US3835307A - Creative optical artistic medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A structure providing a creative medium includes a light source directing white, colored, or variegated light through a layer of sand or comparable material supported under a light-transmissive panel. The light source and panel are supported upon a framework which also acts as container for the layer of sand. The artist inscribes lines and/or areas in the material, or otherwise redistributes it in patterns which form creative displays by virtue of the way light is passed through the material from the light source therebelow.

Description

United States Patent 9 [191 Johnston CREATIVE OPTICAL ARTISTIC MEDIUM [76] Inventor: Leland P. Johnston, 513 South Lafayette St., Macomb, 111. 61455 7 [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 134,955

[52] US. Cl. 2 40/1, 40/132 F, 240/3.l,

[51] Int. Cl. F21

[58] Field of Search 240/1 R, 2, 6.4, 10 R, I 240/107, 3.1, 9 R, 46.15, 24, 2 AD, 2 D; 46/233, 239, 240, 237; 350/5; 40/132 R, 132

F, 28 C, 132 E, 132 G; 84/4 64; 272/8 P, l A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,070,699 8/1913 Kitsee 240/3.1 1,174,930 3/1916 Frey 240/46.l5 X 1,348,957 8/1920 Pope 40/132 F 1,559,665 11/1925 Beery et a1.. 35/26 1,874,202 8/1932 Michelsen... 240/3.1 1,880,026 9/1932 Singerman 240/3.l 2,447,623 8/1948 Zemelman 350/5 2,567,561 9/1951 Hoffmann 240/1 R [11] 3,835,307 [451 Sept. 10,1974

2,589,601 Burnett 46/239 X 2,848,229 8/1958 Miller 272/1 A 3,106,042 10/1963 Roethler 46/240 3,160,975 12/1964 Malina 40/132 G 3,388,243 6/1968 Adler 240/1 R X 3,666,936 5/1972 Webster, Jr. et a1 240/2 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 531,441 9/1954 Belgium 240/2 D 355,430 6/1922 Germany 240/2 D Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi Attorney, Agent, or Firm.Louis Altman [5 7] ABSTRACT A structure providing a creative medium includes a light source directing white, colored, or variegated light through a layer of sand or comparable material supported under a light-transmissive panel. The light source and panel are supported upon a framework which also acts as container for the layer of sand. The artist inscribes lines and/or areas in the material, or otherwise redistributes it in patterns which form creative displays by virtue of the way light is passed through the material from the light source therebelow.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3E? 74 SHEET 2 0F 3 FIG. 5

. l CREATIVE OPTICAL ARTISTIC MEDIUM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a creative artistic medium for adults, or a creative toy for children. It combines some features of a childs sandbox, a sand sculpture, and an illuminated sketching device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The forerunners of the present invention are the well known childs sandbox and other devices designed for creating patterns in sand for artistic or recreational purposes. Mention may also be made of Rocthler US. Pat. No. 3,106,042 which describes a childs toy comprising a box containing a thin layer of sand which the child manipulates to simulate earth-moving operations. The manipulation is accomplished using small ferromagnetic toys that simulate earth-moving machinery, and the toys in turn are moved by a magnetic actuator which is operable by the child from outside the box. In addition the toy comprises a transparent cover which permits the child to play without removing the cover. This aids in retaining the sand within the toy enclosure. Such prior art toys, however, lack the concept of employing the sand as a flexible lightftransmissive mask for shaping an optical medium.

There are some prior art patents showing devices which employ light in various creative or educational ways, and are particularly adapted for use by children. Two of these are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,321,616 and 3,388,243 of Adler, and another is shown in US. Pat. No. 1,559,665 of Beery. These patents are all concerned with creating two-dimensional forms upon a fixed flat surface which transmits light. But they lack the concept of using a readily reshapable layer of material as a light-structuring medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view, with parts broken away to reveal details of interior construction, of a first embodiment of a creative optical medium in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device in'FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, shaded to suggest color differences, of a sand-supporting translucent panel in the device of the preceding figures.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, with parts broken away to reveal details of interior construction, of an alternative embodiment of a creative optical medium in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with parts broken away to reveal details of interior construction, of another alternative embodiment of a creative optical medium in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 6.

The same reference characters refer to the same elements throughout the several views of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Three different embodiments of the invention will be described below, each having its own distinctive advantages. What they all have in common is that one or LII more lamps are employed to shine light toward a thin layer of sand or comparable masking material. The three embodiments described represent specific examples of various means by which the masking material may be conveniently retained in place relative to the light source. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, a layer ofsand 10 is distributed over a flat horizontal translucent sheet of glass orplastic material 12 which in turn is supported within a suitable channel formed on arectangular framework 14. The upper portion of theframe 14 forms a rectangular containingwall 16 which helps prevent the escape of thesand 10. It is aided in this by a downwardly'slopingflange 18 formed around the upper edges of the containingwalls 16, which serves two purposes. First, theflanges 18 tend to prevent sand from being thrown upward and out of thecontainer 16. Secondly, sand which is carried out of the container but falls back upon theflanges 18 then tends to slide back into thesand layer 10.

A plurality oflamps 20, such as conventional fluorescent devices, are supported upon ahorizontal panel 22 received within appropriate sockets at, the lowerportion of theframe 14. A conventional electrical cord 24 (FIG. 1) provides power to operate thelamps 20, and a conventional on-off switch 26 is mounted on the exterior of theframe 14 to turn the lamps on and off as desired. The lamp-supportingplatform 22 is preferably provided with ventilatingopenings 28 for dissipating the heat generated by thelamps 20 during operation.

In using the invention, the child or adult user reaches into the device manually to inscribe lines (cg. line 29) or areas or other patterns in thesand 10 which permit the light of the lamps below to come through in a desired artistic pattern. Thus, if the sand is brushed away from large areas of the underlying translucent panel, then large areas of light are visible from above. If only outlines are traced in the sand, then those outlines are visible as lines of transmitted illumination. The user can also feather the edges of the various sand areas from an opaque thickness of sand in one region to another region from which the sand is completely removed, with various gradations of translucence in between. The calculated effects which can be produced with the device of this invention depend only upon the imagination of the person using it, and that is its principal advantage. It therefore provides a novel medium in which the user can express himself in his own way.

Thematerial 10 need not be sand. It could instead be any other material which is fluent in the sense that it is yieldable and thus redistributed easily, yet retains its new distribution either until disturbed again, or at least for a substantial period of time before flowing. Such materials either do not flow spontaneously, or at least are so viscous that they flow only over relatively long periods of time compared to ordinary fluids, i.e. gases and liquids. Most granular materials and viscous creams are fluent in this sense. Here again, the imagination of the user is called upon to supply the most suitable material. One can easily imagine that an aerosol shave cream, or a layer of talcum powder, might make suitable media for certain types of creations.

Thepanel 12 which supports thefluent material 10 could be transparent instead of translucent, but that alternative is less preferable. A translucent panel obscures the details of construction below thepanel 12,

and also causes a certain artistic blurring or merging of the lines or other patterns traced in thematerial 10.

If desired, a color effect can be achieved, for example by adhering color filter sheets to the underside of thetranslucent panel 12, even though ordinarywhite lamps 20 are employed for illumination. This creates different colored fields of lightacross the translucent panel, and

permits the additional option that a particular pattern drawn in the fluent material may extend across two or more different color fields,changing color as a function of its position across the face of the device.

As a preferable alternative, the color effect may be achieved by using lamps of different colors. When used in conjunction with atranslucent panel 12,'the color fields then tend to merge imperceptibly into one another. Thus, the field seen from above the device might have the appearance indicated in FIG. 7. At one side there might be a purered area 300, in the middle apure blue'area 302 and at the opposite extreme a puregreen area 304. In addition intermediate color-blended areas would be formed, such asarea 306 in which the red merges into the blue, andarea 308 in which the blue merges into the green.

Notwithstanding the containing effect of theupstanding walls 16 and the inwardly slopingflanges 18 thereof, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 presents some danger that some of the sand orother material 10 may escape, particularly if children are using the device. The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the additional' alternative embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 are both designed to overcome this problem.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 there is a thin layer ofsand 110 supported upon atranslucent panel 112 mounted on aframe 114.Lamps 120 are mounted upon apanel 122 havingventilation openings 128 and supported upon theframe 114 below thesand panel 112. Once again there is apower cord 124 and anonoff switch 126.

In this embodiment, however, there is an enclosure which completely confines the sand inlayer 110. The enclosure is formed by the upstanding containingwalls 116 offrame 114 plus a transparent glass orplastic cover 130 mounted upon the containingwalls 116. Thetransparent cover 130 permits the user to see thelayer 110 and the light passing upwardly therethrough, while at the same time fully enclosing thematerial 110 and preventing its escape.

Since thematerial 110 is fully enclosed, aline 129 or other patterns in thelayer 110 are formed by means of arod 132 which extends through anopening 134 formed in one of the containingwalls 116. Aflexible rubber boot 136 crimped to the edges of the opening 134 seals it against the escape ofmaterial 110 through the opening, while still permitting movement of therod 132.

The third alternative embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is similarly designed. Once more there is apower cord 224 and on-off switch 226. There is also aframe 214, on which is supported apanel 222 havingventilation holes 228 and a plurality oflamps 220. It also supports atranslucent panel 212 onwhich, however, is placed a thin layer of granular iron particles or other magnetically responsivefluent material 210. A transparent glass orplastic cover 230 is also usedin this embodiment for full enclosure, but is placed quite close to the magneticallyresponsive material 210, because the effective range of magnetic forces is small. The redistribution of thefluent material 210 in this embodimentis done with a magnetic implement such as apermanent magnet 232 giving off amagnetic flux 234 which passes through thetransparent cover 230, and affects the magneticresponsive material 210 immediately therebelow, for example to inscribeline 229. Thus thefluent material 210 is completely enclosed, but is visible, and is redistributable from outside the enclosure by a device having effect inside it. v

It will now be appreciated that this invention provides a creative medium which allows a great latitude of individual expression, and in which a child at play or a serious artist can make an infinite variety of lightfilled patterns, and these can have various color gradations if desired. I

Since the foregoing description andv drawings are merely illustrative, the scope of protection of the invention has been more broadly stated in the following claims; and these should be liberally interpreted so as to obtain the benefit of all equivalents to which the invention is fairly entitled.

I claim:

1. A creative medium comprising:

an upwardly opening container;

the bottom of said container including a lighttransmissive panel; a layer of fluent material in place over said bottom panel; saidcontainer including a containing wall upstanding from the periphery of said bottom panel;

and means on said device including an artificial light source below said bottom panel for illuminating the lower surface thereof;

whereby the pattern of artificial illumination visible through said bottom panel is a function of the distribution of said fluent material thereover.

2. A creative medium comprising: a lighttransmissive panel; a frame for supporting said panel in a generally horizontal attitude; a light source supported on said frame below said -panel=and arranged to shine light upwardly through said panel; a fluent material layer in place over said panel; containing means on said frame rising above said panel and bounding an area of said panel, said containing means including a transpar ent cover over said panel and substantially enclosing said fluent material to prevent spillage; and remote control means operable from outside said containing means and effective to redistribute said fluent material therein, said remote control means comprising an opening in said containing means, a rod extending through said opening, and flexible means surrounding said rod to seal said opening while permitting articulation of said rod.

3. A creative medium comprising: a lighttransmissive panel; a frame for supporting said panel in a generally horizontal attitude; a light source supported on said frame below said panel and arranged to shine light upwardly through said panel; a layer of magnetically responsive fluent material in place over said panel;containing means on said frame rising above said panel and bounding an area of said panel, said containing means including a magnetic-flux-transmissive transparent cover over said panel and substantially enclosing said fluent material toprevent spillage; and remote control means operable from outside said containing means, said remote control means comprising a magnetically effective implement located entirely outside said containing means and operable through said cover to redistribute said fluent material. l=

Claims (3)

1. A creative medium comprising: an upwardly opening container; the bottom of said container including a light-transmissive panel; a layer of fluent material in place over said bottom panel; said container including a containing wall upstanding from the periphery of said bottom panel; and means on said device including an artificial light source below said bottom panel for illuminating the lower surface thereof; whereby the pattern of artificial illumination visible through said bottom panel is a function of the distribution of said fluent material thereover.

2. A creative medium comprising: a light-transmissive panel; a frame for supporting said panel in a generally horizontal attitude; a light source supported on said frame below said panel and arranged to shine light upwardly through said panel; a fluent material layer in place over said panel; containing means on said frame rising above said panel and bounding an area of said panel, said containing means including a transparent cover over said panel and substantially enclosing said fluent material to prevent spillage; and remote control means operable from outside said containing means and effective to redistribute said fluent material therein, said remote control means comprising an opening in said containing means, a rod extending through said opening, and flexible means surrounding said rod to seal said opening while permitting articulation of said rod.

3. A creative medium comprising: a light-transmissive panel; a frame for supporting said panel in a generally horizontal attitude; a light source supported on said frame below said panel and arranged to shine light upwardly through said panel; a layer of magnetically responsive fluent material in place over said panel; containing means on said frame rising above said panel and bounding an area of said panel, said containing means including a magnetic-flux-transmissive transparent cover over said panel and substantially enclosing said fluent material to prevent spillage; and remote control means operable from outside said containing means, said remote control means comprising a magnetically effective implement located entirely outside said containing means and operable through said cover to redistribute said fluent material.

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