic-resin material, is tightly held in the bore 15. The axial length of boss 55 may be slightly greater than the thickness of the bar 17 to permit free pivotal motion.
At least at one of the articulations of the bars 17, 22, 24 and 20 with one another, there is provided a pin 70 which is analogous to pin 59 but is prolonged at 71 to reach the surface 16 of the support. The articulation 19 between the bars 17 and 20 is here shown to have the prolonged pin 70, 71. To this end, the bar 17 underlies the bar 20, both of which are of channel configuration, but is formed with a cylindrical boss 69 over which the bore 68 of bar 20 is fitted. Here again the axial length of the sleeve 69 is slightly greater than the thickness of the bar 20 to permit free rotation. The head 67 of the pin is of a greater diameter than the sleeve 69 so that the two bars cannot be separated unless the pin is first removed. The pin 70, 71 is force-fitted into the bore 66 of the bar 17.
In operation, the removable stylus 26 is snugly inserted into the socket 25, a drawing instrument such as a pencil is fitted into the bifurcated end 32, a master image is placed beneath the transparent overleaf 37 and a sheet of paper is anchored within the region defined by the outline 35, to the other support part 12 via the clips 33 and 34. By following the outlines of the image beneath the overleaf 37, a reproduction of this image is obtained at the sheet held to the board 12.