Patent Publication Number: US-11642603-B2

Title: Assemblable three-dimensional story and picture display

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes 3-dimensional picture and story display, and in particular, a 3-dimensional display comprising a plurality of sequential pieces displaying portions of pictures or stories. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A story and picture display may provide for a plurality of assemblable or stackable pieces which may, when assembled, define a particular assembly profile similar to a known object. Each of the stackable pieces may include sequential picture or story elements contributing to a larger picture or story as a whole. 
     SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS 
     An assemblable story and picture display may include a plurality of substrates combinable to resemble an object, such as, and apple. Each of the individual substrates may include story or display layers disposed thereon. Each of the story or display layers may include display or story designs which, when viewed or read in sequence, may convey a story or information. The assembled story and picture display may include exterior decorative elements indicating the nature of the story depicted on each of the story or display layers. 
     The assemblable story and picture display may include at least one means for assembling the various substrates and layers, such as, a through rod, magnets, or surface features in a lock-and-key or complimentary configuration such that a user may assemble the story and picture display correctly to resemble the object which the assemble story and picture display is modeled after. 
     The assemblable story and picture display may be constructed and arranged to display pictures or a story sequentially from a first substrate having story or pictures displayed thereon to an nth substrate having story or pictures displayed thereon. As an example, a parable may be shown or displayed across multiple substrates where a user may disassemble the story and picture display to reveal the parable across each subsequent substrate. 
     Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein. The detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples of variations within the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    depicts one variation of an assemblable story and picture display as described herein; 
         FIG.  2    depicts a partially exploded view of one variation of an assemblable story and picture display as described herein; 
         FIG.  3    depicts a disassembled view of the management of an assemblable story and picture display as described herein; 
         FIGS.  4   a  and  4   b    depict side views of an assemblable story and picture display as described herein; 
         FIG.  5    depicts a variation of an assemblable story and picture display as described herein; and 
         FIG.  6    depicts a variation of an assemblable story and picture display as described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS 
     The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses. The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, products, and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, products, and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are within the scope of the invention. 
     An assemblable story and picture display may include a plurality of substrates combinable to resemble an object such as an apple. The assemblable story and picture display may define an outer profile that may resemble an apple, banana, duck, egg, Christmas tree, or any other relatively simple object. Each of the plurality of substrates may define a portion of the outer profile making up the assemblable story and picture display. The assemblable story and picture display may further include an outer decorative image or layer displaying, as non-limiting examples, a face, text, a design, a color, or the like. The assembled story and picture display may include exterior decorative elements indicating the nature of the story depicted on each of the story or display layers. The assemblable story and picture display may be made up of any suitable material such as, but not limited to, wood, metal, plastic, or the like. 
     Each of the individual substrates may include a first face opposite a second face. A story or display layer may be disposed on each of the first face and second face. Each of the story or display layers may include display or story designs and which may, when viewed or read in sequence, may depict a sequential story or information. The story or display layers may be printed directly on the first face or second face or may include a prefabricated or pre-printed display layer which may be adhered to the first face or second face. Each display layer may include images or text relevant to a story or puzzle being depicted on the display layers. Display layers may indicate sequential numbers similar to pages of a book such that the assembly order of the individual substrates is more easily understood. 
     The assemblable story and picture display may include at least one means for assembling the various substrates and layers, such as, a through rod, magnets, or surface features in a lock-and-key or complimentary configuration such that a user may assemble the story and picture display correctly to resemble the object which the assemblable story and picture display is modeled after. As a non-limiting example, the last substrate in the assemblable story and picture display may include a rod extending approximately perpendicular therefrom. Each of the individual substrates may define respective through holes constructed and arranged to allow the rod to pass therethrough, allowing the assemblable story and picture display to be assembled and secured by the rod. As a non-limiting example, each of the individual substrates may include at least one magnet disposed therein such that stacked individual substrates may be attached to one another via magnetic force. The means by which the individual substrates are assembled may include various other methods not explicitly described in this disclosure but which are considered part of the invention. 
     The assemblable story and picture display may be constructed and arranged to display pictures or a story sequentially from a first substrate having story or pictures displayed thereon to an nth substrate having story or pictures displayed thereon. As an example, a parable may be shown or displayed across multiple substrates where a user may disassemble the story and picture display to reveal the parable across each subsequent substrate. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an assemblable story and picture display  10  may include a body  12  including a plurality of individual substrates  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c ,  20   d , and  20   n  wherein  20   n  indicates nth individual substrates. The body  12  and nth individual substrates may define an outer profile  14  of the assemblable story and picture display  10 . As a non-limiting example,  FIG.  1    depicts an assemblable story and picture display  10  roughly approximating the appearance of an apple. The outer profile  14  may resemble an object such as, but not limited to, an apple, duck, banana, pair, cherry, train, baseball, head, hand, or the like. Explicitly disclosed outer profiles in this disclosure should not be considered limiting with respect to the outer profile  14 . The assemblable story and picture display  10  may include an outer image  16  printed or disposed on the nth substrates such that, when assembled, the outer image  16  is visible on the body  12 . Individual substrate  20   a  may define at least one through hole  22  constructed and arranged to allow a rod  18  to pass therethrough. Each of the nth individual substrates may define respective through holes also constructed and arranged to allow the rod  18  to pass therethrough. 
       FIG.  2    depicts a partially exploded view of an assemblable story and picture display  10  including a first substrate  20   a  defining a first through hole  22   a . The assemblable story and picture display  10  may include a second substrate  20   b  defining a second through hole  22   b  and having a first face  30   a  opposite a second face  32   b . The assemblable story and picture display  10  they include a third substrate  20   d  defining a third through whole  22   d  and including a first face  30   c  opposite a second face  32   d . The assemblable story and picture display  10  may include a fourth substrate  20   d  defining a fourth through hole  22   d  including a first face  30   n  opposite a second face  32   n . The assemblable story and picture display  10  may include a fifth substrate  20   e  defining a fifth through hole  22   e . The assemblable story and picture display  10  may include numerous other substrates  20   n  defining through holes  22   n  therein. Portions of the outer image  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   n  may be printed on or disposed on each of the individual substrates  20   a  through  20   n . A final substrate  54  may be secured to a rod  18  passing through each of the nth through holes  22   n.    
       FIG.  3    depicts portions of a disassembled story and picture display including multiple individual substrates  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , and  20   n  defining respective through holes  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c , and  22   n . Layers  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   n  may be disposed on respective first faces of the individual substrates  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , and  20   n  and may include respective text or images  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c , and  34   n . Layers  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   n  may be disposed on respective second faces of the individual substrates  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , and  20   n  and may include respective text or images  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c , and  36   n . Text or images  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c , and  34   n  and  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c , and  36   n  may be sequential such that a story may be shown or displayed. For example, a first portion of story may be depicted on  34   a , a second portion on  36   a , a third portion on  34   b , a fourth portion on  36   b , a fifth portion on  34   c , a sixth portion on  36   c , and so on. Portions of the outer image  16   a  though  16   n  may be printed on or disposed on each of the individual substrates  20   a  through  20   n . A final image  52  may be printed or disposed on the final substrate  54  indicating the end of the images or stories depicted by the story and picture display. 
       FIG.  4   a    depicts a cross sectional view of a story and picture display  10  including a body  12  made up of substrates and defining an outer profile  14 . The final substrate  54  may be secured to rods  18   a  and  18   b  to allow secure assembly of the story and picture display  10 . each of the substrates may define complementary through holes to receive rods  18   a  an  18   b . While two rods are shown, it should be understood than any number of rods may be implemented in securing the assembly of the story and picture display. 
       FIG.  4   b    depicts a cross sectional view of a story and picture display  10  including a body  12  made up of substrates and defining an outer profile  14 . A first pair of complementary magnets  19   a  and  19   b  may be disposed within a portion of each of the individual substrates and may be constructed and arranged to facilitate the assembly of the story and picture display  10  such that each substrate may be magnetically connected to at least one other individual substrate. Multiple pairs of complementary magnets  21   a  and  21   b  may further facilitate assembly of the story and picture display  10 . 
       FIGS.  5  and  6    depicts illustrative variations of a story and picture display  10  including a body  12  made of a plurality of substrates and defining an outer profile  14 . For example, the outer profile  14  may resemble an egg, acorn, ball, pyramid, animal, or any other object. Outer image  16  may further facilitate the resemblance of the story and picture display  10  to a familiar object. 
     The present invention includes the description, examples, variations, and drawings disclosed; but it is not limited to such description, examples, variations, or drawings. As briefly described above, the reader should assume that features of one disclosed variation can also be applied to all other disclosed variations, unless expressly indicated to the contrary. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the present application are approximations that can vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation using the teachings disclosed in the present application. Modifications and other variations will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the packaging arts, and all such modifications and other variations are intended and deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.