Patent · US Expired

Variable-display device for amusement

US5557867A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
5References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 1995
Grant dateSep 24, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG09F11/30
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A variable-display device comprises an outer hollow cylinder made of a transparent material, an inner hollow cylinder disposed inside and substantially coaxially with the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder having a passage formed therein in a direction substantially parallel to the axis thereof and communicating to outside from the inside of the inner cylinder, an opaque sheet-like member made of a soft material, disposed as curled and having one end thereof located inside the inner cylinder and the other end located outside the passage formed in the inner cylinder, and an operating member fixed to the sheet-like member and disposed rotatably in relation to the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder carries a first display such as a picture, characters, figure or other pattern, and the inner cylinder carries a second display different from the first one. When the operating member is rotated in a direction or in an opposite direction to the direction, the sheet member is moved along the outer surface of said inner cylinder through said passage to sequentially conceal said second display or reveal it through said first display. As the operating member is rotated, the display such as a pi…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.