Method of forming three dimensional relief maps

A sequence of identical planar maps having intervals with contour lines drawn thereon are cut so that from each map a section defined by a pair of spaced contour lines of selected intervals are formed. The cut sections are then superimposed one upon the other in the order of the contour lines until the relief map is formed.

The object of the present invention is to permit the rapid, economical and 
precise making of a representative relief model on a plane without using 
machines or special materials. 
It is known, in fact, that some processes have made use of a cutting of a 
single thickness of a plate material, on the surface of which the relief 
of the terrain is indicated by contour lines. This often oblique cutting 
permits off-setting in height the various cuttings which one can then 
immobilize by gluing. The cutting in an oblique direction permits taking 
up the "play" given by the thickness of the blade which has made the cut. 
This system is unfortunately difficult to employ without precision 
tooling. 
The invention consists in cutting out, usually by hand, with an office 
blade called "cutter", the tracings of the contour lines of a map or plan 
glued on a light material sufficiently resistant to pressure. This 
material may be expanded plexiglass formed of methacrylic products such as 
methyl polymethacrylate. 
Generally three identical copies of the maps (1), (2) and (3) are glued on 
three sheets of base material, and each of the plates it cut out, one on 
the third line or curve, the second following the second line, the third 
following the first line and so forth. Then these various cuttings are 
glued with the offset indicated by the tracing of the lines. 
This gluing on plates over relatively big surfaces in relation to the small 
thickness of the plates assures a considerable strength of the assembly 
despite the lightness of the materials. It is always possible to fill out 
the overhanging portions on the basis of a light framework or even a foam 
supporting the assembly without deformation.

The attached drawing illustrates, by way of example, a mode of carrying the 
process according to the invention into effect. FIG. 1 shows the three 
plates seen in section (1), (2) and (3) with the contour lines in units of 
10, such as 0, 10, 20 . . . 1000, corresponding to the offset cuttings 
(I), (II), (III) . . . (IX) and (X) of FIG. 2, also in section. Note the 
elements (A) and (B) which are used as base border. 
It is easily seen that the making of a model is effected very quickly in 
comparison with the classic processes, which is a considerable economic 
advantage in that it permits the immediate materialization of a plan 
before it is carried out. The invention applies particularly to 
architects' offices for the planning of large-scale works in the public as 
well as the private sector.