Abstract:
The Lamella card consists of a foldable wrapping having at least one sighting window, a first image carrier arranged inside it and a second image carrier comprising at least 4 lamellae inserted in one another. At least one of said lamellae is fitted with a lever, which is guided in a guiding slot, connected to a driving element. The lamellae are arranged in such a way that each lamella is brought under the first folding section and over a second neighboring folding section and can be driven by the motion of the driving element from the covered position of the first folding section over the second neighbouring folding section. Through the movement of the lamellae over a motion track, either the image located on the first image carrier or an image located on the lamellae can be displayed in a sighting window.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The invention relates to the field of advertising and promotional techniques and, more particularly to the field of lamella cards. The lamella card consists of a foldable wrapping, a first image carrier and a second image carrier, featuring at least four lamellae, which are movable over a motion track in such a way, that either an image located on the first image carrier or an image located on the lamellae can be displayed in a sighting window. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Such lamella cards are used as advertising means in order to draw special attention of the target group applied to, while the target group has to service the advertising means in an active mode with a view to achieve a special impression, which could hook up the advertised product or service to the memory of the target group. Apart from such lamella cards, are also known other advertising means provided with the respective functions; such means generally fall under the concept “Pop-ups”. 
   So, for instance, a lamella “louver” card is referred to in DE 92 16 101 U1. The lamellae of this already known louver card are fastened to a slide shutter with circularly arranged and equally spaced openings. The slide shutter openings are of almost equal size with the lamella openings. A connecting piece protruding through the opening of the slide shutter and the longitudinal opening in the lamellae enables the slide shutter and the lamellae to rotate one with respect to the other in a second connection range and, besides, they can slide jointly along a link. A second connecting piece in the first pivot (of the same design as the connecting piece of the second connection range) is used to fasten the lamellae through a round opening to a holder arranged beneath. 
   The holder features essentially equal round openings arranged at the places corresponding to the openings of the slide shutter, through which openings the lamella is pivot-connected to the holder. Metal rivets are used as connection pieces. The rivets, which pass through the two openings of the lamella and the respective opening of the holder and of the slide shutter, hold together the parts to be connected due their enlarged ends. 
   The shortcoming of this already known louver card is the use of metal rivets to fasten the lamella to the slide shutter, since insertion of such rivets in the said louver card is a very labor-consuming operation. 
   Another louver card, known from DE 200 07 643 U1, having no metal rivets is an excellent advertising means. 
   Proceeding from this state-of-the-art, the goal of the invention is to conceive such a lamella card, which could be made in a simple and cost-saving way of merely one single material and could, besides, be suitable for a variety of advertising forms especially in the imaging domain. 
   The solution of this kind of task is provided by the lamella card characterized by the features of claim item 1. 
   The lamella card according to the invention consists of a foldable wrapping having at least one sighting window, of a first image carrier arranged inside the wrapping and made of a folding element having a central section and four folding sections, which alternately overlap the central section fitted with a guide slot. A second image carrier consists of at least four lamellae inserted into one another, at least one of these lamellae having a lever sliding in the guide slot being connected with a driving element. The lamellae are arranged between the central section and the folding sections in such a way that every one lamella gets under one first folding section and over the second neighboring folding section and can be shifted by the motion of the driving element from the position under the first folding section to the position over the second neighboring section. 
   The lamellae of the lamella card according to the invention are every time driven by the driving element from the initial position under the first folding section to the second position, where the lamellae are positioned over the neighboring folding section, so the image placed on the lamella can be seen, while in the initial position an image placed on the folding section is visible and becomes hidden in the second position of the lamella. Both the images can be seen through the sighting window. 
   As the lamella moves from the second position to the initial position, the image placed on the folding section becomes visible again and the lamellae are set in position overlapped by the folding sections. 
   The driving element is, preferably, a drawing element arranged and guided inside the wrapping. 
   In particular, the driving element designed as drawing element takes for example the form of an envelope with inserted data carrier card, thus enabling to considerably enlarge the surfaces available for advertising. 
   An alternative implementation version of the invention envisages the driving element shaped as a revolving wheel or sector thereof. This version features the advantage of a very precise control and guiding of the lamellae, providing a very uniform transition between the two image surfaces during the motion process. 
   For this implementation version it is preferably envisaged that the revolving wheel, respectively the sector thereof, be connected at least with one lamella. 
   In addition, for this implementation version it is preferred to have the revolving wheel or the sector thereof fitted with a raster on the rim side that should protrude at least partially. This raster makes it easier to move the lamella even at new lamella cards, whose components are still very tightly interconnected and feature, therefore, high friction. 
   According to another characteristic feature of the invention, every lamella has at least one straight edge and the edges of the assembled lamellae are square to one another. 
   Further, it is envisaged that the first image carrier should have a square central section and rectangular folding sections, the lengths of which correspond to the lengths of the edges of the central section and their width to half the edge length of the central section. 
   The second image carrier shall preferably be circular. 
   A valuable make of the lamella card according to the invention can be achieved by designing the foldable wrapping as a one-piece folding element, equipped at the very beginning with the prepared folding element exhibiting the lamella, subsequently folded and finally glued on. 
   According to another characteristic feature of the invention, it has turned out that in order to fit the second image carrier, it is preferably to make the sighting window a round one with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the second image carrier. 
   The motion precision of the two image elements moving together can be improved by connecting mechanically the first image carrier with the wrapping element, preferably using glue and/or suitable elements as, for instance, pins or insertion holes. 
   In order to protect the image elements at shipping the lamella cards and to increase the advertising appeal, respectively the advertising effect, it is envisaged to cover the sighting window with a removable cover. 
   It can be additionally planned to cover the driving element with a removable cover in order make sure that the advertising message will get to and be assessed by the intended target person in the proper succession with no modification during transport. Generally, a message is appended to the two image elements, which stresses the importance of the proper viewing succession of the two image elements. 
   The cover is made fit for tearing off along a perforation in order to simplify its removal. 
   To simplify handling of the lamella card and to avoid requiring too much preparatory work and thoughtful activities of the target person, which results in non-assessment of the advertising message, it is envisaged to interconnect both covers making them a one-piece item. 
   Finally, according to another characteristic feature of the invention, the first image carrier is a component of the foldable wrapping, consisting of the central section with sighting window and the folding sections. This implementation version enables to diminish the number of separate components of the lamella card resulting in a beneficial production cost. 
   Additional characteristic features and advantages of the invention can be seen from the following description of the pertaining drawings, which show a preferred implementation form of a louver card. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with the present invention, the Lamella card consists of a foldable wrapping having at least one sighting window on one side, a first image carrier arranged inside it, a second image carrier comprising at least 4 lamellae inserted in one another, whereby at least one of these lamellae is fitted with a lever, which is guided in a guiding slot, connected to a driving element. The lamellae are arranged in such a way that each lamella is brought under the first folding section and over a second neighboring folding section and can be driven by the motion of the driving element from the covered position of the first folding section over the second neighbouring folding section. Through the movement of the lamellae over the motion track, either the image located on the first image carrier or an image located on the lamellae can be displayed in a sighting window. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     The drawings represent: 
       FIGS. 1   a - h  A first implementation form of the lamella card in various successive operating positions. General view. 
       FIG. 2  Lamella card with a driving element according to  FIG. 1 . Open perspective view. 
       FIG. 3  Lamella card according to  FIG. 2  with an inserted folding element. Open perspective view. 
       FIG. 4  Lamella card with the folding element according to  FIG. 3 . Rotated view. 
       FIG. 5  Lamella card according to  FIG. 3 . Open perspective view. 
       FIG. 6  Lamella card according to  FIG. 3  with partially withdrawn driving element. Open perspective view. 
       FIG. 7  Lamella card according to  FIG. 3  with partially withdrawn driving element. Closed view. 
       FIG. 8  Two lamellae of the lamella card according to  FIG. 1 , viewed separately and in assembled position 
       FIG. 9  Lamellae according to  FIG. 8  in assembled and interconnected position. General view. 
       FIG. 10  Lamellae according to  FIG. 8  with a third lamella. General view. 
       FIG. 11  Three lamellae according to  FIG. 10  with a fourth lamella. General view. 
       FIG. 12  Assembled lamellae according to  FIG. 11 . Front view 
       FIG. 13  Assembled lamellae according to  FIGS. 11 and 12  with detailed representation of the fourth lamella. Rear view. 
       FIG. 13   a  Additional implementation of the lamellae, made of one piece. View of the assembly of the one-piece lamellae. 
       FIG. 14  Folding element according to  FIG. 3  in open position with the four lamellae according to  FIGS. 11 through 13 . General view. 
       FIG. 15  Folding element with four lamellae according to  FIG. 14  in the first folding position. Perspective view. 
       FIG. 16  Folding element with four lamellae according to  FIG. 14  in the second successive folding position. Perspective view. 
       FIG. 17  Folding element with four lamellae according to  FIGS. 14 through 16  in folded position. Front view. 
       FIG. 18  Folding element according to  FIG. 17 . Rear view. 
       FIG. 19  Folding element according to  FIG. 17  with somewhat turned lamellae. General view. 
       FIG. 20  Folding element according to  FIG. 19  with somewhat more turned lamellae. General view. 
       FIG. 21  Folding element according to  FIG. 19  with fully turned lamellae. General view. 
       FIG. 22  A second implementation form of the lamella card. Perspective view. 
       FIG. 23  Lamella card according to  FIG. 22  with lamellae in the first position. General view. 
       FIG. 24  Lamella card according to  FIGS. 22 and 23  with lamellae in the second position. General view. 
       FIG. 25  Lamella card according to  FIGS. 22 through 24  with disconnected driving element. Rear view. 
       FIG. 26  Folding element of the lamella card according to  FIGS. 22 through 25 . Front view. 
       FIG. 27  Four lamellae of the lamella card according to  FIGS. 22 through 25 . Rear view 
       FIG. 28  Folding element according to  FIG. 26  in open position with four lamellae according to  FIG. 27 . Front view. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The  FIGS. 1 through 21  represent a first implementation form of the lamella card  1 . The lamella card  1  consists, according to  FIG. 3 , of an foldable wrapping  2 , designed as a one-piece folding element featuring a first half  3  and a second half  4 , which are interconnected at one folding edge. The first half  3  of the wrapping  2  has a glued fold  6 , which is glued on to the second half  4  as the two halves  3  and  4  fold up. 
   A round-shaped sighting window  7  is arranged in the first half of the wrapping  2 . Additionally, there is a recess  8  in the zone of the first half  3 , which recess arranged on the narrow side of the wrapping  2  is meant as a finger nest. 
   The first image carrier  9  is arranged on the second half  4  of the wrapping  2 . The image carrier consists of a folding element  10 , which, according to the  FIGS. 14 through 16 , is composed of a central section  11  and four folding sections  12 . The central section  11  is square-shaped. The central section is fitted with a circular-arc slot  13 , whose function will be described below. 
   A folding section  12  is hinged to each edge of the central section  11 , the length of the folding section  12  corresponds to the edge length of the central section  11 . The width of each folding section  12  equals half the edge length of the central section  11 . 
   Further, the lamella card comprises a driving element  14 , designed for the implementation according to  FIGS. 1 through 21  as a drawing element in the form of an envelope  15 . The dimensions of the envelope  15  correspond essentially to the clear dimensions of the closed wrapping  2  and the envelope  15  can be withdrawn at some extent from the wrapping  2  over the side marked  16 . The envelope  15  shows a slot-shaped opening  17  arranged in the direction of the motion of the envelope  15 . The function of this opening will be described hereinafter. 
   The envelope  15  has also a recess  18  in the form of a finger nest. This recess  18  enables seizing and withdrawing from the envelope  15  the card  19  represented in  FIG. 7 , formerly inserted in the envelope  15 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 14 through 16 , it can be seen that a second image carrier  20  is arranged inside the first image carrier  9 . The second image carrier  20  consists of four lamella  21 , respectively  22 . The second image carrier is round-shaped and the diameter of the second image carrier  20  corresponds to the edge length of the central section  11  and to the diameter of the window  7 . 
   The lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , are inserted into one another and designed according to the  FIGS. 8 through 13  respectively to fit one another. The lamella  22  has a lever  23 , which enters the slot  13  and also the opening  17  in the envelope  15  to provide the motion of the second image carrier  20  with respect to the first image carrier  9 , which motion will be subsequently described. 
     FIG. 8  represents two identical lamellae separately and in assembled position. Each lamella  21 , respectively  22 , features a circular-arc outer contour  24 , this contour being broken by a V-shaped notch  25 . Each notch  25  has a prolonged straight edge  26 . 
   In addition, within the range of the outer contour  24  of each lamella  21  and  22  there is a L-shaped cut  27  intended to interconnect the separate lamellae  21 ,  22 . 
     FIG. 9  shows the position of the two lamellae  21  described above and represented in  FIG. 8 , before adding the third lamella  21  according to  FIG. 10 . The design of the third lamella  21  added in  FIG. 10  is the identical with the above-described lamellae  21  and, hence, one can refer to the abovementioned description related to  FIG. 10 . The  FIG. 11  represents the lamella  22  with lever. Essentially the design of the lamella  22  corresponds to the design of lamellae  21  described before, however the lamella  22 , as already mentioned, has an additional lever  23  in the zone of the shorter edge  28  of the V-shaped cut. The lever  23  is of rectangular shape and extends mainly in the radial direction toward the lamella  22 . 
   The  FIGS. 12 and 13  show the arrangement of the four lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , in assembly. It shall be mentioned that the edges  26  of the neighboring lamellae  21  and  22  are square to one another. 
   The  FIG. 13   a  illustrates a different implementation of the assembly of the four lamella  21   a    22   a  through it being created of one single piece. The assembly of this follows the same description as that of  FIGS. 8  through  13  with the difference being that the lamellae  21   a    22   a  and the lever  23   a  are all created of one piece. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16  show the integration of the second image carrier  20  into the first image carrier  9 . It can be seen that each lamella  21 , respectively,  22  of the second image carrier  20  gets over a folding section  12  of the first image carrier  9 , respectively of the folding element  10 , and under and square to the neighboring folding section  12  of the folding element  10 . Thus, according to  FIG. 17 , in the initial position, where the lever  23  of the lamella  22  according to  FIG. 18  is at the one end of the slot  13  of the folding element  10 , all the lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , are fully covered by the folding sections  12  of the folding element  10 . By moving the lever  23  in the direction of arrow  29  shown in  FIG. 18  along the slot  13 , the lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , according to  FIG. 19 , are turned from their covered position under a folding section  12  to the neighboring folding section  12  of the folding element  10 . The motion direction of the lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , is shown on  FIGS. 19 and 20  by the dashed arrow.  FIG. 20  shows a position of the lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , at almost completed travel of the lever  23  along the slot  13 , where the lever  23  is no more in the zone of the right end of the slot  13  shown on  FIG. 18 , but is positioned almost at the left end of the slot  13 . 
   With the lever  23  positioned at the left end of the slot  13  according to  FIG. 18 , the lamellae  21  and  22  are fully shifted from the covered position under the folding section  12  to the neighboring folding section  12  and they cover fully the folding sections  12 , so the image placed on the lamellae  21  and  22  becomes visible through the sighting window  7 . 
   According to  FIG. 5 , the folding elements  10  has gluing-on points  31  at the corners and, thus, the folding element  10  is glued-on to the first half  3  of the envelope  2  and maintained exactly in the proper position inside the envelope  2 , while the envelope  15  can be withdrawn from the envelope  2  at some extent. 
   In order to move the lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , the lever  23  enters the opening  17 . When the envelope  15  is withdrawn from the envelope  2 , the lever  23  reaches the end of the opening  17  and, hence, at further motion of the envelope  15 , the lever  23  moves along the slot  13  resulting in the lamellae  21  and  22  are brought over the neighboring folding sections  12  from their covered position to the neighboring folding sections  12  in the previously described mode. 
   The  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   h  show the motion process of the lamella card  1  according to the invention. In addition, it can be seen that the sighting window  7  is covered by a cover  32  fastened to the envelope  2 . This cover can be torn off along the perforation line  33 . Besides, in the motion range of the driving element  14 , there is also a removable cover  34 , which can as well be torn off from the foldable wrapping  2  along the perforation line  33 . The covers  32  and  34  are interconnected by a strap, so they represent a one-piece item and can be removed by a single tearing off. 
   After having removed the covers  32  and  34  according to  FIG. 1   d,  the first image carrier  9  with the first image marked “A” can be seen in the sighting window  7 . Now, if the driving element  14  is seized in the range of the recess  8  and withdrawn from the wrapping element  2  in the direction of the arrow  36 , the lamellae  21 , respectively  22 , of the second image carrier  20  are pulled, according to  FIG. 1   e,  over the first image carrier  9  until the lamellae  21 , respectively  22  are fully brought over the first image carrier  9 , and the second image carrier  20  displays the second image marked “B” in the sighting window  7 . 
   Finally, the card  19  can be withdrawn from the driving element  14  in the direction of the arrow  37 . The card  19  can for example be a response card to an advertising enterprise. Should the driving element  14  be reinserted into the wrapping  2 , the image carrier  20  replaces the image carrier  9  and, hence, the initial image marked “A” will be visible again. 
   The  FIGS. 22 through 28  represent a second implementation form of the lamella card  1  according to the invention. This second implementation form of the lamella card  1  differs from the first implementation form of the lamella card  1 , represented on  FIGS. 1 through 21 , by the driving element  14  being designed not as a drawing element but as a rotary element, as a revolving wheel. This revolving wheel is fitted on the rim with a raster  39  and connected with a lamella  21 . In addition, for this implementation form of the lamella card  1 , the first image carrier  9 , namely the folding element  10 , is not housed in an envelope. The implementation form of the lamella card  1  according to the  FIGS. 22 through 28  features the sighting window  7  in the central section  11  of the folding element  10 . In other respects, the design of the folding elements  10  and of the lamellae  21  corresponds to the previously described implementation form and reference shall be made to the previous implementation form. 
   In order to bring the lamellae  21  from their covered position under the folding sections  12  of the folding element  10  to the zone of the sighting window  7 , the revolving wheel  38  shall be moved in the direction of the arrow  40 , according to the  FIG. 22 , respectively  24 . 
   It goes without saying that a lamella  22  turns out to be unnecessary for this implementation form, since there is no need for the lever  23 . The lever  23  of the implementation form according to  FIGS. 1 through 21  is replaced here by the revolving wheel  38 , which is connected with the lamella  21 .