Title: MEASUREMENT TOOL FOR PORTRAIT CREATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to a measurement tool for creating portraits.

BACKGROUND

[0002] One of the traditional methods for artists to create a portrait (a face) from an image of an individual is to identify and divide the details of the face using tools as a ruler and protractor. The basic lines of the face, its features and their position are determined according to the measurements obtained from the resource image. This generally starts with the face line, the eye line, then the nose line, then the mouth and ear.

[0003] However, in order to apply these ratios to the new drawing board, it takes time and effort to memorize these numbers, ratios and measurements. It is a tedious and painstaking process and can be extremely intimidating for beginners and newcomers to portrait creation.

[0004] In another method, the artist draws a grid over a resource image and its canvass or drawing surface. The grid of vertical and diagonal lines creates squares. The artist then reproduces square by square, the resource image to the canvass or drawing surface. This method is also long and can be frustrating especially for beginners trying to determine the positioning of the main points in anatomy.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) [0005] There is need for a measuring tool to help artists in determining the basic measurements and angle of rotation (the face movement) from an image in order to create a portrait in a simpler, faster and more accurate way than traditional methods.

[0006] This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY

[0007] An object of embodiments of the present invention is a measuring tool to help artists in determining the basic measurements and angle of rotation (the face movement) from an image in order to create a portrait in a simpler, faster and more accurate way than traditional methods, which can be also developed to work on mobile application.

[0008] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a portrait measurement tool. The measurement tool includes a vertical ruler and two horizontal rulers. Each of the rulers has a longitudinal slot. The first horizontal ruler is coupled perpendicularly to an upper portion of the vertical ruler and the second horizontal ruler is coupled perpendicularly to a lower portion of the vertical ruler. The first and second horizontal rulers are vertically slidable about the longitudinal slot of the vertical ruler. Protractors at each of the ends of the vertical rulers are used for determining the angle of rotation of a face from a resource image. Positioning units are slidingly coupled to the vertical ruler, the two horizontal rulers to determine the location of features of a face from the resource image.

[0009] In accordance with another embodiments of the present invention, the

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) measurement tool includes a vertical ruler and two horizontal rulers. Each of the rulers has a longitudinal slot. The first horizontal ruler is coupled perpendicularly to an upper portion of the vertical ruler and the second horizontal ruler is coupled perpendicularly to a lower portion of the vertical ruler. The first and second horizontal rulers are vertically slidable about the longitudinal slot of the vertical ruler. Holders are coupled to each end of the vertical ruler. A protractor for determining the angle of rotation of a face from a resource image is rotatably coupled to each of the holders. Positioning units are slidingly coupled to the vertical ruler, the two horizontal rulers to determine the location of features of a face from the resource image.

[0010] Embodiments have been described above in conjunctions with aspects of the present invention upon which they can be implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in conjunction with the aspect with which they are described but may also be implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When embodiments are mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some embodiments may be described in relation to one aspect, but may also be applicable to other aspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a measurement tool to generate portraits in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) [0013] FIG. 2 provides a bottom view of the measurement tool of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of a positioning unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 4 provides an exploded view of a positioning unit and top horizontal ruler in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 5 provides a photograph of a measurement tool over a photograph of a face to measure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 6 provides a photograph of a measurement tool with blank drawing surface to note the measurement taken with the tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an example of a portrait measurement tool 1 in accordance with implementations of the present disclosure. The portrait measuring tool 1 comprises a vertical ruler 5, a top horizontal ruler 10, a bottom horizontal ruler 15, a top holder 20, a bottom holder 25, a top protractor 30, a bottom protractor 35 and a plurality of positioning units 40.

[0020] The vertical ruler 5 has a generally triangular cross-section with a flat top surface. The flat top surface is provided with a longitudinal slot 6 opening into a larger longitudinal guide slot 7. The slot 6 and slot 7 are formed at the central portion

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) of the ruler 5 and generally extends most of the length of the ruler 5. The ends of the ruler 5 at the slot 6 and slot 7 are closed. The ends of the slot 6 are rounds. In another embodiment, the ends are flat or squared. The guide slot 7 has a generally rectangular shape. The ruler 5 comprises conventional measurement indicia (not shown) along its edges. The measurement indicia may also include scales along its edges.

[0021] A top horizontal ruler 10 has a generally triangular cross-section with a flat top surface. The ruler 10 comprises conventional measurement indicia (not shown) along its edges. In an embodiment, the measurement indicia may also include scales along its edges. The ruler 10 has a notch 14 at its bottom surface at its mid section corresponding to the triangular cross-section with flat top profile of the ruler 5. The notch 14 of the ruler 10 fits over a mid upper section ruler 5 and sits perpendicular to the ruler 5. The ruler 10 is provided with longitudinal slots 11 opening into a larger longitudinal guide slot 12. The slots 11 and 12 are formed at the central portion of the ruler 10. The two slots 11 are each located at the flat top surface of the triangular cross-section of the ruler 11 on the opposite sides of the notch 14. The slot 12 generally extends most of the length of the ruler 10. The ends of the slots 11 are closed. The ends of the ruler at the slot 12 are open. The ruler 10 comprises an aperture 13 at its flat top surface above the notch 14. The ruler 10 is vertically slidable about the slots 6 and 7 of the ruler 5 by fastening means. The fastening means can be a bolt (not shown) configured to be partially inserted from the top flat surface of the ruler 10 via its aperture 13 through the slot 6 of the ruler 5 and at least partially received by a nut (not shown) held within the guide slot 7 of the ruler 5. The fastening means can easily be tightened by hand to secure the ruler 10 at a specific point along the slot 6 of the ruler 5.

[0022] A bottom horizontal ruler 15 has a generally triangular cross-section with a flat top surface. The ruler 15 generally has the same size, shape and characteristics

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) as ruler 10. The mid portion of the ruler 15 comprises conventional measurement indicia (not shown) along its edges. In an embodiment, the measurement indicia may also include scales along its edges. The ruler 15 has a notch 19 at its bottom surface at its mid section corresponding to the triangular cross-section with flat top profile of the ruler 5. The notch 19 of the ruler 15 fits over a mid lower section ruler 5 and sits perpendicular to the ruler 5. The ruler 15 is provided with longitudinal slots 16 opening into a larger longitudinal guide slot 17. The slots 16 and 17 are formed at the central portion of the ruler 15. The two slots 16 are each located at the flat top surface of the triangular cross-section of the ruler 11 on the opposite sides of the notch 19. The slot 17 generally extends most of the length of the ruler 15. The ends of the slots 16 are closed. The ends of the ruler at the slot 17 are open. The ruler 15 comprises an aperture 18 at its flat top surface over the notch 19. The ruler 15 is slidably disposed on the ruler 5 by fastening means. The fastening means can be a bolt (not shown) configured to be partially inserted from the top flat surface of the ruler 15 via its aperture 13 through the slot 6 of the ruler 5 and at least partially received by a nut (not shown) held within the guide slot 7 of the ruler 5. The fastening means can easily be tightened by hand to secure the ruler 15 at a specific point along the slot 6 of the ruler 5.

[0023] Once the rulers 10 and 15 are both coupled to the rule 5, the rulers 10 and 15 are parallel to one another.

[0024] A top holder 20 is coupled to a top end of the ruler 5 at a bottom portion of the top holder. The holder 20 is made of a transparent plastic or acrylic material or other similar material. The upper portion of the holder 20 includes a slot 21 perpendicular to the ruler 5 and parallel to the rulers 10 and 15. A protractor 30 is coupled to the holder 20 by a fastener 32 extended through the slot 21 of the holder 20 and the through hole 31 of the protractor 30, and a nut (not shown) secured on a

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) distal end of the fastener 22. The protractor 30 is a typical protractor which comprise a generally flat protractor disc having a straight edge portion and a semi-circular portion having angle indicia on a front surface thereof. The protractor 30 also comprises a through hole 31 proximate to the straight edge at the mid portion of the protractor 30. The fastener 32 is slidably disposed in the slot 21 so that the protractor 30 can be rotated about the fixed holder 20. The fastener 22 can be further tightened to lock the protractor 30 at a given position.

[0025] A bottom holder 25 is coupled to a bottom end of the ruler 5 at a top portion of the holder. The holder 20 is made of a transparent plastic or acrylic material or other similar material. The bottom portion of the holder 25 includes a slot 26 perpendicular to the ruler 5 and parallel to the rulers 10 and 15. A protractor 35 is coupled to the holder 25 by a fastener 37 extended through the slot 21 of the holder 20 and the through hole 31 of the protractor 30, and a nut (not shown) secured on a distal end of the fastener 22. The protractor 35 is a typical protractor which comprise a generally flat protractor disc having a straight edge portion and a semi-circular portion having angle indicia on a front surface thereof. The protractor 30 also comprises a through hole 31 proximate to the straight edge at the mid portion of the protractor 30. The angle indicia of the protractor 35 can be seen through the holder

25 disposed over the protractor 35. The fastener 37 is slidably disposed in the slot

26 so that the protractor 35 can be rotated about the fixed holder 25. The fastener 37 can be further tightened to lock the protractor 30 at a given position.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the measurement tool 1 does not include the top holder 20 and the bottom holder 25. In this alternative embodiment, the protractor 30 is coupled to a top a top end of the ruler 5 at its though hole 31 in a manner that the protractor 30 can rotate about the top end of the ruler 5.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) [0027] A plurality of positioning units 40 (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, 40f and 40g) are coupled to the rulers 5, 10 and 15. As shown at FIG. 3, each of the positioning units 40 have a flat top portion 41 that is of similar width as the flat top portion of the rulers 5, 10 and 15. The positioning units 40 each have two flanges 42 on opposite sides of the flat top portion 41. The flanges 42 are angled downwardly and correspond to the angle of the sides of the rules 5, 10 and 15. The length of the flanges 42 is equal to or slightly shorten than the angled sides of the rules 5, 10 and 15. The positioning units 40 each sit over the rulers 5, 10 and 15. The positioning units 40 are slidingly secured to a one of the combinations of slots 6 and 7 or slots 11 and 12 or slots 15 and 16 by means of fasteners 45 and nuts 44. Each of the slots 6 of ruler 5, each of the slots 11 of the ruler 10 and each of the slots 16 of the ruler 15 include a positioning unit. As shown at FIG. 4, a fastener 45 is inserted through the aperture 43 of the positioning units 40, through the slot 11 of the ruler 10, then through the slot 12 of the ruler 10 and is secured within a square nut 44 that sits within slot 12 of the ruler 10. Each of the positioning units 40 (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, 40f and 40g) are coupled to a slot in one of the rulers in the same manner.

[0028] The positioning unit 40a is located in a top portion of slot 6 of the ruler 5. The positioning unit 40a is used to identify the position of the forehead.

[0029] The positioning unit 40b is located in the left slot 11 of the ruler 10. The positioning unit 40b is used to identify the position of the left eye.

[0030] The positioning unit 40c is located in the right slot 11 of the ruler 10. The positioning unit 40c is used to identify the position of the right eye.

[0031] The positioning unit 40d is located in the middle slot 6 of the ruler 5. The positioning unit 40d is used to identify the position of the nose.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) [0032] The positioning unit 40e is located in a lower portion of slot 6 of the ruler 5. The positioning unit 40e is used to identify the position of the chin.

[0033] The positioning unit 40f is located in the left slot 16 of the ruler 15. The positioning unit 40f is used to identify the position of the left ear.

[0034] The positioning unit 40g is located in the right slot 16 of the ruler 15. The positioning unit 40g is used to identify the position of the right ear.

[0035] The measurement tool 1 is specifically for portrait artists and painters especially for beginners and newcomers in this field. The tool 1 helps lay out the basic lines of the face and a shorten the time and effort required to complete the drawing accurately and professionally compared to the recognized traditional method.

[0036] The measuring tool 1 allows a user to quickly determine the positions of the main points of the human face. The ruler 5 is used to measure the basic face line separating the eyes and along the nose down to the mouth and ending with the bottom of the face. The ruler 10 which is installed horizontally to the ruler 5 moved from top to bottom to measure the level of the eye line. The ruler 15 which is installed horizontally to the ruler 5 and below the ruler 10 is used to determine the position of the mouth and ears. The two protractors 30 and 35 coupled respectively to the top and the bottom of the ruler 5 are used to measure the angle of rotation of the face. The rulers 10 and 15 as well as the positioning units (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, 40f and 40g) are movable in order to the measurements of the key features of the face.

[0037] Using the measurement tool 1, a user can easily take measurements for any face and of all sizes.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) [0038] The measurement tool 1 can also be manufactured in different dimensions for smaller or larger portraits. [0039] The measuring tool 1 can save the time and effort required by an artist to accurately measurement of the art of anatomy of the face.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26)