EP0965972A1

EP0965972A1 - Refractive viewer particularly for currency conversion tables

Info

Publication number: EP0965972A1
Application number: EP99110912A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giancarlo Fergnani
Original assignee: Premium SRL
Current assignee: Premium SRL
Priority date: 1998-06-17
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 1999-12-22
Also published as: DE965972T1; IT244071Y1; ITMI980422U1

Abstract

A refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, comprising a backing element (1) on which a plurality of images (2) are printed, a lens (3) being arranged above the supporting element, the plurality of images providing currency conversion tables.

Description

The present invention relates to a refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables.
It is known that pocket or desktop viewers are widely used which allow to alternately view a first image and a second image which are arranged on a same backing element and above which a lens is arranged.
The movement of the backing element or its inclination allows to view one image or the other alternately, according to the user's requirements.
These devices are generally used as advertising gadgets, gifts and the like.
These devices are usually limited to having only a first image and a second image which are mutually superimposed and can be viewed alternately.
The need is currently felt to have practical devices for performing currency conversions and in particular conversions from the current currency to the euro, which will soon become the only currency throughout Europe.
Calculators for performing conversions from one currency to the other are expected to be used to perform these conversions, which are initially indispensable to avoid disorienting consumers.
However, this system can be rather impractical and most of all it has a cost which must in any case be considered.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, which allows to obviate the need to have a calculator available in order to perform said conversions.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, in which two or more images are available on the backing element of the viewer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, which has an extremely limited cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, which has reduced dimensions and a very limited thickness.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, characterized in that it comprises a backing element on which a plurality of images are printed, a lens being arranged above said supporting element, said plurality of images providing currency conversion tables.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of the viewer according to the present invention;
Figures 2 to 4 are views of an example of currency conversion tables meant to be applied to the backing element of the viewer according to the invention.
With reference to the above figures, the viewer according to the invention comprises a backing element 1 on which a plurality of images are meant to be printed; three of said images are shown by way of example in Figures 2-4.
Said images illustrate tables for converting currencies from lire to euro, with calculation of the equivalent value.
The images are printed so as to be mutually superimposed so that the lines of one image are alternated with the lines of the image that lies below it.
In practice there is no exact limit to the number of images that can be printed in superimposed fashion on the backing element 1.
The only limit is set by the fineness of the printing that can be achieved.
On top of the backing element 1 with the images printed thereon there is provided a lens 3 which is meant to alternately reflect, by refraction, the images 2 printed on the backing element 1.
Figures 2-4 and particularly Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the currency conversion tables from lire to euro; each table is divided into three sections, each of which is in turn divided into subsections. The subsection 4a lists the equivalent value in lire from one hundredth of a euro to two euro, while the second subsection 4b lists the equivalent value in lire from 5 euro to 500 euro.
The intermediate section of Figure 2 illustrates, in the subsections 4c to 4f, the equivalent value in lire from 0.01 euro to 1 euro.
Finally, the subsections 4g and 4h illustrate the values in euro that correspond to 50 Italian lire to 100,000 Italian lire.
Figure 3, which must accordingly be superimposed on Figure 2, has sections 4a-4h which correspond to the sections 4a-4h of Figure 2.
Figure 4 instead illustrates the table for conversion from euro to French francs, from French francs to euro and the calculation of the equivalent value in French francs with respect to the euro.
Accordingly, the alternation of the various figures or images printed on the backing element 1 allows to perform a quick conversion from one currency to the other according to requirements. The conversion tables are of course not limited to the above-indicated currencies.
As mentioned, it is of course possible to superimpose a plurality of images 2 on the backing element 1, thus allowing various possibilities for conversions or other calculations.
The viewer according to the invention can therefore be used as a portable calculator which is undoubtedly very inexpensive and simple to use.
In practice it has been observed that the viewer according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to eliminate the need to use a pocket calculator, thus allowing a considerable saving of money together with very simple use, making the viewer highly desirable from the point of view of the consumer.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. MI98U000422 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A refractive viewer, particularly for currency conversion tables, characterized in that it comprises a backing element on which a plurality of images are printed, a lens being arranged above said supporting element, said plurality of images providing currency conversion tables.
The refractive viewer according to claim 1, characterized in that said lens is suitable to reflect the plurality of underlying images by refraction.
The refractive viewer according to claim 1, characterized in that said images are printed so that one is superimposed on the other and are mutually offset so as to allow them to be viewed alternately.
The refractive viewer according to claim 1, characterized in that said currency conversion tables are suitable to convert Italian lire to euro and viceversa.
The refractive viewer according to claim 1, characterized in that said currency conversion tables are suitable to convert any currency into euro.