Abstract:
A Child&#39;s Strip Viewer and Method of Use Thereof is disclosed. The device enables a child user to compose and record a visual “story board” onto a media strip. The media strip is preformatted to provide a variety of frames into which the child user can record their story. Once recorded, the child user is able to advance the media strip while telling their story verbally, thereby providing an entertaining audio and visual story telling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to children&#39;s toys and devices and, more specifically, to a Child&#39;s Strip Viewer and Method of Use Thereof.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     There is a virtually limitless variety of entertainment- and entertainment-oriented games and playthings. In particular, there are several items that encourage the child to draw pictures and story-tell. Three patents on devices related to the present invention are Cohen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,339; Cohen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,604; and Yeh, U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,076. All of these devices take a high-technology approach to entertaining the child in a story-telling environment. What is needed is a low-tech approach to entertaining the child in this manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior games and devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Child&#39;s Strip Viewer and Method of Use Thereof. The device should enable a child user to compose and record a visual “story board” onto a media strip. The media strip should be preformatted to provide a variety of frames into which the child user could record their story. Once recorded, the child user should be able to advance the media strip while telling their story verbally, thereby providing an entertaining audio and visual story telling.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the strip viewer of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is another rear perspective view of the strip viewer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the media spool used in the strip viewer of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the media spool of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway front view of the strip of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart depicting a preferred story-telling method using the strip viewer of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the strip viewer of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out her invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Child&#39;s Strip Viewer and Method of Use Thereof.  
         [0015]     The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the strip viewer  10  of the present invention. The viewer  10  depicted here resembles the shape of a photographic camera. It comprises a body  12  (shaped like a camera) having a lens-shaped protrusion  22  on its rear face. The body  12  is defined by a first spool chamber  14  and a second spool chamber  16  at opposing sides of the device. Between the two chambers  14  and  16  is a translucent and/or transparent window  18 . Protruding from the top (or bottom on other embodiments) of the second spool chamber  16  is a crank  20 . Ideally, some or all of the components of the strip viewer  10  will be made from a durable material, such as plastic.  
         [0016]     In another non-depicted version, the functionality of the crank  20  (i.e. to advance the strip) is accomplished by a motorized crank means. Furthermore, the device may incorporate other capabilities within it, such as an electronic voice recorder. As such, the depicted “low technology” version of the device is not intended to be a limitation of the device. Now turning to  FIG. 2 , we can continue to discuss the features of this novel device.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is another rear perspective view of the strip viewer  10  of  FIG. 1 . In this view, the body  12  has been opened to expose the pertinent inner moving parts of the viewer  10 . The body  12  is divided into a back member  24  (from which the lens-shaped protrusion protrudes) and a cover  26 . The cover  26  preferably is hinged to the back member  24 , and latches securely when closed as depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]     Within the first and second spool chambers are a media spool  28  (within the first spool chamber) and a take-up spindle  30 . The crank  20  is operatively attached to the take-up spindle  30  such that rotation of the crank  20  causes the take-up spindle  30  to also rotate. It should be apparent that the purpose of the arrangement of these elements is that the rolled up media that comprises a media spool  28  will be threaded through a slot in the take-up spindle  30 ; rotation of the crank  20 , therefore, will cause the media strip to roll up on the spindle  30  (and unroll from the media spool  28 ). As this occurs, the media strip will be viewable through the window  18 . We will now turn to  FIG. 3  and continue to examine this invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the media spool  28  used in the strip viewer of the present invention. The spool  28  is made from a thin, flexible substrate  31  strip, such as paper or plastic. The front and possibly back face of the substrate  31  has a plurality of frame borders  36  inscribed upon it. The substrate  31  is rolled up and retained upon a spindle  32 ; as should be apparent, the spindle  32  attaches to the body of the viewer but permits the spool  28  to rotate while the substrate  31  is rolled onto and unrolled from the spindle  32 .  
         [0020]     The substrate  31  has an inscription frame  34  inscribed near the starting end of the substrate  31  strip. Each of the frames formed by the frame borders  36  is separated from one another by intra-border spacing  42 , and from the upper and lower edges of the substrate by a top border spacing  38  and bottom border spacing  40 , respectively.  FIG. 4  provides additional detail regarding the media spool  28 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the media spool  28  of  FIG. 3 . The substrate  31  inscriptions commence with the credits frame  34 A; a series of content frames  34 B,  34 C, etc. follow the credits frame  34 A. This pattern may repeat further down the spool  28  so that the user can tear off a used portion and have a new section of story-telling substrate  31  available for use. The credits frame  34 A is separated from the lead end  33  of this story-telling section by a leader segment  44 . The leader segment  44  is a blank section of substrate  31  that is provided to give the user enough material to thread the substrate  31  through the take-up spool and still allow the credits frame  34 A to be alignable with the window. Well now turn to  FIG. 5  to study the story-telling strip of the present invention in detail.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway front view of the strip of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The credits frame  34 A comprises a decorative border  36  surrounding a plurality of pre-established fields or zones inscribed on the substrate  31 . Near the top of the credits frame  34 A is the author field  46 A; it is here that the child or parent would write in the author&#39;s name. Below the author field  46 A is a title field  46 B. The title field is provided for the child/parent to inscribe the title of the story that the child is telling with this story-telling strip. Next, a cast field  46 C is provided to list the characters that are going to be depicted in the frames  34  following the credits frame  34 A. The remaining frames  34  are provided for the child to draw or sketch out the scenes in the story that he or she will be telling with the viewer.  FIG. 6  discusses the approach that the child will take in competing the story.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart depicting a preferred story-telling method  48  using the strip viewer of the present invention. First, the author devises the story to be told  100 . Next, a fresh portion of the media is unrolled from the spool  102 . The child will then complete the credits frame  104  as well as coloring/sketching the story within as many content frames are desired  106 .  
         [0024]     Once the story has been depicted in the content and credits frames, the child or parent re-rolls the media onto the media spool  108 . The rolled up media spool is then installed in the body  110  (including threading the leading end through the take-up spindle). Finally, the child present his or her story by turning the crank on the viewer, manually narrating, and viewing the completed frames though the windows  112 .  
         [0025]     There are several significant benefits and advantages associated with this unique invention. Foremost, it provides children with an exciting outlet that effectively fosters their creativity and imagination. It offers a way to create, narrate, and project their own film, thereby stimulating the mind and honing the thought processes. In addition, drawing coupled with intricate narrative weaves via colorful and whimsical illustrations helps to sharpen hand-eye coordination. Furthermore, while this device and method is ideal for children, parents and other caregivers also enjoy the interaction, thereby promoting improved parent-child interaction. Finally turning to  FIG. 7 , we can examine another version of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the strip viewer  50  of the present invention. This embodiment  50  is intended to closely simulate a writing tablet; as such, it may be larger than the previously-disclosed viewer. Here, the first spool chamber  54  is at the top of the body  52 , and the second spool chamber  58  is at the bottom of the body  52 . The window  60  is located in the area between the two spool chambers. The back member and cover are attached to one another by a hinge  62 . As with the first-described embodiment, this version has a crank  58  extending from the second spool chamber  56 .  
         [0027]     In another version of this embodiment, the spool chambers could be located on the left and right sides of the body  52 , rather than at the top and bottom.  
         [0028]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.