US3123919A - Sculpturing block - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1964 c MEADOR 3,123,919

SCULPTURING BLOCK Filed April 29, 1959 INVENTOR JCfMa z a v I --/2 X f BY ATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,123,919 SQULPTURING BLGEK Jim 6. Meador, 5922 Southern Ave, Shreveport, La. Fiied Apr. 29, 1959, Sen No.'809,685 3 (Iiaims. (Cl. 35-26) This invention relates to an educational device through the use of which a'child or adult may acquire considerable skill in sculp-turing, as well as considerable pleasure or recreation.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a block containing embedded therein a figure or object which can be produced fromthe block, in fine or exact detail, by carefully cutting or carving away portions of the'block surrounding the figure or object.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carving or sculpturing block composed of a plastic material or materials which may be readily carved away for producing the embedded figure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sculpturing block wherein the embedded figure is preferably produced of a plastic material of a contrasting color to the part of the block surrounding said figure so that considerable skill and care is required to produce the figure in correct detail by carving the block from the figure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sculpturing block wherein said block is composed of distinctively colored layers or thicknesses surrounding the figure or object for outlining the figure in increasing detail as the block is carved.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a sculpturing block constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof looking toward one end of the block;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view looking toward the other end of the block;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the block, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the block taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURES l and 4, and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the figure carved from the block and with the outline of the block shown in broken lines surrounding the figure.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the sculpturing or carving block in its entirety is designated generally 8 and includes an innermost part 9 constituting a figure or object. In the illustration of the invention, the figure or object 9 is shown as a Scotty dog; however, the figure or object may be of any character of more or less fine detail, depending upon whether the sculpturing block is to be used by a child or adult. The portion of the block surrounding the figure 9 is preferably formed of a plastic material which may be readily carved away, and the figure 9 is likewise preferably formed of a plastic material, which may or may not be the same type of material as that of the remainder of the block. The block 8, including the figure 9, may be formed, for example, of plaster of Paris, soap, paraffin or wax and various other materials.

The figure 9 is first molded or cast in any conventional manner. Assuming that the remainder of the block is to be formed of wax, the figure 9 is initially enclosed in a coating it? of the Wax preferably by being dipped a number of times in hot wax. The hot wax,

3,123,919 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 from which the coating 1% is formed, is preferably of a distinguishing color from thecolor of the object 9. After the coating 10 is hardened and set, the figure 9, encased in the coating .10, has another coating. 11 of wax applied over the coating 10, by additional dipping, which coating 11 is preferably of another color from that of the coating 10. After the coating llhas cooled and hardened, the dipping process is repeated as many times as is necessary to produce a third surrounding coating 12 of still another color. After the coating 12 has cooled and set, the figure containing the three coatings is preferably suspended in a container which is then filled with wax or other plastic material which is allowed to cool and harden to produce the complete block 8 which is thereafter-"removed from the container, not shown. An outer portion 13 of the block 8 is preferably of a color different from that of the color of the coatings 10', 11 and d2, and said block may be rectangular, square, or of any other shape not suggestive of the shape of the embedded figure 9.

If desired, a side 14 of the block 8 may have the figure or coatings outlined thereon, as seen at 15. The end 16 of the block, disposed adjacent the head of the figure 9, may be outlined as seen at 17 to simulate the forward ends of the two outer coatings 12 and 111 and to also suggest the forward end of the figure 9, and the other rear end 18 of the block can be outlined, as seen at 19 in FIGURE 3, to suggest the shape of the coatings adjacent the rear end of the block. Said outlines 15, 17 and 19 generally indicate the thickness of the outer portion 16 of the block to assist the carver. However, it will be understood that the surface markings 15, 17 and 19 may be omitted, especially where the block is to be carved by an adult.

In carving or sculpturing the figure 9, the outer portion 13 of the block is first carved away until the coating 12 is reached. The difference in color between the coating 12 and the block portion I13 will enable the user to carve away all of the block portion 13 without cutting through the coating 12 and so that there will then remain a rough outline of the figure 9. The coating 12 is then carved away with more care until all of said coating is removed and the coating 11 is completely exposed, at which time the figure will appear in more detail. The coating 11 is then carved away with still greater care until it has been completely removed and the inner coating 10 is completely exposed, showing in still more detail the configuration and contours of the figure 9. The inner coating 10 is then carved away with the utmost care leaving the figure 9 completely exposed. This may be accomplished by cutting and scraping. The sculptu-ring skill will be readily apparent to the carver or sculptor if he or she is able to completely remove all of the coating 10 without marring the surface of the figure 9, so that the figure 9 will appear in as fine detail, after having been carved from the block 8, as it was prior to molding into said block. The coatings 12, 11 and 10 are preferably of diminishing thicknesses. The figure 9 may be of a different color or the same color as the outer block portion 13. However, the coatlugs 16, 11 and 12 are preferably of three different colors and of colors different from either the color of the block portion 13 or that of the figure 9.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, Without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sculpturing device as comprising a plastic block and a figure molded therein, said block being formed of a material capable of being carved or cut away for exposing the figure, and said block including a plurality of completely enclosed layers immediately surrounding the figure, said layers having contours similar to the contour of the figure and being distinctively colored relative to one another, to the figure and to the outer portion of the block in which said layers are embedded, said distinctively colored layers being of diminishing thickness from the outermost to the innermost layer and being shaped progressively to more nearly correspond to the contour of the figure from the outermost to the innermost layer.

2. A sculpturing device comprising a plastic block and a figure molded therein, said block being formed of a material capable of being carved or cut away for exposing the figure, and said block including a plurality of completely enclosed layers immediately surrounding the figure, said layers having contours similar to the contour of the figure and being distinctively colored relative to one another, to the figure and to the outer portion of the block in Which said layers are embedded, said block having substantially fiat outer sides and outer ends, certain of said sides and ends having markings outlining portions of the figure and layers located adjacent said sides and ends.

3. A sculpturing device comprising a plastic block and a figure molded therein, said block being formed of a material capable of being carved or cut away for exposing the figure, and said block including a plurality of completely enclosed layers immediately surrounding the figure, said layers having contours similar to the contour of the figure and being distinctively colored relative to one another, to the figure and to the outer portion of the block in which said layers are embedded, said block having substantially fiat exterior sides and ends, and means inscribed upon certain of said sides and ends forming carving guides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,446,941 Smith Feb. 27, 1923 1,902,627 Elbogen Mar. 21, 1933 3,077,676 Riva Feb. 19, 1963

Claims (1)

1. A SCULPTURING DEVICE AS COMPRISING A PLASTIC BLOCK AND A FIGURE MOLDED THEREIN, SAID BLOCK BEING FORMED OF A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF BEING CARVED OR CUT AWAY FOR EXPOSING THE FIGURE, AND SAID BLOCK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF COMPLETELY ENCLOSED LAYERS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE FIGURE, SAID LAYERS HAVING CONTOURS SIMILAR TO THE CONTOUR OF THE FIGURE AND BEING DISTINCTIVELY COLORED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, TO THE FIGURE AND TO THE OUTER PORTION OF THE BLOCK IN WHICH SAID LAYERS ARE EMBEDDED, SAID DISTINCTIVELY COLORED LAYERS BEING OF DIMINISHING THICKNESS FROM THE OUTERMOST TO THE INNERMOST LAYER AND BEING SHAPED PROGRESSIVELY TO MORE NEARLY CORRESPOND TO THE CONTOUR OF THE FIGURE FROM THE OUTERMOST TO THE INNERMOST LAYER.

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