MAGICAL IMAGE CUPS AND CONTAINERS WITH 3D DISPLAYS

• US 20090272015A1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: SCHNUCKLE, GARY W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/299.10
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/37 with decorative elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/40 giving the observer of a single two-dimensional [2D] image a perception of depth
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/16 involving the use of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]

Abstract

An optical illusion device such as a drinking glass/cup for providing a multi-dimensional visual display. The device includes a body with tubular sidewalls extending from an opening at a first end to an opening at a second end. A base assembly is provided at the second end. The base assembly includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall that together form or define an inner chamber. A visual display assembly is provided with a mirror element with a convex reflective surface or mirror positioned within the chamber with the reflective surface facing the top wall of the base assembly. A primary image element is provided proximate to the reflective surface such that the primary image and mirror element can be observed via the opening in the body. A framing element is included proximate to the top wall of the base assembly including background images facing the reflective surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a multi-dimensional visual display, comprising:

a body having a front sidewall;

a mirror element spaced apart from the front sidewall within an interior portion of the body, the mirror element comprising a reflective surface facing the front sidewall that is convex relative to the front sidewall; and

a primary image element proximate to the reflective surface between the reflective surface and the front sidewall, wherein the primary image element and the reflective surface are visible through at least a portion of the front sidewall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary image element is a printed image provided on the reflective surface and the reflective surface is elongate with an arcuate cross section when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a rear sidewall and the front and rear sidewall define an inner chamber for receiving a liquid, the mirror element being positioned within inner chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cover mating with an opening at an end of the body and an inlet tube extending from the cover into the chamber, and further wherein the mirror element extends along and is attached to the inlet tube, whereby the inlet tube is concealed from view through at least portions of the front sidewall.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interior portion of the body comprises a unitary piece of plastic, ceramic, or glass and the mirror element is mounted within the unitary piece of the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a framing element proximate the front sidewall, the framing element comprising one or more background image elements facing toward the reflective surface on the mirror element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the framing element further includes a substantially transparent viewing window free of the background images and through which a line of sight is provided through the body to the reflective surface of the mirror element.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the framing element further comprises a foreground image element defining outer boundaries of the viewing window and facing away from the reflective surface, whereby the background images are viewable through the viewing window via the reflective surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source generating light for illuminating at least the primary image.

10. An optical illusion device, comprising:

a body with a tubular sidewall extending from an opening at a first end to an opening at a second end; and

a base assembly provided at the second end, wherein the base assembly comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall together defining an inner chamber; and

a visual display assembly comprising a mirror element with a convex reflective surface and a primary image element proximate to the reflective surface, wherein the mirror element is positioned within the inner chamber.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a framing element proximate to the top wall of the base assembly, the framing element comprising a set of background image elements positioned to face the reflective surface.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the framing element further comprises a viewing window through which a line of sight is provided from the opening at the first end to the primary image element and the adjacent reflective surface and a framing surface with foreground images facing the opening at the first end.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the body and base assembly are configured as a container for receiving and containing a liquid in an inner chamber defined within the tubular sidewall and the top surface of the base assembly.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the mirror element is rigidly mounted within the inner chamber.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the inner chamber further comprises a volume of liquid that is at least translucent to light and the mirror element is positioned in the liquid, whereby the mirror element is at least partially free to move about in the inner chamber.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the visual display assembly further comprises a resilient member attached to and extending from the bottom wall of the base assembly and the mirror element is mounted to the resilient member, whereby the mirror element moves within the inner chamber.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the visual display assembly further comprises a substantially rigid mounting member extending from the bottom wall of the base assembly toward the top wall and wherein the mirror element is pivotably mounted to the rigid mounting member.

18. An apparatus adapted for producing multi-dimensional visual effects, comprising:

a mirror element comprising a reflective surface having a convex shape and a printed primary image proximate to the reflective surface and at least partially conforming to the convex shape of the reflective surface; and

a framing element spaced apart from the mirror element, the framing element comprising a background image element and a view port, the view port being positioned opposite the primary image to provide a line of sight through the framing element to the reflective surface and the primary image.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the background image element is positioned to provide a line of sight through the view port so that the background image element is viewable in the reflective surface concurrently with viewing the primary image through the view port.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the background image element comprises a surface with a plurality of raised or recessed portions configured to generate a reflected image viewable through the viewing port via the reflective surface.

21. An apparatus for creating a visual display, comprising:

a body comprising a sidewall with a substantially planar display surface;

a faceplate affixed to the sidewall of the body adjacent the display surface, the faceplate including a view port;

a magnifying lens element positioned within the view port configured for focusing on the display surface,

a mirror element positioned on the display surface and aligned with the magnifying lens element; and

a primary image element provided upon the mirror element.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the lens element comprises a Fresnel lens spaced apart from the mirror element.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising additional image elements positioned proximate to the lens element, wherein the additional image elements are visible via the mirror element through the lens element.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the lens element and mirror elements are circular with substantially equivalent diameters.

25. A method for producing a multidimensional composite image, comprising:

providing a primary image proximate to a convex reflective surface and a background image spaced apart from the reflective surface;

illuminating the primary image and the background image; and

forming a composite image comprising light from the illuminated primary image and light from the reflective surface including light from the illuminated background image.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the forming of the composite image comprises directing the composite image to a viewing port positioned proximate to the background image.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the reflective surface is comprises a convex spherical mirror.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a foreground image proximate to the background image and illuminating the foreground image and wherein the composite image further comprises light from the illuminated foreground image, whereby the primary image appears in the composite image to be located in front of the background image and the foreground image.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing comprises forming an object that includes the primary image, the background image, and the reflective surface.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the illuminating comprises using a light source to direct light onto the primary image.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising a rear projection screen layer adjacent the convex reflective surface, and wherein the providing of the primary image comprises operating a projector to project the primary image through the rear projection screen and through the convex reflective surface.