# US 7,407,383 B2 · Apparatus and system for teaching proper letter sizing and spacing to autistic children and others with deficiencies in the areas of visual processing, motor control and/or sensory processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,383 B2 - Document ID: US7407383B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/232,846 - Filed: 2005-09-22 - Published: 2006-04-13 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-09-22 - Assignees: Green Bean Products, Inc. - Inventors: Cindy Wilson Bean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407383B2 ## CPC - G09B 11/04: Guide sheets or plates; Tracing charts (templets for drawing purposes B43L13/20) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to the area of assistive technology, and specifically discloses an apparatus and method for teaching proper letter sizing and spacing to autistic children and others having deficiencies in the areas of visual processing, motor control and sensory processing, through the use of a novel writing guide and graduated method for using same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A writing guide for teaching proper letter sizing and spacing to autistic children and others with deficiencies in the areas of visual processing, motor control an sensory processing, the writing guide comprising: a substantially planar top panel having at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture formed therein; a substantially planar bottom panel operably associated with the substantially planar top panel, and configured to be aligned therewith, in spaced relation thereto; and at least one sheet of writable material operably configured for insertion between the top panel and the bottom panel, whereupon insertion of the at least one sheet of writable material between the top panel and the bottom panel, indicia may be inscribed upon the at least one sheet of writable material only in the areas of the at least one sheet of writable material exposed by the at least one aperture in the top panel; an intermediate guide panel, operably configured to be disposed between the top panel and the at least one sheet of writable material, the intermediate guide panel having formed therein at least one row of apertures extending horizontally across the intermediate guide panel, and positioned so as to be aligned with the at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture in the top panel, when the intermediate guide panel is disposed between the top panel and the at least one sheet of writable material, and aligned with the top panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture comprises at least two elongated, horizontally extending apertures, vertically spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture comprises at least three elongated, horizontally extending apertures, vertically spaced apart from one another at regular intervals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the bottom panel is pivotably connected to the top panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the bottom panel is connected to the top panel by a hinge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one registration pin disposed on an inner surface of the bottom panel; and at least one registration aperture disposed on the at least one sheet of writable material, to enable the at least one sheet of writable material to be positioned in registry with the bottom panel and, in turn, the top panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one guide line disposed on the at least one sheet of writable material, positioned so as to be visible through the at least one aperture in the top panel, towards providing guidance for an individual to write indicia on the at least one sheet of writable material through the at least one aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein a row of apertures is provided in the intermediate guide panel, for each elongated, horizontally extending aperture in the top panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one registration pin disposed on an inner surface of the bottom panel; and at least one registration aperture disposed on the intermediate guide panel, to enable the intermediate guide panel to be positioned in registry with the bottom panel and, in turn, the top panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the top panel, the bottom panel and the intermediate guide panel each have a width that is greater than their respective height. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the top panel, the bottom panel and the intermediate guide panel each have a height that is greater than their respective width. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein each aperture in the at least one horizontally extending row of apertures has a rectangular configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The writing guide according to claim 1, wherein the top panel, the bottom panel and the intermediate guide panel each have substantially the same height and width. ### Claim 14 A method for using a writing guide for teaching proper letter sizing and spacing to autistic children and others with deficiencies in the comprising the steps of: providing a substantially planar top panel having at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture formed therein: providing a substantially planar bottom panel operably associated with the substantially planar top panel, and configured to be aligned therewith, in spaced relation thereto; and inserting at least one sheet of writable material operably configured for insertion between the top panel and the bottom panel, whereupon insertion of the at least one sheet of writable material between the top panel and the bottom panel, indicia may be inscribed upon the at least one sheet of writable material only in the areas of the at least one sheet of writable material exposed by the at least one aperture in the top panel; providing an intermediate guide panel, operably configured to be disposed between the top panel and the at least one sheet of writable material, forming on the intermediate guide panel at least one row of apertures extending horizontally across the intermediate guide panel, and positioned so as to be aligned with the at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture in the top panel, when the intermediate guide panel is disposed between the top panel and the at least one sheet of writable material, and aligned with the top panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of providing at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture comprises the step of providing at least two elongated, horizontally extending apertures, vertically spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of providing at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture comprises the step of providing at least three elongated, horizontally extending apertures, vertically spaced apart from one another at regular intervals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method guide according to claim 14, wherein the step of providing at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture further comprises the step of providing the at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture with a rectangular configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of pivotably connecting the bottom panel to the top panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of connecting the bottom panel to the top panel by a hinge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: providing at least one registration pin disposed on an inner surface of the bottom panel; and disposing at least one registration aperture on the at least one sheet of writable material, to enable the at least one sheet of writable material to be positioned in registry with the bottom panel and, in turn, the top panel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of: providing at least one guide line disposed on the at least one sheet of writable material, positioned so as to be visible through the at least one aperture in the top panel, towards providing guidance for an individual to write indicia on the at least one sheet of writable material through the at least one aperture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a row of apertures in the intermediate guide panel, for each elongated, horizontally extending aperture in the top panel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of providing each aperture in the at least one horizontally extending row of apertures with a rectangular configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of: providing at least one registration pin disposed on an inner surface of the bottom panel; and disposing at least one registration aperture on the intermediate guide panel, to enable the intermediate guide panel to be positioned in registry with the bottom panel and, in turn, the top panel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of: prompting a user to inscribe indicia on the at least one sheet of writable material, through the at least one elongated, horizontally extending aperture. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of configuring the top panel, the bottom panel and the intermediate guide panel to each have substantially the same height and width. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of configuring the top panel, the bottom panel and the intermediate guide panel to each have a width that is greater than their respective height. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of configuring the top panel, the bottom panel and the intermediate guide panel to each have a height that is greater than their respective width.