Abstract:
A children&#39;s amusement device has a translucent sheet with hidden images that may be revealed when illuminated from behind. The sheet is laminated with an image disposed on an interior surface of the sheet. The image is substantially hidden from view in ambient lighting. However, the image is revealed when illuminated from behind the sheet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of amusement and educational devices for children. More particularly, the invention relates to a device in which concealed images, such as within the pages of a book, are revealed by illumination from behind. 
   2. Background 
   Many children&#39;s books are designed to entice young readers with amusement features. For example, children&#39;s books may include sound effects and/or “pop-up” illustrations. These types of features contribute to a more enjoyable reading experience and can also enhance the educational value of a book. 
   My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,112,437 and 6,443,590 disclose various articles with illuminated animated displays. In these articles, the light sources are fixed in relation to the images such that a plurality of animated sequences would require a corresponding plurality of light sources. It would be desirable to have a separate light source for illuminating any one of a plurality of animated sequences. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment of the present invention provides a children&#39;s amusement device in the form of a book with hidden images that may be revealed with a “magic wand”. One or more of the pages of the book are constructed as a translucent laminated sheet with an image disposed on an interior surface of the page. The image is substantially hidden from view in ambient lighting. However, the image is revealed when illuminated from behind the page. The “magic wand” comprises a source of illumination that is held behind the page and is activated with a finger-operated switch. A plurality of related images may be juxtaposed and illuminated sequentially to display an animated sequence, such as a figure running or jumping. In this case, the “magic wand” has a plurality of light sources that align with the plurality of images and that are sequentially activated. The “magic wand” may also include a sound generator to provide sound effects for the illuminated images. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed view of a page from the amusement device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away view of the wand shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
     FIG. 1  shows an amusement device  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The device comprises a book  12  in combination with a wand  14 . Book  12  has a plurality of pages  20 , some or all of which may include an image area  22 . A plurality of images are contained within image area  22 , but are obscured from view as more fully described below. To view the images within image area  22 , wand  14  is placed behind page  20 . Wand  14  may include a transparent guide  16  that is slid over the front surface of page  20  so that the page is positioned between the guide and the body of the wand. Indexing marks may be placed on page  20  to assist the user in properly positioning wand  14 . Wand  14  includes a finger-operated switch  18  to actuate a source of illumination within the wand, thereby revealing one or more of the hidden images. 
     FIG. 2  presents a detailed and partially cut-away view of page  20 . In one embodiment, page  20  comprises a first layer  23  and a second layer  24 . A plurality of images  25  are printed on layer  23  within image area  22 . The images  25  may comprise individual “frames” of an animated sequence, such as “stop-action” images of a figure running or jumping. Layer  24  covers layer  23 , including images  25 . Both layers  23  and  24  are translucent, such that light is transmitted but is partially diffused. Thus, images  25  are obscured in ambient lighting, but illumination from behind layer  23  will reveal one or more of the images  25  through the overlying layer  24 . Layer  24  may be printed with text and/or graphics except within image area  22 . Furthermore, the reverse side of layer  23  may also be printed with text and/or graphics. Because light is diffused as it passes through layers  23  and  24 , printing on the reverse side of layer  23  may be placed within image area  22  without disturbing the display of images  25 . 
   Page  20  may be constructed in other ways. For example, layer  23  may be printed with images as described above and then coated with a translucent material. The material may be applied to the entire page, which may then be printed outside of the image area, or the material may be applied only within the image area. In another variation, page  20  may comprise three layers, an inner layer printed with images and two outer layers on each side of the image layer. 
     FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away view of the wand  14 . A plurality of illumination sources  15  are disposed within the wand, along with a suitable power source (not shown). The illumination sources may comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs), although incandescent bulbs, electroluminescent panels or other suitable sources of illumination may be used. The sources of illumination are separated from one another, such as by partitions  17  within the body of reader  14 . Thus, each of the sources of illumination will reveal only its corresponding image. 
     FIG. 4  shows an amusement device  30  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Device  30  has a housing  32 , the side wall of which has been omitted in the drawing to reveal the internal construction. An endless belt  34  is disposed within housing  32  on rollers  36 . One of the rollers is connected to a knob  38  so that the belt may be rotated into a desired position. Belt  34  carries a plurality of image sequences. The belt is rotated by means of knob  38  until a desired image sequence is aligned with display window  40 . Registration indicia may be provided on belt  34  and viewable through window  42  to assist in properly aligning the image sequence. 
   An array of light sources  44  are disposed within housing  32  to illuminate the images from behind. As in the previously described embodiment, a separate light source is provided for each of the images in the sequence. A finger-operated switch  46  actuates the light sources to sequentially illuminate the corresponding images. As previously described, the images are concealed from view in ambient lighting. Belt  34  may have a laminated construction, as in the previously described embodiment, or the display window may be translucent so as to conceal the images. 
   Housing  32  may be constructed so that it may be conveniently held behind a book as it is being read. Means may be provided for attaching housing  32  to the cover of a book. The text and/or images in the book may have associated indicia to specify a related sequence of images on belt  34 . When the reader encounters such indicia, knob  38  is rotated until the same indicia is displayed in window  42 . Such indicia may comprise letters, numbers, symbols or a combination thereof. 
   Device  30  may be constructed to utilize image carriers other than belt  34 . For example, images may be printed on a sheet or carried by a card that is moved within housing  32  to align a desired image sequence with display window  40 . 
   It will be recognized that the above-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.