EP1691647A1

EP1691647A1 - Viewing device and cardboard blank for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: EP1691647A1
Application number: EP04802717A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oliver Heine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-19
Filing date: 2004-11-12
Publication date: 2006-08-23
Also published as: JP2007513367A; US20080092416A1; DE20317862U1; DE112004002712D2; WO2005051141A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a viewing device comprising a housing (2, 26) that comprises a front wall (3; 3'; 21; 29) having at least one viewing opening (8, 8', 23, 28) for an object (10, 16, 24) to be viewed, which can be placed or shown inside the housing (2; 26) on the inner surface (9, 9', 34, 51) on the rear wall (4, 4', 22, 32, 33), and comprises a blank (25) for producing a viewing device of this type. In order to achieve that the flat objects (10, 16, 24) to be viewed, which are depicted in the inventive viewing device (1, 1', 20, 27), give a three-dimensional impression, the invention provides that the outer surface (100) of the front wall (3, 3', 21, 29) of the housing (2, 26) of the viewing device (1, 1', 20, 27) is shaped so that it is convex in relation to the viewer (7). The three-dimensional impression of the object (10, 16, 24) to be shown can be further enhanced when the rear wall (4, 32, 33) of the housing (2, 26) of the viewing device (1, 1', 27) has an inner surface (9, 9', 34, 51) concave in relation to the viewer (7).

Description

Viewing device and cardboard blank for their manufacture

The invention relates to a viewing device with a housing which has a front wall with at least one viewing opening for a display object which can be arranged or represented within the housing on the inner surface of the rear wall. The invention further relates to a cardboard blank for producing such a viewing device.

A viewing device of the type mentioned above is known for example from DE 201 12 225 U1. This known device essentially consists of three relatively solid housing parts: namely, a base part serving as a stand and comprising a light source, a frame-shaped front part and a rear housing part. The individual housing parts are preferably made of stone, artificial stone or stone casting. In order to obtain a spatial impression, in particular of flat motifs to be displayed, this publication already proposes to the viewer facing inner surface of the rear housing part with a curvature directed towards the rear of the housing part.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a viewing device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the spatial impression of the objects to be displayed is achieved with alternative measures with regard to DE 201 12 225 U1. A cardboard blank for producing a viewing device according to the invention is also to be disclosed.

This object is achieved according to the invention with regard to the viewing device by the features of claim 1 and with regard to the cutting by the features of claim 27. Further, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

The invention is essentially based on the idea of making the outer surface of the front wall of the housing of the viewing device curved toward the viewer.

In order to further increase the spatial impression of the display object to be displayed, it has proven to be advantageous if, as already proposed in DE 201 12 225 U1, the rear wall of the housing of the viewing device also has an inner surface that is curved away from the viewer.

The curvatures of the inner surface of the rear wall and the curvature of the outer surface of the front wall can run between the lateral edges or between the lower and upper edge of said surfaces. The corresponding curvatures can also have a spherical-spherical shape. Essentially, the specific course of the curvature of the inner and outer surfaces depends on the respective location of the viewer and on the temporal change of this location in relation to the viewing device. If, for example, the viewer moves with respect to the device on a horizontal viewing or movement plane (viewer passing the device), it is expedient for the curvatures of the inner and outer surfaces to run between the lateral edges. On the other hand, if an observer moves from bottom to top or vice versa (travel in an elevator, etc.), the curvatures of the inner and outer surfaces should also run from bottom to top.

It has been shown that a corresponding arrangement of the curvatures of the inner and / or outer surfaces of the housing has surprising effects, e.g. for amusement parks (amusement park, shooting gallery etc.).

Appropriate viewing devices in a simple manner, e.g. by folding processes, it has proven to be expedient to manufacture the housing walls, in particular the rear wall and the front wall, from a thin-walled material with a wall thickness of <2 mm, so that the entire rear wall and front wall are used to produce the curvatures of the inner and outer surfaces has a corresponding curvature.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rear wall and the front wall of the housing are arched in such a way that they touch directly along their lateral edges. The resulting oval-shaped bottom edge region of the rear and front wall which results in this case can simultaneously serve as a standing surface for the viewing device according to the invention. As already known per se, the display object should be able to be illuminated by at least one light source which can be arranged within the housing, the light source being arranged below the viewing opening in most cases.

Small light bulbs with low power (<7.5 W) can be used as the light source. LED elements in particular have proven to be advantageous due to their low power.

The inner surfaces of the rear and / or front wall surrounding the light source and / or opposite the light source can be designed as reflection surfaces, in particular if they lie outside the viewing area of a viewer.

The display objects should preferably be able to be fastened to the inner surface of the rear wall of the respective housing in such a way that their lateral edges lie outside the viewing area of a viewer who is just looking through the viewing opening.

The display objects do not have to be flat, but can also be designed in relief, which additionally leads to light / shadow effects and enhances the plastic impression.

The flat display object does not need to “stick” to the rear wall, but can be arranged on the inner surface of the rear wall of the respective housing in such a way that it does not touch the inner surface in at least one partial area, since such effects also lead to a more intensive perception.

The inner surface of the rear wall can also comprise at least one fastening element for the detachable fastening of interchangeable motifs. The display objects can also be a strip-shaped object which is arranged on the spool of a winding device and can be rewound onto another spool. The coils of the winding device are then arranged, for example, on the left and right on the rear wall, so that rewinding from one reel to another and viewing the strip section between them is possible. To ensure that the stripe-shaped object follows the curvature of the rear wall, a correspondingly shaped transparent guide plate (eg made of plexiglass) must be connected upstream, behind which the stripe-shaped object runs and is protected at the same time.

In a further embodiment of a viewing device according to the invention, a partial area of the inner surface of the rear wall is designed as an LCD screen on which the display objects can then be displayed. The electronics required for controlling this LCD screen are preferably arranged inside the housing-shaped rear wall of the viewing device.

In another embodiment of the invention, a partial area of the inner surface of the rear wall is formed by a (usually matt) screen on which objects can be projected from the rear.

The viewing opening of the viewing device can be protected by a transparent cover (e.g. by a film, plexiglass, glass or a so-called spy mirror, which becomes transparent as soon as it is backlit). The cover can have a (filigree) print (lettering or image motif), which visibly moves the cover to the foreground and makes it the reference size, which enhances the spatial impression.

The housing of the viewing device according to the invention can be made of different materials (plastic, PU, plexiglass, wood, sheet metal, recycled material). In particular cardboard material like it the cardboard industry offers a wide variety of uses, for example flat material of different thickness, color and structure, possibly specially treated, such as sealed, coated, reflective, etc., has proven to be useful. When using corrugated cardboard, it is possible to fix movable ends, such as a foldable end, against the rough surface of adjacent parts.

It has also proven to be particularly effective if photographic images on matt paper and not glossy are used.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the front wall of the housing is cylindrical in shape, similar to an advertising pillar, and has a plurality of viewing openings distributed over the circumference.

The viewing openings can be arranged arbitrarily, that is to say they are distributed regularly or irregularly over the circumference. The viewing openings can be arranged along a circumferential line that runs at the same height or a circumferential line that rises and falls again. Of course, the viewing openings could also be arranged along several circumferential lines or parts thereof.

The rear wall of the housing of the viewing device according to the invention can also be configured in a cylindrical shape and, if appropriate, be designed to be rotatable about its central longitudinal axis.

A further development of the concept of the invention consists in that the viewing device is designed to be variable, namely in such a way that the curvature of the front and rear walls can be changed. This can start from a flat state (= rest state), in which the viewing device is nothing more than a card-shaped envelope, and transition into a curved state (= viewing state), which - depending by material - can be increased to a cylindrical shape. This process is reversible.

The aforementioned embodiment can be realized according to the invention in that the rear wall on which a display object is arranged or can be arranged is originally flat, as is the front wall arranged in front with the viewing opening for the display object, the front and rear walls being made of flexible material (paper, cardboard , Plastic or metal foil) and are connected to each other along two opposite sides so that they bulge out and form a housing as soon as they are pressed together at their connecting lines.

The display object can advantageously be illuminated by a light source arranged within the housing, the light source having a switch which is arranged in the region of the sides to be compressed and can be actuated by the compression.

In addition, further features can be realized in such a variable viewing device, as are specified above for a viewing device with a fixed shape. The last-mentioned embodiments are particularly suitable for use as an advertising display, greeting card or the like.

Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following exemplary embodiments explained with reference to figures. Show it:

1 shows the cross section through a first embodiment of a viewing device according to the invention along the section line designated by 1-l in FIG. 2;

2 shows the front view of the viewing device shown in FIG. 1; 3 shows the cross section through the rear wall of a second exemplary embodiment of a viewing device according to the invention with a winding device for a strip-shaped display object;

4 shows the cross section through a third exemplary embodiment of a viewing device according to the invention configured in the form of an advertising column;

5 shows the longitudinal section through a fourth embodiment of the invention, in which an LCD screen is used to display objects to be viewed;

6 shows a first cardboard blank for producing a viewing device according to the invention in the unfolded state;

7 and 8 the front and the back of the viewing device which results after the folding of the cardboard blank shown in FIG. 5,

9 shows a second blank relating to an insert part for the viewing device, which can be produced from the blank shown in FIG. 5, and

10 shows the perspective view of a variable viewing device in the viewing state in the hand of an observer.

1 and 2, 1 denotes a viewing device according to the invention, which comprises a housing 2, for example made of plastic, with a curved front wall 3 and a curved rear wall 4, which runs along lateral edges 5, 6 are interconnected. The front wall 3 arched toward the viewer 7 has an outer surface 100 and contains a viewing opening 8, which can be protected, for example, by a transparent cover (not shown).

The rear wall 4 of the housing 2 has an inner surface 9 arched away from the viewer 7, to which a flat display object 10 (for example a photograph) is interchangeably fastened, the side edges 11 of which outside the field of view 12 of the viewer 7 who is just looking through the viewing opening 8 lie.

The display object 10 can be illuminated by a light source 13 arranged below the viewing opening 8 and fastened to the rear wall 4 of the housing 2.

FIG. 3 shows the rear wall, also designated 4, of a second exemplary embodiment of a viewing device according to the invention. In this viewing device, a winding device consisting of two coils 14, 15 is arranged on the rear wall 4. A strip-shaped display object 16 can be unwound or wound from the coils 14, 15 and is guided between the coils 14, 15 by a transparent guide plate 17.

4 shows the cross section of a viewing device 20 designed as an advertising column. This device essentially consists of a front wall 21 designed as a hollow cylinder and a rotatable rear wall 22 located inside the hollow cylinder 21 and also designed as a cylinder. The front wall 21 has four evenly Viewing openings 23 distributed over the circumference.

Four (eg exchangeable) display objects 24 are fastened on the rear wall 22 and can be moved past the viewing openings 23 with the rotating rear wall 22. In the embodiment of a viewing device 1 ^' shown in FIG. 5, a partial area of the inner surface 9 ^{' of} the rear wall 4 ^{'is designed} as an LCD screen 101 on which the objects to be viewed can be displayed. The electronics 102 required for controlling this LCD screen 101 are arranged within the rear wall 4 ^'of the viewing device 1 ^' which is designed in the form of a housing. The ^'viewing aperture 8 ^contained' in the front wall 3 is closed in the illustrated embodiment by a transparent cover 103rd

FIG. 6 shows a cardboard blank made of corrugated cardboard, designated 25, for producing the housing 26 of a viewing device 27 according to the invention, which in the folded state essentially has a shape corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 (with an oval cross section). The blank 25 comprises a first section 29 provided with a viewing opening 28 and forming the front wall of the housing 26 of the viewing device 27. A second and third section 32 and 33 forming the rear wall of the viewing device 27 close on the two transverse sides 30, 31 of the first section with the connecting edges 30 ^' , 31 ^{' of} the sections 29, 32 and 29, 33 forming the fold lines for folding the carton blank 25 together.

The second section 32 comprises the inner surface 34 which carries the display object (not shown) and the third section 33 serves to reinforce and fix the second section 32 and can be non-positively connected to it via two Velcro regions 35.

To form the oval bottom region 36 of the housing 26, the first section 29 of the blank 25 is connected on its underside 37 to a fourth section 39 via a straight fold line 38. At a distance which corresponds to the maximum distance from the front and rear walls of the housing 26 to be produced, this has a fold line 40, so that after the folding process the outer edge region 41 of the fourth section 39 is supported on the second section 32. Between the fold lines 38 and 40 there is provided an oval region 43 which is completely delimited by a fold line 42 and which is selected such that the oval bottom region 36 results after the folding process, which is slightly set back from the lower edges of the front and rear of the housing ,

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the second section 32 is delimited on the upper side by an oval area 45 delimited by a fold line 44, which in the folded state of the blank forms the roof area of the housing, such that the roof area 45 is slightly oblique from the rear wall 32, 33 rises to the front wall 29 (Fig. 8).

In the second, third and fourth sections 32, 33 and 39, an opening 46 is also provided for the partial passage of a lamp holder (not shown), so that in the folded state of the blank the lamp holder e.g. is screwable on the lamp side with a nut part (not shown) and the three sections 32, 33 and 39 are held together not only by the Velcro regions 35, but above all by the lamp holder.

In order to be able to quickly replace a display object or to be able to vary the curvature of the inner surface of the rear wall, an additional insert part can be used, which is supported on the second section of the blank via corresponding edge-side support areas. A corresponding blank for this insert part can be seen in FIG. 9 and is designated by reference number 50. The inner surface is denoted by 51 and the support areas separated by fold lines 52-56 by 57-61. This insert part 50 can also be non-positively connected to the three sections 32, 33 and 39 of the first blank 25 via the lamp holder mentioned above and also has an opening 46 for this purpose. Finally, FIG. 10 also shows a variable viewing device 1, which originally had the shape of a flat card-shaped envelope, but in the hand of an observer by squeezing the connecting lines between the front and rear walls 3, 4 from an originally flat shape (= rest state ) has been brought into a viewing state. Both the front and rear walls 3, 4 are curved and together form a housing 2 with the effects as have already been described for viewing devices with a fixed housing. In order to maintain the state of observation shown, a permanent force is required, as symbolized by the arrows K. By changing (strengthening / weakening) the force effect, other viewing conditions (as a result of stronger or weaker curvature) can be set.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

, 1 ^' viewing device housing, 3 ^' front wall, 4 ^' rear wall, 6 side edges viewer, 8 ^' viewing opening, 9 ^' inner surface display object side edges (display object) field of view light source, 15 coils display object guide plate

Viewing device front wall, hollow cylinder rear wall viewing opening show object

(First) cut, cardboard cut housing viewing device viewing opening first section, front wall, 31 transverse sides ^' , 31 ^' connecting edges, side edges second section, rear wall third section, rear wall inner surface Velcro area bottom area bottom side fold line fourth section fold line edge area fold line oval area fold line oval area, roof area opening

(second) cut inner surface-56 fold lines-61 support areas 0 outer surface1 LCD screen2 electronics3 transparent cover arrow, power arrow

Claims

protection claims

1. Viewing device with a housing (2; 26) which has a front wall (3; 3 ^' ; 21; 29) with at least one viewing opening (8; 8 ^' ; 23; 28) for an inside the housing (2; 26) the inner surface (9; 9 ^' ; 34; 51) of the rear wall (4; 4 ^' ; 22; 32, 33) has a display object (10; 16; 24) which can be arranged or represented, characterized in that the front wall (3; 3 ^' ; 21; 29) of the housing (2; 26) has an outer surface (100) curved towards the viewer (7).

2. Viewing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear wall (4; 4 ^' ; 22; 32, 33) of the housing (2; 26) has a curved inner surface (9; 9 ^' ; 34; 51) away from the viewer (7) ) having.

3. Viewing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the curvatures of the inner surface (9; 9 ^' ; 34; 51) of the rear wall (4; 4';22; 32, 33) and the curvature of the outer surface (100) of the front wall ( 3; 3 ';21; 29) runs between the two lateral edges of the corresponding surfaces or between the lower and upper edges of said surfaces.

4. Viewing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the curvatures of the inner surface of the rear wall and the curvature of the outer surface of the front wall have a spherical shape.

5. Viewing device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the rear wall (4; 22; 32, 33) one of them Inner surface (9; 34) and the front wall (3; 21; 29) has a curvature corresponding to its outer surface (100).

6. Viewing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rear wall (4; 32, 33) and the front wall (3; 29) of the housing (2; 26) are curved such that they extend along their side edges (5, 6; 30 ^' , 31 ^' ) touch directly.

7. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the display object (10; 16; 24) can be illuminated by at least one light source (13) which can be arranged within the housing (2; 26).

8. Viewing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the light source (13) is arranged below the viewing opening (8; 23; 28).

9. Viewing device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the light source (13) is an electrical light source which can be fastened to the rear wall (4; 22; 32, 33) of the housing (2; 26).

10. Viewing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical light sources (13) are LED elements.

11. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the light source (13) surrounding and / or the light source (13) opposite inner surfaces of the rear wall (4; 22; 32, 33) and / or front wall (3; 21; 29) are designed as reflection surfaces.

12. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the display objects (10) on the inner surface (9) of the rear wall (4) of the respective housing (2) can be fastened in such a way that their lateral edges (11) outside the Field of view (12) of a viewer (7) looking straight through the view opening (8).

13. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that display objects (10; 16; 24) on the inner surface (9; 34; 51) of the rear wall (4; 22; 32, 33) of the respective housing (2nd ; 26) can be arranged so that they do not touch the inner surface (9; 34; 51) at least in a partial area.

14. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the inner surface (9; 34; 51) of the rear wall (4; 22; 32, 33) has at least one fastening element for the detachable fastening of change motifs.

15. Viewing device according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that on the rear wall (4) of the housing a two coils (14, 15) comprising winding device and a lying in the field of view of the viewer (7) transparent, the curvature of the inner surface ( 9) the rear wall (4) following, but spaced from this guide plate (17) are arranged such that a strip-shaped viewing object (16) arranged on the winding device can be moved between the guide plate (17) and the inner surface (9).

16. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the housing (2; 26) consists of a cardboard material, plastic or sheet metal.

17. Viewing device according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing (2; 26) consists of a corrugated cardboard material.

18. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the viewing device (1; 20; 27) for its intended use is designed to be movable, in particular displaceable, rotatable and / or mobile.

19. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the viewing opening (8; 23; 28) of the front wall (3; 21; 29) is protected by a transparent cover.

20. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the front wall (21) of the housing is cylindrical and has a plurality of viewing openings (23) arranged distributed over the circumference.

21. Viewing device according to claim 20, characterized in that the viewing openings (23) lie on a circumferential line which rotates, rises or falls at the same height.

22. Viewing device according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the rear wall (22) is also cylindrical.

23. Viewing device according to claim 21, characterized in that the rear wall (22) is rotatably mounted about its central longitudinal axis.

24. Viewing device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the inner surface (9 ^' ) of the rear wall (4') is designed as an LCD screen (101) on which corresponding display objects can be displayed.

25. Viewing device according to claim 24, characterized in that the electronics (102) required for controlling the LCD screen (101) are arranged within a housing-shaped rear wall (4 ^' ) of the viewing device (1 ^' ).

26. Viewing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the inner surface of the rear wall is formed by a screen on which objects to be viewed can be projected from the rear.

27. Viewing device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the rear wall (4), on which a display object (10) is arranged or can be arranged, is originally flat, as is the front wall (3) arranged in front with the viewing opening ( 8) for the display object (10), the front and rear walls (3, 4) being made of flexible material (paper, cardboard, plastic or metal foil) and connected to one another along two opposite sides so that they bulge out and a housing ( 2) form as soon as they are pressed together at their connecting lines.

28. Viewing device according to claim 27, characterized in that the display object (10) can be illuminated by a light source (13) arranged inside the housing (2), the light source having a switch which is arranged in the region of the sides to be compressed and by which Compressing can be actuated.

29. Cardboard blank for producing a viewing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the blank (25) is provided with a viewing opening (28) and the front wall forming first section (29) and two on the transverse sides (30, 31) of the first Section (29) adjoining second and third sections (32, 33), the connecting edges (30 ^' , 31 ^' ) of the sections Form fold lines for folding the cardboard blank, and that the second and third sections (32, 33) form the rear wall of the housing, the second section (32) comprising the inner surface (34) carrying the display object and the third section for fixing and reinforcing the second section (32) can be non-positively connected to this.

30. Cardboard blank according to claim 29, characterized in that the underside (37) of the first section (29) is connected via a fold line (38) to a fourth section (39) which has an oval region which is completely delimited by a fold line (42) (43) comprises such that the oval region (43) in the folded state forms the bottom region of the housing (26), which is somewhat set back from the lower edges of the front and rear of the housing (26).

31. Cardboard blank according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the second section (32) terminates on the upper side with an oval region (45) delimited by a fold line (44), which in the folded state of the blank (25) closes the roof region of the housing (26) forms such that the roof area (45) rises slightly obliquely from the rear wall (32, 33) to the front wall (29).

32. Cardboard blank according to one of claims 30 or 31, characterized in that in the second, third and fourth section (32, 33, 39) openings (46) are provided for a lamp holder, which are arranged such that in the folded state of the blank (25), the lamp holder can be passed at least partially through all three openings (46) and screwed on the lamp side with a nut part, so that the three sections (32, 33, 39) are held together by the lamp holder.

3. Cardboard blank according to one of claims 29 to 32, characterized in that a second blank (50) is provided, which can be arranged as an insert part on the inside in front of the rear wall (32, 33) of the housing (26) as a carrier for the respective display object.