Thermal eraser for tactile drawings

US9403401B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• University of Vermont and State Agricultural College · US
• National Federation For The Blind · US

Inventors

• Michael Rosen · Waltham, US
• Michael Coleman · Little Canada, US
• Joshua Coffee · South Burlington, US
• William David Banks · Shrewsbury, US
• Kristin Leigh Funabashi · Brookline, US
• Rebecca Risko · Ferndale, US
• Akie Hashimoto · Durham, US
• Keegan Jennings Brown · Brookline, US
• Katherine Accomando · Beverly, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 2012
• Grant date: Aug 2, 2016
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B43L19/0043
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A thermal eraser for erasing tactile drawing features from a tactile drawing medium, along with methods of erasing tactile drawing features formed on a tactile drawing medium, are disclosed. The thermal eraser has a heated tip that can be heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the tactile drawing feature to flow back into the surface of the tactile drawing medium. The heated tip has a tip temperature that can be controlled by a temperature-regulating circuit. A set-point temperature can be used to set the tip temperature and maintain the tip temperature. The thermal eraser can be controlled by hand or by an electro-mechanical device such as a tactile printer.