Abstract:
An apparatus for watching movies in 3D having a belt feeding 3D volumetric objects comprising singular sequences for viewing a movie strip in 3D and thus eliminating the need for wearing 3D glasses to enjoy a movie in three dimensions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/844,859, filed Jul. 11, 2013 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of film and more specifically relates to a system and method for providing a 3D movie viewing experience without the need for wearing 3D glasses. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Film and cinema are a beloved activity that many people enjoy. Since inception, movie goers continuously flock to movie theaters to watch movies and short films. A more modern development in movie technology is three dimensional movies (3D). Movie lovers who want to experience a movie fully and completely may pay a little more than the regular ticket price to enjoy graphics that “pop out of the screen”. 
     3D animation is an increasingly popular form of entertainment. However, traditional 3D movies requires a user to wear cumbersome glasses. Viewers also generally have to remain in a certain area and are limited to specific vantage points while viewing 3D movies. 
     Conventionally, 3D movies require the movie watcher to wear a pair of 3D glasses. In its early stages, 3D glasses were typically made of paper or cardboard and included a flimsy 3D lens enabling the movie watcher to enjoy 3D graphics. Nowadays, 3D glasses are made of plastic and are designed to be more comfortable to wear. However, no amount of “comfort” can ever replace not having to wear 3D glasses to enjoy a movie in 3D. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0141241 to Ryan C. Buyssens, U.S. Pat. No. 8,373,842 to Rufus Butler Seder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,170 to Ovid Pope, U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,874 to Michael I. Rudnick, U.S. Pat. No. 1,014,365 to Charles N. Bourgin, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,038 to Kevin M. Bowler. This art is representative of current 3D movie technology. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a volumetric movie display system should provide a belt fed 3D stop motion-like display, where many objects slightly different from one another may travel around a belt fed box with only one object being viewed at the top through a hole, such that this object will appear to be moving and causing a 3D appearance on a screen, and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable volumetric movie display system to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known 3D movie art, the present invention provides a novel volumetric movie display system (means). The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a system and method to watch movies in 3D without having to wear special 3D glasses. 
     The volumetric movie display system may provide an innovative way to view 3D animation. It may enable a user to watch 3D movies without having to wear special glasses. The device may further allow the user to view 3D motion from all angles. The present invention utilizes actual three dimensional objects to eliminate the limitations of traditional methods. 
     A volumetric movie display system is disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment comprising a 3D movie display assembly and a 3D movie strip. The 3D movie display assembly may comprise a housing, a first-shaft, a second-shaft, a first-bearing, a second-bearing, a motor, a first-sprocket, a second-sprocket, a chain comprising a roller chain (the roller chain comprising a plurality of links), a computer processor for controlling the motor that controls the first-sprocket and the second-sprocket, an illumination source (preferably comprising a plurality of lights and alternatively at least one laser or projector), and a power supply (powerer or the like.) 
     The 3D movie strip comprises a plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects. The volumetric movie display system may comprise the 3D movie display assembly and the 3D movie strip in functional combination. The 3D movie display assembly may comprise the housing, the first-shaft, the second-shaft, the first-bearing, the second-bearing, the first-sprocket, the second-sprocket, the chain, the computer processor, the illumination source, the power supply, and the projector. The 3D movie strip may comprise the plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects. 
     The 3D movie strip is able to be rotated by the first-sprocket and the second-sprocket. The first-sprocket and the second-sprocket are mounted on the first-shaft and the second-shaft, on the first-bearing and the second-bearing, respectively. The first-shaft and the second-shaft are connected to the power supply, the first-bearing is mounted on the first-shaft, and the second-bearing is mounted on the second-shaft. The first-sprocket is mounted on the first-bearing and the second-sprocket is mounted on the second-bearing. Other shaft to sprocket coupling means may be used. The first-sprocket is turned by the power supply (via the first shaft being turned) causing the roller chain to be rotated, the chain rotated by the first-sprocket causes the second-sprocket to turn and guide the chain as it is rotated. Each link of the plurality of links of the roller chain comprises a single 3D volumetric object that is sequentially spaced. 
     The illumination source comprising the plurality of lights is synchronized so that the plurality of lights will blink (strobe) when the 3D volumetric object is in view. The 3D movie display assembly comprises an IR sensor that counts a plurality of teeth on the chain. The IR sensor flashes at a consistent interval that corresponds to a time when the 3D volumetric object is in a viewable position, and a rotation of the chain at a 3D movie producing speed is structured and arranged to make the plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects of the 3D movie strip to appear as a 3D motion picture. The illumination source comprising the plurality of lights is useful for illuminating the 3D motion picture such that the 3D motion picture is able to be viewed by the user from a full range of vantage points without the use of specialty 3D glasses. 
     A kit including: the 3D movie display assembly, the 3D movie strip, and a set of user instructions is also disclosed. 
     A method of using a volumetric movie display system is described herein comprising the steps of: providing a 3D film strip comprising a plurality of 3D volumetric objects, feeding the 3D movie strip by connecting the 3D movie strip to a chain of a 3D movie display assembly, and projecting in three-dimensions the 3D movie strip to be viewed by a user. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a volumetric movie display system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, volumetric film display systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a volumetric movie display system during an ‘in-use’ condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a 3D movie display assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a 3D movie strip comprising a plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating how the 3D movie strip is connectable to a first-sprocket of the 3D movie display assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the volumetric movie display system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a 3D movie display system and method and more particularly to a volumetric movie display systems as used to improve the ability to watch and enjoy 3D movies from any vantage point. 
     Generally speaking, volumetric movie display systems  100  may comprise a belt-fed 3D display. The invention may comprise a container with a mounted, computer-controlled motor and lights that cycle 3D objects through a raised viewing area. There may be synchronized lights that blink when a 3D object is in view. The movie may comprise an object constructed from inanimate, three dimensional objects that are each slightly different from the one before. These objects may be assembled and attached to a roller chain, with each link of the chain comprising a single object. The movie and chain may be constructed from metal or plastic. During use, one object at a time may be viewed through a hole in the top of the device as the chain moves. This action creates an illusion of a single object that is moving through a range of motions. There may be additional motors with blades that rotate to cover the previous and upcoming objects from view during illumination. The spacing of the objects may vary, and all parts can come in different sizes. The object rate may begin at 17 objects per second, although a faster speed is advisable. The light speed may vary to accommodate the object rate and spacing. The invention may be about 4′ high, 2′ long and 2′ wide. The effect of the invention is that 3D animation may be viewed from all angles without the hassle of glasses or the limitations of pre-determined vantage points. Belts may also be used; however chain is preferred. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , volumetric movie display systems  100  during ‘in-use’ condition  150  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, volumetric movie display systems  100  may comprise 3D movie display assembly  102  and 3D movie strip  110  working in functional combination to produce 3D motion picture  125 . In one embodiment of the present invention, 3D movie display assembly  102  may generally comprise housing  200 , first-shaft  202 , second-shaft  204 , first-bearing  206 , second-bearing  208 , first-sprocket  210 , second-sprocket  212 , chain  220 , power supply  225 , and motor  230 . 
     In continuing to refer to  FIG. 1 , 3D movie strip  110  is shown comprising plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects  115 . It should be appreciated that 3D movie strip  110  is able to be viewed by user(s)  140  from a full range of vantage points, thus enabling volumetric movie display systems  100  to be enjoyed from a full range of angles surrounding 3D movie display assembly  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  showing a perspective view illustrating 3D movie display assembly  102  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . As shown, 3D movie display assembly  102  may comprise housing  200 , first-shaft  202 , second-shaft  204 , first-bearing  206 , second-bearing  208 , first-sprocket  210 , second-sprocket  212 , chain  220 , power supply  225 , and motor  230 . 3D movie strip  110  comprises plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects  115 , and 3D movie strip  110  is able to be rotated by first-sprocket  210  and second-sprocket  212 . It should be noted that 3D volumetric objects  115  may comprise virtually any shape; shapes such as cubes may be used as shown, however it is to be understood that these are used as exemplary means and 3D volumetric objects  115  are not limited to such shapes; other framing means may be used. 
     First-sprocket  210  and second-sprocket  212  may be mounted on first-shaft  202  and second-shaft  204  via first-bearing  206  and second-bearing  208 , respectively. First-shaft  202  and second-shaft  204  may be connected to motor  230 . First-bearing  206  may be mounted on first-shaft  202 , and second-bearing  208  may be mounted on second-shaft  204 . First-sprocket  210  is mounted on first-bearing  206  and second-sprocket  212  is mounted on second-bearing  208 . It should be appreciated that first-sprocket  210  is turned by motor  230  causing chain  220  to be rotated such that chain  220  causes second-sprocket  212  to turn to guide chain  220  as it is rotated. A rotation of chain  220  at a 3D movie producing speed may be structured and arranged to make plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects  115  of 3D movie strip  110  to appear as 3D motion picture  125 . 
     In still referring to  FIG. 2 , 3D movie display assembly  102  of volumetric movie display systems  100  may comprise computer processor  235  for controlling motor  230 . In one embodiment, chain  220  of 3D movie display assembly  102  may comprise roller chain  224 . Volumetric movie display systems  100  roller chain  224  comprises a plurality of links whereby each link of roller chain  224  comprises object  305 . 3D movie display assembly  102  may further comprise plurality of lights  260  for illuminating 3D motion picture  125  during ‘in-use’ condition  150 . Plurality of lights  260  may be synchronized such that plurality of lights  260  blinks when 3D volumetric objects  115  are in view. It should be noted that plurality of lights  260  may be added or installed by user  140  above and around 3D movie display assembly  102  for illuminating 3D motion picture  125  during ‘in-use’ condition  150  of volumetric movie display systems  100 . Plurality of lights  260  may blink to a pre-determined strobe. 
     In continuing to refer to  FIG. 2 , 3D movie display assembly  102  of volumetric movie display systems  100  may comprise IR sensor  245 . IR sensor  245  may comprise a passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor) that measures infrared (IR) light radiating from objects in its field of view. IR sensor  245  is useful for counting plurality of teeth  222  on sprocket  212 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, 3D movie display assembly  102  of volumetric movie display systems  100  may alternatively comprise a laser light or a projector for illumination of 3D motion picture  125 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, volumetric movie display systems  100  may function in combination with an audio feed that is able to be synced with 3D motion picture  125  for providing sound. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, 3D movie display assembly  102  of volumetric movie display systems  100  may comprise a plurality of gears for displaying 3D volumetric objects  115 . Furthermore, 3D movie display assembly  102  may comprise a timing belt for displaying 3D volumetric objects  115 . 
     It should be noted and appreciated that there may be many sprockets and shafts, and not limited to just first-shaft  202 , second-shaft  204 , first-sprocket  210 , and second-sprocket  212 . In such a manner, user  140  is able to connect 3D movie strip  110  that comprises a user-desired number of 3D volumetric objects  115  for displaying 3D motion picture  125  of lengthier durations. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view illustrating 3D movie strip  110  comprising a plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects  115  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment of the present invention, volumetric movie display systems  100  object rate comprises 12 frames per second. Alternatively, object rate may be greater than 12 objects per second for watching 3D motion picture  125  in fast motion. Alternatively, object rates may be less than 12 objects per second for watching 3D motion picture  125  in slow motion. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view illustrating how 3D movie strip  110  is connectable to first-sprocket  210  of 3D movie display assembly  102  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . First-bearing  206  of 3D movie display assembly  102  may be mounted on first-shaft  202 , and second-bearing  208  may be mounted on second-shaft  204 . It should be appreciated that first-sprocket  210  is turned by motor  260  causing chain  220  (comprising roller chain  224 ) to be rotated such that roller chain  224  may cause second-sprocket  212  to turn to guide roller chain  224  as it is rotated. A rotation of chain  220  at a 3D movie producing speed may be structured and arranged to make plurality of sequentially spaced 3D volumetric objects  115  of 3D movie strip  110  to appear as 3D motion picture  125 . As may be seen, 3D movie strip  110  is connectable to chain  220  comprising roller chain  224  by inserting object  305  of 3D movie strip  110  to teeth  222  of first-sprocket  210 . 
     Volumetric movie display systems  100  may be sold as a kit comprising the following parts: 3D movie display assembly  102 ; 3D movie strip  110  comprising plurality of 3D volumetric objects  115 ; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Volumetric movie display systems  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart  550  illustrating method of use  500  for volumetric movie display systems  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . Method of use  500  of volumetric movie display systems  100  may comprise the steps of: step one  501 , developing 3D movie strip  110  comprising plurality of 3D volumetric objects  115 ; step two  502 , feeding 3D movie strip  110  by connecting 3D movie strip  110  to chain  220  of 3D movie display assembly  102 ; and step three  503 , displaying 3D motion picture  125  in three-dimension to be viewed by user  140 . 
     It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.