WO1999043235A1

WO1999043235A1 - Drawing board

Info

Publication number: WO1999043235A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/000229
Authority: WO
Inventors: Monica HALVARSSON BJÖRK; Hans BJÖRK
Original assignee: Halvarsson Bjoerk Monica; Bjoerk Hans
Priority date: 1998-02-27
Filing date: 1999-02-19
Publication date: 1999-09-02
Also published as: WO1999043235B1; SE513925C2; SE9800614L; SE9800614D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drawing board, which provides an educational aid for children and adults, who wish to paint or draw a model, themselves or a subject, which board comprises two surfaces (2a, 2b), on each of which a painting or a drawing of a subject which is positioned very close to the drawing board, will be done. Said surfaces (2a, 2b) belong to at least one transparent plate (2) made of, e.g. glass, laminated glass or a plastic material, which is mounted in a holder device, which comprises at least one frame-like part (1), which has a relatively large depth and in substantially the center of which the transparent plate (2) is mounted, said holder device, when used, being mounted in a substantially vertical direction, preferably transversal to horizontally directed support legs (runners) or the like (6), which are removably fastened to the lower ends of the vertical sides (8) of the frame-like part (1) in order to position the drawing board on a support, e.g. a floor or a table, the intention being to position the subject during the painting or the drawing in such a way that it will appear closely adjacent the plate (2) and consequently appear in the surfaces (2a, 2b), i.e. in the picture surfaces of the artist or the artists, i.e. in the surface, on which the picture is produced.

Description

DRAWING BOARD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a drawing board, which provides an educational aid designed for children as well as adults, who wish to paint or draw a model, themselves or a subject, which aid comprises two surfaces, on each of which a painting of a subject, which is located very close to these surfaces, can be done.

BACKGROUND ART

In the above-mentioned technical field many different drawing boards are known, which are designed to carry surfaces, on which a painting can be done, e.g. US patent no. 4 098 009, which relates to a drawing board having two plates, which are placed against each other with a small distance between them, one ot them being opaque and the other transparent. The object, which is to be traced, is placed on the opaque plate and "the artist" performs his or her work of art on the exterior transparent plate. The drawing board is designed to be used in standing or sitting positions and the two plates are mounted at an angle to a horizontal plane and only designed to be able to trace pictures, which have been placed between the plates.

Drawing boards, which support a paintable surface, e.g. a fabric, a paspartou or a sheet of paper, are generally known. "The artist" will on this surface, by looking at a subject, besides the drawing board or above it, paint the subject on the paintable surface. The surface is not provided with any targets (aims) or suggestions as to where he is to start and this often results in a complete inability to act, which means , that "the artist" cannot think anymore.

The subject, the model is often placed at a fairly large distance from the drawing board and "the artist". This manner of painting is only one person's achievement and when a model is used, no close interplay between the model and "the artist" can exist. Also, during these occasions the painting is done only from one direction and only one picture is produced.

Also, aids are known, designed to be able to more easily in perspetive draw e.g. a landscape. These devices are designed to make it possible for one single artist to obtain the right pespective on his or her painting. Examples of this are shown in patent specifications GB,A 2 315 246, US, A 2 571 613, 5 100 325, 5 580 250.

However, none of these patent specifications teach an educational aid, designed to enhance the contact willingness and the creative joy of children, disabled people, old people sa well as persons, who due to e.g. a stroke have become convalescents . BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to solve the above- mentioned problems and also to inspire children and adults to artistic activity.

One main object of the invention it so provide a drawing board, which makes it possible for two persons to alternately paint or draw a portrait of each other or to jointly create a picture from either side of the drawing board. The two persons are sitting close to each other and are able to paint each other without a feeling of sitting too close ; the plate of glass "protects" against a too close contact, which is very important for many people and particularly children having special needs and contact problems. Painting is used often as amusement and therapy for these children and can be done by means of brushes, chalks, pencils or by means of the hands and the fingers with finger paints. These children often have difficulty focusing their attention and are often disturbed, if somebody observes them and they do not have any protection between themselves and the person, whom they will paint.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device, which it is easy to manufacture and can be cleaned in a simple way as well as remains in a stable position on its support.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device, which enables "the artist" to easily put the picture right by wiping off what is wrong and then proceed with the work of art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device designed to facilitate the painting of a subject or a portrait, which also can be transferred onto a paper but which during its coming into being is painted on another surface, which is not a paper or the like. To start painting on an untouched paper or a white fabric may have an inhibiting effect on many human beings.

In accordance with the present invention the above-mentioned problems are solved by letting said surfaces belong to at least one transparent plate, e.g. made of glass, laminated glass or a plastic material, which is mounted in a holder device, which comprises at least a frame-like part, which has a relatively large depth and roughly in the center of which the transparent plate is mounted , this holder device, when being used, being vertically mounted, preferably by means of support legs (runners) or the like, which are directed transversely to the frame-like part and are fastened to the lower ends of vertical sides of the frame-like part in order to place the drawing board on a support, e.g. a floor or a table, the intention being to place the subject during the painting and the drawing close to the plate and consequently make it appear in the surfaces, i.e. in the picture surface of the artist or the artists, i.e. in the surface, on which the picture is produced.

In accordance with the inventive idea a device is obtained, which has a substantial educational value, since it results in a cooperation and contacts between people, without demanding meetings, is easy to handle, is easy to manufacture and is flexible as to its method of application.

In hospitals and other institutions, in which the device has been tested on stroke patients and children having relationship problems, the following opinions, during the evaluations, which have been carried out in the various institutions, have emerged :

"It is like small secret boxes, filled with power, being opened up in the sick people, who become curious, glad, alert and satisfied" .

"The inherent creativity of the patients was developed, their imagination was caught and they were stimulated, when they saw their paintings develop".

"Those contact-inhibited children, who ordinarily do not like eye contact, were tempted to raise and focus their eyes on the subject on the other side of the plate of glass and respond to the model and they were intellectually stimulated by this communication" .

"Thanks to an alternate painting of a common picture from either side of the glass the desire and the capability to a cooperation and a joint action between human beings, adults as well as children, are stimulated".

"Those severely handicapped people, who have motor nerve disorders, have for the first time been able to experience, that they actually are able to create in an artistic way, with wonderful laughters and great joy. Their body never needs to turn, since the subject all the time is situated in the center of the field of vision and it is not necessary to move the eye from the subject to the "canvas", since the picture all the time is situated straight ahead and incites to a commitment".

"That fright, which ordinarily is associated with a drawing board and a canvas, has vanished and thanks to the glass drawing board the ability to be playful, funny and without prestige appeared and the seriousness disappeared."

"Just to deal with the glass drawing board and to see, what can be created and to create independently reinforces one's self- esteem and ability to communicate inwards as well as outwards."

"The feeling that the glass drawing board is a peep-show, on the opposite sides of which two cautious persons have placed themselves with the plate of glass between them, renders the being together unconstrained and permissive."

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention, seen from the front.

Fig. 2 shows the device according to Fig. 1 in a side view. Fig. 3 shows a part of the device shown in Fig. 2, in cross- section and in a vertical view.

Fig. 4 shows the device with two frame parts, in pespective and seen from the front.

Fig. 5 shows the device according to the invention in a special embodiment designed to be placed on a table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OFTHE INVENTION

It is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, that the device according to the present invention comprises a frame construction 1, which consists of one or several frame parts la, lb, having a relatively large depth and in the center of which a transparent plate of preferably laminated glass 2 is mounted and fixed to the frame construction by means of plugs 7. This transparent plate has two surfaces 2a and 2b. An additional plate, e.g. a reflecting plate of glass 3 can be mounted behind this transparent plate, when e.g. a self-portrait is to be painted. Balls 4 and handles 5 are mounted on each side of the frame construction in order to be able to easily move the device according to the invention. Also, frame construction 1 is at two corners, adjacent each other, provided with supporting legs or runners 6, on the center of which frame construction 1 is fastened and which support legs or runners 6 extend transversely from frame construction 1.

Fig. 2 is a lateral view of the device according to Fig. 1, in which the extension of the support legs 6 is clearly shown. Also, a handle 5 and balls 4 are shown.

Fig. 3 shows a vertical cross-section through a portion of the device according to Fig. 2, in which plugs 7 have been mounted on inner vertical sides 8 of frame construction 1 in order to fix plate of glass 2 and e.g. a plate of glass with a reflex attachment 3 .

Fig. 4 shows the device in perspective and from its front with two frame parts la and lb.

Fig. 5 shows the device according to the invention in a special embodiment , designed to be placed on a table. The two children shown are sitting at a table on either side of and very close to the drawing board and are all the time seeing the subject, the friend, in the picture surface on the other side of the plate of glass.

A feeling that one wishes to come closer to the glass surface is experienced due to the depth of the frame of the drawing board, since it arouses a feeling, that it is a peep-show, and actually reminds one of a peep-show.

When the "work of art" has been completed, it is easy to apply a paper against the still wet surface and in this way obtain a copy, called a monotype. Subsequently the glass surface is cleaned with e.g. a sponge and the next couple of friends are allowed to start painting. In case a mirror surface is mounted in the frame construction, which is partially depicted in Fig. 3, a person can look into the mirror and in the picture surface see a picture of him- or herself and then paint a portrait from this picture.

It is important to understand, that the present invention of course can be modified in many different ways within the scope of protection defined by the enclosed claims. Thus, the frame can be designed to be able to recieve a plurality of plates, which can be removed one after another, to the extent this is desirable.

Claims

CLAIMS l.A drawing board designed as an educational aid for children and adults, who wish to paint or draw a model, themselves or a subject, which board comprises two surfaces, on each of which a painting or a drawing of a subject, which is located very close to the other surface, can be done, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said surfaces (2a, 2b) belong to at least one transparent plate (2), made of e.g. glass, laminated glass or a plastic material, which is mounted in a holder device, which comprises at least one frame-like part (1), which has a relatively large depth and in roughly the center of which the transparent plate (2) is mounted, said holder device, when being used, being mounted in a substantial vertical position, preferably transversely to horizontally directed support legs (runners) or the like (6), which are removably fastened to the lower ends of the vertical sides (8) of the frame-like part (1), in order to position the drawing board on a support, e.g. a floor or a table, the intention being to place the subject during the painting or the drawing in such a manner, that it will appear closely adjacent the plate (2) and consequently will appear in the surfaces (2a, 2b), i.e. in the picture surface of the artist or the artists, i.e. that surface, on which the picture is produced.

2.A drawing board according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a mirror surface temporarily is mounted on one of the surfaces (2a, 2b) of the transparent plate (2) or is mounted on a plate ( 3 ) behind the transparent plate ( 2 ) .

3.A drawing board according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame-like part (1) comprises two or more frames (la, lb) , which are removably connected to each other, closely adjacent each other , when used in a vertical direction, between which frames the transparent plate (2) and possibly a mirror plate is mounted.