Successive image display device

• US 5,551,905 A
• Filed: 02/14/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kiddesigns Inc., Western Publishing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Henning, Michael, Billings, Zeb
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/195,483
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 446/151, 446/82, 446/147, 446/149, 446/151, 446/152, 446/397, 446/408, 446/404, 40/491, 40/500, 40/508, 40/448, 352/81, 352/58, 352/98, 352/99, 352/100, 352/70, 434/317
• US Class Current: 446/151
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/20 Toys with parachutes; Toy parachutes A63H27/004, A63H27/005, and A63H27/087 take precedence; parachutes for aeronautics B64D17/00

Abstract

A device for successively displaying a plurality of images includes a plurality N of overlying panels where N is at least 3. Each of the panels defines a longitudinal series of flexible slats and louvers between the slats, the slats being longitudinally longer than the louvers. Each of the slats of all underlying panels are interleaved longitudinally through the louvers of all overlying panels, the slats of each panel cooperatively defining one of the plurality of images. Each of the slats of an overlying panel is laterally narrower than the slats of all underlying panels. A knob is provided for moving in turn each of a subplurality N-1 of the plurality of panels a length at least equal to the length of a louver such that movement of a given panel in one longitudinal direction exposes the slats of an adjacently overlying panel and conceals the slats of the given panel underneath the slats of an underlying panel, and movement of the given panel in the opposite longitudinal direction exposes the slats of the given panel and conceals the slats of an adjacently overlying panel under the slats of the given panel.

Claims

1. A device for successively displaying a plurality of images, comprising:

(A) a plurality N of overlying flexible panels where N is at least 3, each of said panels defining a longitudinal series of flexible slats and louvers between said slats, said slats being longitudinally longer than said louvers, each of said slats of all underlying panels being interleaved longitudinally through said louvers of all overlying panels, said slats of each panel cooperatively defining one of said plurality of images, each of said slats of an overlying panel being laterally narrower than said slats of all underlying panels;

each of said panels being a composite of two overlying flexible sheets marginally sealed together along the longitudinal edges thereof, each of said sheets defining a longitudinal series of flexible slats and windows between said slats, said slats being longitudinally longer than said windows, each of said slats of the underlying sheet being interleaved longitudinally through said windows of the overlying sheet to divide each window of the overlying sheet into two louvers, said slats of each sheet defining a partial one of a plurality of images and the slats of both sheets of a panel defining at least a full one of said plurality of images, each of said slats of the overlying sheet being laterally narrower than said slats of the underlying sheet; and

(B) means for moving in turn each of a subset N-1 of said plurality of panels a length greater than the length of a louver such that movement of a given panel in one longitudinal direction exposes the slats of an adjacently overlying panel and conceals the slats of the given panel underneath the slats of an underlying panel, and movement of said given panel in the opposite longitudinal direction exposes the slats of said given panel and conceals the slats of an adjacently overlying panel under the slats of said given panel.

9. A sound generating device for successively displaying a plurality of images, comprising a housing structure housing:

(A) the device of claim 1 wherein said panels are interleaved;

(B) means for displaying an image formed by one of said panels when said panels are in a predetermined relative orientation, the relative orientation of said panels determining which image will be seen;

(C) means for generating sounds according to the relative orientation of said panels and hence the image which will be seen.

2. A panel control system for determining the relative positions of each of a plurality of panels, comprising:

(A) a knob defining an axis therethrough, said knob being rotatable about said axis between a plurality of N positions;

(B) a plurality N of overlying flexible panels, one of said panels being stationary and each panel of the remaining subset N-1 of said plurality of panels being independently movable along a longitudinal axis relative to the stationary panel and defining a cam slot; and

(C) N-1 cam disks, each cam disk being secured to said knob for rotation therewith, being associated with a respective one of said movable panels, and defining a cam pin disposed in the cam slot of a respective movable panel;

each said cam pin being fixedly disposed on a respective one of said cam disks for movement therewith, and each of said cam slots being configured and dimensioned to cooperate with the cam pin disposed therein such that rotation of said knob, and hence said cam disk, causes longitudinal movement of one of said movable panels at a given time while simultaneously restraining the remaining movable panels against longitudinal movement therewith.

3. The system of claim 2 additionally including means fixing said movable panels against relative transverse movement.

4. A sound generating device comprising a housing structure housing:

(A) the system of claim 2;

(B) means for displaying an image formed by one of said panels when said panels are in a predetermined relative orientation, the relative orientation of said panels determining which image will be seen;

(C) means for generating sounds according to the setting of a switch means; and

(D) switch means secured to said knob for rotation therewith, the orientation of said switch means determining which sound will be generated by said sound generating means;

whereby rotation of said knob controls and correlates both the image to be displayed and the sounds to be heard.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said plurality N is at least 3.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said subset N-1 of said plurality is at least 2.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said plurality N is at least 3.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said subset N-1 of said plurality is at least 2.

10. A sound generating device for successively displaying a plurality of images, comprising a housing structure housing:

(A) a plurality of overlying interleaved panels flexible;

(B) means for displaying an image formed by one of said panels when said panels are in a predetermined relative orientation, the relative orientation of said panels determining which image will be seen;

(C) means for generating sounds according to the actuation of a switch means; and

(D) a plurality of switch means disposed under said panels in a respective plurality of positions, the location of a given switch means under said panels determining which sound will be generated by said sound generating means when said given switch means is activated.

11. A sound generating device for successively displaying a plurality of images, comprising a housing structure housing:

(A) a plurality of overlying and interleaved flexible panels;

(B) means for displaying an image formed by one of said panels when said panel are in a predetermined relative orientation, the relative orientation of said panels determining which image will be seen;

(C) means for generating sounds according to the actuation of a switch means; and

(D) a plurality of switch means disposed under said panels in a respective plurality of positions, the location of a given switch means under said panels determining which sound will be generated by said sound generating means when said given switch means is activated;

said device including a plurality N of overlying panels, where N is at least 2, each of said panels defining a longitudinal series of flexible slats and louvers between said slats, said slats being longitudinally longer than said louvers, each of said slats of all underlying panels being interleaved longitudinally through said louvers of all overlying panels, said slats of each panel cooperatively defining one of said plurality of images, each of said slats of an overlying panel being laterally narrower than said slats of all underlying panels; and

including means for moving in turn each of a subset N-1 of said plurality of panels a length greater than the length of a louver such that movement of a given panel in one longitudinal direction exposes the slats of an adjacently overlying panel and conceals the slats of the given panel underneath the slats of an underlying panel, and movement of said given panel in the opposite longitudinal direction exposes the slats of said given panel and conceals the slats of an adjacently overlying panel under the slats of said given panel.

12. A device for successively displaying a plurality of images by controlling the relative positions of each of a plurality of panels and for generating sounds appropriate to the image being displayed, comprising a housing structure housing:

(A) a plurality N of overlying flexible panels where N is at least 3, one of said panels being stationary and each panel of the remaining subset N-1 of said plurality of panels being independently movable along a longitudinal axis relative to the stationary panel and defining a cam slot, each of said panels defining a longitudinal series of flexible slats and louvers between said slats, said slats being longitudinally longer than said louvers, each of said slats of all underlying panels being interleaved longitudinally through said louvers of all overlying panels, said slats of each panel cooperatively defining one of a plurality of images, each of said slats of an overlying panel being laterally narrower than said slats of all underlying panels;

each of said panels in turn being a composite of two overlying flexible sheets marginally sealed together, each of said sheets defining a longitudinal series of flexible slats and windows between said slats, said slats being longitudinally longer than said windows, each of said slats of the underlying sheet being interleaved longitudinally through said windows of the overlying sheet to divide each window of the overlying sheet into two louvers, said slats of each sheet defining a partial one of said plurality of images and the slats of both sheets of a panel defining at least a full one of said plurality of images;

(B) means for moving in turn each of said subset N-1 of said plurality of panels a length greater than the length of a louver such that movement of a given panel in one longitudinal direction exposes the slats of an adjacently overlying panel and conceals the slats of the given panel underneath the slats of an underlying panel, and movement of said given panel in the opposite longitudinal direction exposes the slats of said given panel and conceals the slats of an adjacently overlying panel under the slats of said given panel;

said moving means including;

(i) a knob defining an axis therethrough, said knob being rotatable about said axis between a plurality of N positions; and

(ii) N-1 cam disks, each cam disk being secured to said knob for rotation therewith, being associated with a respective one of said movable panels, and defining a cam pin disposed in said cam slot of a respective movable panel;

each said cam pin being fixedly disposed on a respective one of said cam disks for movement therewith, and each of said cam slots being configured and dimensioned to cooperate with the cam pin disposed therein such that rotation of said knob, and hence said cam disk, causes longitudinal movement of one of said movable panels at a given time while simultaneously restraining the remaining movable panels against longitudinal movement therewith;

(C) means for generating sounds according to the setting of a switch means; and

(D) switch means secured to said knob for rotation therewith, the orientation of said knob, and hence said switch means, determining which sound will be generated by said sound generating means;

whereby rotation of said knob controls and correlates both the image to be displayed and the sounds to be heard.