EP0144633B1 - Picture puzzle apparatus with a hidden figure - Google Patents

Abstract

In a three-dimensional picture puzzle, code bits are arranged distributed on an object in all three spatial planes. The code information being sought in the form of a two-dimensional picture is revealed only when the three-dimensional object is viewed from a specific line of sight. The spatially arranged code bits then lose their depth effect and unite to form a two-dimensional picture. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a search image arrangement with a hidden figure according to the preamble of claim 1.

A search image of the type mentioned is already known from FR-A-1 083 929. There, corrugations or raised webs are provided on an object on the surface, the code elements being arranged either on the left or right side of the corrugations or webs. As a result, the information sought is visible when the object is looked at from the left or the right side, the information sought remaining visible over a wide range of angles and, as a result, a particular purpose of the game cannot be achieved. In the known arrangement, the search image z. B. from the left or right side from different semicircular viewing directions can still be recognized, whereby only a limited game purpose is created.

The present invention has for its object to develop a search image arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 so that its possible uses are significantly expanded, the code information sought can be found particularly difficult in a certain solid angle.

To achieve the object, the invention provides the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

An essential feature of the present invention is therefore the spatiality of the search image according to the invention. This results in completely new uses, the search image arrangement can only be recognized under a certain narrow solid angle.

A three-dimensional search image arrangement of this type can be distributed, for example, as a giveaway. It is preferred according to the subject matter of claim 3 if the search image is contained in a transparent block which consists of transparent glass or plastic plates stacked on top of one another, on which the code elements are distributed differently. If the slabs are stacked on top of one another and put together to form a block, then this block can be rotated and viewed in all three room levels. The viewer initially only recognizes an unregulated accumulation of code elements on the individual, stacked plates. Only when he turns the object in a very specific spatial direction, do all code elements of all disks unite to form the desired code information, which, for. B. can be a figure, an advertising text, a telephone number or other information.

With the given technical teaching according to claim 1 there is the advantage that all code elements are part of the code information sought. It is therefore no longer important to distinguish important from unimportant code bits and to separate them associatively by applying memory. The recognition of the hidden figure thus follows an interesting search principle, because all the code elements contained in the search image are part of the searched code information in only a single narrow solid angle.

According to the subject matter of claim 2, it is provided that the search image arrangement consists of several searched code information, which are distributed on the object. Each code information is assigned a certain viewing direction, so that the other code information is not recognizable when the code information is recognizable in a certain viewing direction.

The object is rotated in the hand of the viewer in such a way that the viewer looks at the object in successive, different directions and recognizes different code information in succession.

Based on printing technology processes, there is a special form of production if the code elements distributed on the transparent plates are represented by the differently strong dots of a regular printing grid. The code information sought can then be black-and-white or color photography that is resolved via the printing screen.

To expand the game purpose, it is provided according to the subject matter of claim 4 that the transparent plates are arranged in a holder or a transparent container so that disassembly and a different arrangement of the plates is allowed.

This provides a so-called search image principle, i. H. the plates can be arranged in different order and orientation in the holder or the container. Various attempts are then required to arrange the plates in the correct orientation and sequence in such a way that the code information sought is found from a certain viewing direction.

It should also be added that the code information can also be such that a closed, monochrome surface is formed with a background code information, in front of which further code information appears in a different color if the search image arrangement is viewed by the viewer in the correct direction of view. In addition to the review principle, there is also the supervision principle.

The three-dimensional search image arrangement is not tied to the fixation in a glass or plastic block. The present invention encompasses all possibilities which allow code elements to be arranged which stand out against a background in all three spatial levels. In the first embodiment, the code elements were provided in the form of dark elements that stand out against a light background. Conversely, it is also possible to provide light code elements against a dark background.

In a further embodiment according to the invention it is provided that the search image is contained in an object with a three-dimensional holding device, on which the code elements are arranged in the form of differently distributed code points.

Such a three-dimensional object can be thought of as a stylized "Christmas tree". Such an object is e.g. B. ideal for advertising purposes at exhibitions or in shop windows.

An outstanding advertising effect is achieved if the code points are selected in the form of point light sources (e.g. in the form of light emitting diodes). Such a three-dimensional object is an excellent eye-catcher at exhibitions or in shop windows.

If the visitor looks at this object from a very specific point of view, then the code points compose the desired code information.

In addition to the use of active code elements in the form of point light sources, passive code elements can also be used, e.g. B. in the form of triples. These triple mirrors radiate a captured light back to the viewer, so that one can speak of passive point light sources. The advantage of these passive elements is that there is no need to wire the LEDs.

In a development of the present invention, it is provided that the display of a digital display, for. B. a digital display of time, temperature, air pressure and the like. To form such a three-dimensional search image. The digital display would then only be readable from a certain viewing direction, while from all other viewing directions only the spatially scattered individual elements of the digital display (the code elements), but not the digital display itself (the code information) can be seen.

The subject matter of the present invention is described in more detail below. All of the information and features disclosed in the documents, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention insofar as they are new to the prior art, individually or in combination.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings showing several possible embodiments. Further features and advantages of the invention are evident from the drawings and their description.

Figur 1:

dreidimensionale Suchbild anordnung in Form eines Glas- oder Kunststoffblockes in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Figur 2:

Einzeldarstellung der übereinandergeschichteten Glas- oder Kunststoffplatten,

Figur 3:

die sich bei der Betrachtung des Glas- oder Kunststoffblockes nach Fig. 1 ergebende Suchinformation,

Figur 4:

perspektivische Darstellung eines dreidimensionalen Suchbildes in einer zweiten Ausführungsform,

Figur 5:

die sich bei Betrachtung des Gegenstandes nach Fig. 4 ergebende Suchinformation,

Figur 6:

schematisiert gezeichnete Draufsicht auf ein Suchbild in einer ersten Blickrichtung,

Figur 7:

Draufsicht auf das Suchbild nach Fig. 6 in einer zweiten Blickrichtung,

Figur 8:

Draufsicht auf das Suchbild nach Fig. 6 in einer dritten Blickrichtung.

Show it:

Figure 1:

three-dimensional search image arrangement in the form of a glass or plastic block in perspective,

Figure 2:

Individual representation of the stacked glass or plastic plates,

Figure 3:

the search information resulting when viewing the glass or plastic block according to FIG. 1,

Figure 4:

perspective view of a three-dimensional search image in a second embodiment,

Figure 5:

the search information resulting when the object according to FIG. 4 is viewed,

Figure 6:

schematically drawn top view of a search image in a first viewing direction,

Figure 7:

6 in a second viewing direction,

Figure 8:

Top view of the search image according to FIG. 6 in a third viewing direction.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the three-dimensional search image arrangement consists of a transparent block 1, which consists of a plurality of plates 2, 3, 4, 5 stacked on top of one another. Each plate 2, 3, 4, 5 has differently distributed code elements 6, 7, 8, 9, wherein the code elements can have the same or different size and shape.

The code elements can consist of dots, dashes, curved lines, arrows, triangles and the like. If one looks at block 1 in viewing direction 10, then the code information 11 shown in FIG. B. in the form of an advertising message. All of the code elements 6 - 9 contained on the plates 2 - 5 are then combined to form the code information 11 sought.

It is important here that the individual letters or numbers of the code information are composed of different code elements 6 - 9 from different plates 2 - 5.
For example, the letter "S" is composed of code lines 7, 8, 9, which are contained on the three plates 3, 4, 5.

The code elements can be printed on the plates, e.g. B. in the screen printing process or by a photomechanical reproduction process.

Similarly, photos can also serve as templates for a search image. The photo is broken down into halftone dots at different levels, with each level corresponding to a glass or plastic plate that is printed on the front or back with the corresponding halftone dots. Only from a certain direction of view are all grid points put together so that the photo is visible as hidden search information.

Figures 4 and 5 show a further embodiment. There, the three-dimensional search image is designed as a vertically projecting holder 12, on which struts 13, 14, 15, 16 pointing in any spatial planes are arranged one above the other.
Code points 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 in the form of point light sources are attached to the struts. These point light sources are preferably designed as light-emitting diodes or light bulbs, because this results in a sharply delimited code point that stands out well against a background of a different color.

If one looks at the object according to FIG. 4 in the direction of view 10, then the code information 22 shown in FIG. 5 results. Here too it is important that the code information is composed of different code points in different spatial levels.

6 - 8 show a further glass or plastic block 30, in which three search fields 31 - 33 are present as an exemplary embodiment. Code information 34-36 is hidden in each search field 31-33.

If the block 30 (which is shown two-dimensionally in the drawings for the sake of simplicity) is rotated in the direction of the arrow 37, then the code information 34 hidden in the search field 31 becomes visible in the direction of view 41. The code information 35, 36 hidden in the other search fields 32, 33 are not visible; instead, the individual, distributed code lines 38, 39 are recognizable.

If the glass or plastic block 30 is rotated further in the direction of the arrow 37, then the code information 34 disappears in the first search field 31 and instead only the code lines 40 can be seen.

The specified code information 35 then appears in the search field 32 in the direction of view 42 as an arrow pointing to the right.

If the block 30 acc. 8 rotated further in the direction of arrow 37, then only the code lines 40, 39 can be seen in the search fields 31, 32, while the code information 36 can be seen in the right search field 33 in the direction of view 43.

The essence of the present invention is that the viewer is initially presented with a three-dimensional object with code elements of different depth effects arranged thereon, the spatial effect of these code elements being canceled when the viewer is viewing this object from a certain point of view.
The code elements then combine to form a two-dimensional image.

Claims (9)

1. A picture-puzzle arrangement comprising a hidden figure, wherein there are arranged on an object a number of code elements (6-9; 17-21) in which the puzzle-picture sought is concealed and the puzzle-picture is discernible two-dimensionally in a particular viewing direction (10) only, characterised in that the code elements (6-9; 17-21) are distributed with the effect of depth, being provided in three spatial planes of the object (1-12-16), in different layers so that the puzzle-picture becomes visible only within a single and specific narrow spatial angle.
2. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that several code data sought (34,35,36, Figs.6-8) are arranged in distribution on the object (30) and that each code datum (34,35,36) has a specific direction of view (41,42,43) associated with it.
3. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the object is a transparent block (1) which consists of transparent glass or plastics material plates (2-5; Figs.1,2) stacked one over another in layers, on which the code elements are arranged in the form of differently distributed code lines or other graphic elements of different shape and size (6-9).
4. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that for use as a puzzle, the glass or plastics material plates (2-5; fig.2) are so arranged in a mounting or in a transparent container as to allow the plates (2-5) to be taken apart and placed in a different arrangement.
5. A picture-puzzle arrangement pattern according to claim 1, characterised in that the code elements (6-9) are component dots of a printing screen.
6. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the object is a three-dimensional retaining device - e.g. a holder (12; Fig.4) comprising struts (13-16) differently positioned in the three spatial planes, in which the code elements are placed in the form of differently distributed code dots (17-21).
7. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that the code dots (17-21; fig.4) are produced in the form of point light sources (light-emitting diodes or incandescent bulbs).
8. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that the code dots (17-21; Fig.4) are passive light elements, e.g. triple reflectors.
9. A picture-puzzle arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the object is a compact plastics material block (e.g. of epoxy resin or plexiglass) in which the code elements or code dots (17-21) are fixedly embedded in the plastics material.

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