WO1997012652A1

WO1997012652A1 - Animated picture with container partially filled with particles

Info

Publication number: WO1997012652A1
Application number: PCT/AU1996/000275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Carl Heinrich Neumann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-05
Filing date: 1996-05-07
Publication date: 1997-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1997-11-05
Also published as: AUPN278795A0

Abstract

An animated display (10) in the form of a postcard or other thin member having a front panel (11) which carries a picture (12), portion (14) of which is absent. A cavity (18) formed rearwardly of the panel (11) is viewable through the portion (14) and carries a liquid and/or granular material which when flowing past the portion provides the appearance of animation in the display.

Description

ANIMATED PICTURE WITH CONTAINER PARTIALLY FILLED WITH PARTICLES

Technical Field

This invention relates to animated display and in one aspect to a postcard incorporating an animated display. The display of the invention however may be incorporated into any size object. Background Art

Animated displays of many different types are available which incorporate a liquid or substance which moves when the display is oriented in a certain attitude to provide an aesthetically pleasing visual appearance. In some such displays, the moving liquid or substance is intended to simulate a natural event. For example, some displays are of domed form and include a liquid which carries a plurality of reflective particles, such that when the display is oriented in a certain attitude, movement of the particles simulates the movement of snow. These devices however are intended primarily for ornamental use. To date the application of such principles to generally planar displays, such as picture type displays has either been limited or unsuccessful.

The present invention aims to provide an animated display which is particularly suited to incorporation within a postcard type format but which may also be incorporated into other similarly planar formats, for example a picture to be displayed on a desk or table or to be hung on a wall. The present invention, however, may also be incorporated into other planar type displays where animation is required. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. Summary of the Invention

The present invention thus provides in a preferred aspect an animated display capable of being incorporated into, or comprising a postcard or other generally planar body, said display including a front panel, said front panel being adapted to carry a picture, a portion of said picture for which animation is required being absent or removed and said panel in at least said absent or removed portion of said picture being transparent to allow for viewing through said absent or removed portion of said picture, a cavity disposed rearwardly of said panel and located adjacent said absent or removed portion of said picture, said cavity carrying a liquid and/or a granular substance whereby orientation of said display in a particular attitude causes movement of said liquid or substance with said cavity so as to provide the appearance of movement in said absent or removed portion of said picture.

The picture may be applied to the front panel in any suitable manner and may, for example, comprise a picture adhered to the front or rear face of the panel or a picture printed on the front or rear face of the panel. The panel may be shaped to provide on its front and/or its rear side an undulating or profiled surface representative of the surface of the picture on or applied to the panel to provide a three dimensional appearance. The undulating surface of the panel or panels may include for example sharp edges or projections to simulate rocks and may in additionally or alternatively, incorporate inserts. Such inserts may be adhered or fixed in position by any other means and again serve to vary the profile of the surface to create a three dimensional appearance. Such inserts may in addition be used to change or divert the direction of flow of the liquid and granular material. The inserts may also if desired be secured to the panel in such a manner as to be movable with the flow of liquid or granular material. For example the inserts may be hingedly or pivotally mounted to the panels or alternatively secured thereto through a flexible element. In a further arrangement, the inserts may be free for movement within the liquid or granular material. Such inserts will then move with the flow of the liquid or granular material. In a particular arrangement, the insert may be formed to fill in the picture and thus may be shaped or carry portion of the picture to match the portion which is absent from the front panel. The panel may be shaped by vacuum forming, by injection moulding or by any other forming process.

The cavity at the rear of the front panel may be defined between the front panel and a further panel disposed rearwardly of the front panel. Preferably the rear panel is of substantially the same external dimensions as the front panel and is sealed to the front panel at least about the periphery thereof. The panels may be sealed by, heat sealing, RF welding, adhesives or a sealant material such as a silicon sealant. The rear panel may be painted or coated with an opaque material, such that a contrast is seen on viewing through the absent or removed portion of the picture. Alternatively, the panel may be printed to provide a three dimensional appearance. For this purpose, the panel may be printed with a portion of the photograph applied to the front panel. In yet an alternative arrangement, the panels may form a holographic display.

If desired the cavity may be shaped such as to form reservoirs at the upper and lower sides of the picture which are joined through a reduced throat located adjacent the absent or removed portion of the picture. Such an arrangement will increase the time during which the liquid and/or granular substance passes behind the absent or removed portion of the picture.

The liquid in the cavity may comprise a clear oil, such as a paraffin or may comprise other liquids with similarly viscous properties. Such a liquid which may be used comprises hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC) . As an alternative, the liquid may comprise a less viscous liquid, such as water. The granular substance within the liquid suitably comprises an inert granular substance. A particularly suitable substance comprises sand particles, grief Description ς>f Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: -

Fig. 1 is a front view of a typical display according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic elevational view of the display of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line B-B of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a framed picture according to one form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the picture of Fig. 5. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a display 10 according to the present invention which may be incorporated in or define a postcard or be used in any other form. The display 10 includes a front panel 11 of generally rectangular peripheral form which carries a picture 12 which for example may comprise a picture of a mountain scene showing a waterfall illustrated schematically at 13. A portion of the picture adjacent the waterfall 13 may be cut out or removed as at 14. The panel 11 is formed of a transparent material, however, because of the picture 12, the panel 11 is only transparent in the cut-out portion 14 of the picture 12.

The picture 12 may be applied either to the front or rear face of the panel 11 and most preferably is printed onto the panel 11 preferably by an offset printing process but any other printing process may be used such as screen printing or pad printing. In addition, the panel 11 is shaped such as to create on its front face 15 and/or its rear face 16 undulations which correspond to the particular terrain as depicted in the picture 12. For example, indentations in the panel 11 formed in the shaping process may be aligned with rocks in the picture 12 to thereby provide a three dimensional image. The panel 11 is shaped preferably by a vacuum forming process using a mould shaped in accordance with the picture 12 associated with the panel 11. The panel 11 is preferably vacuum formed after application of the picture 12. Alternatively, the panel may be heat formed, pressure formed or shaped by any other forming process. Arranged rearwardly of the panel 11 is a further or backing panel 17 which defines with the panel 11 a cavity 18 therebetween (see Figs. 3 and 4) . The cavity 18 is preferably of a thickness in the range of 1 - 2mm in the case of postcards however in larger displays the cavity 18 may be of a greater, the same or less thickness. Corresponding side edges of the panels 11 and 17 are joined and sealed as at 19. The joining and sealing process may be achieved by the use of adhesives or sealants, for example silicon sealants or alternatively joining and sealing may be achieved through the use of welding, for example RF welding or heat welding. The cavity 18 will thus be seen through the cut-out portion or portions 14 of the picture 12. Prior to fully sealing the rear panel 17 to the front panel 11, a liquid carrying a granular material is placed into the cavity 18. Thereafter sealing of the panels 11 and 17 will hold the liquid and granular material within the cavity 18. The liquid may be a liquid of high viscosity and furthermore preferably substantially transparent or translucent. A suitable liquid comprises an oil such as a paraffin oil or an alternative viscous liquid such as hydroxy ethyl cellulose. Alternatively, the liquid may be less viscous and may simply comprise water with an added detergent and inhibitor. In some cases also, the liquid within the cavity 18 may comprise two or more liquids of different viscosities which will flow at different rates through the cavity. The granular material may comprise fine grains of sand or other particulate material and also may comprise a mixture of materials of different densities.

Whilst the reservoir 18 can occupy the full space between the panels 11 and 12, it is preferred that the reservoir 18 be divided into upper and lower portions 20 and 21 as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, the portions 20 and 21 being joined through a reduced throat region 22 which is located rearwardly of the cut-out portions 14 of the picture 12. The reservoir 18 may be formed into this configuration by filling in the cavity 18 on opposite sides as at 23 to form the throat region 22. The regions 23 may be simply filled by adhesive or a silicon sealant or defined by a seal insert such as a shaped rubber or plastics seal. Alternatively, the shape of the reservoirs 20 and 21 and throat 22 may be defined by lines of welding along the dotted lines shown in Fig. 2.

In use, the display 10 may be inverted such that through gravity the liquid and the granular particles within the cavity 18 flow into the portion 20. When the display 10 is again inverted, the liquid and granular particles will flow from the reservoir portion 20 through the throat 22 and thus past the cut-away portions 14 in the picture 12 and into the reservoir portion 21. This will provide through the cut-away portions 14 the appearance of moving water and this movement will continue until all liquid has passed into the reservoir portion 21.

In some cases where inversion of the display is not possible, the display may incorporate a pump to enable the liquid and granular material to be conveyed from the lower side of the display to the upper side thereof. The pump may comprise a manually actuated pump which may be actuated by pressing a designated portion of the front panel which suitably is flexible. Alternatively, the pump may be a mechanically operated pump whose operation can be controlled by say a switch on or near the display. In addition or alternatively, the display may incorporate movable components which may be actuated by pressing a portion of the display. Such components may be moved into and out of the flow of liquid by such an arrangement. In an alternative form of display, the front and rear panels 15 and 17 or portions thereof may be partially transparent and have subtractive colouring whereby the respective panels interact to provide a particular appearance. This may be achieved with the liquid or granular material which through selection of certain colours will provide varies changing appearances in the display or highlight certain areas of the display or picture.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a picture having a display of moving water, it of course may be applied to a picture of any form or design and having a part in which movement is required to be simulated. As stated previously also, an insert which may be floatable may be located within the cavity 18 to provide a particular display. That insert may carry a picture which fills in the cut-away portion 14 of the picture 12 to define a complete picture. As an example, the insert may carry the picture of a breaking wave, such that movement thereof in the liquid simulates the breaking or building up of a wave. Of course, this principle may be applied to any other picture.

In yet a further arrangement, the display may be formed from a plurality of panels, respective pairs of adjacent panels defining respective cavities therebetween. Each panel may be printed or carry a picture or portion of a picture with the respective pictures carried by the panels when viewed providing a three dimensional display.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a frame picture 24 according to the invention incorporating hollow frame members 25 which communicate with the cavity 18. The hollow frame members 25 serve as a reservoir for liquid and granular substance to provide for increased time of display. In addition, the hollow frame members 25 will by increasing the reservoir volume of the liquid provide in situations of non-use of the picture wherein the liquid and granular substance cannot be seen through the regions 14. Where the display has multiple cavities as described above defined between pairs of adjacent panels, the hollow frame members can serve as the means for communicating liquid and the granular substance between the respective cavities. For larger pictures or displays, the panels may be formed of acrylic which may be sculptured, vacuum or heat formed to define the required profile. Such panels for carrying pictures may be required to be screen printed or printed by any other printing process. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An animated display capable of being incorporated into, or comprising a postcard or other generally planar body, said display including a front panel, said front panel being adapted to carry a picture, a portion of said picture for which animation is required being absent or removed and said panel in at least said absent or removed portion of said picture being transparent to allow for viewing through said absent or removed portion of said picture, a cavity disposed rearwardly of said panel and located adjacent said absent or removed portion of said picture, said cavity carrying a liquid and/or a granular substance whereby orientation of said display in a particular attitude causes movement of said liquid or substance with said cavity so as to provide the appearance of movement in said absent or removed portion of said picture.

2. An animated display according to Claim 1 wherein said picture comprises a picture adhered to the front or rear face of the panel or a picture printed on the front or rear face of the panel.

3. An animated display according to Claim 2 wherein said panel is shaped to provide on its front and/or its rear side an undulating or profiled surface representative of the surface of the picture on or applied to the panel to provide a three dimensional appearance.

4. An animated display according to Claim 3 wherein said undulating surface of the panel or panels includes projections to vary the profile of the surface of the panel to create a three dimensional appearance.

5. An animated display according to Claim 3 wherein said undulating surface of the panel or panels includes inserts to create a three dimensional appearance.

6. An animated display according to Claim 5 wherein said inserts are used to change or divert the direction of flow of the liquid and granular material.

7. An animated display according to Claim 5 wherein said inserts are secured to said panel in such a manner as to be movable with the flow of liquid or granular material.

8. An animated display according to Claim 7 wherein said inserts are hingedly or pivotally mounted to the panels or alternatively secured thereto through a flexible element.

9. An animated display according to Claim 5 wherein said inserts are free for movement within the liquid or granular material.

10. An animated display according to Claim 5 wherein said insert may be formed to fill in the picture and shaped or carry portion of the picture to match the portion which is absent from the front panel.

11. An animated display according to Claim 1 wherein said cavity at the rear of the front panel is defined between the front panel and a further panel disposed rearwardly of the front panel.

12. An animated display according to Claim 1 wherein said rear panel is of substantially the same external dimensions as the front panel and is sealed to the front panel at least about the periphery thereof.

13. An animated display according to Claim 12 wherein said panels are sealed by, heat sealing, RF welding, adhesives or a sealant material such as a silicon sealant.

14. An animated display according to Claim 11 wherein said rear panel is painted or coated with an opaque material, such that a contrast is seen on viewing through the absent or removed portion of the picture.

15. An animated display according to Claim 11 wherein said rear panel is printed to provide a three dimensional appearance.

16. An animated display according to Claim 1 wherein said cavity is shaped such as to form reservoirs at the upper and lower sides of the picture which are joined through a reduced throat located adjacent the absent or removed portion of the picture.

17. An animated display according to Claim 1 wherein said liquid in the cavity comprises a clear oil, such as a paraffin or hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC) .

18. An animated display according to Claim 1 wherein said granular substance within said liquid comprises an inert granular substance such as sand particles.