Transparency display apparatus

A transparency display device having at least front and back panels with superimposed windows therein and a transparency covering said windows with a visual image thereon and a slidable panel interposed between the front and back panels for providing a backing for said transparency visual image in a first position to create a first scene and for removing said backing from said transparency visual image in a second position to create a second scene discernibly different than said first scene.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates in general to display packages and more 
particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved display device 
that has a transparency with a visual image thereon forming a first scene 
that can be combined with other visual images associated with the display 
device to form two or more visual scenes to a viewer. 
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 
1.97 and 1.98 
In commonly assigned copending patent application Ser. No. 08/986,444, 
filed Dec. 8, 1997, and entitled "Data Card Display Package and Method for 
Displaying a Data Card", there is disclosed an improved data card package 
for advertising a data card having coded data disposed thereon. Such 
packages can be used to sell data cards such as prepaid calling cards for 
long distance telephone calls or other type cards that are popular with 
consumers. 
One type of card that is specially popular with a segment of the population 
is a trading card that could have a picture of a well-recognized sports 
figure or other celebrity and having information on the card relating to 
that person. Such cards also relate to places or events such as the Grand 
Canyon, planets in space, and the like. 
It would be desirable to provide a data card that utilizes transparencies 
with at least one visual image thereon that can be viewed in conjunction 
with a background that may be plain or include other transparencies. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a transparency display device in which one 
or more visual images or pictures can be visible to a viewer. For 
instance, a transparency could have an athletic figure or prominent 
personality on a transparency held in a frame. A slidable panel can be 
placed under the transparency and movable from a first position under the 
transparency to a second position removed from under the transparency. 
This would allow the transparency to be visible to light through the 
package and present a first view of the visible image that is on the 
transparency. When the slidable panel is moved to its first position under 
the transparency, then it provides a backing for the transparency which 
may be a color backing or may have a visual image thereon to provide a 
different scene when associated with the first visual image. The sliding 
panel may have printed materials or indicia on the back thereof to 
describe or otherwise be related to the transparency visual image. As an 
example, the transparency could have a famous football player as the 
visual image and on the backside of the slidable panel may be statistics 
regarding the player. When the slidable panel is moved from its first 
position under the transparency to its second position removed from under 
the transparency, the transparency can then be either viewed when held up 
to light or with the use of a projector. 
Other versions of the device provide two transparencies with different 
visual images thereon separated from each other by spacers and having a 
slidable panel either between the two transparencies or under both of the 
transparencies. The slidable panel may have a third visual image on it 
such that when it is in its first position under both of the 
transparencies it creates a scene having three different views, the first 
transparency, the second transparency, and the slidable panel. If the 
slidable panel is between the two transparencies, then the panel itself 
provides a backing to create a second scene with the first transparency 
and when it is removed from under the first transparency, then the first 
and second transparencies together provide a third scene. 
In another version of the invention, a package has an opening or window in 
the front panel covered by a first transparency with a visual image of 
some type thereon and the back panel is solid and may have indicia thereon 
relating to the visual image on the transparency. A slidable panel is 
interposed between the transparency and the back panel and has a second 
transparency in a portion of it that is not superimposed with the first 
transparency when the sliding panel is in its first position. Thus, in its 
first position the sliding panel has a solid first portion under the first 
transparency and, when the panel is moved to its second position, the 
second transparency on the sliding panel is exposed thus showing the first 
and second transparencies. If desired, there can be a window in the second 
or back panel that is superimposed with the transparency in the first 
panel so that, when the sliding panel is moved to its second position, the 
transparency can be viewed by holding it up to a light or a projector. 
Thus, in this case, for instance, the transparency could have the earth 
and any other visual image on a transparency relating to it and, when the 
sliding panel is moved out, the transparency there may have the picture of 
an astronaut who was the first to orbit the earth. 
In still another version, a larger panel may be provided having multiple 
windows with a transparency in each of the multiple windows with each 
transparency having a different visual image. A movable panel may be 
associated with each transparency either above it or below it. That 
movable panel may also have a visual image on it such that if it is above 
the transparency and is moved inwardly to its first position, the visual 
image on the transparency is visible through the window. In its second 
position, when it is moved out from under the transparency, then both the 
transparency visual image and the visual image on the movable panel become 
visible. The value of this version is that multiple transparencies 
horizontally spaced apart can be placed in one frame. 
Of course, if desired, a package having a solid front cover and a solid 
back cover, with indicia thereon regarding a certain subject, may be 
formed with a slidable panel between the front and back covers. The 
slidable panel may have a transparency with a visual image thereon formed 
in one portion thereof that is exposed when it is moved out from between 
the front and back panels. The indicia on the front and back panels may 
relate to the transparency visual image. 
In another embodiment, the package may include a front window, a 
transparency with a first visual image thereon covering the window, a 
slidable panel having a second visual image on it for movement underneath 
and away from the transparency and a bottom or back panel having a third 
visual image thereon so that as many as three scenes may be combined in 
one. Thus, when the slidable panel is in its first position under the 
transparency, then the visual image on the transparency is superimposed 
over the visual image on the slidable panel. When the slidable panel is 
moved outwardly from under the transparency, then the third visual image 
on the back panel is in superimposed relationship with the visual image on 
the transparency causing a different scene. Again, of course, printed 
indicia may be on the back side of the package that relates to details of 
the pictures. 
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transparency 
display device. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a transparency 
display device that has a visual image on the transparency that can be 
combined with one or more other visual images to provide unique scenes for 
viewing. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a transparency 
display device having a transparency with a visual image thereon of a 
person, place, or thing and combining one or more additional visual images 
to create various scenes and having indicia thereon describing or relating 
to the visual scenes and the transparency visual image. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a 
transparency display device that can be used as a trading card featuring 
athletes and the like. 
Thus, the present invention relates to a transparency display device 
comprising front and back frames each having a window therein in 
superimposed relationship with each other, a first transparency having a 
first visual image thereon and covering the window in the front frame, and 
a first panel having a front and a back and being slidably interposed 
between the front and back frames for movement between a first position to 
enable viewing the transparency visual image with a front portion of the 
first panel serving as a backing for the transparency to create a first 
scene and a second position to enable viewing the transparency visual 
image alone as a second scene having a discernibly different visual effect 
than the first scene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
"Transparency" as used herein means being capable of transmitting light so 
that objects or images can be seen as if there were no intervening 
material. The transparent material can be made of plastics such as mylar, 
acetate, or the like material so long as it can transmit light 
therethrough. The visual images thereon can be photographed or printed or 
otherwise placed thereon. 
FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention. The 
transparency display device 10 of FIG. 1 includes front and back frames 12 
and 14, shown respectively in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each having a window 16 
and 18 therein in superimposed relationship with each other. A first 
transparency 26 has a first visual image 28 thereon and the transparency 
covers the windows 16 and 18 in the front and back frames. A first panel 
20 having a front 23 and a back 19 (see FIG. 4) is slidably interposed 
between the front and back frames 12 and 14 for movement between a first 
position to enable viewing the transparency 26 and its visual image 28 
with the front 23 of the first panel 20 serving as a backing for the 
transparency 26 to create a first scene and a second position shown in 
FIG. 3 to enable viewing the transparency visual image 28 alone as a 
second scene having a discernibly different visual effect than the first 
scene. Thus as can be seen in FIG. 1, when the panel 20 is in its first 
position under the transparency 26 and visual image 28, a first view is 
presented. When the panel 20 is slid outwardly from the front and back 
frames 12 and 14 as shown in FIG. 3, the visual image 28 on the 
transparency 26 is silhouetted between the two windows 16 and 18, 
therefore giving a discernibly different effect than the first scene. 
Appropriate indentations 22, 24, and 27 are formed in the front and back 
panels and the transparency to enable the slidable panel 20 to be gripped 
and moved outwardly from its first position to its second position as 
shown in FIG. 3. 
The exploded view in FIG. 4 shows clearly the elements of the transparency 
display device of FIG. 1. It includes the front frame 12 with its 
associated window 16 and back frame 14 with its associated window 18. It 
illustrates the first transparency 26 having the visual image 28 thereon 
and the slidable panel 20 that slides in frame 39 as illustrated in FIG. 
3. The slidable panel 20 has shoulders 30 and 32 thereon that are formed 
as truncated cones with the larger end of the cone facing outwardly to 
provide to provide large end surfaces 34 and 36 that ride against the 
sides 38 and 40 of the frame 39. When the panel 20 is slid outwardly, the 
shoulders 30 and 32 stop outward movement of panel 20 when they engage 
corresponding surfaces 35 and 37 on frame 39. 
Thus, it can be seen that the novel embodiment of the transparency display 
device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 has the front and back frames 12 and 14 
each having a respective window 16 and 18 in superimposed relationship 
with each other and with transparency 26 having a visual image 28 thereon 
covering both of the windows. Slidable panel 20 is placed under the 
transparency 26 so that it can serve as a backing for the visual image 28 
in a first position to present a first visual scene and then can be slid 
outwardly from the display device to a second position exposing simply the 
visual image 28 on the transparency 26 without a backing surface thus 
presenting a discernibly different second visual scene. 
FIG. 5A is a front view of a second embodiment of a transparency display 
device of the present invention in which two slidable panels 20 and 66 are 
provided. As can be best seen in the exploded view in FIG. 5B, there are 
two transparencies, 26 and 48, each having respective visual images 28, 
50, and 52 thereon. A first slidable panel 20 separates the two 
transparencies with their respective visual images. When the first 
slidable panel 20 is moved outwardly as illustrated in FIG. 7, the two 
visual images on both transparencies 26 and 48 are superimposed over each 
other. Thus, the representation of the earth 28 on the first transparency 
26 is superimposed with the visual images of the moon 50 and the sun 52 on 
the second transparency 48. The second slidable panel 66 serves as a 
backing for the two transparencies. 
However, as shown in FIG. 8, when both slidable panels 20 and 66 are moved 
outwardly, the two transparencies 20 and 48 are then in superimposed 
relationship only with each other to provide a distinctly different view 
than is shown in either FIG. 7 or FIG. 5A. 
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the transparency display device of FIG. 5A 
illustrating indicia 98 on the back 69 of the second slidable panel 66. 
FIG. 9 is a back view of the transparency display device of FIG. 8 
illustrating indicia 98 and 100 on the back sides of both slidable panels 
20 and 66. The indicia, of course, may relate to the visual images 28, 50, 
and 52 on the two transparencies. 
It will be realized that, while the earth, moon, and stars are being shown 
in these views, the visual images could be famous people, sports figures, 
places such as the Grand Canyon, animals from the animal word, or plants 
and the like. 
FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B illustrate still a third embodiment of the novel 
transparency display device in which each of the first and second slidable 
panels have visual images thereon for combining with the visual image on a 
single transparency or two transparencies each having a visual image. 
Thus, in FIG. 10, the first transparency could be as transparency 26 in 
FIG. 5B and have the earth 28 thereon as the visual image while on the 
first slidable panel, such as panel 20 in FIG. 5B, is a visual image 102 
such as a rocket. Thus when both panels are inwardly, the visual image 102 
on slidable panel 20 is associated with the visual image 28 on the 
transparency. As shown in FIG. 11A, when the first slidable panel 20 is 
moved outwardly, a second different scene is produced by the addition of 
the moon 50 and the sun 52 as well as the stars 104. As shown in FIG. 11B, 
the stars 104 are on the second slidable panel 66 while the moon 50 and 
the sun 52 are on the second transparency 48 shown in FIG. 5B. Clearly, 
however, the moon 50 and the sun 52 could be combined with the stars 104 
on the second slidable panel 66 so that only one transparency could be 
used as illustrated in FIG. 1. The preferred embodiment in this particular 
embodiment is to have a visual image on both the slidable panels 20 and 66 
as well as to have two transparencies 26 and 48 such as shown in FIG. 5B. 
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 disclose still another embodiment of the present 
invention. In this case, the transparency 109 with its visual image 112 
and any associated indicia 114 cover the windows in the front and back 
frames as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the slidable 
panel 118, when moved outwardly from the display device 106 not only 
removes the backing from the transparency 109 to provide a scene having a 
discernibly different visual effect than shown in FIG. 12, but also 
discloses a second transparency 124 in the outer end of the slidable panel 
118 having a second window 120 with a visual image 126 therein. The visual 
image 126 may relate if necessary to the visual image 109 in the display 
device. For instance, in FIG. 13, if the visual image 112 on the 
transparency 109 represents the earth, the visual image 126 in 
transparency 124 in the slidable panel 118 may be an astronaut associated 
with some flight from the earth that may be designated by the indicia 114 
on transparency 109. 
FIG. 14 is still another embodiment of the present invention having front 
and back frames such as in FIG. 1 with the front frame 130 having therein 
at least two spaced-apart windows 132, 134, 136, and 138 in superimposed 
relationship with corresponding spaced windows in the back frame (not 
shown in FIG. 14). A transparency 133 covers all of the superimposed 
windows. Only one is shown in FIG. 14. Each of the transparencies shown in 
FIG. 14 has a visual image such as 135 thereon. Each of the windows has a 
corresponding slidable panel 140 associated therewith and interposed 
between each transparency and the front frame for individual movement 
between the first position exposing only the first visual image 142 on the 
transparency 133 and a second position exposing only the visual image on 
the panel. Thus as can be seen in FIG. 14, when one of the panels 140 is 
moved outwardly from the frame 130 as shown, the visual image 142 on panel 
140 is displayed along with the transparency 133 having its visual image 
135 and, if desired, indicia 137 thereon. However, when the panel 140 is 
in its first position over the transparency 133, then only the visual 
image 142 on the panel 140 is illustrated as in the windows 134, 136, and 
138. Clearly, the panel 140 could be placed under the transparency 133 as 
shown in the preceding embodiments to add the visual image on the panel 
140 to the visual image on the transparency 133. 
FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 illustrate still another embodiment of the 
transparency display device. In this embodiment, the device 144 has a 
front side 146 with indicia 152 thereon and aback side 148 as illustrated 
in FIG. 16 with indicia 154 thereon. As shown in FIG. 17, when the movable 
panel 150 is moved outwardly from the display device, a window 152 is 
exposed which, again, may have a transparency and visual image thereon as 
illustrated in the preceding embodiment such as in FIG. 13. Thus the 
indicia 152 and 154 on the front and back side of the display device 144 
may relate in detail to the visual image on the transparency in window 
152. 
FIGS. 18, 19, 20, and 21 illustrate still another embodiment of the present 
invention. FIG. 18 is a front view of a novel transparency display device 
156 again having a window 164 with a transparency 168 (shown in FIG. 21) 
covering the window 164 and having a back panel 160, which does not have a 
window but instead has a visual image 184 thereon. The slidable panel 180 
has a third visual image thereon including moon 170 and sun 172. As shown 
in FIG. 18, when the slidable panel 180 is in its first position under the 
transparency 168, the moon 170 and the sun 172 are superimposed with the 
visual image of the earth 166 on the transparency 168. However, as shown 
in FIG. 20, when the panel 180 is moved outwardly, then the visual image 
184 on the inside of back panel 160 including the stars and rocket 184 are 
combined with the earth 166 to provide a different visual image. 
Thus, there has been disclosed a novel visual display device in which 
different scenes may be formed by a viewer by having various combinations 
of transparencies with visual images thereon and slidable panels that may 
or may not have images thereon. By moving the slidable panels inwardly and 
outwardly from the display device, various scenes are formed that are 
attractive, unique, and unusual for the viewer's entertainment. These 
display devices may have visual images that relate to animals, vegetables, 
or minerals and include people, places, or things. Of significant 
importance are athletes and their achievements, other famous people and 
their lives, unique places such as the Grand Canyon, various memorials and 
the like and other information of importance. Clearly, such transparency 
devices could easily be formed into greeting cards by using the 
appropriate visual images and associated indicia. 
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means 
or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include 
any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination 
with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.