U.S. patent number 3,884,554 [Application Number 05/238,570] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-20 for display sheet material and method.
Invention is credited to Jerome H. Lemelson.
United States Patent |
3,884,554 |
Lemelson |
May 20, 1975 |
Display sheet material and method
Abstract
A display sheet material is provided which generates
interference fringe patterns which appear to move to an observer
upon relative movement of the sheet and the observer. In one form,
lenticular formations or parallel printed lines on respective
surfaces of different transparent sheets generate fringe patterns.
The sheets are secured together in a manner to permit some degree
of movement between portions of both sheets to permit variation in
the shape and configuration of the fringe patterns.
Inventors: |
Lemelson; Jerome H. (Metuchen,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
26931783 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/238,570 |
Filed: |
March 27, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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849117 |
Aug 11, 1969 |
3684614 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
359/558; 40/427;
40/454; 40/616; 359/542; 359/576; 359/580; 359/619; 428/29; 428/34;
428/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B
27/00 (20130101); B32B 27/08 (20130101); B32B
7/12 (20130101); B44F 1/10 (20130101); B44F
1/066 (20130101); Y10T 428/24868 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B44F
1/00 (20060101); B44F 1/06 (20060101); B32B
27/00 (20060101); B44F 1/10 (20060101); B44f
001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;161/1,2,3.5,116,14,122,130,131,139,413,410,146,148
;350/100,104,106,109 ;117/38 ;156/156,290,219
;40/137,136,106.51,135 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lesmes; George F.
Assistant Examiner: Silverman; Stanley S.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 849,117
filed Aug. 11, 1969 for Display and Manufacturing Apparatus now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,614.
Claims
I claim:
1. A composite flexible display sheet material made of a plurality
of thin light transmitting flexible plastic sheets comprising:
first and second sheets defining different strata of said sheet
material,
means for joining said first and second sheets facewise together
along a plurality of space-separated portions of said first and
second sheets with juxtapositioned portions of said sheets between
the joined portions of said sheets being unjoined and capable of
some degree of relative shifting movement with respect to each
other when the composite sheet material is deformed out of
flatness,
each of said first and second sheets containing respective light
diffracting means which cooperates with the light diffracting means
of the other sheet in generating optical fringe pattern effects to
an observer looking through said composite sheet material, and
operable whereby, when the sheet material is flexed, said observed
fringe pattern effects will appear to the observer to change in
shape and to move a degree other than the degree of movement of the
display sheet material during the flexure thereof.
2. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein said light diffracting means of at least one of said sheet
layers comprises lenticular formations in at least one surface
thereof.
3. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein said light diffracting means comprises lenticular
formations formed in at least one of the major surfaces of each of
said sheet layers.
4. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 3
wherein said lenticular formation formed in said first and second
sheet layers comprise respective parallel rib formations with the
parallel rib formations in one sheet layer being angulated to the
rib formations formed in the other layer to generate interference
fringe patterns which are viewable through said sheet material
which fringe patterns vary in shape and positions as said material
is flexed.
5. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 3
wherein said lenticular formations in said first and second sheet
layers are closely spaced short protrusions each defining a
respective light diffracting lens and the protrusions of one layer
are offset a degree from the protrusions of the other layer a
degree to generate an interference fringe pattern effect which will
vary in shape as the sheet material is flexed.
6. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein said light diffracting means comprises lenticular
formations in both said sheets formed in the abutting surfaces of
said sheets.
7. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein said light diffracting means comprises rib-like lenticular
formations in the outer surface of one of said sheet layers and
printed matter on the inside surface of the other of said sheet
layers cooperating with said lenticular formations to provide a
changing optical effect along abutting portions of the first and
second sheet layers.
8. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein said light diffracting means comprises spaced apart printed
formations disposed on both said sheet layers and separated from
each other by the thickness of at least one of said sheet
layers.
9. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein the voids between said space-separated portion of said
first and second layers of sheet material are gas pressurized.
10. A composite display sheet material in accordance with claim 1
wherein the joined portions of said first and second sheet layers
are configured and separated from each other so as to permit
relative lateral movement of the unjoined portions of the two
layers as the sheet material is flexed to create changing optical
effects.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in display sheet material,
preferably flexible translucent plastic sheet capable of generating
interference fringe patterns which appear to move or change
configuration as the sheet is moved or deformed.
It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and
improved display sheet material having optical effects which are
attention getting and pleasing to observe.
Another object is to provide a display sheet material in which is
generated interference fringe patterns which not only may be made
to shift position or move as the sheet is handled but will also
change in configuration.
Another object is to provide a display material which is low in
cost and may be used for a component of various products.
Another object is to provide a display material containing
lenticular formations therein for generating a variety of optical
effects including interference patterns, which formations are
disposed facing each other within the sheet and are therefore
protected from damage or contamination.
Another object is to provide a display material capable of
generating changing optical effects, which material may also be
utilized to heat insulate and protect by shock absorption, an
article with which it is assembled.
Another object is to provide an apparatus and method for forming
indicia within a transparent plastic sheet which is deliniated from
a background of interference patterns by exhibiting a lack or
variation in such interference patterns.
With thee above and such other objects in view as may hereafter
more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel
constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be
more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
but it is to be understood that changes, variations and
modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the
invention as claimed.
IN THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is an end cross-sectional view of a fragment of a first form
of display sheet material formed of two abutted transparent,
embossed sheets;
FIG. 2 is an end view in cross section of a fragment of a display
sheet material containing portions of two embossed sheets which are
spaced-separated from each other;
FIG. 3 is an end cross-sectional view of a composite display sheet
material having printed grid patterns for generating interference
effects;
FIG. 4 is an end cross-sectional view of a portion of a display
sheet material having lenticular surface formations which face each
other;
FIG. 5 shows a fragment of the material of FIG. 4 in a flat
condition;
FIG. 6 shows the fragment of FIG. 5 deformed;
FIG. 7 is an end cross-sectional view of a portion of sheet
material capable of producing interference optical effects which
appear to change in configuration and move when the sheet is
deformed, the sheet material being made of a lamination of
lenticular material and printed material; and
FIG. 8 is an end cross-sectional view of a portion of display sheet
material of the type shown in FIG. 1 and embossing means therefore
for changing the content of the image changing or interference
pattern display.
FIG. 1 is an end cross sectional view of a display material 10 made
of two sheets 11 and 15 of translucent material such as transparent
plastic having flat contacting surfaces 12 and 16 and respective
outer surfaces 13 and 17 in which are formed respective lenticular
formations 14 and 18. The lenticular formations 14 and 18 are
respective parallel arrays of oblong lenses such as
semi-cylindrical parallel ribs embossed or molded in the respective
faces 13 and 17 of the sheets. I have discovered that if the
parallel oblong lens formations in one sheet are angulated between
about 3.degree. and 25.degree. to the parallel lens formation in
the other sheet, interference bands will develop which are
observable through the composite material 10 from either surface
thereof which bands will vary in thickness depending on the angle
between the lens formations. Furthermore, the interference bands
will appear to move to an observer as the angle between the line of
sight and the observer and the surface of the composite material 10
changes further, the degree and relative velocity of movement of
the interference bands is a function of angle between parallel lens
formations which velocity and degree increases as the angle
increases until the interference effect substantially disappears at
an angle of between 20.degree. and 25.degree..
If the materials of which two sheets 11 and 15 are made is a
flexible plastic such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride, and the
total thickness of the composite sheet 10 is less than about 60
mils, and preferably under 25 mils, the sheet may be easily bent or
flexed as applied to a substrate or during its handling, and will
generate very eyecatching, if not startling, optical effects. The
two sheets 11 and 15 may be solvent or adhesive bonded or welded
together along their entire flat sides or as described
hereafter.
In FIG. 2 is shown a composite sheet material 20 made of two sheets
21 and 25 of flexible material of the type defined in FIG. 1 or as
otherwise defined hereafter, which sheets are bonded or welded
together only along space-separated spot or band-like areas or
lines 29 permitting portions of the sheets between the joined
portions to become slightly separated and/or shift with respect to
each other as the composite assembly 20 is deformed as it is
handled, used or otherwise moved. The volume V between the sheets
21 and 25 may be an air space of such thickness as to permit
certain portions of the two sheets to contact each other during the
handling, bending or folding of the material 20 while other areas
adjacent to the contacting areas remain out of contact, and/or to
permit variation in the separation distances between the flat faces
22 and 26 of the sheets across the non-bonded portions so as to
generate slight interference effects which vary in shape, size and
degree of movement as the material is handled or otherwise
deformed.
While the lens formations 24 and 28 in the outer faces 23 and 27 of
the two sheets may comprise oblong semi-cylindrical formations,
they may also be formed in any other configuration which will
generate fringe patterns which will be affected as described, by
the separation and relative shifting of those portions of the two
sheets which are not joined. Semi-spherical or otherwise formed
configurations will also serve to generate suitable fringe patterns
which vary as described.
In a modified form of the embodiment of FIG. 2 it is noted that gas
under pressure slightly above atmospheric perhaps a pound or two or
less may be entrapped between the sheets in the volumes V to expand
the sheet portion thereof and maintain them slightly apart.
It is noted that fringe pattern effects which change, as described,
may also be generated in the material 20 if the sheets are joined
together with surfaces 26 and 27 containing lenticular formations
24 and 28 facing each other.
In FIG. 3 is shown another form of the invention wherein a
composite material 30 is made of two sheets 31 and 35 of flexible
translucent or transparent plastic, as described, which are welded
together along space-separated spot or band-like areas 39 leaving
portions 31a and 35a of the sheets 31 and 35 with their inside
faces 32 and 36 which are unjoined and are capable of a slight
degree of relative shifting as the sheets are bent or flexed.
Printed on the outer faces 33 and 37 of the sheets 31 and 35 are
respective indicia 34 and 38 which may comprise respective sets of
parallel bands of opaque or translucent colored printing material.
Various interference effects may be generated which vary as
described, by providing the parallel space separated bands 34 on
one face, angulated with respect to those on the other face. The
indicia may also be disposed on the inside faces 32 and 36 of the
sheets 31 and 35 although the interference effects will not be as
prounounced. Depending on the interference effects desired, the
indicia arrays composed of elements 34 and 38 may comprise opaque
or colored parallel translucent bands which in the range of 0.005
to 0.050 inches wide which are angulated between about 3.degree.
and 25.degree. to each other. The bands are preferably equispaced
from each other a degree equal to the width of each band although
their thickness and separation may vary across the composite sheet.
The printed matter on the opposite faces 33 and 37 of the sheets
may also comprise spot-like depositions of ink which are of the
same shape and equi-spaced from each other to produce interference
patterns which vary in shape and appear to move as the material 30
is flexed in handling or use.
The volumes V.sub.3 shown as existing between those portions of the
sheets 31 and 35 of FIG. 3 which are disposed between the band-like
bonded or welded interfacial areas 39 may vary in thickness from
substantially sliding contact between the two sheets which will
permit relative shifting of the printed bands 34 and 38 on the
outer surfaces of the composite material 30 as said material is
handled and deflected or bent during use to a height which is
attained as a result of gas pressurizing said volumes to retain the
flexible sheet portions of which the composite material is made
apart from each other as illustrated. If the printed bands or lines
34 and 38 are relatively narrow, say within the range of 0.005 and
0.030 inches wide, then interference bands may be generated which
will appear to move or shift in pattern as the flexible material is
deflected or bent during use.
If the bands 34 and 38 are relatively wider, in the range of
0.015-0.060 inches and are equally spaced apart with the bands on
one face of the composite material angulated with respect to those
printed on the other face thereof, and the volume V.sub.3 is
greater than the thickness of one of the sheets comprising the
composite material and preferably greater than the total thickness
of the two sheets, then various dynamic optical effects may be
derived which will be eye-catching and striking to an observer. For
example, the so-called "picket fence effect" may be derived wherein
the illusion of movement of interference bands is effected to an
observer looking through the composite material and moving relative
thereto.
It is further noted that while the structure shown in FIG. 2
illustrates a volume V having a thickness which is about one third
of the thickness of one of the two lenticulated sheets, comprising
the composite material, said volume may be larger or smaller in
thickness than illustrated depending on the total thickness and
stiffness of the two sheets comprising the composite material,
whether or not a gas under pressure is disposed between the two
sheets and in accordance with the optical effects desired. At one
extreme, the volume V may be such as to permit both sliding contact
between the two faces 22 and 26 of the sheets 21 and 25 and also
separation of said faces depending on the physical deflection or
bending of the material, thereby permitting variable optical
effects in interference patterns to be created as the material is
handled or otherwise deflected.
In FIG. 4 is shown another form of composite material 40 composed
of separate sheets 41 and 44 of flexible transparent plastic
material, each preferably in the range of 0.003-0.030 inches thick
and each provided with respective lenticular formations 43 and 46
formed in surfaces thereof which face or abut each other in the
laminated assembly shown and comprising the composite material. The
lenticular formations 43 and 46 formed in respective facing
surfaces 42 and 45 of the sheets 41 and 44 may be semi-spherical in
shape and offset from each other or semi-cylindrical in shape and
angulated as described with respect to each other to provide a
variety of different interference effects depending on the shape,
width and degree of offsetting or angulation between the lenticular
formations in the two sheets.
To secure the two sheets 41 and 42 together, a plurality of weld or
bond areas 47 which may be in the shape of spot-like areas or lines
running parallel to or criss crossing each other are provided and
are sufficiently spaced from each other to permit the material of
the two sheets between each of the bond areas or welds to contact
each other or be separated from each other, as illustrated, to
provide an extended interfacial volume 48 therebetween and
interference effects which will appear to change and become
variably irregular depending upon the shape and deformation or
bending of the composite material.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate how the lenticular formations in the sheet
portions 41 and 44 of the sheet material of FIG. 4 may shift with
respect to each other as the composite material is deflected or
bent. In FIG. 5 the lenticular formations 43 in sheet portion 41
are substantially aligned with lenticular formations 46 in sheet
portion 44. In FIG. 6, the composite material 40 has been bent or
curved about a raise such as to cause a slight shifting of the
formations in each sheet portion with respect to those of the other
sheet portion. As a result, not only will there be a shifting in
the interference pattern formed by the shifting of the lenticular
formations but there will also be a variation in the shape of said
pattern caused by certain of the lenticular formations of one sheet
separating from those of another as illustrated.
In FIG. 7 is shown a modified form of display sheet which is a
lamination of two sheets 47 and 49, the former having its outer
surface embossed with semi-cylindrical or semi-spherical
lenticulations 48 and the latter (49) being provided with indicia P
printed on its inside surface which is bonded to the inside surface
of sheet 47 only along space separated band or spot-like areas
between the two so as to provide portions of the composite sheet
which may abut or become separated a distance from each other
depending on the degree the two sheets are deflected. If the
formations 48 are elongated ribs such as semicylindrical in shape
and the indicia P is composed of parallel space separated opaque or
transparent colored bands or two or more arrays of colored band
which are interposed between each other positioned and configured
to generate image changing or color changing effects, by variably
separating the two sheets as they are deflected in handling,
further variations in such image or color changing effects may be
produced as the sheet material composed of the two sheets 47 and 49
is deflected or deformed such as in handling. For example, portions
of the image being viewed may disappear or change in content due to
lateral shifting of the two sheet portions thereof as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6.
In FIG. 8 is shown an apparatus and method for varying the shape
and interference effects formed in a display sheet material
constructed in accordance with the teachings of FIG. 1 although the
apparatus may also be utilized to provide indicia or design in
material of the type shown in FIG. 4.
The lenticular material, denoted 57, is a sheet having lenticular
formations 58 in one surface thereof and cooperating lenticular
formations 59 in the opposite surface thereof. The lenticular
formations 58 and 59 may comprise semi-spherical or
semi-cylindrical formations which are operable to generate
interference patterns in the two sheets which appear to move to an
observer whose line of sight is shifting with respect to the sheet
material. In order to provide indicia such as symbols, trademarks,
letters numbers or other designs in the sheet material 57, certain
of the lenticular formations in both surfaces of said sheet are
removed by means of an apparatus 50 composed of opposed embossing
plates or rolls 51 and 54 having raised portions 52 and 55 and
recessed portions 53 and 56. The raised portions 52 and 55 serve to
compress certain portions 60 of the sheet 57 therebetween and if
the plates 51 and 54 are properly heated may be used to emboss out
the lenticular formations in the outer surfaces of the sheet 57.
The areas in which the lenticular formations are embossed out may
be of any suitable configuration and may serve to eliminate the
interference effects along said embossed-out areas so as to provide
a sheet having interference effects defining certain areas thereof
and no such interference effects comprising other areas thereof
which are deliniated from the interference areas by the lack of
interference bands or other shapes.
* * * * *