Method for constructing architectural models including scaled surface textures

• US 6,404,424 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WD Navarre Holdings, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Punch Software LLC (Wynit)
• Inventors: Davis, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAJOUS, WESNER
• Application Number:
  US09/324,219
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/419, 345/420, 345/421, 345/429, 345/430, 345/629, 345/630, 345/641, 345/664, 345/679, 345/582, 703/1, 706/10, 358/1.1
• US Class Current: 345/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/04 of buildings

Abstract

A method of creating architectural models that includes scaled surface textures for at least one exterior surface of the architectural design is provided. The method includes printing scaled templates for component parts of an architectural model and a set of building instructions for the architectural model using a computer-aided design system. Once the scaled templates for the component parts are printed, they are trimmed and affixed to a suitable model-making material, such as foamboard, after which the model-making material is trimmed to correspond to the shape of each template. The component parts are assembled and a plurality of template texture overlays are printed, which correspond to the desired surface textures and colors of the component parts forming the model. The scaled template texture overlays are permanently affixed to the component parts.

Claims

1. A method of creating an architectural model comprising the steps of:

providing a computer-aided design system including a processor, at least one input device, a visual display device and an output printer for generating a complete architectural design, including a plurality of scaled surface textures of said architectural design;

printing scaled templates for a plurality of component parts of said architectural design including building instructions for said model using said printer;

affixing said scaled templates to a model construction material and trimming said material according to the scaled templates to create said component parts;

printing scaled texture overlays, which are separate from said templates, corresponding to said surface textures and affixing said overlays to said component parts, which have been trimmed; and

assembling said component parts according to said building instructions.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of printing scaled templates for component parts of said design comprises printing scaled templates for walls and roofs.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of printing scaled templates further comprises printing scaled templates for floors.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of printing scaled templates includes printing labels on said scaled templates, said labels corresponding to said scaled texture overlays.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of printing said scaled texture overlays further comprises leaving void regions on said overlays representing windows and doors.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of printing said scaled texture overlays comprises printing windows and doors onto said scaled texture overlays.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of inputting a thickness dimension of said model construction material and automatically adjusting said scaled templates to account for said thickness dimension.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of printing said scaled templates includes indicating on said scaled templates regions where said component parts will join other component parts.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of printing said scaled texture overlays and affixing said scaled texture overlays to said construction material component parts comprises affixing scaled texture overlays to interior and exterior sides of said component parts.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of affixing said templates and texture overlays comprises gluing said templates and overlays onto said construction material.

11. A method of creating an architectural model comprising the steps of:

providing a computer-aided design system including a processor, at least one input device, a visual display device and an output printer for generating a complete architectural design;

printing scaled templates for a plurality of component parts of said architectural design using said printer;

printing on each template indicia representative of where an adjacent component part should be affixed;

affixing said scaled templates to a model construction material and trimming said material according to the scaled templates to create said component parts;

assembling said component parts according to the indicia;

printing scaled texture overlays, which are separate from said templates, corresponding to said surface textures; and

affixing said overlays to said component parts, which have been trimmed, so as to cover the indicia on the templates.