This invention relates to an apparatus for writing or drawing that is characterized by an enclosed case having a front side and a back side and in which the front side consists of a transparent screen. Disposed within a substantially rectangular case is a slightly adhesive powder which adheres to the undersurface of the transparent screen so as to render it opaque. A first and second stylus is mounted within the case for producing relatively thick and relatively thin lines by movement along the undersurface of the transparent screen in a manner for removing the adhesive powder and to thus produce lines. The first and second stylus are both moved in the X and Y coordinates through the use of external horizontal and vertical line control knobs which are internally coupled to the multiple stylus by first and second transverse rods, each being supported on and attached to a separate cable loop system. The multiple stylus may be fixedly withdrawn from the screen by actuation of the retraction thus enabling the operator to use both hands for moving the stylus to a second horizontal and/or vertical position on the screen without production of a line from the first to the second writing or drawing.
A multimedia enhancement for an amusement device includes a sound synthesizer for creating a user perceptible signal, such as an audio signal, in response to selective actuation of the controls of the amusement device. The amusement device includes a screen for displaying a viewer perceptible image and a pair of rotary control knobs operatively associated with rotary switches and a selectably actuable on-off switch to provide amusing sounds and feedback indicative of the operator's use of the control knobs. The sound synthesizer is programmed to also create one of a series of sounds from a plurality of families of sounds in a predetermined sequence in response to actuation of the control elements by the user or randomly.
The drawing toy of the present invention includes: a paper retainer, to retain a piece of paper for drawing; a writing tool holder, for use in drawing on the paper; a first cam, keeping the information for moving the writing tool holder in a first direction along said paper; a second cam, carrying the information for moving the writing tool holder along the paper and in a second direction, perpendicular with the first direction; a cam driver, to drive the first cam and the second cam; and a drawing mechanism coupled to the first cam and the second cam, which moves the writing tool holder in response to the movements of both cams, whereby a drawing may be effected on the paper.
A message board system (10) for a vehicle (14) may include a message board (30) that is configured to be coupled to a vehicle structure (32). The message board (30) has a first layer (70) and a second layer (72). The second layer (72) resides adjacent the first layer (70) and is configured such that a portion of the first layer (70) adheres to the second layer (72) to form an image in response to applied pressure on that portion. The message board system (10) may, as an alternative, include a message board housing (98) also configured to couple a vehicle structure (22). The housing (98) includes multiple cells, each of which having a suspension liquid (108) and magnetic particles (110). The particles (110) are pulled through the suspension liquid (108) in response to an applied magnetic field to form an image.
