Penmanship device to assist students with dyslexia

A penmanship device is provided to assist students learning to write consistently and evenly. The device comprises a body with a handle portion and an operational portion. The operational portion has at least two windows. A first window is used for alignment and a second window is used to write. A user writes a first letter of a first word within the confines of the second window. To write the next letter, the device is shifted so that an edge of the previous letter is aligned with a left lateral edge of the second window. This is repeated until the word is completed. To write the next word, the device is shifted so that an edge of a last letter of the previous word is aligned with a right lateral edge of the first window. In another embodiment, the device has three windows providing left-handed and right-handed support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to writing devices, and more particularly to a penmanship device to assist students with dyslexia.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There have been many attempts to provide a device to assist students in writing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,833, which issued to Quinn et al., discloses a calligraphic lettering kit with a ruling guide to help with the correct proportions of the letter and an overlay with guidelines for spacing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,328, which issued to Saad, discloses a writing template with a slotted lettering guide that assists with the parallel relationship of the writing on a piece of paper that is disposed beneath the device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,751, which issued to Quarles, discloses a method for teaching students how to write evenly spaced words by using a spacer. U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,713, which issued to Wescott et al., discloses a writing guide system comprising a sheet with depressed areas in the shape of alphanumeric characters. While there are many devices which assist with writing letters or assist with penmanship techniques, none suitably assists the writing of students with dyslexia. A more robust solution that overcomes these challenges is desired.

SUMMARY

A penmanship device comprises a rectangular body with a handle portion and an operational portion. The penmanship device is usable by dyslexic students to assist with writing evenly and consistently. The operational portion has at least two windows. The windows provide the students with the ability to focus on one character at a time and help with correct spacing. The penmanship device and method of use can also be used to teach students how to write numbers or sequences of other characters that dyslexic students might find challenging.

The penmanship device has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first and second sides are longer than the third and fourth sides. The first side and the second side are opposite each other and extend a first distance in a parallel fashion. The third side and the fourth side are opposite each other and extend a second distance in parallel fashion. In one example, the first distance is more than two times the second distance. In one example, the first distance is more than between two and eight times the second distance.

The operational portion of the penmanship device comprises a first window and a second window. The second window is used to write letters such that the pencil is inserted within the confines of the second window and a letter is written. The second window is used for alignment. The windows are also referred to as openings, cavities, gaps, or fenestrations. The first window has an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge (or left edge), and a second lateral edge (or right edge). The first window has a first width and a first height. The second window has an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge (or left edge), and a second lateral edge (or right edge). The first window and second window are adjacent to each other. The second lateral edge of the first window is a third distance from the first lateral edge of the second window. In one embodiment, the first window has smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the second window. In other embodiments, the windows are the same size.

Dyslexic students can use the penmanship device to write evenly and consistently by writing letters within the confines of the second window using the edges of the second window as a guide. Dyslexic students learning to write often find it difficult to write letters of consistent sizes and spacing and to write words that are spaced evenly apart. Prior to writing a letter within the second window, the bottom edge of the second window is aligned with a first alignment axis. If ruled paper is used, the first alignment axis is aligned with the ruled line. If ruled paper is not used, then a straight line is optionally drawn using a side of the penmanship device as a straight edge. The optionally drawn line is used to indicate the first alignment axis. After the bottom edge of the second window is aligned with the first alignment axis, a letter is written within the confines of the second window.

To write subsequent characters in a word, the penmanship device is shifted along the sheet of paper. The penmanship device is shifted until the first lateral edge of the second window is aligned with an edge of the previously written character along a second alignment axis. The first lateral edge of second window is disposed along the second alignment axis. Next, a subsequent character is written within the confines of the second window. Use of the penmanship device in this manner provides consistent spacing between each letter and consistent sizes of each letter.

To draft a new word, the penmanship device is shifted such that an edge of the last character in the previous word is aligned with the second lateral edge of the first window along a third alignment axis. The second lateral edge of first window is disposed along the third alignment axis. After the last letter of the previous word is aligned with the second lateral edge of the first window, a first letter of the next word is written within the confines of the second window. Use of the penmanship device in this way provides consistent spacing between each word.

The first window and the second window are part of a writing guide used to write letters of consistent letter size, consistent letter spacing, and consistent word spacing. Use of the writing guide yields letters of consistent letter size such that all letters are no larger than the second window because each letter is written within the confines of the second window. Use of the writing guide yields consistent letter spacing such that each space between letters of a word is no great than a width of the second window. Use of the writing guide yields consistent word spacing such that each space between words written on the same line is no great than a distance between the adjacent lateral sides of the first window and the second window.

In accordance with one novel aspect, the penmanship device is provided with a third window that is adjacent to the second window. The third window supports both left-handed and right-handed students. For example, in the case of a right-handed student, the first window (the window to the left of the larger second window) is used for alignment and the second window is used for writing letters. In the case of a left-handed student, the third window (the window to the right of the larger second window) is used for alignment and the second window is used for writing letters. The penmanship device is a dual-functioning device for both left-handed and right-handed students having three and only three openings. In another embodiment, the penmanship device is specifically manufactured for left-handed use only or right-handed use only. In a right-handed only embodiment, the penmanship device has only the first window and the second window. In a left-handed only embodiment, the penmanship device has only the second window and the third window.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently it is appreciated that the summary is illustrative only. Still other methods, and structures and details are set forth in the detailed description below. This summary does not purport to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a diagram of a perspective view of how a penmanship device1is used by a user to write. The surface for the penmanship device1is typically an 8½ inch×11 inch sheet of paper. The sheet of paper is ruled paper with straight line markings or an unruled sheet with no markings. The penmanship device1also works with other forms of paper like 8½×14 legal paper, index cards, poster board, index cards, foldable cards, or any suitable writing surface. In the example ofFIG. 1, the user is right-handed. The penmanship device1has three windows and is also usable by a left-handed user. The penmanship device1is placed flat on the sheet of paper. Letters are written in the center window and the windows adjacent to the center window are used for alignment.

FIG. 2is a diagram of a top view of the penmanship device1. The penmanship device1comprises a body with a first side4, second side5, third side6, fourth side7, a handle portion2, and an operational portion3. The first side4and the second side5are opposite each other and extend in parallel a first distance8. The third side6and the fourth side7are opposite each other and extend in parallel a second distance9. In this example, the first distance8is approximately 11.0 inches and the second distance9is approximately 1⅛ inches. The penmanship device1has a thickness of 1/16 an inch. The penmanship device1is manufactured from wood, rubber, injection molded plastic, metal, or made of any suitable material. In this example, the penmanship device1is made from a single unitary structure that has windows punched out of an end opposite the handle portion2. The penmanship device1ofFIG. 2is flexible and permits a center of the device1to bend at least one inch from a normal position.

The handle portion2has a first side contour14A and a second side contour14B. The operational portion3of the penmanship device1has a first window11, second window12, and third window13. The windows may also be referred to as openings, cavities, gaps, or fenestrations. The first window11is adjacent to the second window12. The second window12is adjacent to the third window13. In this example, second window12has larger dimensions than the first window11and the third window13. In another embodiment, each of the first window11, the second window12, and the third window13has the same dimensions.

FIG. 3is a diagram of an expanded top view of the operational portion3of the penmanship device1. The first window11has an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge (or left edge), and a second lateral edge (or right edge). Reference numeral26identifies the second lateral edge of the first window11. The first window11has dimensions comprising a height and a width. In this example, the height of the first window11is 5/16 of an inch and the width of the first window11is 3/16 of an inch. The second window12has an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge (or left edge), and a second lateral edge (or right edge). Reference numeral27identifies the first lateral edge of the second window12. The second window12has dimensions comprising a height and a width. In this example, the height of the second window12is ¼ of an inch and the width of the second window12is ⅜ of an inch. The third window13has an upper edge, a lower edge, a first lateral edge (or left edge), and a second lateral edge (or right edge). The third window13has dimensions comprising a height and a width. In this example, the third window13has the same dimensions as the first window11.

The second window12is disposed adjacent to and between the first window11and the third window13. The second lateral edge26of the first window11is a third distance15from the first lateral edge27of the second window12. In this example, the third distance15is 3/16 of an inch. The third distance15is substantially equal to the width of the first window11. In other embodiments, the third distance15is less than a width of the first window. As explained below, the third distance15will be the spacing between words when the penmanship device1is used in accordance with a novel method of use.

The second lateral edge of the second window12is a fourth distance16from the first lateral edge of the third window13. In this embodiment, the third distance15and fourth distance16are equal. The third side6of the penmanship device1is a fifth distance10from the first lateral edge of the first window11. In this example, the fifth distance10is 9⅛ inches. The lower edge of the first window11, the lower edge of the second window12, and the lower edge of the third window13are a sixth distance17from the second side5of the penmanship device1. In this example, the sixth distance17is 7/16 of an inch.

The upper edge of the first window11is a seventh distance18from the first side4of the penmanship device1. The upper edge of the second window12is an eighth distance19from the first side4of the penmanship device1. The upper edge of the third window13is a ninth distance20from the first side4of the penmanship device1. In this example, the seventh distance18is ⅜ of an inch, the eighth distance19is ¼ of an inch, and the ninth distance20is ⅜ of an inch.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of a method100of using a penmanship device in accordance with a first novel aspect. In a first step (step101), a determination is made as to whether a sheet of paper used as a writing medium is ruled (has lined indications) or is not ruled. If a user determines that the sheet of paper is not ruled, then the user draws a straight line in step102. If, on the other hand, the user determines that the sheet of paper is ruled, then the user begins writing with the penmanship device in step103using the ruled lines.

In a second step (step102), an edge of a penmanship device is used to draw a straight line. For example, inFIG. 5, penmanship device1is used as a straight edge to draw straight line29. The straight line29will assist the user in writing words that are aligned.

In a third step (step103), a first letter of a word is written in a second window of an operational portion of the penmanship device after aligning a lower edge of the second window with the straight a first alignment axis. For example, inFIG. 6, a first letter (“J”) of a word is written in a second window12of an operational portion3of the penmanship device1. The first letter (“J”) is written within the confines of the second window12after the lower edge of the second window is aligned with a first alignment axis21. The straight line29is drawn along the first alignment axis21and is used to indicate the first alignment axis21.

In a fourth step (step104), a determination is made as to whether a word being written is complete or whether additional letters are to be written to complete the word. If the word is not completed, then a next letter of the word is written in a fifth step (step105). In the fifth step (step105), a next letter of the word is written within the second window of the penmanship device after aligning a first lateral edge of the second window with an edge of the previous letter and the lower edge of the second window with the straight line. The first lateral edge of the second window extends along a second alignment axis. The fifth step (step105) is repeated until the word is completed. For example, inFIG. 7, the next letter (“a”) is written within the confines of the second window after the lower edge of the second window is aligned with first alignment axis21(using the straight line29as a guide) and after aligning the first lateral edge27with a right edge of the previous letter (“J”). Each letter is of the word is written as in the fifth step (step105) until the word (“Jane”) is written.

If, on the other hand, it is determined in step104that the word is completed, then a determination is made in a sixth step (step106) as to whether a new line of text is to be written. If it is determined in the sixth step (step106) that a new line is to be written, then the method proceeds to the first step (step101). If, on the other hand, it is determined in the sixth step (step106) that no new line is to be written, then a determination is made at a seventh step (step107) as to whether the writing is complete. If it is determined in the seventh step (step107) that the writing is not complete and more is to be written, then the method proceeds to the eighth step (step108) of writing the next word.

In the eighth step (step108), a next word is to be written adjacent to a previous word. A letter of the next word is written within the confines of the second window of the penmanship device after aligning an edge of the last letter of the previous word along the second lateral edge of the first window and after aligning the bottom edge of second window with the first alignment axis. For example, inFIG. 8, the penmanship device1is aligned in accordance with the step108before a letter (“G”) of the next word (“Guy”) is written. The penmanship device1is aligned such that the second lateral edge of the first window11is aligned with an edge of the last letter (“G”) of the previous word (“Guy”). The second lateral edge of the first window11extends along a third alignment axis23. After each letter, the method proceeds to the fourth step (step104) to determine whether the word is done.

FIG. 5is a diagram of how a straight line29can be drawn using the operational portion3of the penmanship device1.

FIG. 6is a diagram showing how to write a first letter of a word using the penmanship device1. First, the penmanship device1is aligned by aligning the lower edge of the second window12with the first alignment axis21. The straight line29extends along the first alignment axis21and is used as a guide. Next, after the penmanship device1is appropriately aligned, the first letter (“J”) is written into the second window12.

FIG. 7is a diagram showing how to write the next letter in the word using the penmanship device1. First, the penmanship device1is aligned by aligning the right edge of the previous letter with a first lateral edge27of the second window12. The first lateral edge27extends along a second alignment axis22. The second window12provides consistent size of letters and consistent spacing between letters.

FIG. 8is a diagram showing how to write a new word adjacent to the previous word using the penmanship device1. First, the lower edge of the second window12is aligned along the first alignment axis21. Next, an edge of the last letter (“e”) of the previous word (“Jane”) is aligned with the second lateral edge26of the first window11. The second lateral edge26extends along a third alignment axis23. Next, a first letter (“G”) of the next word (“Guy”) is written within the second window12.

FIG. 9is a diagram of the completed line of text (“Jane Guy”). Use of the penmanship device1yields consistently sized letters, consistent spacing between letters, and consistent spacing between words. In addition, each of the words is aligned along the first alignment axis21. If the penmanship device1is used correctly, then the third distance15will be the distance between words. In one example, the third distance15is the same as a width of the first window11.

FIG. 10is a diagram showing how the penmanship device1is used to draw a new straight line30for writing another line of text.

FIG. 11is a diagram of a method200of manufacturing a penmanship device. In a first step (step201), a first window is formed in an operational portion of a penmanship device. The penmanship device has a rectangular shape and has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first and second sides are opposite and parallel to each other and extend a first distance. The third and fourth sides are opposite and parallel to each other and extend a second distance that is less than the first distance. For example, inFIG. 2, the first window11is formed by forming an opening in the operational portion3of the penmanship device1. The penmanship device1is a rectangular structure of wood, rubber, injection molded plastic, metal, 3D printed material, or made of another type of suitable material. In one embodiment, the opening of window11is formed during the fabrication process of the rectangular structure. In another embodiment, the opening of window11is formed in a subsequent processing step involving a milling, laser cutting, or machine punching to form the opening of window11.

In a second step (step202), a second window is formed in the operational portion of the penmanship device. The second window is adjacent to the first window and is larger than the first window. A lower edge of the second window is aligned with a lower edge of the first window. A first lateral edge of the second window is a third distance from a second lateral edge of the first window. The third distance is less than a height of the first window or a height of the second window. In the example ofFIG. 3, the second window12is formed in the operational portion3of the penmanship device1to be adjacent to the first window11. The opening of window12is formed in the same fashion as the opening of window11. Second window12is larger than the first window11. A lower edge of the second window12is aligned with a lower edge of the first window11. A first lateral edge27of the second window12is a third distance15from a second lateral edge26of the first window11. The third distance15is less than a height of the first window or a height of the second window. In one example, the third distance15is substantially the same as the width of the first window11. In another, the third distance15is less than the width of the first window.

In a third step (step203), a third window is formed in the operational portion of the penmanship device. The third window is adjacent to the second window and has substantially similar dimensions to the first window. A lower edge of the third window is aligned with the lower edge of the first window. The lower edge of the third window is aligned with the lower edge of the second window. For example, inFIG. 3, a third window13is formed in the operational portion3of the penmanship device1. The opening of window13is formed in the same fashion as the opening of windows11and12. The third window13is adjacent to the second window12and has substantially similar dimensions to the first window11. The lower edges of the first window11, second window12, and third window13are aligned along the first alignment axis21.

FIG. 12is a diagram of a package25that includes the penmanship device1with an amount of instructions24for how to use the penmanship device. In another embodiment, the instructions are provided digitally via a website. The user is given a URL that presents the instructions onto a display viewable by the user's network connected device. In yet another embodiment, the instructions are printed on the package25. In yet another embodiment, the instructions are digitally provided via QR code that is included with the package25. The user scans the QR code with a mobile communication handset thereby directing the user to digitally accessible instructions. In yet another embodiment, the instructions are sent to the user via an email communication.

In one example, a first entity manufactures and packages the device as shown inFIG. 12. The first entity distributes the packaged penmanship device to a second entity. The second entity is an educational entity having students that are to use the penmanship device. The second entity is, for example, a school, university, tutoring center, library, or special needs learning facility. The second entity provides the penmanship device to students.

In another example, the first entity manufactures and packages the device as shown inFIG. 12and distributes the packaged penmanship device to a second entity that sells the packaged penmanship device. The second entity is a sales or distribution entity. The second entity may then sell the packaged penmanship device to a third entity that is an educational entity.

FIG. 13is a diagram of another method of manufacturing300a penmanship device1for left handed or right handed use. The penmanship device formed by method300has two and only two windows.

In a first step (step301), a first window is formed in an operational portion of a penmanship device. The penmanship device is made with a rectangular shape and has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first side and second side are opposite and parallel to each other and extend a first distance. The third side and fourth side are opposite and parallel to each other and extend a second distance that is less than the first distance.

In a second step (step302), a second window is formed in the operational portion of the penmanship device. The second window is adjacent to the first window and is larger than the first window. The second window is adjacent to the first window and is larger than the first window. A first lateral edge of the second window is a third distance from a second lateral edge of the first window. The first distance is at least twenty times the third distance. The third distance indicates the spacing between words when the penmanship device is used in accordance with the novel method100.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in another embodiment, the penmanship device is formed from two or more different structures that are attached together. The penmanship device has two separate components that attach together and swivel about a hinge. To store the device, the two components swivel towards each other making the device compact. To use the device, the two components swivel away from each other into an open position and can be used for writing. In addition, in other embodiments, the windows of the penmanship device are all the same size. For example, the penmanship device may have three and only three windows and all three windows are the same size. In another example, the penmanship device may have two and only two windows and both windows are the same size. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.