Patent Publication Number: US-2004045461-A1

Title: Fingerprint art using fingerprint-ready image templates

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention relates to arts and crafts materials, and more particularly, to materials or implements for fingerprint art.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] Without limiting the scope of the invention which is determined solely by the claims, this background information is provided in the context of a specific problem to which the invention in one of its aspects was directed: facilitating the creation of fingerprint art.  
       [0005] Fingerprint art is a popular arts and crafts activity for children. The child places a fingerprint on a piece of paper or other material, and then the child or someone else draws a picture that includes the fingerprint—typically the fingerprint is the body of a figure that is completed with hair, facial features, arms and legs, clothing, etc.  
       [0006] A number of books are available describing various step-by-step techniques for turning a fingerprint into a completed image. One popular such book is “Ed Emberley&#39;s Great Thumbprint Drawing Book” (Pub. Scholastic Paperbacks 1986 ISBN 0590326503, and later editions) by Edward Emberly. The author describes how to draw a figure or image using a fingerprint as the focal point of the figure or image.  
       [0007] A problem with current approaches to fingerprint art is the artistic effort needed to complete the image or scene that includes the fingerprint. On occasion, the child or family would prefer to have a fingerprint image or scene that is beyond the current artistic capabilities of the child, such as to illustrate to the child various techniques that can be used by the child to create fingerprint art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] An object of the invention is to provide an implement that facilitates fingerprint art.  
       [0009] The invention is a fingerprint-ready image template. In one aspect, the invention includes an image template defining a fingerprint-ready image, with at least one fingerprint-sized area being defined within the fingerprint-ready image. The fingerprint-ready image is configured to be at least substantially completed by inserting a fingerprint into the fingerprint-sized area.  
       [0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the image template is formed on a stamping implement (such as for use with an inkpad), which is adapted to transfer the fingerprint-ready image template onto paper (or another image surface). Thus, an exemplary method of forming an image is to (a) form (such as by stamping) a fingerprint-ready image that includes at least one fingerprint-sized area within the fingerprint-ready image, and then (b) at least substantially complete the image by inserting a fingerprint into the fingerprint-sized area of the fingerprint-ready image.  
       [0011] In an alternate embodiment, one or more image templates are included within a scene.  
       [0012] A better understanding of the features and advantages of the invention will be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description and accompanying Drawings that set forth an illustrative embodiment based on the principles of the invention.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  illustrate respectively ( 1   a ) an exemplary image template defining a fingerprint-ready image prior to fingerprint insertion, and ( 1   b ) the same exemplary image template after a fingerprint has been inserted into the fingerprint-ready image, in accordance with one aspect of the invention.  
     [0014]FIGS. 2 a - 2   d  illustrate exemplary image templates after fingerprint insertion.  
     [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scene that includes multiple fingerprint-ready images prior to fingerprint insertion, in accordance with one aspect of the invention.  
     [0016]FIGS. 4 a - 4   d  illustrate an exemplary method of using a stamp to form an image template, in accordance with one aspect of the invention.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT  
     [0017]FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the principles of the invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 1 a  illustrates an image template in which an exemplary fingerprint-ready image  10  includes a fingerprint-sized area  12 . In FIG. 1 b , a fingerprint  14  has been inserted into the fingerprint-sized area ( 12  in FIG. 1 a ).  
     [0019] Insertion of the fingerprint  14  substantially completes an image of a figure on a skateboard comprising the fingerprint-ready image  10  and the fingerprint  14 . This image can be further enhanced by coloring at least portions of the image, and/or adding additional lines to the image, and/or forming a scene  16  which includes the image.  
     [0020]FIGS. 2 a - 2   d  illustrate various exemplary image templates after fingerprint insertion. FIG. 2 a  illustrates an image formed by an image template of a bird  20  and an inserted fingerprint  24 . FIG. 2 b  illustrates an image formed by an image template of a giraffe  30  and two inserted fingerprints  34  and  36 , where lines  38  have been added to form a nose and mouth. FIG. 2 c  illustrates an image formed by an image template of a figure with a parachute  40  and an inserted fingerprint  44 . FIG. 2 d  illustrates an image formed by an image template of a figure on a motorcycle  50  and an inserted fingerprint  54 .  
     [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scene  100  that includes multiple fingerprint-ready image templates prior to fingerprint insertion. Specifically, the scene  100  includes image templates  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  of various skateboarding figures, respectively including fingerprint-sized areas  112 ,  122 ,  132 , and  142 . Thus, one or more image templates according to the invention can be included on a sheet with a pre-drawn scene.  
     [0022]FIGS. 4 a - 4   d  illustrate an exemplary method of using a stamp to form an image template. Specifically, FIG. 4 a  illustrates a stamp  202  with a fingerprint-ready image template  204  and an inkpad  206 . The stamp  202  is put into contact with the inkpad  206 , transferring ink to the image template  204 .  
     [0023] In FIGS. 4 b  and  4   c , the inked stamp  204  contacts a piece of paper (or other image surface)  208 , forming an image template  210  on the paper  208 . The image template  210  includes a fingerprint-area  212 , as shown more clearly in FIG. 4 d.    
     [0024] The foregoing describes exemplary embodiments of the invention—various modifications of these embodiments, as well as various alternative embodiments of the invention, will be suggested to those skilled in the art. Thus, it is intended that the claims define the scope of the invention, and that the claims cover all structures and methods, and their equivalents, encompassed by the claims.