Abstract:
The claimed invention provides a self-actuating lenticular display assembly that places the lenticular image in intimate contact with the lenticular lens while maintaining the lenticular image separate from the lenticular lens to form the lenticular display. The lenticular display assembly further comprises a rigid back plate placed behind the lenticular display so that the lenticular image moves in a parallel plane between the lenticular lens and the rigid back plate, a motor mounted to the back plate to accomplish movement of the lenticular image in relation to the lenticular lens, alignment mechanisms that allow the lenticular image to be incrementally adjusted in relation to the lenticular lens, and different means for maintaining intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens, thus eliminating undesirable “soft spots” that may occur.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a method and device for displaying signage systems. More specifically, the present invention relat displaying lenticular images. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A lenticular lens as used in this field is a sheet of transparent material having one side composed of a contiguous array of cylindrical lenses known as lenticules, and the other side being generally flat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,545 issued to Wu et al. discusses the structure of a lenticular lens. Lenticular images that are typically used in conjunction with the lenticular lenses are composite images composed of several different independent images interlaced into the same space. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,274 and 5,494,445 issued to Sekiguchi discuss the process of making a lenticular image. 
     Viewing a lenticular image through a lenticular lens, collectively known as a lenticular display, is well known in the prior art. A lenticular display allows a viewer to perceive multiple images appearing individually within the same dimensional space or plane. It is also possible for a person viewing a lenticular display to perceive a three dimensional visual effect within the same plane due to the parallax shift associated with the distance between the viewer&#39;s eyes viewing a slightly different image presented by the lenticular display. 
     A lenticular image is typically either imprinted directly to the back side of the lenticular lens or fixedly mounted to the back side of the lens to form the lenticular display. U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,666 issued to McDonald discloses a viewer that holds a lenticular image behind a lenticular lens. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,850,913 and 5,941,382 issued to Fantone et al. discloses a display box utilizing a lenticular image viewed through a lenticular lens. In order to perceive the different images presented in lenticular displays of this type, the angle at which the viewer observes the lenticular display must be changed. Thus, as the viewer&#39;s angle of observation changes, the discrete images contained within the lenticular image are seen as different images or a sequence of related images as animations or morphs. To allow a stationary viewer to perceive the different images presented in a lenticular display of this type, the lenticular display must be moved in order to achieve the necessary angle change. Alternatively, the movement of the viewer can be relied upon to change the angle of observance of a stationary lenticular display of this type. FIG. 1 illustrates a lenticular display of this typical prior art type where the lenticular image is fixedly attached to the lenticular lens. Thus, a signage display system utilizing a typical lenticular display for advertising or other such purposes, must therefor be moved if one desires to display the different lenticular images to a stationary viewer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,879 issued to Simons discloses an animated display device having illuminating means in which shutter film and program film are continuously maintained in complete contact. To accomplish this, a rigid platen having a convex surface carries the shutter film is mounted within a housing disposed in facing contact with the convex surface of the platen. Tensioning springs are used to hold the shutter film against the convex platen. Drive means are provided for moving the program film relative to the platen so as to alter the alignment of the shutter film and program film to change the image projected by the device. This display device is of rather complex structure consisting of many expensive parts, is rather cumbersome to install, and is not adaptable for use with existing standard signage display systems and light box displays. 
     Therefore, there exists a need for an effective self-actuating lenticular display assembly that can be used with existing and standard signage display systems and light box displays. It is the primary object of this invention to fill this need. 
     Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a self-actuating lenticular display that is less expensive and complex to manufacture. 
     Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a self-actuating lenticular display that it relatively light and having a thin profile. 
     Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a self-actuating lenticular display that provides means to reduce “soft spots” which may occur during operation of a self-actuating lenticular display. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The claimed invention is directed to providing a solution to the problem of complex lenticular display devices that are expensive to manufacture and are not adaptable to existing standard signage display systems and light box displays, as well as other problems associated with the effective presentation of lenticular displays. 
     The claimed invention provides a self-actuating lenticular display assembly that places the lenticular image in intimate contact with the lenticular lens while maintaining the lenticular image separate from the lenticular lens to form the lenticular display. Since the lenticular image is separate from that of the lenticular lens, the position of either the lenticular image or the lenticular lens can be moved while the other can remain stationary. The lenticular display assembly utilizes the independent nature of the lenticular image by moving a smaller lenticular image in a parallel plane to that of the lenticular lens while allowing an existing standard signage display system to hold the lenticular lens in a stationary position. This independent relationship forms an effective lenticular display capable of displaying the different images of a lenticular image that can be used in an existing stationary signage display system or display light box. With the lenticular lens remaining stationary, and the lenticular image moving in a parallel plane behind the lenticular lens inside the signage display system or display light box, the lenticular display appears to remain stationary to the viewer while the displayed images change. 
     The lenticular display assembly further comprises a rigid back plate placed behind the lenticular display so that the lenticular image moves in a parallel plane between the lenticular lens and the rigid back plate. The rigid back plate is smaller than the lenticular lens so that the outer profile of the lenticular display assembly has a thickness equal to the thickness of the lenticular lens. The rigid back plate is preferably made of a transparent material when the lenticular display assembly is constructed to be used in a light box display that provides light from behind the lenticular display assembly. The rigid back plate can however be made of many other types of non-transparent material if the lenticular display assembly is anticipated to be used in a setting that will not use back lighting, such as hanging the lenticular display assembly directly on a wall. 
     The resulting structure of the claimed self-actuating lenticular display assembly provides an assembly with a light-weight as well as slim profile that can be used in existing standard signage display systems with little or no modification. 
     To accomplish the movement of the lenticular image in relation to the lenticular lens, a motor mounted to the back plate located in proximate relation to the top or bottom center of the lenticular image is used. The motorized movement of the lenticular image behind the lenticular lens provides the self-actuating effect of the lenticular display assembly. 
     One critical aspect of displaying lenticular images is the physical alignment of the linear axis of the lens (or lenticules) with the linear axis of the lenticular images. Alignment and positioning between the lenticular image and lenticular lens must be maintained for a viewer to observe the multiple images as the lenticular image moves in a direction perpendicular to the linear axis of lenticular lens. The claimed invention maintains this critical relationship by employing alignment mechanisms that allow the lenticular image to be incrementally adjusted in relation to the lenticular lens. 
     Another important aspect pertaining to employing a lenticular image separate from the lenticular lens, is maintaining the “intimacy of the relationship” between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens. If the lenticular image is not maintained in an intimate relationship with the lenticular lens, “soft spots” occur in the displayed image. A “soft spot” describes the blurred lenticular display or portion of the lenticular display that is produced when the intimacy of the relationship is not maintained and the image resides outside of the focal length of the lens. The “soft spot” is an undesirable condition that detracts from the presentation of an effective lenticular display. The claimed invention claims different means for maintaining intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens, thus eliminating undesirable “soft spots” that may occur. 
     The preferred embodiment of the claimed invention shown in FIG. 2 is directed to a signage display system utilizing the claimed lenticular display assembly with the means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship comprising a sealed bladder that is formed by attaching a flexible material such as thin plastic sheeting to the rigid back plate. The sealed bladder is inflated with air by way of a hose connected to a motorized pump mounted to the back side of the back plate that pushes the lenticular image toward the lenticular lens. As the sealed bladder inflates, it pushes against the back side of the lenticular image. Due to the lenticular image being printed on a pliable medium such as paper, the sealed bladder pushes the lenticular image toward the lenticular lens as the rigid back plate resists deflection. The internal pressure of the sealed bladder can then be increased or decreased to control the intimacy of relationship between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens. 
     Another embodiment of the claimed invention shown in FIG. 4 is directed to a signage display system utilizing the claimed lenticular display assembly with the means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship comprising a sealed chamber between the lenticular lens and the rigid back plate. A motorized pump by way of a hose evacuates the sealed chamber to form a vacuum within the sealed chamber. The vacuum pulls the lenticular lens and lenticular image toward the rigid back plate. As the sealed chamber is evacuated, the lenticular lens and the lenticular image are drawn together to attain the desired intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens. The evacuation rate can be altered to vary the intimacy of the relationship between the lenticular lens and the lenticular image. 
     Yet another embodiment of the claimed invention shown in FIG. 3 is directed to a signage display system that utilizes the claimed lenticular display assembly with the means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship comprising utilizing the sealed chamber concept to deflect the lenticular lens toward the lenticular image. This embodiment forms a sealed chamber between the lenticular lens and a rigid protective glass or cover that protects the lenticular lens. The sealed chamber is pressurized with air by way of a hose connected to a motorized pump mounted to the back side of the rigid back plate. As the sealed chamber pressurizes, the lenticular lens deflects toward the lenticular image to attain the desired intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens. 
     Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 Illustrates a prior art lenticular display with a lenticular image fixedly mounted to a lenticular lens. 
     FIG. 2 Illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of the lenticular display assembly with an inflated sealed bladder. 
     FIG. 3 Illustrates a side view of the lenticular display assembly with a second sealed chamber. 
     FIG. 4 Illustrates a side view of the lenticular display assembly utilizing a sealed chamber. 
     FIG. 5 Illustrates a side view a preferred embodiment of the lenticular display assembly with an inflated sealed bladder. 
     FIG. 6 Illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of the lenticular display assembly. 
     FIG. 7 Illustrates a back view of a preferred embodiment of the lenticular display assembly. 
     FIG. 8 Illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of the first alignment means integrated with the moving means. 
     FIG. 9 Illustrates a top view of a preferred embodiment of the first alignment means integrated with the moving means. 
     FIG. 10 Illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of the second alignment means. 
     FIG. 11 Illustrates the slider, off-center cam, and drive pin. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in may different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention. The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated. 
     FIGS. 2 through 11 show a preferred embodiment of the lenticular display assembly  10  that provides a self-actuating lenticular display capable of being used with existing signage display systems that typically implement graphic images having a thickness of up to 0.25 inches at the graphic image&#39;s perimeter. 
     FIGS. 2 through 5 shows the lenticular display assembly  10  comprises a lenticular lens plate  12 , a lenticular image plate  14 , means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship  16  between the lenticular image plate  14  and the lenticular lens plate  12 , and a rigid back plate  18 . The lenticular image plate  14  is smaller than the lenticular lens plate  12  and is enclosed between the lenticular lens plate  12  and the rigid back plate  18 . The rigid back plate  18  is slightly larger than the lenticular image plate  14  and slightly smaller than the lenticular lens plate  12  so that there is an area  20  around the perimeter of the rigid back plate  18  where foam rubber stripping  22  can be attached by adhesive or other similar means as seen in FIG.  2 . The foam rubber stripping  22 , or other structure capable of maintaining a relatively tight seal, forms a sealed chamber  24  where the lenticular image plate  14  can move in a parallel plane with the lenticular lens plate  12  and the rigid back plate  18 . The foam rubber stripping  22  is attached to the lenticular lens by an adhesive, or other means of attaching such material that will maintain a relatively tight seal. A sealant, such as silicon sealant, is used at the joints to help attain the relatively tight seal of the sealed chamber  24 . 
     Means for moving  26  the lenticular image plate  14  are placed away from the perimeter  28  of the lenticular display assembly  10  so as not to interfere with the installation of the lenticular display assembly  10  into existing signage display systems. The object is to minimize the thickness  30  of the lenticular display assembly  10  so that the lenticular display assembly  10  can be incorporated as any other “graphic image” and thereby fit into existing signage display systems. The means for movement  26  must be compact and not obstruct the backlight capability of the image. FIGS. 7-9 show the preferred embodiment. 
     Preferably, the moving means  26  comprises an adjustable, off-center cam  32  residing within an elliptical opening  34  of a slider plate  36 , the slider plate  36  having a drive pin  38 . The off-center cam  32  translates the rotational travel force of the moving means  26 , preferably a continuous or step motor, to the desired linear movement. The distance of travel necessary to display all the images is the width of one lenticule  40 . The off-center cam  32  is designed to be adaptable to and cooperate with the specific dimensions of the lenticular lens plate  12  used. Thus the off-center cam  32  is capable of being changed depending upon the physical characteristics of the lenticular lens plate  12 , i.e., the width of lenticule  40 . The moving means  26 , as shown in FIG. 8 is integrated with an adjustment plate  42  that includes a first alignment means  44 , that confine the motion of the lenticular image plate  14  to the desired range. 
     Critical to the quality of the lenticular display presented, the lenticular display assembly  10  must ensure proper alignment of the lenticular lens plate  12  and the lenticular image plate  14  to perfect the presentation of the “first” and “last” image seen from a “head on” view. The first alignment means  44  is capable of adjusting the alignment of the moving means  26  along the axis of motion  46 . See FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     A preferred embodiment of the first alignment means  44  is shown in FIG.  8 . An adjustment housing  48  rides against a motor mounting plate  50 . The slider plate  36  is adapted to the motor mounting plate  50  wherein the off-center cam  32  cooperates with the slider plate  36  and the drive pin  38  for motion of the lenticular image plate  14  along the axis of motion  46 . The motor mounting plate  50  is attached to the rigid back plate  18 . 
     In addition, the lenticular lens plate  12  and lenticular image plate  14  must be alignable along the axis  56  perpendicular to the motion of the lenticular image plate  14 . A second alignment means  58 , preferably similar to the first alignment means  44  shown in FIG. 10, adjusts the lenticular image plate  14  in relation to the lenticular lens plate  12 . In one configuration, a second alignment means  58  is located on the motor mounting plate  50  with the drive pin  38  (FIG.  8 ). In a second configuration, the second alignment means  58 , i.e., pin  60  is on a separate plate assembly  62  (FIG.  10 ). 
     FIG. 9 shows the drive pin  38  and alignment pin  60  protrude through the rigid back plate  18  of the chamber  24  so that the lenticular image plate  14  is mounted via the drive pin  38  and alignment pin  60 . The lenticular image plate  14  has a hole and grommet  64  that receives the drive pin. Similarly, the lenticular image plate  14  has alignment slot  66  that receive the grommet  68  and alignment pin  60 . The alignment slot  66  restricts movement of the lenticular image plate  14  in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the alignment slot  66 . The adjustment of the alignment pin  60  is in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the alignment slot  66 . 
     An important aspect of the self-actuating lenticular display assembly  10  is maintaining the “intimacy of the relationship” between the lenticular image plate  14  and the lenticular lens plate  12 . If the lenticular image plate  14  is not maintained in an intimate relationship with the lenticular lens plate  12 , “soft spots”  70  occur in the displayed image. A “soft spot”  70  describes the blurred lenticular display or portion of the lenticular display that is produced when the intimacy of the relationship  16  is not maintained and the image resides outside of the focal length of the lens. The “soft spot”  70  is an undesirable condition that detracts from the presentation of an effective lenticular display. 
     Means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship  16  of the lenticular lens plate  12  with the lenticular image plate  14  is provided to prevent soft spots from occurring. The object is to maintain the lenticular image plate  14  and the lenticular lens plate  12  together so that the intimacy of the relationship  16  is maintained. See FIGS. 2-4. 
     Preferably, the means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship  16  comprises a inflated sealed bladder  72  made of flexible material such as thin plastic sheeting attached to the rigid back plate  18  by adhesive or other means that will maintain a relatively tight seal between the flexible material and the rigid back plate  18  as shown if FIGS. 2 and 5. The flexible material must be transparent when the lenticular display assembly  10  is constructed to be used in a light box display that provides light from behind the lenticular display assembly  10 . The sealed bladder  72  can however be made of non-transparent material if the lenticular display assembly  10  is constructed to be used in an application that will not utilize back lighting. The sealed bladder  72  is inflated by way of a hose  74  connected to a motorized air pump  76  that pumps air through the hose  74  and into the sealed bladder  72 . The motorized air pump  76  can be mounted to the back of the rigid back plate  18 , or the motorized air pump  76  may be placed in a remote location from the lenticular display assembly  10 . 
     Due to the flexibility of the sealed bladder material, the pressure that is produced within the sealed bladder  72  expands the sealed bladder  72  into the chamber  24 . The rigid back plate  18  maintains the original size and volume of the chamber  24  so that as the sealed bladder  72  inflates, the volume within the chamber  24  decreases. Accordingly, as the sealed bladder  72  inflates, it pushes the lenticular image plate  14  toward the lenticular lens plate  12  to attain the desired intimacy of the relationship  16 . The internal pressure of the sealed bladder  72  can be altered to control the intimacy of the relationship  16  between the lenticular image plate  14  and the lenticular lens plate  12  thereby effectively eliminating any soft spots  70  that may occur. The amount of pressure is critical to the operation of the lenticular display assembly  10 , as too little pressure will not prevent soft spots  70  from forming, and too much pressure will prevent the lenticular image plate  14  from moving in intimate relationship with the lenticular lens plate  12 . Typically, less than 3 p.s.i. are required to maintain the intimacy of the relationship  16  between a lenticular lens plate  12  measuring 48″×36″ and a lenticular image plate  14  that measures 45″×33″. 
     The clearance area  78  between the holes and the drive pin  38  and alignment pin  60  that protrude through the holes are sealed by placing adhesive tape around the drive pin  38  and the alignment pin  60 . Rubber O-rings or other like structures can also be used around the drive pin  38  and alignment pin  60  to maintain the seal. 
     Alternatively, the means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship  16  comprises using the sealed chamber concept to deflect the lenticular lens plate  12  toward the lenticular image plate  14 . A second sealed chamber  80  is formed between the lenticular lens plate  12  and a rigid protective cover  82  that may be employed to protect the lenticular lens plate  12  as shown in FIG.  3 . Foam rubber stripping  22 , or other structure capable of maintaining a relatively tight seal, is adhered to the rigid protective cover  82 , and is in turn adhered to the outside of the lenticular lens plate  12 . A sealant, such as silicon sealant, is used to help attain the relatively tight seal within the second sealed chamber  80 . 
     The second sealed chamber  80  is pressurized by way of a hose  74  connected to a motorized air pump  76  that pumps air through the hose  74  and into the second sealed chamber  80 . As the second sealed chamber  80  pressurizes, the lenticular lens plate  12  deflects toward the lenticular image plate  14  as the rigid protective cover  82  resists deflection. The deflection of the lenticular lens plate  12  toward the lenticular image plate  14  attains the intimacy of the relationship  16  that is necessary to eliminate soft spots  70  and provide an effective lenticular display. 
     This embodiment of the means for maintaining the intimacy of the relationship  16  does not require sealing of the clearance area  78  between the holes in the rigid back plate  18  and the drive pin  38  and alignment pin  60  that protrude through the holes due to the second sealed chamber  80  being located on the opposite side of the lenticular lens plate  12 . The overall thickness  30  of the lenticular display assembly  10  is increased due to the second sealed chamber  80 , however, the rigid protective cover  82  can be sized such that it does not interfere with the intended goal of providing a lenticular display assembly  10  that is capable of being used in an existing signage display system or light box display. 
     As various possible embodiments may be made in the above invention for use for different purposes and as various changes might be made in the embodiments and methods above set forth, it is understood that all of the above matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.