Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a painting assistive device capable of creating a user-desired color to assist the user in performing painting or coloring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Though many people like to paint, painting or coloring is a tedious process. Many coloring palettes and trays are available in the market to help the artist while painting. These trays contain multiple small spaces to keep each color separate and a large space to mix different colors. But mixing of the colors is done manually which again takes a lot of time and sometimes doesn’t result in the desired color due to improper mixing. These trays also don’t have space for keeping water needed while painting and separate water containers create a mess when the user takes water from the container to the tray.

[0003] The paint boxes store the colors and also have a separate space for holding the water container but sometimes it happens that all the color is not used while painting at once. The color left in the box gets dried with time due to the air which cannot be used again due to degraded quality. This leads to the wastage of a lot of color. The available devices lacks in maintaining the colors at a specific temperature and preventing them from drying out.

[0004] US9192874B2 discloses a digital coloring tools kit for creating a realistic painting experience for use with a touch-screen device is provided in embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, the digital coloring tools kit includes a digital paintbrush tool, a digital stamper tool, a digital pattern roller, a digital airbrush tool, a digital paint palette, and a carrying case. In further embodiments, the invention includes an activation feature for a digital coloring tools application configured to generate a digital coloring environment upon activation and/or execution by a computing device, such as a touch-screen device. In some embodiments, the digital paint palette is configured to receive a first and second amount of a color for mixing, and subsequent painting with a digital paintbrush tool. Though US’874 discloses a digital coloring tools kit for creating a realistic painting experience, however, it lacks in getting accommodated with a water container to make the painting experience hassle-free for the user.

[0005] US20050218011A1 discloses an artist's paint box and palette is disclosed which allows water based paints to be used and stored wet. Each paint is kept in a ceramic cup which is kept in a water reservoir such that the cup wicks the moisture from the reservoir. A snuggly fitting lid keeps the stored paints in a well humidified atmosphere. Though US’011 discloses a device for maintaining water-based paints in a functionally hydrated and workable condition during both storage and use but it lacks in providing a bigger space for mixing the different colors to create a new color as per user’s requirement.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices existed for assisting the user while painting but the devices lacked in allowing the user to create a new colors per the requirement. The traditionally available trays and palettes creates unnecessary mess as the water is stored in a separate container which makes the process inefficient and spoil the user’s experience.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a device that makes the coloring process more efficient and less hectic for the user by providing a safe space for placing and creating new colors as per the user’s requirement in an automated manner.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of assisting a user in painting or coloring in a hassle-free manner by providing a space for placing colors along with water.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that enables the user to mix different colors in an automated manner to prepare user-desired colors for performing painting.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of covering the placed colors to prevent them from drying and avoiding wastage of the colors.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a painting assistive device that provide a means for accommodating the colors to assist a user in painting or coloring.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a painting assistive device comprising of a circular frame carved with an opening, developed to be accommodated over mouth portion of an auxiliary vessel stored with water, wherein an ultrasonic sensor is integrated on the frame to detect dimension of the mouth portion of the vessel, a motorized drawer arrangement integrated in the frame, that is actuated by the microcontroller to expand/contract in accordance to the detected dimension to ensure proper accommodation of the frame on the mouth portion, wherein an artificial intelligence based imaging unit having a processer, installed on the frame, to capture and process images of the mouth portion to detect thickness of walls of the vessel, plurality of telescopically operated clamps integrated on periphery of the opening, that are actuated by the microcontroller to acquire grip on the mouth portion of the vessel, to secure the frame on the mouth portion, wherein plurality of circular sections are configured along the periphery of the frame, to allow the user to pour different colors for performing painting, a color mixing section provided on the frame to allow the user to pour different colors in order to mix them, wherein a motorized stirrer integrated in the color mixing section to mix the to prepare user-desired color for performing painting.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic based level sensor integrated on the frame to detect the water level in the vessel and send a notification on a computing unit of the user to notify the user to refill water, a Peltier unit integrated in each sections to generate heating/cooling effect in order to maintain a specified temperature of the colors, a microphone provided on the frame to allow the user to provide voice command regarding heating or cooling and activate the Peltier unit and to cover the color in the sections, a motorized lid attached with the sections to cover the sections and a battery is associated with the device for supplying power to electrical and electronically operated components associated with the device.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a painting assistive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to a painting assistive device that provides a space to a user for placing the colors and forming a new color in an automated manner for performing painting. The device also provides a space to keep the water near the colors for diluting them as per user’s requirement.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1, an isometric view of a painting assistive device is illustrated, comprising of a circular frame 101 carved with an opening, an ultrasonic sensor 102 is integrated on the frame 101, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 103 installed on the frame 101, plurality of clamps 104 integrated on the periphery of the opening, plurality of circular sections 105 are configured along the periphery of the frame 101, a color mixing section 106 provided on the frame 101.

[0023] The proposed device includes a circular frame 101 carved with an opening that is developed to be accommodated over the mouth portion of an auxiliary vessel stored with water. The frame 101 is like a circular tray to be fixed on the glass or any other water-containing vessel.

[0024] The dimensions of the mouth portion of the auxiliary vessel is required for accommodating the opening over it. For this, the frame 101 is integrated with an ultrasonic sensor 102 that detects the dimension of the mouth portion of the vessel. The ultrasonic sensor 102 works by emitting high-frequency sound waves and measuring the time it takes for the echo to return. The sensor 102 calculates the distance to the vessel using the time delay between sending the signal and receiving the echo of the sound wave. It takes the measurements from various points of the mouth of the vessel and determines the dimension of the vessel’s mouth which is sent to a microcontroller.

[0025] The microcontroller is pre-fed with a defined set of instructions to perform various functions. The microcontroller is a small integrated circuit that controls specific functions by executing a program stored in its memory. It consists of a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and I/O ports for interacting with external components of the device. When powered on, it fetches and executes instructions received from the device's component.

[0026] Once the dimension is detected, a motorized drawer arrangement integrated in the frame 101 is actuated by the microcontroller to ensure proper accommodation of the frame 101 on the mouth portion. The drawer arrangement comprises of two plates which are connected through a slider. The slider consists of a sliding rail and a motorized slidable member connected to the sliding rail. The motorized slidable member is attached to the opening carved on the frame 101 and further to a motor which provides movement to the member in a bi-directional manner and proving the movement to the plates. This way the drawer arrangement expands/contracts in accordance with the detected dimension accommodating the frame 101 over the mouth portion of the vessel.

[0027] The frame 101 gets accommodated over the mouth of the vessel. The microcontroller then activates an artificial intelligence based imaging installed on the frame 101 that captures the images of the mouth portion and further processes them to detect the thickness of the walls of the vessel. The thickness of the mouth portion helps to adjust the device to make a better grip on the vessel to prevent the spilling of the water from the vessel.

[0028] The imaging unit 103 comprises of a camera that captures the high-resolution image of the mouth of the vessel. The images are then processed to enhance clarity and identify the inner and outer boundaries of the vessel using the protocol of an artificial intelligence. The processor calculate the thickness by measuring the distance between these boundaries in the form of pixels and further converts the pixel distance into numerical values which are sent to the microcontroller.

[0029] According to the numerical values which is determined by the imaging unit 103, the microcontroller actuates plurality of telescopically operated clamps 104 integrated on periphery of the opening to fix clamp 104 over the mouth in order to acquire the grip and secure the frame 101 on the mouth portion.

[0030] The clamp 104 here is telescopically operated and works by extending and retracting the rod to secure and release the vessel. The clamp 104 extends towards the mouth portion so that the clamp 104 acquires the grip over the mouth and hold it in a stable position. The telescopic mechanism of extending the clamps 104 via rod works on pneumatic unit to extend/retract the rod.

[0031] The pneumatic unit in the rod embodies an air compressor, air cylinder, air valves, and piston which work in collaboration to perform the extension and retraction of the rods and placing the clamps 104 near the vessel. The rod comprises a nested tube arrangement that contains multiple hollow tubes connected concentrically. The air cylinder is attached to the bottom of the nested tube arrangement and further consists of an air piston attached to the topmost part of the nested tube arrangement from the inside.

[0032] The air cylinder is integrated with one inlet and one outlet valve that is connected to an air compressor configured with an exhaust fan. The air compressor draws air from the surroundings and compresses it to form pressurized air which enters the inlet valve and creates a force that pushes the piston in the forward direction. As the piston moves in the forward direction, it leads to the sequential opening of the concentrically connected tubes from the top toward the bottom causing the extension of rod to place the clamp 104 for securing the mouth portion of the vessel. To retract the rod for removing the clamp 104 from the vessel, the pressurized air is taken back into the compressor from the outlet valve which makes the piston move in a backward direction causing the retraction of the rod.

[0033] Once grip is acquired over the mouth, a user is allowed to pour a variety of colors in plurality of circular sections 105 configured along the periphery of the frame 101 for performing painting. The different sections 105 helps in time management by eliminating the need to take one color at a time as multiple colors are poured together and used by the user as per requirement. The sections 105 are circular so that colors can be picked up easily by the user and reduce wastage as no color gets accumulated in corners due to the circular shape.

[0034] The frame 101 also provides a color mixing section 106 to pour different colors to mix them. The user is allowed to combine two or more colors over the mixing section 106 to form new color combinations. This section is also circular in shape but bigger in size in comparison to other circular sections 105 to allow the mixing of colors without spillage to prepare user-desired color for performing painting.

[0035] The colors are mixed in an automated manner due to a motorized stirrer integrated into the color mixing section 106 to mix colors to prepare user-desired color for performing painting. The motorized stirrer includes a stirring rod having a base plate at the bottom and is connected to the electric motor to create rotational motion. When the motor is activated, it gives the rotational motion to the attached rod and the base plate which creates agitation in the liquid colors causing them to mix thoroughly. The mixing results in the preparation of user-desired color for performing painting.

[0036] The water in the vessel is used to dilute and mix color so the water level in the vessel is measured by an ultrasonic based level sensor integrated on the frame 101. The level sensor works by using ultrasonic waves to measure the distance between the sensor and the water surface to detect the water level of the vessel.

[0037] The sensor emits ultrasonic waves from a transmitter which travel through the air to the water's surface and reflect from the water to the sensor’s 102 receiver. Using the time between the sending and receiving of sound waves, the distance between the sensor and the water surface is calculated. This value is sent to the microcontroller which compares it with the pre-fed threshold level. If the water level in the vessel recedes the threshold level, the microcontroller sends a notification to a computing unit of the user to notify the user to refill the water.

[0038] The colors poured in the sections 105 remain there for a longer time and get dried due to the air or the user may have added extra water while diluting the color. To maintain the consistency of the colors and keep them from drying, a Peltier unit is integrated in each section to heat or cool the poured colors on the sections 105.

[0039] The Peltier unit works on the Peltier effect where a temperature difference is created by transferring heat between two electrical junctions. A voltage applied across two conductors joined together creates an electrical current. When an electric current is passed, electrons move from a high-energy state to a lower-energy state and release energy in the form of heat. At one junction, the movement of electrons absorbs heat from the surroundings making that side cold while other side where the movement of electrons releases energy, it becomes hot.

[0040] The user is enabled to provide voice commands through a microphone for activating the Peltier unit on each section. When the user speaks to give voice commands to a microphone, it first captures the sound waves from the voice. These sound waves hit the diaphragm which vibrates back and forth in response to sound waves. This movement is then transferred to a capacitor connected to the microphone that converts the vibrations into an electrical signal that mirrors the pattern of the sound waves. This signal is sent to the microcontroller which further activates the Peltier unit.

[0041] The microphone also enables the user to provide commands to cover the color in the sections 105 through a motorized lid attached to each section while colors are not in use. The microphone works in the same manner as described above and sends a signal to the microcontroller. The motorized lid operates by using an electric motor to control its movement. When the motor is powered on, it activates a gear mechanism that translates the motor’s rotational movement into the motion of the lid and leads to the opening/closing of the lid. The lid covers the sections 105 and prevents the colors from drying or going to waste.

[0042] Moreover, a battery is associated with the device to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein. The battery is comprised of a pair of electrodes known as a cathode and an anode. A voltage is generated between the anode and cathode via oxidation/reduction and thus produces the electrical energy to provide to the device.

[0043] The present invention works best in the following manner, a circular frame 101 carved with an opening that is accommodated over mouth portion of an auxiliary vessel stored with water. The ultrasonic sensor 102 integrated on the frame 101 to detect the dimension of the mouth portion of the vessel and the microcontroller actuates the motorized drawer arrangement integrated in the frame 101. The drawer arrangement expand/contract in accordance to the detected dimension to ensure proper accommodation of the frame 101 on the mouth portion. After that, the artificial intelligence based imaging unit 103 installed on the frame 101 is activated to capture and process images of the mouth portion to detect thickness of walls of the vessel. As the thickness is detected, the microcontroller actuates a plurality of telescopically operated clamps 104 integrated on periphery of the opening to acquire grip on the mouth portion of the vessel to secure the frame 101 on the mouth portion. The frame 101 is configured with plurality of circular sections 105 on the periphery of the frame 101 to allow the user to pour different colors for performing painting. The frame 101 also has a color mixing section 106 provided on the frame 101 to allow the user to pour different colors in order to mix them using a motorized stirrer integrated in the color mixing section 106 to mix the colors to prepare user-desired color for performing painting. The ultrasonic based level sensor integrated on the frame 101 detects the water level in the vessel and send a notification on a computing unit of the user to notify the user to refill water. Further, each circular section of the frame 101 is integrated with a Peltier unit to generate heating/cooling effect in order to maintain a specified temperature of the colors. The Peltier unit is activated by voice command given by the user via a microphone provided on the frame 101. The user is also able to give voice command to activate a motorized lid attached with the sections 105 to cover the sections 105 when not in use. The device is connected to the battery for supplying power to electrical and electronically operated components associated with the device.

[0044] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) A painting assistive device, comprising:

i) a circular frame 101 carved with an opening, developed to be accommodated over mouth portion of an auxiliary vessel stored with water, wherein an ultrasonic sensor 102 is integrated on said frame 101 to detect dimension of said mouth portion of said vessel;
ii) a motorized drawer arrangement integrated in said frame 101, that is actuated by said microcontroller to expand/contract in accordance to said detected dimension to ensure proper accommodation of said frame 101 on said mouth portion, wherein an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 103 having a processer, installed on said frame 101, to capture and process images of said mouth portion to detect thickness of walls of said vessel;
iii) plurality of telescopically operated clamps 104 integrated on periphery of said opening, that are actuated by said microcontroller to acquire grip on said mouth portion of said vessel, to secure said frame 101 on said mouth portion, wherein plurality of circular sections 105 are configured along said periphery of said frame 101, to allow said user to pour different colors for performing painting; and
iv) a color mixing section 106 provided on said frame 101 to allow said user to pour different colors in order to mix them, wherein a motorized stirrer integrated in said color mixing section 106 to mix said to prepare user-desired color for performing painting.

2) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in case said water level in said vessel recedes a threshold level, as detected by said microcontroller via an ultrasonic based level sensor integrated on said frame 101, said microcontroller sends a notification on a computing unit of said user to notify said user to refill water.

3) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a microphone provided on said frame 101 to allow said user to provide voice command regarding heating or cooling said poured colors on said sections 105, wherein based on said command said microcontroller actuates a Peltier unit integrated in each said sections 105, to generate heating/cooling effect in order to maintain a specified temperature of said colors.

4) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in case said user via said microphone provides command to cover said color in said sections 105, said microcontroller actuates a motorized lid attached with said sections 105, to cover said sections 105.

5) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery is associated with said device for supplying power to electrical and electronically operated components associated with said device.