Compact visualizer

• US 4,050,809 A
• Filed: 07/26/1976
• Issued: 09/27/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William O. Boggs
• Original Assignee: William O. Boggs
• Inventors: Boggs, William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haroian, Harry N.
• Application Number:
  US05/708,888
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 353/35, 353/30, 35/28, 35/76, 40/93, 40/94, 40/95, 40/86 A, 242/56.9, 242/67.1, 242/67.4
• US Class Current: 353/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/025 and magnifying means

Abstract

A visualizer has a case containing spools arranged in sets of two. A different film strip is wound around the two spools of each set and the portion of the film strip located intermediate the two spools passes through a gate where all the film strips are superimposed. Each spool has a pinion gear which is normally located adjacent to a large drive gear rotated by a hand crank on the case. An actuating mechanism brings the pinion gear of either spool for a set into engagement with the drive gear, causing the spool to rotate and advance the film strip of that set through the gate, the direction of advancement being dependent on which of the spools is engaged with the spur gear. Hence, it is possible to change the composition of the composite illustration formed by the superimposed film strips.

Claims

1. A visualizer for composing composite illustrations, said visualizer comprising;

a case;

means defining a gate within the case;

a first spool located beyond one end of the gate;

a second spool located beyond the other end of the gate;

a film strip connected to and wound around the first and second spools, the film strip passing through the gate intermediate the first and second spools;

a rotatable drive member in the case; and

actuating means for moving one or the other of the spools into engagement with the periphery of the drive member to rotate the spools, thereby causing the film strip to pass through the gate, the actuating means moving the first and second spools in unison such that when the first spool is moved into engagement with the periphery of the drive member, the second spool is moved away from the periphery of the drive member and vice-versa, the actuating means including first and second swing arms which pivot relative to the case and carry the first and second spools respectively, tie rods connecting the first and second swing arms to enable them to pivot in unison, and an actuating element for moving the swing arms.

2. A visualizer according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a spur gear and the first and second spools are provided with pinion gears which mesh with the spur gear when the first or second spool is moved into engagement with the drive member.

3. A visualizer according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a circular member which rotates in the case about an axis which passes through its center and is fixed with respect to the case.

4. A visualizer for composing composite illustrations, said visualizer comprising:

a case;

means defining a gate within the case;

a first spool located beyond one end of the gate;

a second spool located beyond the other end of the gate;

a film strip connected to and wound around the first and second spools, the film strip passing through the gate intermediate the first and second spools;

a rotatable drive member in the case; and

actuating means for moving the spool into engagement with the periphery of the drive member to rotate the spools, thereby causing the film strip to pass through the gate, the actuating means moving the first and second spools in unison such that when the first spool is moved into engagement with the periphery of the drive member, the second spool is moved away from the periphery of the drive member and vice-versa, the actuating means including first and second swing arms which pivot relative to the case and carry the first and second spools respectively, and a lever which pivots relative to the case and is connected to the swing arms for moving the swing arms.

6. A visualizer for composing composite illustrations, said visualizer comprising:

a case;

means defining a gate within the case;

illuminating means for causing one side of the gate to be illustrated;

viewing in the case for permitting observation of the other side of the gate;

a plurality of first spools located in the case beyond one end of the gate and having parallel axes of rotation;

a plurality of second spools located in the case beyond the other end of the gate and having parallel axes of rotation which are further parallel to the axes of rotation for the first spools, the second spools being equal in number to the first spools with each second spool corresponding to a different first spool, whereby sets of corresponding first and second spools are within the case;

a separate film strip wound around each set of corresponding first and second spools, each film strip between its first and second spools passing through the gate where the film strips are superimposed on each other so as to produce a composite illustration which is visible at the viewing means;

drive means in the case and having a drive surface which moves relative to the case;

at least one swing arm in the case for each spool with the spool being mounted on the swing arm for rotation thereon, each swing arm being pivoted with respect to the case for swinging movement about a different pivot axis which is parallel to and offset from the axis of rotation from the spool, the arm of each spool being capable of moving the spool between a condition of engagement with the drive surface of the drive means, so that the drive means will rotate the spool, and a condition of disengagement with the drive means;

means for maintaining the second spool of each set in its disengaged condition when the first spool of the set is in its engaged condition and vice-versa; and

means for moving the swing arms for each set of corresponding first and second spools.

5. A visualizer according to claim 11 wherein the actuating element comprises a lever which pivots relative to the case and is connected to the swing arm.

7. A visualizer according to claim 6 wherein the means for moving the swing arms includes a manually operable actuating element which is exposed at the exterior of the case.

8. A visualizer according to claim 6 and further comprising means for maintaining the spools of a set in a neutral condition wherein neither spool of the set is engaged with the drive means.

9. A visualizer according to claim 6 wherein each spool is mounted on a pair of swing arms.

10. A visualizer according to claim 6 wherein the means for maintaining the second spool of each set in its disengaged condition while the first spool is in its engaged condition and vice-versa connects the swing arms for the first and second spools of the set.

11. A visualizer according to claim 6 wherein the drive means comprises a pair of spur gears which are connected to rotate in unison and the spools have pinion gears which mesh with the spur gears when moved to the engaged condition, the first and second spools of one of the sets being engageable with one of the spur gears and the first and second spools of another of the sets being engageable with the other spur gear.