Patent Document

BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present disclosure relates to methods for creating sculptures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for creating sculptures using devices being directed by computer numeric controls and the sculptures themselves.  
           [0003]    2. Background of Related Art  
           [0004]    Traditional sculptures fabricated by hand require great skill and large quantities of time to produce a work of art. Modern sculpturing processes have benefited from the reliability and accuracy provided by current industrial processes which can greatly reduce the time required to produce a similar work of art. Sculptures can now be shaped using computer numeric controls to cut, etch or carve precision forms in materials such as glass, wood composites, stone, plastic, and metal. Technological improvements patented in this area range from increasing the automation of the processes for cutting materials to cutting three dimensional signs of wood.  
           [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,016 to Varghese et al., an improved cutting device control system is described. The improved control system analyzes drawings and uses devices such as algorithms and constraints in the software program to create lower level computer irnstructions to fully automate the cutting process, Specific steps in the process include (a) loading a pattern from a known format into a computer memory location, wherein the pattern includes one or more draw primitives; (b) applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives to determine a cutting path along the one or more draw primitives without operator intervention; and (c) determining cutting instruction from the cutting path. Varghese et al. however, is limited by its focus on automating a cutting process and fails to address a creative process for manually tailoring the artistic drawing in the computer to ensure the artistic intent for the piece to touch and flow smoothly is adequately represented by the computerized image.  
           [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,251 to Yoshimura, a blank cutting process is described using sequential and continuous high speed cutting around the perimeter of adjacently positioned blanks. This advantageously reduces the cost of mass producing blanks. Yoshimura, however, is limited in the effectiveness of its application to specific angular optimal blank geometries. Thus, the methods of Yoshimura cannot be readily applied to artistic creations having irregular lines that frequently have defined unconnected ends.  
           [0007]    A method for rapidly producing a contoured part is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,714 to Shaikh et al., wherein (a) a computer graphic representation of a part is producd; (b) sectioning the graphic model into graphic members configured as blocks or slabs; (c) carving a solid member for each graphic member that is proportional to and envelopes the graphic member by carving out two or more sides of the solid graphic members to duplicate the corresponding graphic member; and (d) securing the carved solid members together to replicte the graphic model as a usable unitary part. This multiple step process produces a mold suitable for casting complex part configurations. Shaikh et al., however, is overly complex and the process focuses on reproducing three dimensional parts and it is not conducive to replicating ornate sculptures of artistically line drawings having interrelated arcuate and straight lines.  
           [0008]    In U.S. patent application No. 2002/0092389A1 to Feldman et al. a method is described for accurately cutting pieces from a closely packed marker containing tangency points and common lines so as to minimize cutting time and the use ofthe raw material. Feldman et al. is limited, however, by its focus on automating a cutting process and fails to address a creative process for manually tailoring the artistic drawing in the computer to ensure the artistic intent for the piece to touch and flow smoothly is adequately represented in a computerized image.  
           [0009]    In U.S. patent application No. 2002/0095236A1 to Dundorf, methods and apparatus are disclosed for carving signs having three dimensional surfaces. Dundorf uses a computer-aided design system to produce a three dimensional graphic model of the signage work having three-dimensional surfaces to be carved in a sign board. Material is removed using a carving tool under the computer-aided machining system to leave a three dimensional carved pattern corresponding to the three dimensional model of the signage work having surface properties and features characteristic of a hand-crafted gold-leafed wood carved signs. Dundorf however, does not teach a process suitable for taking an artistic line drawing and transitioning the line drawing to a computer aided drawing, using the computer ensure the touch and flow of the artistic intent for the piece is smoothly and adequately repesented in the computerized image, and defining the artistic line in the medium by cutting through holes around the artistic lines.  
           [0010]    A continuing need exists for a method for creating a sculpture of an artistic line drawing using computer numeric controlled cutting devices to shape the sculpture.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0011]    A process for sculpting an artistic line drawing is describe including creating an artistic line drawing having a plurality of lines. The lines have artistically varying length and width. Each line is in direct contact with at least one other line. The artistic line drawing is converted to a computer format suitable for computer numeric controlled cutting of the artistic line drawing from a material. Cutting means driven by computer numeric controls is used to cut through and define holes in the material around the artistic lines to define the sculpture. The sculpture has a front side and a back side. The surface of the sculpture is finished to create an optical effect having the appearance of drawn lines such as those unevenly drawn by a felt tipped pen.  
           [0012]    The invention, together with attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when used in conjunction with the figures below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    Preferred embodiments of the presently disclosed method for creating a sculpture is described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a method for creating a sculpture in accordance with the present disclosure;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an expanded schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the method for creating a sculpture in accordance with the present disclosure;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is frontal perspective view of one sculpture fabricated using the method of FlG  1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Referring now in specific detail to the draawings in which like referenced numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially to FIG. 1, a novel method for creating a sculpture or a sculpting system  10  is shown including creating a line drawing  20 , using a computer system  30  to convert the line drawing into a computerized image, and using cutting means  40  to cut a sculpture  15 , and finishing  70  the surface of sculpture  15 .  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an artist creates line drawing  20  on paper using a medium such as a pencil, charcoal, ink, felt tipped pen, or marker suitable for creating lines having varying weights. The varying weight or width of the lines is used to artistically show depth in a two dimensional representation of three dimensional space, shading, the relative fineness of a particular object relative to other objects, or creative expression, for example. Each line of drawing  20  is connected to at least one other line of drawing  20 . Drawing  20  preferably has a single color, but drawing  20  can be made in any color or combinations of colors.  
         [0019]    A scanner of computer system  30  is used to convert line drawing  20  into a computer image in a standardized computer file format  32  suitable for defining the lines and arcs of the drawing in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate system. The standardized file format  32  produced by a computer aided design software program can include a DXF type file, for example, suitable for conversion to a computer numeric control format  34 .  
         [0020]    Alternatively, the artistic line drawing  20  is created on a computer system  30  using software suitable for artistic expressions in the form of line drawngs  20 . The file format of the computer based drawing  20  is converted either directly to the standardized file format  32  and then to computer numeric control format  34  or directly to the numeric control format  34 . Any conversion process is accompanied by a review and evaluation of the image/or initial developmental aristic model by the artist to ensure the artistic quality has not been degraded by the conversion process. Degradation of the conversion process can create undesirable effects, such as rough edges, on the lines that will be converted with the desirable attributes of the artistic lines and then again undesirbly replicated through the computer numeric controlled cutting means  40 .  
         [0021]    For example, once the paper based artistic line drawing  20  is converted to standardized file format  32 , the computer generated line drawing is reviewed and evaluated by the artist to ensure that the artistic integrity of drawing  20  is adequately represented by the computer generated version. The artist ensures the computer depicted lines all have at least one point in common with another line. Further, the artistic feel of the lines is verified by the artist to ensure the weight and flow of the computer image of the drawn lines is consistent with the artist&#39;s intent. Any roughness in the edges of the lines is also smoothed out by the artist and additional artistic creation can take place. The result is a computerized artist&#39;s drawing  20  having flowing lines of variable weight such as that of a marker or felt tipped pen.  
         [0022]    Computer numeric control format  34  is used to direct cutting means  40 . In a first preferred embodiment, cutting means  40  is a waterjet device suitable for cutting a steel plate material  50  approximately one eighth or 0.125 of an inch in thickness. While it is preferred material  50  is a single solid unitary piece, material  50  can include different materials or have more than one piece integrated together. Sculpture  15  can be fabricated using materials  50  having a wide range of widths from thousandths of an inch to approximately 18 inches as long as suitable structural integrity for sculpture  15  is provided by material  50 .  
         [0023]    Cutting means  40  also encompasses devices suitable for cutting sculpture  15  from natural and/or man made materials such as any type of metal, metal alloys, wood, plastic, composites, or stone such that sculpture  15  retains sufficient rigidity to sustain its shape when mounted on a structure. Cutting means  40  includes devices such as, but not limited to laser, plasma, ultrasound, hot-wire, band saw, and waterjet suitable for cutting the desired material.  
         [0024]    After sculpture  15  has been sculpted using cutting means  40 , sculpture  15  is dried prior to finishing  70 . Sculpture  15 , including mounting means  60  as appropriate, undergoes surface treatment or finishing  70  using a belt sander or a similar treatment device or mechanism to smooth rough edges from the cut and prepare the outer surface for treatment. Finishing  70  can include a simple buffing and/or applying a sealant or paint. Painting processes such as a powder coating type paints that resist chipping are preferred. In one preferred embodiment, the entire sculpture surface is finished including a front side, a reverse side, and means for mounting  60 .  
         [0025]    Means for mounting  60  preferably includes positioning a stud on the reverse side of sculpture  15 . The stud is preferably attached using a stud welder type device, but it can be any type of bonding mechanism to include adhesives that are not readily visible from the front of sculpture. The stud is then connected to a spacer for securely positioning sculpture  15  to a structure and, as desired, to provide a stand off from the structure for the sculpture. Mounting means  60  preferably positions the face of sculpture  15  approximately 1 and ½ inch from the structure. Mounting means  60  includes a washer on the end of the spacer for connecting to structure. The spacer and stud are configured to be substantially concealed when sculpture  15  is positioned on the structure. Sculpture  15  is configured such that it can be mounted in any relationship to the structure. Mounting means  60  support function can include alternative supporting mechanisms such as a wire, vertical suspension using a clear thin plastic line, or a piece of plastic that is not readily visible from the front of sculpture.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the configuration of sculpture  15  including the varying width of the artistic lines, the relative flatness of the sculpture, positioning of the sculpture a finite distance from the wall, and a generally contrasting color, preferably black, to that of a background structure has an optical effect of appearing as if it is uneven felt tipped line drawing marked directly on the structure of a wall when viewed from a first perspective that is generally perpendicular to the face of the sculpture. This visual effect is particularly noted when the mounting means positions the face of the sculpture approximately one and a half inches from the structure using mounting means  60  and has the function of making the sculpture appear as a graffiti type drawing made by a marker. The visual effect is eye catching to viewers and attracts their interest because it appears to be hand drawn uneven lines drawn with a felt tipped pen.  
         [0027]    Alternately, the configuration of sculpture  15  including the varying width of the artistic lines, the relative flatness of the sculpture, the positioning a finite distance fron the wall, and a generally contrasting color, preferably black, to that of a background structure has demonstrated an unexpected optical effect of appearing as if it is a free floating artistic line drawing marked in the air when viewed from a second perspective that is generally not perpendicular to the face of the sculpture. This additional unexpected visual effect functions similarly when the sculpture is positioned approximately one and a half inches from the structure by mounting means to make the sculpture appear as a marker type drawing positioned in mid air. The visual effect, again, is eye catching to viewers and attracts their interest.  
         [0028]    Although the illustative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Al such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Technology Category: 3