Patent Abstract:
An image transferring device is disclosed having a support plate, a reflective plate and a core member adapted to support the support plate and reflective plate thereon. The core member includes an operative position stop member and a storage position stop member for each of the support plate and reflective plate. The support and reflective plates are angularly rotatably about the core member and each plate&#39;s angular rotation is restricted between the operative position stop member and the storage position stop member. In an operating configuration, the support plate is automatically positioned at a specified angle with respect to the reflective plate. In a storage configuration, the plates fold toward each other for easy storage.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for projecting an image on a surface for tracing. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Image transferring devices have been available to facilitate the tracing of an image by reflecting the image onto a drawing surface. In known devices, an image support card and an image-producing card are positioned at a selected angle with respect to each other to optimize the reflection of the image from the image support card onto the image-producing card. 
   Several types of support mechanism have been suggested for positioning the image support card at the selected angle with respect to the image-producing card. In one known device, a double-clip member is used having a fixed angle between a first clip and a second clip. The first clip is adapted to hold the image support card and the second clip is adapted to hold the image-producing card. To adjust the angle between the image support card and the image-producing card, an adjustment wedge is inserted between the first and second clips. The adjustment wedge has means for adjusting the position of the wedge against the clips, such that the angle between the first and second clips can be increased or decreased as desired. 
   A disadvantage of the known double clip construction is that the image support card and the image-producing card protrude a substantial distance from the base plate. When the device is stowed away during non-use, the image support card and image-producing card must be removed from the clips as a practical matter. When the transferring device is used once again, the image support card and image-producing cards must again be attached to the clips. It would be desirable to provide a mechanism that holds the image-producing card and image support card in position, and yet is not so bulky as to require removal of the cards each time the device is stored. 
   In another known device, a hinged arrangement provides a plurality of floating knuckles for holding the cards with respect to each other when the transferring device is not in use. The floating knuckles have corresponding convex and concave portions that engage each other to position the cards at various selected angles. The convex and concave portions are preferably biased toward each other by a coil spring. A disadvantage of the known device is that the hinge mechanism is complex and requires several additional components which complicates manufacture of the device, and thus adds to its cost. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device having a simple design, with less components, that is easy to manufacture. 
   Another disadvantage of known image transferring devices is that the image support card and image-producing card must be manually positioned at the appropriate angle to optimize the reflective feature of the device. Thus, the user must manipulate the cards until the optimal reflective angle is found. It would be desirable to provide a device that automatically positions the image-producing card and the image support card at the optimal reflective angle with respect to each other. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An image transferring device is disclosed having a support plate, a reflective plate and a core member adapted to support the support plate and reflective plate thereon. The core member includes an operative position stop member and a storage position stop member for each of the support plate and reflective plate. The support and reflective plates are angularly rotatably about the core member and each plate&#39;s angular rotation is restricted between the operative position stop member and the storage position stop member. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, the core member preferably includes a first plate holder with a first receiving channel therein dimensioned to receive the spine of the reflective plate and a second plate holder having a second receiving channel therein dimensioned to receive the spine of the support plate. The reflective plate and support plate are rotatable within the respective channels. 
   The support plate spine and reflective plate spine preferably have an arcuate shape and more preferably are bulbous, to facilitate the rotation of the spines within the respective plate receiving channels. The channels preferably have a shape corresponding to the shape of the spines. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second plate holders are V-shaped cut-outs in the core member, and each of the plate holders have a limiting surface at one end of the holder. The plate holders are configured such that when the reflective plate abuts the limiting surface of the first plate holder and the support plate abuts the limiting surface of the second plate holder, the reflective plate will be positioned at a selected angle with respect to the support plate. The preferred angle between the reflective plate and the support plate is about 60 degrees. Upon opening of the image transferring device, the support plate and the reflective plate will automatically move toward the respective limiting surfaces and will be positioned 60 degrees from each other. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transferring device of the present invention with the support and reflective plates folded in a closed position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transferring device of the present invention with the support and reflective plates in open position illustrating usage thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hinge connection portion of a preferred embodiment of the transferring device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the hinge connection portion of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating the angular relationship between the support plate and the reflective plate when the transferring device of the present invention is in use. 
   

   Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the image transferring device  10  of the present invention has a book form. In  FIG. 1 , the book is shown in a closed position and in  FIG. 2 , it is shown in an open position. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the image transferring device  10  includes a front cover  12  and a back cover  14 . When the image transferring device  10  is in an open position, the front and back covers,  12  and  14 , are preferably coplanar and form a base  16 . The front and back covers  12 ,  14  are pivotably connected such that the covers are rotatably movable toward each other to close the book and away from each other to open the book. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front and back covers  12 ,  14  include mating interlocking members  18  along their periphery. The interlocking member  18  on the front cover  12  engages the interlocking member  18  on the back cover  14  to lock the front and back covers  12 ,  14  together when the image transferring device is closed. The interlocking members  18  can have a detent mechanism or any other known interlocking mechanism. 
   To facilitate the transfer of an image, the image transferring device  10  includes a support plate  20  and a reflective plate  22  rotatably mounted about a plate holder assembly  30 . When the device  10  is closed, the support plate  20  and reflective plate  22  are conveniently stored within the front and back covers  12 ,  14 . To transfer an image, the original image  1  is positioned on the surface of the support plate  20 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support plate  20  includes clips  24  for holding the original image  1  in place. The clips  24  are preferably positioned proximal the plate holder assembly  30  to counteract the force of gravity on the original image. 
   An image receiving surface  26  is provided on the base  16  for tracing the transferred image thereon. The image is transferred from the original image  1  positioned on the support plate  20  onto the reflective plate  22 . The reflective plate  22  is preferably transparent and functions as a half-mirror optical element adapted to reflect the transferred image thereon from the support plate  20 . After the image has been transferred to the reflective plate  22 , a person can look at the image reflected on the first surface  29  of the reflective plate  22  and simultaneously trace the image on the receiving surface  26 . It will be apparent that the pattern traced on the receiving surface  26  is the reverse of the pattern on the original image  1 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the plate holder assembly  30  positions the support plate  20  and the reflective plate  22  at the appropriate angles for reflection of the image from the support plate  20  onto the reflective plate  22 . When the image transferring device is not in use, the plate holder assembly  30  allows the support plate and reflective plate  22  to rotate with respect to the plate holder assembly  30  into a folded configuration for convenient storage of the image transferring device. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate holder assembly includes a first plate holder  32 , a second plate holder  34 , and a cylindrical core member  36 . The first and second plate holders  32 ,  34  are preferably V-shaped cut-outs in the cylindrical core member  36 . The first plate holder  32  defines a first receiving channel  40  therein dimensioned to receive the spine  44  of the reflective plate  22 . The second plate holder  34  defines a second plate receiving channel  42  therein dimensioned to receive the spine  46  of the support plate  20 . The support plate  20  and the reflective plate  22  engage the plate holder assembly  30  by positioning the reflective plate spine  44  in the first plate receiving channel  40  and positioning the support plate spine  46  in the second plate receiving channel  42 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate receiving channels  40 ,  42  have an arcuate shape that corresponds to an arcuate shape of the plate spines  44 ,  46 . When the plate spines  44 ,  46  are positioned in the respective plate receiving channels  40 ,  42  the curved shape of the plate spines  44 ,  46  enables the plate spines  44 ,  46  to rotate within the respective plate receiving channels  40 ,  42 . 
   The first and second plate holders  32 ,  34  each have an image reflecting position  60  and a storage end  62 . In operation, in order to transfer an image from the support plate  20  onto the reflective plate  22 , the support plate  20  is rotated to the image transferring end  60  of the second plate holder  34  and the reflective plate  22  is positioned at the image reflecting position  60  of the first plate holder  32 . The first limiting surface  64  of the second plate holder  34  prevents the support plate  20  from rotating any further away from the reflective plate. Similarly, the second limiting surface  66  of the first plate holder  32  prevents the reflective plate  22  from rotating further apart from the support plate. When the reflective plate  22  and support plate  20  are positioned at the image reflecting position  60  of the first and second plate holders  32 ,  34 , respectively, the plates are at the optimum angle for reflecting an image. The image transferring device  10  is configured such that upon opening the device, the support plate  20  automatically rotates, by force of gravity, until it contacts the first limiting surface  64  and the reflective plate  22  automatically rotates until it contacts the second limiting surface  66 . Accordingly, upon opening the device, the support plate and the reflective plate will automatically move to be in a position for optimal reflection of an image. 
     FIG. 5  depicts a schematic view of the angular relationship between the support plate  20 , reflective plate  22 , and the front and back covers  12 ,  14 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the image transferring device is in use, the angle between the support plate  20  and reflective plate  22  is about 60 degrees. Furthermore, the support plate  20  is positioned at the image reflecting position  60  of the second plate holder  34  such that it is about 60 degrees from the front cover  12 . Similarly, the reflective plate  22  is positioned at the image reflecting position  60  of the first plate holder  32  such that it is about 60 degrees from the back cover  12 . 
   For smooth operation of the image transferring device  10 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the plate receiving channels  40 ,  42  are coaxial. The length  50  of the first plate holder  32  preferably corresponds to the length  54  of the reflective plate spine  44  and the length  52  of the second plate holder  34  preferably corresponds to the length  56  of the support plate spine  46 . The support plate spine  46  is preferably less than half the length of the support plate  20  and the reflective plate spine  44  is preferably less than half the length of the reflective plate  22 . 
   To prevent the spines  44 ,  46  from interfering with the rotation of the plates  20 ,  22 , the spines are preferably offset from each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as best shown in  FIG. 3 , the reflective plate spine  44  is positioned in the lower half of the reflective plate  22  and the support plate spine  46  is positioned in the upper half of the support plate  20 . The spines  44 ,  46  are preferably bulbous and the first and second plate receiving channels  40 ,  42  preferably have a corresponding bulbous shape. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reflective plate spine  44  can be pressed into engagement with the first plate receiving channel  40  and the support plate spine  46  can be pressed into engagement with the second plate receiving channel  42 . The front and back covers  12 ,  14 , the supporting and reflective plates  20 ,  22  and the plate holder assembly  30  are preferably made of a hard resin. 
   When the image transferring device  10  is not in use, the device is preferably stored in a folded configuration, as shown in FIG.  1 . To fold the image transferring device  10 , the support plate  20  is rotated toward the storage position  62  of the second plate holder  34  and the reflective plate  22  is rotated toward the storage position  62  of the first plate holder  32 . The front and back covers  12 ,  14  are rotated toward each other to close the image transferring device. The interlocking members  18  are preferably engaged to lock the device in a book form. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the support plate  20  and reflective plate  22  are able to fold directly against the front and back covers  12 ,  14  enabling the transferring device to quickly transform into a compact configuration when the device is not in use, without requiring disassembly of any components of the device. 
   The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments of an image transferring device. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, the above-described embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1