Method and apparatus for visualizing images

Apparatus for visualizing images, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a window of transparent material with multiple lens effect arranged in a wall of the housing for making visible an image to be placed there behind; (c) moving means arranged in the housing for moving reciprocally a holder arranged behind the lenses of the window for holding a card-like medium with two or more images.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for visualizing images, a card with two or more images thereon and a method for visualizing images.

Cards and coins having images thereon which appeal mainly to young people and children, such as images of Pokémon, Harry Potter and cartoon characters from the Fox Kids cartoons, are very popular. Not only are the cards and coins traded at many times the cost price thereof, the cards also have an important influence for advertising purposes and in promoting products. If such cards, with images of for instance Pokémon thereon, are packaged with the products, this can cause the market share of the manufacturer to increase by for instance 10%, as has been shown recently in practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved card or coin for promotional and advertising purposes and an apparatus and a method therefor.

The present invention attempts to achieve the above stated objective and provides for this purpose an apparatus for visualizing images, comprising:a housing;a window of transparent material with multiple lens effect arranged in a wall of the housing for making visible an image to be placed therebehind;moving means arranged in the housing for moving reciprocally a holder arranged behind the lenses of the window for holding a card-like medium with two or more images.

Using such an apparatus images can be visualized on card-like media in a manner involving lower production costs.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus wherein ribs of the window form cylindrical lenses with a predetermined focal length. A cost-saving is achieved by arranging the cylindrical lenses in such an apparatus separately from the card-like medium, whereby the apparatus is particularly suitable for advertising purposes.

According to a further preferred embodiment the invention provides an apparatus wherein the focal length is in the order of 35 mm.

According to a further preferred embodiment the invention provides an apparatus wherein the moving means comprise:

a motor;

one or more toothed wheels and/or worms which are driven by the motor,

wherein one of the toothed wheels comprises an eccentric cam which engages on a hook of the holder in order to move the holder having thereon the medium with the images.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the moving means comprise spring means for reciprocally moving and pushing the slide into a desired position. Owing to the spring means the apparatus can also function without motor, thereby achieving a greater cost-saving.

According to a further aspect the present invention provides a method for visualizing images, comprising the steps of:arranging a housing;arranging in a wall of the housing a window of a transparent material with multiple lens effect;arranging behind the window a holder for holding a card-like medium with two or more images;arranging moving means,

wherein the moving means engage on the holder for reciprocal moving thereof.

Such a method provides new possibilities for advertising and promotion, wherein a cost-saving is also achieved compared to known methods.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An apparatus for visualizing images1consists of an upper part2and a lower part4of a housing. In the upper part2is arranged a window6of a transparent material, for instance a transparent plastic (FIG. 1).

An exploded view of apparatus1(FIG. 2) shows the upper part2of the housing having therein an elongate opening10in which the window6is arranged. Window6is flat on an underside thereof, while on the upper side it comprises the ribs12of semi-circular cross-section which provide a lens effect of the window. Ribs12have a focal length of about 35 mm and a width in the order of 0.5 mm. In the upper side2of the housing is arranged a round button8for operating a motor14accommodated in the housing.

In a practical embodiment the cards have dimensions of 8-10 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. Such a card or card-like medium may be made of a card-like body of cardboard, paper or plastic, or a combination of foregoing materials, with at least two images that are divided into linear segments and printed on alternate lines on the body. The housing then has dimensions on the order of 10-12 cm long, 7-10 cm wide and 1-2 cm high. The lens has 12 ribs per cm (30 ribs per inch) or, for an improved quality of image, 16 ribs per cm (40 ribs per inch).

In the underside of housing4is arranged an electric motor14and a battery16for driving the electric motor. By means of a worm18the motor14drives several toothed wheels in a continuous movement in order to transmit the movement and reduce the speed. Toothed wheel20has on one side (not shown) an eccentric cam which engages on a hook22of a slide24. Due to the rotating movement of toothed wheel20the eccentric cam thereon will convert the rotating movement of about 30 rpm into a reciprocal movement of hook22and slide24in the longitudinal direction of the housing, with a speed varying between 0 and about 1.5 mm/s. Arranged on slide24are two clips26, under which a card28can slide and be clamped fixedly. Card28is printed with a printing30, wherein two or more images are divided into linear segments with a line width of about 0.3 mm, wherein the lines of different images are printed alternately on card28. The result hereof is that the separate images can be seen mixed together and cannot therefore be viewed clearly in the normal situation without window, If card28with printing30thereon is clamped under the clips26of slide24, it will co-displace with the slide and thus move reciprocally behind window6. Owing to the lens effect of ribs12, the images which are on alternate lines in the printing30hereby become individually visible, depending on the position of card28behind window6. By now pressing button8the motor14will be set into operation, so that the different images become individually visible one after the other in a continuous movement. The images change at a speed of roughly 3 images per second.

A similar type of apparatus (FIG. 3) once again comprises an upper part of a housing42and a lower part44thereof which are manufactured from plastic, wherein in an elongate opening in upper part42is arranged a lens6which is the same as the lens as described above in the first embodiment. A card28having thereon the printing30with two or more images, each printed on alternate lines, can now be placed on a slide46. Slide46has standing edges48between which card28is arranged and held in place. Made on a round outer end is a thickened portion50with which a user can operate and press in the slide with the fingers, so that the card28with printing30thereon moves reciprocally behind window6, wherein the images printed on alternate lines become individually visible owing to the lens effect of window6. The fingers of the user herein provide the force to push the slide46into the housing. A spring52of for instance plastic or spring steel, which is arranged on the other end located opposite the thickened end50, is herein compressed and produces an opposing force for the purpose of pushing the slide46out of the housing again. On the rear side of housing44are arranged two protrusions54which engage in slotted openings56in slide46in order to guide the slide.

With the invention according to the above described first and second embodiments thereof, cards and coins having thereon images printed on alternate lines can be visualized in a cost-effective manner. The cost price per card or coin is lower than according to the prior art, since the essential component, the window with lens effect, is included in a separate unit and not on the card. Owing to the lower cost price cards can be distributed per product in more cost-effective manner, so enhancing the specific application thereof, i.e. giving the cards away to promote a product or for advertising purposes.

The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof; the rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.