Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates generally to lettering
apparatus, and more particularly to lettering templates for
use in lettering paper, plastic film and the like.
In the past, lettering templates have been
proposed which are used to guide a pencil or other pointed
writing instrument over materials which have to be
lettered. These materials include such things as maps,
information circulars, drawings and the like. It has been
found that such writing instruments as have heretofore been
proposed require the use of a transfer medium such as
carbon paper as for example may be seen in the lettering
instrument taught by Dunning in U.S. Patent 1,716,036.
Alternately, lettering instruments have required two
separate guides to be provided for certain letters of the
alphabet such as the letter A, or the letter B each of
which has a completely encircled background portion in the
centre of the letter. Use of the two separate guides for
such letters requires two separate lettering passes to
complete letters of this sort. As a further example, to
represent the numeral 8, it has been necessary to provide
two circular holes one of which could be used to guide the
pencil, or writing instrument, to form the bottom portion
of the numeral 8, the other then used to form the top
portion of the numeral 8.
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Accordingly, the present invention seeks to at
least partially overcome these disadvantages by providing a
lettering template which can be used to letter thin,
flexible light-transmissive material such as paper, plastic
film and the like using simply a pointed writing
instrument, such as a pencil or pen wherein any letter or
punctuation mark of the alphabet or any numeral of the
numbering system may be formed directly onto paper by the
pointed writing instrument directly from a single
corresponding symbol provided on ~he lettering template.
Such letters may be formed in any lettering style or font
and may be taken from the English alphabet or other
aiphabets, as for example, Russian or French.
To this end, in one of its aspects, the
invention provides a lettering template comprising a thin
planar light-transmissive body provided with a series of
symbol defining intaglio each intaglio forming an outline
of a respective symbol.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides
a lettering template comprising a thin planar
light-transmissive body provided with a series of symbol
defining intaglio with a light-inhibiting material provided
on the surface of the intaglio.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides
a lettering template comprising a laminate having a
light-transmissive lamina and a light-inhibiting lamina, a
series of symbol defining intaglio provided in the
laminate, said intaglio passing completely through said
light-inhibiting lamina.
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In yet another of its aspects, the invention
further provides a lettexing template comprising a laminate
having a light-transmissive lamina and light-inhibiting
lamina. A series of symbol defining intaglio are provided
in the laminate, the intaglio passing completely through
the light-inhibiting lamina. The series of symbols is
selected from at least one of the following: a series of
symbols representing all the letters of an alphabet; a
series of symbols representing all the digits of the
decimal numbering system; or, a series of symbols
representing all punctuation marks.
Several embodiments of the invention including
the preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of an
embodiment of a lettering template in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1
taken along line 2-2;
Figure 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the
lettering template in accordance with the present invention
showing the numerals 0 through 9;
Figure 4 is a top perspective view of an
embodiment of a template and a back-lighted drawing board;
Figure 5 is a close up, cross-sectional view of
an embodiment of a lettering template in use;
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Figure 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment
of a lettering template in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 6
taken along line 7-7;
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the preferred
embodiment of a lettering template in accordance with the
present invention; and
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 8
taken along line 9-9.
Reference is first made to Figure 1 which shows a
portion of an embodiment of a lettering template in
accordance with the present invention designated generally
by reference numeral 10. As may most clearly be seen by
reference to Figure 2, this embodiment of the lettering
template comprises a laminate having a light-transmissive
lamina 12 and a light-inhibiting lamina 14. A plurality of
intaglio 16 (or etchings) are provided which pass
completely through the light-inhibiting lamina 14 to
provide a light channel passing therethrough in
communication with the light-transmissive lamina 12.
Although the intaglio 16 are shown in Figure 2 as extending
down into the light-transmissive portion of the lamina, it
should be understood that it is only necessary for the
intaglio 16 to pass through the light-inhibiting or opaque
lamina to permit light to be conducted from the
light-transmissive lamina 12 upward through the intaglio
16. The intaglio must have sufficient depth to ensure that
a guide is provided to guide the direction of movement of a
~, :
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pointed writing instrument passing therealong as a symbol
is formed as described hereafter.
Referring again to Figure 1, the letters of the
alphabet "a" through "o" may be seen represented by the
aforementioned intaglio on the lettering template 10. The
letter "a" is represented by a single intaglio or groove.
This manner of representing a symbol or letter, that is by
using a single intaglio to form the entire symbol, is not
the preferred way of providing letters in the lettering
template. The preferred way of providing symbols on the
lettering template is by use of a symbol outline (or double
groove) as is shown in Figure 1 where the letters "b"
through "o" of the alphabet are represented using a symbol
outline intaglio. By providing symbols using an outline
intaglio pattern, sharper corners of the symbols are
obtainable. For example, the vertical portion of the
letter "b" is shown to have substantially square corners
thus defining a neat upward stroke of the letter "b". On
the other hand, the letter "a" which was formed from a
single intaglio, is shown to have rounded portions at the
terminal ends of the letter "a". Note, however, that where
type, style or font dicates rounded corners, the double
grooves can be formed to provide rounded corners and with
better precision than would a single groove as shown in the
drawing.
The reason for the rounded terminal ends of the
letter "a", is that, in producing the lettering template,
the device which is used to etch the intaglio of the letter
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into the lettering template 10 is a rotary etching tool
which etches a cylindrical portion out of the opaque lamina
14. Accordingly, where the rotary etching tool terminates,
as is shown in the terminal portions of the letter "a",
only a rounded terminus is obtainable. However, when an
outline intaglio (double groove intaglio) is used as shown
in the letters "b" through "o", square appearing corners of
the letters are obtainable. The square appearance of the
corners is obtainable since the rotary etching tool used to
form the intaglio outline of the symbols has a very small
diameter in relation to the size of the symbols.
Accordingly, use of the intaglio outline permits neater
appearing letters to be formed on the lettering template
10 .
It will be appreciated that several manners of
construction of a lettering template in accordance with the
present invention may be used. For example,
light-inhibiting lamina 14 may be constructed from an
opaque plastic material and light-transmissive lamina 12
may be constructed from a light-transmissive plastic
material which is permanently glued or affixed to opaque
lamina 14. The intaglio 16 may be formed into the laminate
so constructed by a rotary etching tool to define symbols
as described herein.
Alternately, the light-transmissive lamina 12 may
be constructed from moulded plastic (moulded by for
example, injection moulding or stamping) wherein the symbol
defining intaglio 16 are provided in the light-transmissive
lamina itself by the moulding process. Thereafter, opaque
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lamina 14 may be applied to the light-transmissive lamina
by applying an opaque coating to the intaglio side of the
light-transmissive lamina (i.e. by applying paint with a
roller) wherein the opaque coating does not extend into or
obstruct the intaglio provided in the light-transmissive
lamina.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, another embodiment
of a lettering template 10 in accordance with the present
invention is shown. In this embodiment, a single
light-transmissive body 12 is provided. The
light-transmissive body 12 may be constructed of any
suitable light-transmissive material such as plastic using
conventional injection moulding or stamp forming
techniques. Formed on one surface of the body 10 are a
plurality of intaglio 16 which define symbol outlines. For
example, the letter "a" is formed with an outer or
peripheral intaglio 40 and an inner intaglio 42. A portion
of the intaglio 16 are shown in cross-section in Figure 7.
It should be noted that in the embodiment of the lettering
template in accordance with the present invention shown in
Figures 6 and 7, no light-inhibiting lamina or material is
provided.
It was found that the diffraction, deflection and
diffusion of light through light-transmissive body 12
varied depending on the thickness and surface features of
the body, therefore, a light-inhibiting material, although
preferable, is not necessary for the use or construction of
this embodiment a lettering template in accordance with the
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g
present invention. Referring to Figure 7, the passage of
three light rays 44, 46 and 48 through light-transmissive
body 12 is shown. Light ray 44 is shown to be deflected by
the interior surface of intaglio 16 outwardly and away from
the groove of intaglio 16. This causes the extremities of
intaglio 16 to appear dark when viewed from above (i.e. the
vantage point illustrated in Figure 6). On the other hand,
light rays 46 and 48 pass through light-transmissive body
12 without substantial deflection, but since light ray 46
passes through less of light-transmissive body 12 than
light ray 48, light ray 46 appears brighter than light ray
48 since less diffusion and ahsorbtion of light ray 46
occurs. The foregoing optical effects all combine to
produce an optical contrast when lettering template 10 is
predominantly lighted from the direction shown by light
rays 44, 46 and 48; the optical contrast enables the user
of the lettering template to locate the desired symbol and
to properly position and advance a pointed writing
instrument when using the lettering template in the manner
described subsequently.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the preferred
embodiment of a lettering template in accordance with the
pre~ent invention is shown generally referred to by
reference numeral 10. A light-transmissive body 12 is
provided which may be constructed of any suitable
light-transmissive material such as plastic using
conventional injection moulding or stamp forming
techniques. Formed on one surface of the body 10 are a
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plurality of intaglio 16 which define symbol outlines.
Disposed along each intaglio surface is a light-inhibiting
material 50 which may be constructed by painting or
stamping the light-inhibiting material 50 onto the intaglio
16. Thus the location of the intaglio 16 on the surface of
light-transmissive body 12 are made clearly visible to the
user of the preferred embodiment of a lettering template in
accordance with the present invention. The preferred
embodiment of the invention is simpler to construct than
the laminate embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 since
the preferred embodiment does not re~uire a laminate. The
preferred embodiment of the invention is easier to use than
the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 since the presence
of a light-inhibiting material 50 in intaglio 16 permits
the user of the preferred embodiment to more readily
identify the location of the intaglio 16. This latter
advantage of the preferred embodiment is particularly true
where the material sought to be lettered by the lettering
template is poorly translucent thereby tending to obscure
the locations of the symbol defining intaglio 16 when the
lettering template is being used as will become more
apparent as the manner of use of the lettering template is
explained hereafter.
Referring now to Figure 3, an example intaglio
outline pattern for the numerals 0 through 9 is shown.
This figure simply illustrates that the intaglio symbol
outline feature of the present invention may be used to
provide intaglio outlines of any series of symbols that may
be required. It must be noted, however, that a complete
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series of alphabet or number symbols must be represented to
permit the template to be used to construct words, phrases
and the like.
Referring now to Figure 4, an embodiment of a
lettering template 10 is shown positioned above a
back-lighted drawing board 18 shown in cut-away. The
interior of the back-lighted drawing board is provided with
a light source 20. On the top surface of the drawing board
18 is a transparent or translucent material 22 which allows
light emanating from the light source 20 to pass
therethrough. Provided in the upper portion of the drawing
board 18 is an optional guide plate 24 which is securely
attached to the drawing board and may be used to guide the
lettering template 10 as it slides back and forth along the
panel 22 in the manner explained hereafter. Also attached
to the guide plate 24 is a piece of paper 26 which is an
example of a thin, flexible light transmissive material
which may be lettered by the user of the lettering template
10. The paper 26 may be affixed to the guide plate 24 by
portions of tape 28, or in any other suitable manner.
The user of the lettering template 10 has
lettered the expression "Smile Toront" on the paper 26
using the lettering template 10. To form the next letter
which appears to be required in the expression, namely the
letter "o", the lettering template 10 would be moved to the
left until the letter "o" is positioned at the appropriate
spot next to the letter "t". The vertical position of the
letter "o" would be maintained by the guide plate 24 if
1135113
such a guide plate is provided, otherwise the vertical
position of the letter "o" must be manually obtained by the
operator of the lettering template. The correct
positioning of the lettering template 10 under the paper 26
can be easily seen by the operator thereof because of the
light pattern cast onto the paper 26 from the light source
20 passing through the lettering template 10. Once the
letter "o" is properly positioned, the operator of the
lettering template would move pointed writing instrument
30, which is shown to be a pencil--but could be any other
suitable writing instrument, as for example a ball point
pen, drafting pen, etc.--into the intaglio outline of the
letter "o". The letter "o" is then traced in outline onto
the paper 26 by passing the writing instrument around the
intaglio outline of the letter "o", wherein the direction
of movement of the pointed writing instrument is guided by
the intaglio outline. This procedure would be the same for
lettering of any symbol which is desired to be placed onto
paper 26.
By reference to Figure 5, a clear picture of the
position of the writing instrument 30 over the lettering
template 10 may be seen. The pointed writing portion 32 is
placed directly into intaglio 16. The paper 26 is urged
slightly downwardly into intaglio 16 by the pointed writing
portion 32 of the writing instrument. As the writing
instrument moves along intaglio 16, ink is removed from the
pointed writing portion 32 and deposited onto paper 26. In
this fashion, the outline of the symbol sought to be placed
onto the paper 26 is made. As may be appreciated, the
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pressure of the pointed writing portion 32 against the
paper 26 causes the paper to be permanently deformed into a
relief 34 directly over the corresponding intaglio 16. For
this reason, it is necessary to ensure that the width of
intaglio 16 is not greater than the width of the pointed
writing portion 32 of the pencil or other writing
instrument 30. The narrow width of intaglio 16 ensures
that the path of the pointed writing portion 32 is smooth
and uniform thus presenting a neat appearing letter outline
on the paper 26.
Referring again to Figure 4, it may be seen that
the expression Smile has been made into a series of solid
symbols or letters. This is opposed to the symbol or
letter outlines which the incomplete word Toronto now
shows. The letters of the word Smile were subsequently
filled in or made solid by the writing instrument 30 after
the outline thereof had been made by the lettering template
10 in accordance with the method outlined above. It may be
appreciated then that any style or size of letter or symbol
may be made in intaglio on the lettering template 10 and
thereafter traced onto the paper 26. Thereafter such an
outline may subsequently be filled in (as was the word
Smile) to present a solid letter or a symbol of any size or
font. Alternately, the symbol outline may be left unfilled
(as was the partial word Toronto).
Whi~e in the foregoing specification there has
been disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, it
will be appreciated that in light of such disclosure,
changes and modifications will suggest themselves to others
1~35~13
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skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.
Accordingly, it will be also understood that the invention
is not to be limited to the embodiment thus disclosed by
way of example in that the invention includes as well all
such modifications, substitutions and changes in the parts
and construction of the preferred embodiment as shall come
within the purview of the claims appended hereto.
