WRITING GUIDE FOR PARTIALLY SEEING, BLIND OR MUSCULARLY DISABLED PERSONS

• US 3,816,943 A
• Filed: 03/01/1973
• Issued: 06/18/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nadine E. Henry
• Original Assignee: Nadine E. Henry
• Inventors: Henry, Nadine E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, Wm. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/336,906
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 35/38,37,36 283/45
• US Class Current: 434/117
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/002 Writing aids for blind persons devices for Braille writing G09B21/02

Abstract

A writing guide for partially seeing, blind or muscularly disabled persons comprises a stiff backing element including means for holding a writing surface substantially immovable, and a flexible flap connected along one edge of the backing element. The latter is constructed to fold flat against the writing surface, and includes one or more lengthwise creases which correspond to desired writing lines on the writing surface. The user folds back the flap along the crease conforming to the line on which he wishes to write, for which the folded edge serves as a guide. Tactile and/or color contrasted markers adjacent each of the creases indicate the limits of the writing area. Disclosed embodiments include guides for writing and endorsing checks, filling out bank deposit and withdrawal slips, addressing envelopes and signing other types of legal documents.

Claims

1. A writing guide for assisting visually impaired or otherwise disabled persons to make correctly positioned handwritten entries on a writing surface which comprises in combination:

a stiff backing element, means for holding the writing surface in a writing position substantially free from movement relative to said backing element, a flexible flap appended to said backing element and constructed and arranged to be folded against the force of said writing surface disposed in writing position on said backing element, said flexible flap comprising one or more permanent creases conforming to one or more preferred writing lines on said writing surface, said flexible flap constructed and arranged for progressive folding along each said crease to provide a guide for writing on a corresponding one of said writing lines.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein one or more tactile indicators are positioned adjacent each said crease to indicate where the writing should begin and end.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said writing guide is specifically designed for the writing of bank checks, wherein said means for holding the writing surface in a writing position is designed and Shaped to hold a conventional bank check, and wherein said flexible flap substantially conforms in width to said means for holding said checks and includes a plurality of creases extending lengthwise across said flap, each said crease conforming exactly when in a folded position against said writing surface to one of the lines to be filled in on said check.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein the back of said means for holding said writing surface contains an additional pocket constructed to receive a check in longitudinal position for endorsement, said pocket terminating at its upper edge in a flap positioned to conform in folded position to one or more lines appropriate for said endorsement.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said writing guide is formed in combination with a conventional checkbook holder, one cover of said holder serving as said backing element.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said writing guide is formed in combination with a conventional checkbook holder, one of the covers of said holder serving as said backing element and one of the covers thereof containing said additional pocket.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for holding the writing surface in a writing position is designed and shaped to hold a conventional bank deposit or withdrawal form, and wherein said flexible flap comprises a plurality of sections constructed to be folded separately to accommodate lines extending only part of the length of the form.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least one said flap section contains one or more openings each having a small flap constructed to be folded against the face of said form to conform to a space for making a specific entry of limited lateral extent.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for holding the writing surface in a writing position is designed to accommodate a conventional mailing envelope, and wherein said flexible flap substantially conforms in width to said means for holding said writing surface and includes a plurality of creases extending lengthwise across said flap, each said crease conforming when in a folded position to a line for addressing said envelope.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein the upper left-hand corner includes a depending portion connected at its upper and left-hand edges to said means for holding the envelope and constructed to fit over the upper left-hand corner of said envelope, said depending portion including an auxiliary flap connected at the bottom edge thereof, said flap having a plurality of parallel lengthwise creases which are constructed to be successively positioned to conform to preferred lines for the return address for said envelope.

11. The combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein tactile indicators are interposed adjacent each of the lines of said flexible flaps to indicate the beginning and end of each said line for addressing said envelope, and for indicating a return address on said envelope.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for holding the writing surface in a writing position is designed and shaped to hold a legal document, and wherein said flexible flap is constructed and arranged for folding against the face of said document and containing at least one lengthwise crease constructed to be folded to conform to a preferred line for signing said document, and tactile indicators adjacent said last-named crease to indicate the beginning and ending of the preferred position for signing said document.

13. The combination in accordance with claim 1 especially adapted for use by partially sighted persons wherein said flexible flap comprises a plurality of color sections of contrasting colors, each differently colored section indicating the boundaries of a specific area to be filled in on said writing surface.

14. The combiNation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said writing guide is specifically designed for letter writing, and said flexible flap substantially conforms to the shape of the writing surface and contains a plurality of permanent creases extending the width of said flap and substantially equally spaced apart over the length of said flap, said creases conforming in position to desired lines on said letter writing page.

15. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said writing guide includes Braille indications for apprising the blind or partially sighted person as to the information requested.

16. A writing guide for assisting visually impaired or otherwise disabled persons to make correctly positioned handwritten entries on a writing surface which comprises:

a flexible flap having a length slightly exceeding the space required for a conventional signature, and a width not exceeding several inches, said guide including at least one permanent lengthwise crease constructed to serve as a signature guide, means for securely holding one edge of said flap substantially immobile relative to said writing surface, said means comprising a roughened surface on at least a portion of the reverse face of said flap for maintaining frictional contact with said writing surface, said flexible flap comprising means for forming a semi-flexible edge conforming to one or more writing lines of said writing surface, which edge is readily lifted to accommodate marks made by the writer below the said writing lines.

17. The combination in accordance with claim 16 comprising means for holding the writing surface in a writing position substantially immobile relative to said backing element, said means including:

coordinated pairs of slots on opposite lateral edges of said writing surface, said flexible flap being detachable from said means for holding the writing surface, and said flap including at each opposite lower end a tab, the tabs constructed and arranged to fit in progressive positions in said pairs of slots whereby said flap can be moved from one position to another along the length of said writing surface, the said permanent crease therein conforming to successive lines on the said writing surface.

18. The combination in accordance with claim 17 whereby said means for holding the writing surface in a writing position includes spring loaded clamping means on the upper end of said holding means.