Abstract:
A generally rectangular panel having at least one thick edge, a slot in said thick edge, a cassette with animated cartoon card being slidably received in said slot, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     Various devices have been proposed and are commonly used to provide visual effects for educational and entertainment purposes. Typically, these devices are fairly expensive and complex in construction. The present invention has as its primary objective to provide such effects at minimal cost. The present invention is particularly addressed to children and is intended to present images which are appealing and instructive to children.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     A generally rectangular panel having at least one thick edge, a slot in said thick edge, a cassette with animated cartoon card being slidably received in said slot, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette, electrical means including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.  
         [0003]     A novelty box comprising a housing box having generally flat top and bottom surfaces, generally flat smaller front and rear surfaces and generally flat side surfaces,  
         [0004]     said box having a hinged panel, a slot in the opposed free edge of said hinged panel adapted to slidably receive a cassette with animated cartoon card, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette,  
         [0005]     electrical means within said box including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon card and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card.  
         [0006]     A novelty illuminated cartoon music box comprising a housing box having generally flat top and bottom surfaces, generally flat smaller front and rear surfaces and generally flat side surfaces,  
         [0007]     said box containing a sliding drawer adapted to be pulled out at the lower front surface of the box,  
         [0008]     said box having a hinged panel at the rear edge of the top surface adapted to be folded down flush with the top surface, a slot in the opposed free edge of said hinged panel adapted to slidably receive a cassette with animated cartoon card, said animated cartoon card being laterally, slidably received in said cassette,  
         [0009]     electrical means within said box including a power source adapted to power said animated cartoon card and operatively associated with said animated cartoon card,  
         [0010]     said box including means for providing musical sounds. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the novelty box of this invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the novelty box showing the front drawings partially open and the hinged top panel in the raised position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a raised perspective generally rear view of the box with the hinged top panel in the raised position and showing the rear of the cassette separated from the slot in the top panel in which it is adapted to be received.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view with the hinged top panel folded down flush with the top surface of the box and showing the interior arrangement of the electrical circuitry, batteries and the sliding drawer with stored contents.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  showing how the cassette with animated cartoon card are slidably received in the free end of the hinged panel.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view showing how the animated cartoon card is laterally slidably received in the cassette.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 7-9  show a second preferred embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  showing the relationship of the support panel, cassette and animated cartoon card.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a review view of the parts as shown in  FIG. 8  and shows the electrical circuitry and contact within the animated cartoon card.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a front view of a third preferred embodiment of this invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0023]     FIGS.  12  to  15  show the fourth preferred embodiment.  
         [0024]     FIGS.  16  to  19  show a fifth preferred embodiment.  
         [0025]      FIG. 20  is a section taken along the line  20 - 20  in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     Turning to the drawings in more detail in the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  6 , the box  10 , has generally planar top  12 , bottom  14 , front  16 , rear  18 , and side  20  and  22  surfaces or panels.  
         [0027]     The top panel  12  has at its rear edge a hinged panel  24  of generally uniform thickness adapted to be folded down flush with the top surface  12  of the box  10 . At the free opposed end  26 , the hinged panel  24  has a slot  28  which is adapted to slidably receive cassette  30  with animated cartoon card  32  as a unit therein. This is done by pulling on tab  33  which is affixed to cassette  30 . The front panel  16  has a slide out drawer  34  to store animated cartoon cards  32  when not in use.  
         [0028]     The animated cartoon card  32  is laterally, slidably received in cassette  30 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cassette has a stop  35  at one side edge to assure that the animated cartoon card  32  is properly advanced and positioned in cassette  30 .  
         [0029]     The interior of box  10  above the drawer  34  contains an integrated circuit  36 , audio speaker  38 , power supply  40  such as a battery, and related electrical connections. The cassette  30  has an opening to enable electrical contact  41  to carry electrical signals from the interior of box  10  to the animated cartoon card  32 .  
         [0030]     Each animated cartoon card  32  carrying a distinctive pattern of electrical circuitry to provide attractive and unique lighted visual and audio effects when the electrical power is on. The lighted visual effect can be stationary or by proper lighting sequencing, the appearance of moving lighted objects or effects is obtained. The animated cartoon card  32  is laterally slidably received in cassette  30  so that any number of different lighted visual and audio effects can be obtained simply by changing animated cartoon cards.  
         [0031]     The rear panel  18  has an opening  42  for receiving and changing the battery  40 . The rear panel  18  also has a volume control  44  for the sound speakers  38 . The rear panel  18  also has a main power switch  46  and a  12  volt plug  49  for supplying power form an external source in lieu of reliance on battery  40 .  
         [0032]     When the power switch  46  is “on”, the box will play only when the hinged panel  24  is raised, allowing the switch  48  to move upwardly into its on position and thereby electrically powering the animated cartoon cad  32 .  
         [0033]     The second embodiment of  FIG. 7-9  has no box. The cassette  30  with animated cartoon card  32  is received in picture frame  50  having a viewing opening  52  and a slot  54  for receiving the cassette  30 .  
         [0034]     The power supply and circuiting necessary to power the animated cartoon card  32  is contained within enclosure  55  on the rear of picture frame  50 . A support stand  56  may also be provided.  
         [0035]     The star frame embodiment of  FIGS. 10 and 11  is provided with outer star frame  58 .  
         [0036]     FIGS.  11  to  15  show a double frame arrangement. The one frame is essentially like the embodiment of FIGS.  7  to  9 . The other frame  60 , which is attached by hinges  62 , is intended to hold a personal photograph or any other similar picture.  
         [0037]     FIGS.  16  to  19  is similar to the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  6  with the addition of a magnetic note pad  64  and marker  66  slidably and removably received in recess  68  for manual use in making notes on the note pad  64 . There is also provided a conventional slide eraser  70  for erasing the note pad  64 .  
         [0038]     The section of  FIG. 20  taken through the animated cartoon card  32  is the same in every embodiment of this invention. As shown, card  32  typically has five layers. The two outside layers  72  and  74  serve to protect the inner layers from scratching and are not otherwise functional. Layer  76  contains a printed or painted on picture, usually to provide background. Layer  78  contains fixed areas of electro phosphorescent images  80  which are powered by electrical circuit layer  82  which is in communication with power supply  40  or an external power source via contact  41 . When power is applied to layer  82 , the electro phosphorescent images are illuminated. By known means, it is possible to light up different electro phosphorescent areas of layer  78  in different sequences or patterns to create pleasing visual effects against the background picture in layer  76 . The technology for laying down the electro phosphorescent areas and powering them is already known to those skilled in the art. Each of the animated cartoon cards can be provided with a different background and set of electro phosphorescent images with appropriate circuitry.  
         [0039]     Music is preferably provided by an IC chip carried within box  10 , for example. Many alternative means for providing music will be apparent to those skilled in the art.