Abstract:
A novelty item in which pages can be rotated about a fastener to form an integrated image on one side of the pages while forming independent pages of text and/or graphics on the other side. Such an item can be used as a combination comic book and poster. By including at least one die-cut hole, the combination comic book and poster can be hung on the wall using the nail or hook.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Description of Related Art 
     Various children&#39;s books have been created that include plural pages (often constructed of a cardboard-like material) and an attachment in one corner to bind the pages together. In one such known book, on a first face of the pages is one or a combination of (1) a textual story for the child to read or (2) individual pictures on the pages. Those books, however, have not provided a single cohesive image across substantially the entirety of one of the faces, and, therefore, were inappropriate to act as a poster. 
     Ornamental fans also exist that have designs on at least one side. Those fans have been made from a single sheet of paper or cloth such that the entire image is formed on the single sheet or cloth. Moreover, those fans have been fastened at one of their ends such that the fan can be opened. Such fans, however, do not act as a book or story and are made from a folded sheet or cloth that detracts from the overall design. 
     2. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to a printed novelty item and more particularly to a novelty item that acts as a book on a first face and a poster on a second face. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novelty item that acts as (1) at least one of a book and an advertisement on a first side and (2) a poster on a second side. 
     This object, and other advantages of the present invention, is achieved by a combination of elements including (1) a series of pages having concentric holes included therein, (2) a connector inserted within the concentric holes for coupling the pages together while still allowing the pages to rotate about a center of the concentric holes while the pages are bound by connector, and (3) a series of attachment points for connecting the pages to one another when the pages have been rotated about the concentric holes. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, grommets and rivets acting as the connector. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B are front views of the novelty item according to the present invention in which the pages are in a substantially completely closed position; 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are front views of the novelty item according to the present invention in which the first page is in a partially open position but the remaining pages are in a substantially completely closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a back view of the novelty item according to the present invention in which a number of pages of the item have been opened and interlocked thereby revealing substantially a quarter of an integrated image thereon; 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the novelty item according to the present invention in which substantially all of the pages of the item have been opened and interlocked thereby revealing substantially all of the integrated image thereon; and 
     FIG. 5 is a back view of the novelty item according to the present invention in which the pages are substantially similar to the pages of FIG. 4 but include at least one additional tab that acts to round the integrated image in the open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a front view of the novelty item  100  according to the present invention in which the pages  140  are in a substantially completely closed position. The pages  140  includes holes in substantially a corner position thereof such that the holes are substantially concentric between pages  140 . The holes can be, but are not limited to, die-cut holes and drilled holes. When grouped together, the concentric holes enable the connector  110  to be placed such that the pages  140  are held together but can rotate about the connector  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the first side of the first page  145 A includes one, or a combination of, an image and text  120 A. As shown in FIG. 1B, one possible implementation of the first page is as a cover page of a book. As would be appreciated, cover pages often include a combination of artwork and text showing the title of the book. 
     In one embodiment, the first side of the second page  145 B includes one, or a combination of, an image and text  120 B which can be the same or, but is likely different than, the text and/or image  120 A of the first side of the first page  145 A. As shown in FIG. 2B, one possible implementation of the first page is as a first page of a story. The story includes several sequential panels  175 A- 175 C such as are found in comic books. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the story may simply be a series of text that runs across a width of the page. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, in the open (i.e., rotated) position, the backs of several pages  150 A and  150 B join together to form a portion of an image that is shown in its entirety in FIG.  4 . In the open position, each of the pages is interlocked using an attachment point (e.g., a slot  130 ). In a preferred environment, the slot  130  is a die-cut slot, and the hole is a die-cut hole. Alternately, the hole can be a drilled hole. As is shown in figure four, the resulting image  160  may not extend an entire length of the page. Instead, depending on image to be displayed, a reduced area of the page  150  may be used. 
     In order to prevent visual gaps in the image  160 , in a preferred embodiment, the portion of the image  160  that is hidden by page  150 X is continued, at least partially, on page  150 Y, although normally out of view. If instead that portion did not generally continue the image  150 Y (e.g., but was made a solid background color (such as white) starting immediately at  150 Z), small variations in how the pages  140  interlock would expose the background color, thereby providing a less aesthetic image. 
     Once the image of figure four has been made in its entirety, the novelty item  100  can be hung using a hole  170  that is formed near the exterior of one of the pages. 
     As can be seen in the open view of figure four, the corners at  180  of the pages  140  create a jagged image when the corners  180  are substantially straight. As shown in figure five, the addition of a tab  200  creates a smoothing effect as the pages  140  are opened. In an alternate embodiment that produces a smoothing effect, the corner of the series of pages opposite the fastener  110  utilizes a rounded corner. 
     In order to facilitate the rotation the pages  140 , the fastener  110  is fabricated as a smooth sided cylinder. Exemplary embodiments of the cylinder include a grommet and a rivet; however others semi-rigid fasteners can be used as well. Grommets can include, but are not limited to, snap grommets and screw grommets. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the slot  130  (acting as an attachment point) is replaced by a light adhesive (i.e., an adhesive strong enough to enable the pages to stick together when hanging in poster form and weak enough to enable the pages to be unstuck without damaging the images on the pages). In the light adhesive-based embodiment, the corners of the pages  140  stick on top of one another rather than becoming physically interlocking. Other alternate embodiments of the attachment points are also possible. Such embodiments include, but are not limited to, Velcro and tape. 
     In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the image and/or text  120  on the pages  140  is replaced by a blank surface upon which any number of other stickers or temporary tattoos can be affixed. Such stickers can include, but are not limited to, single image stickers, holograms and scratch-and-sniff stickers. As would be understood, such stickers and tattoos can be affixed during either (1) the same printing step as the unified image on the opposite side or (2) an independent printing step. 
     In yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention, the image and/or text  120  on the pages  140  is replaced with any one or a combination of (1) black and white line-art that is meant to be colored or painted (eg. a paint-by-numbers design), (2) art that animates in conjunction with a lenticular lens, and (3) trading card images. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 
     DEPOSIT OF COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGS 
     Not applicable