Flame simulating assembly
First Claim
1. An assembly comprising:
- a substantially transparent front panel having a rear side and a front side opposed thereto;
a partially translucent screen with a partially reflective front surface and a rear surface opposed thereto, the front surface being positioned to face the rear side of the front panel and being spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance;
the front surface of the screen being positioned substantially parallel to the rear side of the front panel;
a plurality of first dots disposed on the front panel in a sufficiently consistent density over a given area to produce a substantially uniform tinted appearance to the front panel when observed through the front side;
a plurality of second dots disposed on the first dots and facing said front surface of the screen, said second dots being smaller than said first dots;
said second dots defining a first image for reflection by at least part of said front surface of the screen to provide a virtual image of the first image;
a back wall positioned behind the screen, the back wall displaying a second image on an exposed surface thereof facing the rear surface of the screen, the exposed surface being spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by the predetermined distance, the exposed surface substantially defining a plane;
the exposed surface of the back wall being positioned substantially parallel to the front surface of the screen;
the second image being at least partially observable through the front side of the front panel; and
the virtual image being located substantially in the plane of the exposed surface such that the virtual image appears to be positioned behind the screen.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly including a substantially transparent front panel and a partially translucent screen with a partially reflective front surface positioned to face a rear side of the front panel and spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance. A first image is defined on the rear side for reflection by the front surface to provide a virtual image thereof. A back wall is positioned behind the screen and displays a second image on an exposed surface thereof facing the rear surface of the screen. The exposed surface is spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by the predetermined distance. The virtual image is located substantially in the plane of the exposed surface so that the virtual image appears to be positioned behind the screen.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An assembly comprising:
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a substantially transparent front panel having a rear side and a front side opposed thereto; a partially translucent screen with a partially reflective front surface and a rear surface opposed thereto, the front surface being positioned to face the rear side of the front panel and being spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance; the front surface of the screen being positioned substantially parallel to the rear side of the front panel; a plurality of first dots disposed on the front panel in a sufficiently consistent density over a given area to produce a substantially uniform tinted appearance to the front panel when observed through the front side; a plurality of second dots disposed on the first dots and facing said front surface of the screen, said second dots being smaller than said first dots; said second dots defining a first image for reflection by at least part of said front surface of the screen to provide a virtual image of the first image; a back wall positioned behind the screen, the back wall displaying a second image on an exposed surface thereof facing the rear surface of the screen, the exposed surface being spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by the predetermined distance, the exposed surface substantially defining a plane; the exposed surface of the back wall being positioned substantially parallel to the front surface of the screen; the second image being at least partially observable through the front side of the front panel; and the virtual image being located substantially in the plane of the exposed surface such that the virtual image appears to be positioned behind the screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A flame simulating assembly for providing at least one image of flames, the flame simulating assembly comprising:
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a housing comprising a back wall with a substantially planar exposed surface, the housing defining a cavity open at a front end of the housing; a screen disposed in the cavity and in front of the back wall, the screen comprising a front surface adapted for transmitting said at least one image of flames therethrough, the front surface being at least partially reflective and being positioned substantially parallel to the exposed surface of the back wall; a flame image subassembly for providing said at least one image of flames; a substantially transparent front panel disposed substantially at the front end of the housing and comprising a front side and an opposed rear side; the rear side of the front panel facing the front surface of the screen and being spaced a predetermined distance apart from the front surface of the screen; the rear side of the front panel being positioned substantially parallel to the front surface of the screen; the front panel comprising; a plurality of first dots disposed on said front panel in a sufficiently constant density over a given area to produce a substantially uniform tinted appearance to said front panel when observed through said front side; a plurality of second dots disposed on said first dots and facing said front surface of the screen; a first image defined by said second dots, said first image being substantially invisible when observed through the front side other than as a virtual image thereof reflected by the front surface of the screen; the exposed surface of the back wall displaying a second image at least partially observable through the front side of the front panel, the exposed surface being spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by the predetermined distance; and the virtual image being located substantially in the plane of the exposed surface such that the virtual image appears to be positioned behind the screen. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An assembly for providing an optical illusion comprising:
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a substantially transparent front panel having a rear side and a front side; an at least partially translucent screen positioned substantially vertically, the screen comprising a front surface and a rear surface opposed thereto, the front surface facing the rear side of the front panel; the rear side of the front panel being spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by a predetermined distance; a back wall positioned behind the screen comprising a plurality of objects collectively providing a substantially planar exposed surface thereof facing the rear surface of the screen, the exposed surface being spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by the predetermined distance; the front panel comprising; a plurality of first dots disposed on said front panel in a sufficiently constant density over a given area to produce a substantially uniform tinted appearance to said front wall when observed through said front side, each said first dot having a preselected area; a plurality of second dots positioned on said first dots and facing said front surface of the screen, said second dots defining a first image for reflection by the front surface of the screen to create a virtual image of the first image; the exposed surface of the back wall being at least partially observable through the front side of the front panel; and the virtual image being located substantially in the plane of the exposed surface, such that the virtual image appears to be located behind the screen. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification