Abstract:
A child&#39;s 3D amusement book is created by forming at least two holes through the book and threading a string therethrough, or otherwise offixing a cord to opposing pages of a book or card. Parallel string segments are coordinated with drawings on the inner pages to create 3D and/or moving images.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefits of provisional application No. 60/117,137 filed Jan. 25, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an amusing, three-dimensional book using a shoestring, rope, cord, elastic, or fabric strung through the pages of the book to create 3D images in combination with figures drawn on the pages. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     3D books having pop-up figures are known for children. The figures enhance the amusement for the child and can create more true-to-life images than mere flat pages. It is known that for readers having normal 3D vision, that objects located both close and further back will form a 3D image in the mind. 
     Children can always use a novel toy-like book to get them reading. The present invention simply drills holes through a book and threads shoestrings therethrough. The shoestrings might form two human legs, one closer than the other, thereby forming a 3D image in the reader&#39;s mind. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main aspect of the present invention is to provide one or more flexible cords through a book and coordinate figures on the pages with the cords so as to form 3D images. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to coordinate the cords with a figure on the pages to simulate motion of the figure as the book is opened and closed such as a person doing push-ups. 
     Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
     A toy book is comprised of a book and shoestring. When the book is opened, it can create a three-dimensional image in the form of a human, animal, insect, or inanimate object. Said three-dimensional image has a common visual such as two arms, two legs, two elephant trunks, found on each set of spread pages. The total effect is not limited to the effect of said body parts. 
     A string, rope, cord, or the like is woven through a hole in the book and looped back up through a second hole. Said book having two holed drilled entirely through the front, middle, and back of the book. The string is connected by a tied knot or other attachment device in such a way that the book can be opened 180 degrees or less. Books are normally opened 180 degrees from center whereas this invention has an optimal visual effect at approximately 120 degrees but is not limited to less than 180 degrees or more than 90 degrees for an adequate effect. 
     The string, rope, or cord serves a secondary purpose for this invention which is to aid or enhance a three-dimensional image found on all opened pages of the book. The string is seen visually in the form of two horizontal lines extending across a two-page spread. Said one horizontal line is longer than the other horizontal line. Therefore, the longer line appears to be closer while the shorter line appears to be farther away. 
     A three-dimensional image becomes apparent after appropriate artwork is added to the pages in a complimentary fashion. Said artwork is painted on the left and right page to correspond to the two horizontal lines found on both pages. The two horizontal lines will visually represent, for example, two arms or two legs depending on the subject matter or artwork chosen. 
     In the instance where the two horizontal lines represent legs, the finished artwork on the left and right correspond to compliment the effect. For example, a boy&#39;s face and body appear on the left page with arms extending onto the right page. 
     In another example, the artwork surrounding two stings, representing two legs, is painted in the proper perspective. The proper perspective drawing can easily be calculated with the use of an imaginary vanishing point found near the mid upper part of the book, preferably above the book. The said vanishing point is a common term and practice used by artists and architects. The appropriate perspective use of art will further enhance the three-dimensional effect. 
     All of the following elements work together in this invention to enhance the effect: 
     a) angle of pages; 
     b) perspective of artwork; 
     c) horizontal strings or lines away from book; and 
     d) one horizontal line longer than the other. 
     The two horizontal lines serve yet another purpose. As the book is slightly or gradually closed and opened, repeatedly and within a few degrees between the maximum opening (120 degrees) and closing to approximately 100 degrees, the strings appear to bend and stretch. This can be interpreted as knees or arms bending. One example would teach how this motion may appear to be a person doing push-ups. 
     A child can optionally be instructed to pull the slack of the string found on the back cover of the book after the book has been read or finished thereby preparing the book for the next reading. This is accomplished by pulling the loop outwardly from the back cover. 
     The book&#39;s pages are more readily and easily turned from page to page when the pages are made of a thick density of paperboard material. Accordingly, a child can easily turn the pages of the book and quickly identify the three-dimensional images without tearing or ripping the small holes found on each page. The string will bend slightly and adjust to the radius of the book as the pages are turned. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a top perspective view of a closed book having two holes therethrough. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a top perspective view of the book in FIG. 1 a  with a string about to be strung through the holes. 
     FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the book in FIG. 1 b  having the string tied into a securing know. 
     FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c  are bottom plan views showing the book in FIG. 2 in a partially-opened position ( 3   a ), a fully opened position ( 3   b ), and a fully opened position with a page turning ( 3   c ). 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the book in FIG. 3 b.    
     FIG. 5 a top perspective view as in FIG. 4 with the addition of a coordinated drawing on two opposing pages (the preferred embodiment). 
     FIG. 6 is the same view as FIG. 5 with the next page partially turned. 
     FIG. 7 is the same view as FIG. 6 with the next page partially turned. 
     FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the book in FIG. 7 being closed by pulling the string. 
     FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment using two separate strings. 
     FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a one string embodiment of a book. 
     FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a card embodiment, closed. 
     FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the card embodiment, open. 
    
    
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to FIG. 1 a  a book  1  has a front cover  2 , inner pages  50  and a back cover  6 . In FIG. 1 b  a shoestring  7  is threaded T through holes  3 ,  4  which pass all the way through the front cover  2 , inner pages  50  and back cover  6 . In FIG. 2, the shoestring  7  is partially tied into a knot  8 , thereby forming continuous loop  9  through the book  1 . An equivalent (not shown) could use two separate cords, one through each hole  3 ,  4 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c  the book  1  is being opened ( 3   a ) and then viewed ( 3   b ). In FIG. 3 c , page  51  is being turned TU causing string  7  to bulge upward at  10 , wherein the string  7  can support the page  51  at a partially-opened position in order to view two sets of drawings at  11  and  12  simultaneously. 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the book  1  in the fully-open position shown in FIG. 3 b . String segment  70  is closer in and longer than string segment  71 . The open pages  53 ,  54  could be doodle pages to allow the user to create his own 3D image and, with proper markers and page surfaces, erase the doodle when finished. 
     Referring next to FIG. 5 pages  4  and  5  of the book  1  are exposed. The torso  20  has arms  72 ,  73  which are segments of string  7  in FIG.  4 . Since arm  72  is closer in and longer than arm  73 , the torso appears 3D with the ball  23  thrown out in space. By partially opening and closing page  4  relative to page  5 , the torso  20  could be viewed as throwing the ball  23 . By covering the ball  23 , the torso  20  might be viewed as doing push-up on his hands  21 ,  22 . Thus, the present invention provides the basis for an infinite variety of 3D and moving images for the graphic artist to create. 
     Referring next to FIG. 6 the dog  23  had 3D arms  74 ,  75  which creates the image of the dog  23  jumping out of the book  1 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 7 pages  8 ,  9  reveal a proper perspective drawing  80  wherein torso  81  has legs  82 ,  83 . An imaginary vanishing point V is used to coordinate all aspects of the drawing  80  in harmony with the 3D legs  82 ,  83 . 
     In FIG. 8 the child  99  pulls the string  7  in direction C closing his book  1  for the night, BYE BYE. 
     FIG. 9 shows a alternate embodiment book  900  having holes  901 ,  902  therethrough. Individual strings  903 ,  904  are threaded through the holes  901 ,  902 . Knots  905 ,  906  secure one end of each string. Arrows  907 ,  908  indicate that the ends  909 ,  910  can be either tied together or tied into separate knots. 
     Referring next to FIG. 10 a book  200  has a front cover  201 , a back cover  202 , and pages  203 . A hole  205  runs through both covers and the pages. A cord  206  is held in place between the covers by knots  207 . The cord  206  is coordinated with a viewing page  204  to create a 3D image as shown. 
     Referring last to FIGS.  11 , 12  a card embodiment, card  250 , is shown in FIG. 11 in the closed position. Front page  251  has a character  254  depicted thereon. Holes  252  and  253  allow cord segments  255 , 257  to hang therefrom. A 3D image of the character depiction (a tiger) is created with the cord segments  255 , 257  representing legs. Tiger feet  256 , 258  are actually plugs attached to the cord segments  255 , 257  to stop the cord segments from being pulled through the holes  252 , 253  when the card is opened as shown in FIG.  12 . 
     In FIG. 12 the same cord segments  255 , 257  represent the 3D tail  263  of the cartoon character  261  of page  260 . Thus, a single cord segment is coordinated with two characters on two pages of a single card. This same technique could be used on a multi-page book and the front cover. The artist in FIG. 12 has used the tail  263  to start on page  260 , then extend to facing page  251 -B, then use graphic depiction  263 -B of a tail segment, then go from left to right back to page  260  to create a 3D image of one long element of a drawing (in this case a tail). This technique could also be used in a book. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.