PORTABLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESKTOP CRIME SCENE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

A crime scene learning tool is provided. The crime scene learning tool provides miniature crime scenes and their attendant crime scene objects embedded in a solid transparent medium. Such a crime scene learning tool enables users to analyze and determine relative measurements of the crime scene objects by manipulating the learning tool in three-dimensional, facilitating development of the skills necessary to document real-life crime scenes in accurate and informative police reports.

Claims

1. A crime scene learning tool comprising: a plurality of crime scene objects embedded in a solid transparent medium.

2. The crime scene learning tool of claim 1, further comprising one or more referential markers embedded in the solid transparent medium.

3. The crime scene learning tool of claim 2, wherein the one or more referential markers include calibrated measuring units.

4. The crime scene learning tool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of crime scene objects includes miniatures of a victim and a weapon.

5. A crime scene learning tool comprising: a plurality of crime scene objects embedded in a solid transparent medium, wherein the plurality of crime scene objects includes miniatures of a victim and a weapon; and one or more referential markers embedded in the solid transparent medium, wherein the one or more referential markers include calibrated measuring units.

6. A method of making a crime scene learning tool that enables users to analyze and determine relative measurements between the crime scene objects in three-dimensional space, comprising: providing a mold defining a shape of a solid transparent medium; placing a plurality of crime scene objects in the mold; and urging a fluid casting material in the mold, wherein the fluid casting material is adapted to set in a transparent condition, embedding said plurality of crime scene objects.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising placing a one or more referential markers in the mold prior to urging the fluid casting material therein.

8. A method of learning to document crime scenes in a police report, comprising: providing the crime scene learning tool of claim 5; and rotating the crime scene learning tool in three-dimensional space so that the one or more referential markers facilitate a determination of relative dimensions and angles between the plurality of crime scene objection.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising photographically documenting said relative dimensions and angles between the plurality of crime scene objection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0016] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a crime scene learning tool that embeds crime scenes and their attendant crime scene objects in a solid transparent medium. Such a crime scene learning tool enables users to analyze and determine relative measurements of the crime scene objects by manipulating the learning tool in three-dimensional, facilitating development of the skills necessary to document real-life crime scenes in accurate and informative police reports.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a transparent embedded crime scene learning tool 10 embodying one or more crime scene objects 14 in a solid transparent medium 12. Each transparent embedded crime scene learning tool 10 may provide a reference marker 16 embedded in and/or attached to, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The reference marker 16 may be a ruler, grid marks, calibrated measuring units (rule), a referential number, or the like. The crime scene objects 14 may include, but not be limited to, home items, rope, people, weapons, tools, and other items that might be found at a crime scene.

[0018] The resulting solid transparent medium 12 may take any geometric shape including, but not limited to, dome-shaped 24, house-shaped 26, hexagonal-shaped 28 as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. Furthermore, the solid transparent medium 12 may be dimensioned and adapted to any size or shape so long as the solid transparent medium 12 function in accordance with the present invention as described herein. For example, the resultant transparent embedded crime scene learning tool 10 may be the size of a portion or the entire table top.

[0019] A method of making the present invention may include the following. An individual may provide fluid casting material 20 adapted to set in a transparent, solidified condition (solid transparent medium) 12. The fluid casting material 20 may be transparent liquid acrylic, resin, glass or the like. The fluid casting material 20 may or may not require a liquid hardener 22 to be added to it. The individual may provide a mold 18 which would define the resulting solid transparent medium 12. The individual may place one or more crime scene objects 14, reference markers 16, other measuring implements (e.g., rulers, graph paper, etc.) in the mold 18. Then the individual may urge the fluid casting material 20 into the mold 18, along with liquid hardener 22, if necessary. Once the fluid casting material 20 has set in the solid transparent condition/medium 12, the individual may remove the mold 18, and utilize the transparent embedded crime scene learning tool 10.

[0020] The transparent embedded crime scene learning tool 10 is three-dimensional in that users may rotate the crime scene so as to develop their crime scene analysis skills, including determined measurements and dimensions between various crime scene objects 14 and their relative positions, and determining optimal angles for photographically or otherwise gathering such information.

[0021] It is understood that students of crime scene analysis can have a multitude of possible crime scenes readily available that can be used on a desk-top. The product can be flipped and/or rotated to a new position and new measurements will become available. The crime scene objects 14 inside the solid transparent medium 12 can be photographed and measured (from the surface of the product) in order to draw a police report crime scene. It is also possible to measure the distance and height between the three-dimensional crime scene objects 14.

[0022] Additionally, the transparent embedded crime scene learning tool 10 can be used for calculations and demonstrations in abstract algebra. As cubes, for example, are flipped and/or rotated, their relative positions to one another changes.

[0023] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.