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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to an interactive sculptural composition
comprising a support member and at least one design member matingly
attached thereto. The support member defines a plurality of parallel
channels and possesses a multiplicity of projections arranged into rows
parallel to said channels with at least one row of projections being
present between each adjacent channel. The design member may be matingly
attached to the support member by either: (1) inserting at least one of
the projections of the support member through the at least one hole
defined by the design member or (2) inserting a first edge of the design
member into a first channel of the support member and inserting a second,
opposite edge of the design member into a second, adjacent channel of the
support member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A widely accepted goal is the stimulation of childrens' interest in art.
One of the most effective means of achieving such goal is to let children
participate in the creation of artistic works such that they can
experience the creative process first hand.
While children may participate in a variety of activities which will permit
them to create art and thus to increase their art appreciation, there are
certain drawbacks associated with many of such activities. Thus, while
many activities such as painting, drawing and the like will serve to
stimulate children's artistic expression, these activities do not
generally employ renewable materials and can thus impose a significant
economic cost on parents, schools and/or museums seeking to so stimulate
children.
Moreover, many of these activities require children to act individually and
are not easily adaptable to group participation. While such individual
expression is desirable in many instances, in certain circumstances group
creative activity may be a more useful objective. Thus, certain children
may prove reticent to so express themselves individually or in general
cases childrens' interest in the creation of art may be further stimulated
by activities promoting group participation.
Further, particularly where young children are involved, many available
forms of artistic creativity require close supervision of each child in
order to avoid the ingestion of the artistic materials and/or damage to
property (e.g. clothes, floors, walls) to which such materials are not
intended to be applied.
Consequently, there is a need for means for children to participate in the
artistic process which does not impose large economic costs, which is
readily adaptable to group as well as to individual participation, and
which exposes children and property to reduced risk. It is the object of
this invention to provide an interactive sculptured composition which is
economical, adaptable to single or group participation, and which may be
safely employed without undue supervision.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a sculptural composition comprising:
(A) a support member having a front surface defining a plurality of
parallel channels and having a multiplicity of projections extending
therefrom, said projections being arranged in a plurality of rows parallel
to said channels, with at least one of said rows being present between
each adjacent channel: and
(B) at least one design member in mating configuration with said support
member, said design member having a first edge, a second edge opposite
said first edge, said design member defining at least one hole extending
therethrough, said first edge and said second edge being of a
configuration such that they may be fitted into the channels defined in
the support member, and said at least one hole having a configuration such
that said design member will be in mating configuration with the support
member when a projection of said support member is inserted therethrough,
said design member having sufficient flexibility and said first edge being
separated from said second edge by a sufficient distance such that said
design member may be matingly attached to said support member when said
first edge of the design member is inserted into a first channel of the
support member and when said second edge of the design member is inserted
into a second channel of the support member which is adjacent to said
first channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of the support member of a preferred embodiment of
this invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the support member of FIG. 1 taken
along the lines of arrows 2--2.
FIG. 3 is a top view of a design member of this invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the design member of FIG. 3 in mating
configuration with the support member of FIG. 2 wherein a first edge of
the design member is inserted into a first channel of the design member
and a second edge of the design member is inserted into a second adjacent
channel of the support member.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the design member of FIG. 3 in mating
configuration with the support member is inserted through the at least one
hole of the design member.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a support member of an alternative embodiment of
this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The interactive sculptural composition of this invention is comprised of a
support element and at least one design element in mating configuration
therewith. The support element defines a plurality of parallel channels
with and contains a multiplicity of projections arranged in rows, such
that at least one row of projections is present between each adjacent
channel. The at least one design member is placed into mating
configuration with the support member by either (1) inserting at least one
of the projections of the support member through the at least one hole
present in the design member or (2) inserting a first edge of the design
member, into a first channel of the support member and inserting a second
opposite edge or the design member into a second adjacent channel of the
support member.
The present invention will become more fully apparent by reference to the
attached drawings, which drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of this
invention and which are not intended to limit the scope of this invention
in any manner whatsoever.
FIG. 1 shows support member 10 having face surface 12. Face surface 12
defines a plurality of parallel channels 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e.
Although five channels are shown, the support member may define a lesser
or greater number of channels. Projections 24 extend from front surface
12. These projections are arranged into a plurality of rows which extend
parallel to the channels, with at least one row of such projections being
present between each adjacent parallel channel.
While the parallel channels 14 are shown in FIG. 1 as being horizontal, it
is within the contemplation of this invention to have such parallel
channels extend at any angle from the perpendicular. Moreover, while
projections 24 are shown as being circular in cross-section, such
projections may be of any cross-sectional slope or variety of
cross-sectional shapes.
The support member may be fashioned of any material, such as, wood, hard
plastic or metal, which will provide a rigid structural integrity to such
member.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the support member of FIG. 1 taken
along the line defined by arrow 2 in FIG. 1. Face surface 12 defines
parallel channels 14, 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e. Projections 24 extend
outward from surface 12 in rows (not diagramed) which extend parallel to
and which are positioned between adjacent parallel channels.
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the design member 30. Design member 30 has a
first edge 32 and a second edge 34 which is opposite to first edge 32.
Design member 30 also defines at least one hole 36 which extends
therethrough.
This at least one hole extends through the face 38 of the design member and
extends parallel to edges 32 and 34. The flexibility of design member 30
and the distance between first edge 32 and second edge 34 is such that
design member 30 may be matingly attached to a support member by inserting
first edge 30 into a first channel of a support member and second edge 32
into a second channel of such support member which is adjacent to such
first channel.
Accordingly, design member 30 may be composed of any material such as a
rubbery or flexible foamed material which will yield the desired degree of
flexibility to such article.
Design member 30 defines at least one hole 36 which is of a configuration
such that said design member may be placed into mating configuration with
a support member by inserting a projection of such support member through
said at least one hole. Although circular holes are shown, the at least
one hole may be of any geometric cross-sectional configuration so long as
the projecting of the support member may be inserted therethrough. It is
preferred that such hole be of dimensions relative to the projections that
when a projection is inserted through such hole a friction fit is
obtained. Where the design member defines more than one hole, such holes
are preferably positioned in the face of the design member such that
projections of the support member may be inserted through all of such
holes simultaneously.
Preferably, the support member is of a configuration wherein a single row
of projections is located between each parallel channel, with the spacing
of the projections along each of such rows being equal. It is especially
preferable that the distance between each row of projections be equal to
the distance between each adjacent projection along the rows, and that the
rows be juxtapositioned such that the corresponding projections in each
row form a line which is perpendicular to the parallel rows. This will
result in the projections forming a series of "squares" in the surface of
the support member and will permit a design member defining holes which
are a distance apart equal to that of the distance between adjacent
projections to be matingly attached to the support member in a manner
parallel to the channels (where adjacent projections along a single row
are inserted through such holes) or in a manner perpendicular to the
channels (by inserting corresponding projections in adjacent rows
separated by a single channel through such holes).
FIG. 4 shows design member 30 in mating configuration with support member
10 wherein such mating configuration has been achieved by inserting first
edge 32 of design member 30 into channel 14b of support member 10 and
second edge 34 of design member 30 into second channel 14c, second channel
14c being adjacent to first channel 14b.
FIG. 5 shows an alternative configuration wherein design member 30 is in
mating configuration with support member 10 by having projections 24
extend through the at least one hole 36 defined through design member 30.
Preferably, projections 24 extend from surface 12 of the support member
for a sufficient height relative to the thickness of design member 30 such
that they can extend through two or more design member which have been
"stacked" on top of one another. This configuration will permit the
creation of sculptures having an enhanced three-dimensional appearance
when viewed from a position opposite the surface of the support members.
FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a support member. Support member
60 defines a first set of parallel channels 62 and a second set of
parallel channels 64 which are perpendicular to channels 62. Projections
66 extend outward from surface 61 of support member 60. Projections 66 are
arranged in rows which run parallel to and which are located between
adjacent parallel channels. Design members may be placed into mating
configuration with support member 60 by inserting opposite ends of such
design member into adjacent parallel channels 62, into adjacent parallel
channels 64, or by inserting projection 66 through the at least one hole
defined by such design member.
In addition to the support member and at least one design member discussed
above, the sculptural composition of this invention may additionally
comprise one or more secondary design elements. As is employed herein the
term "secondary design element"refers to a design member which does not
possess sufficient flexibility and/or distance between its opposite edges
such that a first edge may be inserted within a first channel of a support
member and a second opposite edge inserted into a second channel of the
support member which is adjacent to and parallel to said first channel.
Accordingly, such secondary design element may be placed in mating
configuration with a support member only by either (1) inserting one edge
of the secondary design element into a channel defined in the surface of a
support member or (2) inserting a projection of the support member through
the at least one hole defined through said secondary design element.
It is preferred that the design member(s) and, if present, secondary design
element(s) be constructed of a variety of shapes and colors. By placing
design members and secondary design elements into mating configuration
with the support member as described above, it is possible for children to
create a variety of three-dimensional sculptures. The design member(s) and
secondary design element(s) may also be attached to the support member by
a variety of other methods, such as inserting a single edge of a design or
secondary design element into a single channel, by deforming the design
member or secondary design element between at least two projections such
that said design member or secondary design element is held compressibly
there between, or the like. By employing a support member having
sufficient dimensions, the sculptural composition of this invention may
readily be employed in an individual or in a group manner. Moreover, the
sculptural product can readily be dissembled and reassembled such that no
large economic penalty is encountered.
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