Abstract:
A display device, including: a front panel having defined therethrough at least two apertures; and an index panel disposed behind the front panel and moveable between at least first and second positions to vary what can be viewed through the at least two apertures by an observer looking at the front panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention. 
     The present invention relates to displays generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel display having selectable simulated illuminating means. 
     2. Background Art. 
     There are a number types of displays in which it is desirable to vary the display, often as related to time. Examples of such displays are menus, schedules, and certain types of greeting cards. While the present invention is described primarily with reference to greeting cards, it will be understood that the invention is applicable as well to any type of display having the requirements satisfied by the invention. 
     A &#34;greeting card&#34; is typically a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually small and rectangular, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, good wishes, sympathy, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a friend or relative on an appropriate occasion. The more elaborate of such cards often include portions thereof which fold out from the plane of the card and may even include audible messages emitted from embedded electronic circuitry. 
     Some greeting cards, such as those used for Chanukah, Christmas, Advent, or birthdays include in the graphics thereon pictures of candles or lights. Since such illuminating means are only pictorially shown, they lack the vibrance of real illuminating means. It would be desirable to have some means of providing simulated illuminating means on greeting cards which are more realistic than mere pictorial representations. 
     Others of such greeting cards are related in one way or another to time. For example, a Chanukah greeting card typically includes an illustration of a menorah, frequently an eight-branched candelabrum usually with a central shammash, or candle, used for lighting the eight candles disposed at the distal ends of the eight branches, one additional candle being lit every day for the eight days of the festival of Chanukah. By necessity, the pictorial representation of the menorah shows all candles lighted. In addition to having more realistic representations of candles, it would be desirable to have some means of showing the proper number of candles lit for each day of the festival. 
     Another time-related greeting card is a birthday card. Often, especially in the case of younger children, a birthday card may indicate an age, e.g., four years old, and show a birthday cake with four lighted candles on it. This requires that a greeting card seller maintain an inventory of cards for a range of ages. In addition to having more realistic representations of candles, it would be desirable to have means to selectively adjust the stated age and the number of candles shown as lighted on a card, in order to reduce the amount of inventory required. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a greeting card having a selectable number of simulated illuminating means. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide such a greeting card that is simply and economically manufactured. 
     Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, a display device, comprising: a front panel having defined therethrough at least two apertures; and an index panel disposed behind said front panel and moveable between at least first and second positions to vary what can be viewed through said at least two apertures by an observer looking at said front panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Understanding of the present invention and the various aspects thereof will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing figures, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, on which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a Chanukah card constructed according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the Chanukah card of FIG. 1 in a folded state. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the folded Chanukah card. 
     FIG. 4 is a top/front/side isometric view of the Chanukah card unfolded for display. 
     FIG. 5 is a top/rear/side isometric view of the Chanukah card unfolded for display. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view showing the construction of the Chanukah card. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the index wheel for the Chanukah card. 
     FIG. 8 is side elevational view showing the Chanukah card unfolded and in use. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a Chanukah card having a solar cell included thereon. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of circuitry for use with the Chanukah card of FIG. 9 to automatically advance the index wheel thereof. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a birthday card constructed according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 12-14 are side elevational views showing alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference should now be made to the drawing figures, on which similar or identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout the various figures thereof, and on which parenthetical references to figure numbers direct the reader to the view(s) on which the element(s) being described is (are) best seen, although the element(s) may be seen also on other views. 
     FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a Chanukah card, generally indicated by the reference numeral 20, and constructed according to the present invention. Card 20 has front and rear panels 22 and 24, respectively, formed by folding a single sheet of material, such as a thin cardboard material, so that a horizontal fold 26 is created at the top of the card. A portion of the rim of an index wheel 30 extends upwardly through an a slit 32 formed in fold 26. Index wheel 30 is rotatable around shaft means 28 which may be a rivet extending through front and rear panels 22 and 24. 
     As shown on FIG. 1, the front surface of front panel 22 includes thereon a representation of a menorah 40 having a shammash 42 and eight candles, as at 44, representing the eight days of Chanukah. The portion of the index wheel 30 visible on FIG. 1 includes the numeral &#34;8&#34;, indicating the eighth day of Chanukah, and, accordingly, all candles are shown as being &#34;lighted&#34;, which lighted state is simulated by light shining through flame-shaped apertures, as at 46, defined through front panel 20. It can be seen on FIG. 3 that, when card 20 is in its folded state, its thickness is about the same as a conventional greeting card and its other dimensions, as well as weight, are also typical of a conventional greeting card. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, rear panel 22 includes a die cut support panel 50 which is foldable upwardly along fold line 52, a die cut reflective panel 54 which is foldable downwardly along a fold line 56 and which has a generally centrally disposed slot 58 defined therethrough, and a die cut support tab 60 which is foldable upwardly along fold line 52. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate card 20 unfolded and in its display state. Here, support panel has been folded outwardly such that its lower edge and the lower edge of now-slightly inclined front panel 22 can engage a horizontal support surface (not shown) to stably support card 20. Reflective panel 54 has been folded downwardly (FIG. 5) and support tab 60 folded upwardly and the distal end thereof inserted into slot 58 to maintain the reflective panel in a desired angular position with respect to rear panel 24. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates that card 20 is simply constructed, the elements thereof being the sheet from which front and rear panels 22 and 24, respectively, are formed, index wheel 30, and a rivet 28. As indicated above, certain elements of rear panel 24 (FIG. 2) may be die cut. Index wheel 30 may be formed of a suitable thin cardboard material. FIG. 6 clearly shows that index wheel has defined therethrough a plurality of apertures, as at 66, which may also be formed in a die cutting operation. Thus, card 20 may be simply constructed by conventional die cutting, printing, and simple assembly operations. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates more clearly holes, as at 66, defined through index wheel 30. Holes 66 are arranged such that the number of holes aligned with apertures 46 through front panel 22 will be equal to the numeral at the top of index wheel 30. For example, in the orientation of index wheel 30 shown on FIG. 7, the numeral &#34;8&#34; is at the top of the wheel and eight holes 66 will be aligned with all the eight apertures 46, as is the case on FIG. 1. Similarly, when index wheel is rotated so that the numeral &#34;5&#34; is at the top of the wheel, five of holes 66 will be aligned with five of apertures 46. Rotation in eight 22.5-degree steps provides the necessary eight changes of position of index wheel 30. Shammash 42 (FIG. 1) has its own aperture with which one of holes 66 is aligned in any of the eight rotational positions of index wheel 30. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates card 20 in use and the mechanism by which candles 46 are selectively &#34;lighted&#34;. Here, card 20 has been unfolded and placed on a tabletop 70 in proximity to an incandescent lamp 72. Light from lamp 72 is reflected from the upper surface of reflective panel 54 toward index wheel 30. Depending on how many holes 66 (FIG. 6) are aligned with apertures 46, none or all eight candles 44 will appear to be &#34;lighted&#34;. Any apertures 46 which are not aligned with holes 66, will merely show the front surface of index wheel 30, the color of which is chosen to be somewhat neutral. The color of the upper surface of reflective panel 54 is chosen to simulate a flame. It will be understood that index wheel 30 will be rotated each day so that the numeral visible at the top of the wheel, e.g., the numeral &#34;8&#34; on FIG. 1, corresponds to the day of the Chanukah festival. It will be understood that lamp 72 is not required as a source of light and, for example, card 20 may be simply placed in a suitable location near a window. The external light source may also be a fluorescent source. Each of the different light sources has its own spectrum and, hence, enables different shades of light to be observable from the front of card 20. 
     With card 20 and lamp 72 arranged as shown on FIG. 8, little light falls on the front surface of the card, while almost maximum light falls on reflective panel 54. This automatically achieves a high degree of contrast essentially independent of lamp size, while still illuminating front panel 22. 
     The upper surface of reflective panel 54 may be of uniform color and may be iridescent or it may be a combination of colors. In addition, a pattern of dots (or other shapes) can be used to simulate movement of the light as an observer moves, since the reflecting surface is a distance behind apertures 46 and parallax is introduced. Reflective granules may also be affixed to the upper surface of reflective panel 54. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a somewhat more stylized Chanukah card, this one also indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, and having elements and functions similar to the embodiment described above, the principal difference being that index wheel 30&#39; of this card is automatically indexed electrically. While a battery could be employed to provide the necessary power, this card includes a solar panel 80 disposed on front panel 22 to provide power. Solar cell 80 could also be disposed on any other suitable surface of card 20. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the mechanism by which index wheel 30&#39; is indexed. Solar cell 80, which includes suitable energy storage, is connected to provide power to a clock 82, a digital counter 84, a daily pulse drive 86, and a spring-return solenoid 88. Also included in the mechanism is a spring 90 connected to the core of solenoid 88 and having its distal end engaging an indexing hole 92 defined through index card 30&#39;. Clock 82 is connected to provide pulses to digital counter 84 which is manually reset at the beginning of the holiday. When digital counter 84 counts one day, the counter provides a signal to daily pulse drive 86 which, in turn, energizes solenoid 88, causing spring 90 to move downwardly, thus rotating index wheel 30&#39; the distance necessary to bring the next numeral (FIG. 7) to the top of the index wheel. Upon de-energization of solenoid 88, the distal end of spring 90 is released from indexing hole 92 and snaps into the next indexing hole (not shown) in a series of such holes. Each day, the procedure is automatically repeated. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a birthday card constructed according to the present invention, and generally indicated by the reference numeral 100. Card 100, is similar to card 20 described above and includes a birthday cake 102 with a plurality of candles, as at 104, printed on a front panel 106. Front panel 106 includes a plurality of apertures, as at 108, defined therethrough. An index wheel 110 is rotatably mounted behind front panel 106 on a shaft 112. The above elements have the same functions as the similar elements of card 20 described above. FIG. 11 also illustrates that apertures 108 are not limited to being disposed in a line, but can be arranged arcuately. Also, the numeral representing the number of the birthday may be written in space 116. This embodiment includes two additional apertures 120 defined through front panel 106, the purpose of which is described below with reference to FIG. 12. 
     FIG. 12 shows a side view of card 100, the card including a rear panel 120, a support panel 122, a reflective panel 124, and a support tab 126, those elements having functions similar to like elements of card 20 above. Here, rather than the upper surface of reflective panel 124 itself being reflective, a thin reflective paper 130, having its distal end attached to the distal end of the reflective panel, is loosely placed on the upper surface of the reflective panel. The length of reflective paper 130 is such that its proximal end rests against the rear surface of rear panel 120, creating an open volume 140 between the lower surface of the reflective paper, the upper surface of reflective panel 124, and the rear surface of rear panel 120. In this position, light is reflected from the upper surface of reflective paper 130 through apertures 108 (FIG. 11). 
     Referring also to FIG. 11, apertures 120 are disposed such that they are aligned with open volume 140. Now, when a person blows through apertures 120 into open volume 140, reflective paper 130 is disengaged from the upper surface of reflective panel 124 and moves to the position shown by the broken line on FIG. 12. In this position, reflective paper 130 no longer reflects light through apertures 108 and it appears that candles 104 have been extinguished. Candles 104 can be &#34;re-lighted&#34; by manually returning reflective paper to the position shown by the solid line on FIG. 12. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, this one being a greeting card generally indicated by the reference numeral 150. Card 150 includes elements similar to those of card 20 described above, except that card 150 includes a plurality of reflective panels, as at 152, and an index wheel 154. Each of reflective panels 152 may have a color different from that of the other of the reflective panels so that apertures in the card will have a variety of colors. This arrangement can be used, for example, with a Christmas card having a Christmas tree printed on the front, so that the arrangement of lights on the Christmas tree may be varied. Index wheel 154 may be arranged so that certain lights are replaced with ornaments in certain positions of the wheel. Index wheel may be automatically periodically rotated, using a mechanism such as that of FIG. 10. In this embodiment, index wheel 154 may be omitted if it is desired only to have different colored lights without being able to vary the arrangement thereof. Reflective panels 152 are sufficiently short that no support tabs are required. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention, this one generally indicated by the reference numeral 160. Card 160 includes elements similar to those of card 20 described above, except that the ends of a bar pendulum 170 are attached at 172 near the top of card 160. Bar pendulum 170 oscillates in the path of light striking reflective panel 174 to simulate the flickering of light for a period of time by tapping the upper edge of the card to initiate movement of the pendulum. Alternatively, the bar may be provided of metal or have some metal included therein so that the pendulum may be kept moving with a minute amount of energy by being magnetically pulsed. 
     Lateral lighting is not common in houses or stores, but lighting having a vertical component, such as used in the present invention, is quite common. Were backlighting to be used for a similar display, it would be difficult to easily mask out the edges of the display. 
     A card of the present invention is safe and uses virtually no heat other than that caused by light falling on it. Any energy requirements are exceedingly low. There are no fumes produced and no oxygen consumption. Displays can be constructed according to the invention which are quite suitable for use in hazardous locations. 
     Many variations in construction are contemplated by the present invention and may be easily carried out by those skilled in the art by following the teachings presented above. For example, an index wheel without holes may be used, in which case reflective and non-reflective areas on the surface of the wheel would be used to simulate light or flame. 
     Coincidence of holes and apertures can be employed to highlight current menu or schedule items on those types of displays. 
     If a semi-transparent reflective material is disposed between the apertures in the front panel and the holes in the index wheel, the card could be used in either a transmitting or a reflecting mode. 
     A semi-transparent material having variable opacity may be disposed between the apertures in the front panel and the holes in the index wheel to vary the intensity of light passing therethrough. 
     The reflective surface may be provided with a textured surface. 
     Apertures of different sizes may be employed. 
     Color transparencies may be used for additional variation. For example, yellow and blue transparencies may be provided and, when they overlap in certain positions, the transmitted or reflected light will appear to be green. 
     Variations in sizes and shapes of holes and apertures in a given card may be used for different effects. 
     If holes and apertures are close to where a reflector flap is bent, various colors may be used on the flap. 
     Where automatic variation is desired, a wind-up mechanism may be employed, or, for large displays, the display may be wired to line power. 
     The apertures may be selectively formed by manually punching out pre-cut openings. If the display without an index wheel is to be reused another time, for example a Chanukah card, the apertures may be closed by folding flaps. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those elucidated in, or made apparent from, the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawing figures shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.