US3746439A

US3746439A - Visual-effects-producing means in an audio-visual toy

Info

Publication number: US3746439A
Application number: US00213243A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Carabet; A Holland; J Morris; W Pester; K Pinkerton
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1971-12-29
Filing date: 1971-12-29
Publication date: 1973-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-17

Abstract

The nature of the projected picture in an audio-visual toy may be changed by manipulating different manual controls to position colored filters or an apertured plate in the path of the light beam or by vibrating a mirror frame which the picture is reflected onto a viewing screen.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Carabet et a1.

1451 July 17, 1973 1 1 VlSUAL-EFFECTS-PRODUCING MEANS IN 3,536,394 10/1970 Rosenburgh 353 101 x AN AUDIO VISUAL TOY 3,147,664 9/1964 Gelfand 353/99 3,600,076 8/1971 Synder t 353/1 Inventors: George Carabet. Palos Verdes 3,532,425 10/1970 Silverherg 353/911 x Peninsula; Andrew M. Holland, Los 3,609,339 9/1971 Smith 353/1 Angeles; Joseph P, Morris, 3,019,704 2/1962 Zillmcr 353/114 Huntington Beach; B-

Erickson 1 v 353/97 pester, pales Vcrdcs peninsula; 3,302,520 2/1967 Dimitracopoulos ct a1. 7153/19 Kenneth R. Pinkerton, Westminster, all of Calif. Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Attorney seymour Scholnick {22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 213,243

I [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 353/19, 274/9 R, 274/15 R [51] Int. Cl. G03b 31/06 The nature of the projected picture in an audio-visual [58] Field of Search 84/464; toy may be changed by manipulating different manual 353/15-19, 120, 1, 2, 97, 84, 121, 110; 274/1 controls to position colored filters or an apertured plate A, 9 R, 15 R in the path of the light beam or by vibrating a mirror frame which the picture is reflected onto a viewing [56] References Cited screen.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,556,654 1/1971 Sta leton 353/15 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 92 mm 12 a i I, .206

i "I 1", i :14 I! 0 1 :4 47 n 0 4 42 3 i l '21 as L I 1'2 J if 1 r, I #230 :2 1;: 547 240 6 5e a: :42 41:2 1 3 1; 4 31: 1:2 1:: 1': z, 15 6m 1 3 4.76 :27 no 1 271 2.26 8

J52 324 5 :26 136 1 2;?" 39, 14/ 146 I. I, m4 1 45a 1 6 1 1 I: I i 1 1 l i y 1: 14a 44 '02 124 12d 12: 1w

sum 2 or 1 PAIENIED JUL I 7 um PATENIEDJUL I! ma sum 1 or 1- VISUAL-EFFECTS-PRODUCING MEANS IN AN AUDIO-VISUAL TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains generally to the field of audio-visual toys and more particularly to visualeffects-producing means in such toys.

2. Description of the Prior Art U. S. Pat. Nos. 1,626,841; 1,967,161; 2,334,329; 2,957,389; 3,017,805; 3,147,664; 3,175,461 and 3,188,910 were discovered on a prior art search of the visual-effects-producing means of the present invention.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful visual-effects-producing means in an audio visual toy exemplifying improvements over prior art devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio-visual toy having visual-effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of a projected picture and manually operable lever means connected to the visual-effect means for positioning it in the path I of the projected picture.

According to the present invention, visual-effectsproducing means are provided in an audio-visual toyof the type having picture-projecting means for projecting pictures onto a viewing screen and sound-reproducing means, including sound-pickup means, for reproducing sounds while the pictures are being projected.

The visual-effects-producing means may include at least one means for changing the nature of the projected picture and are shown for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a plate having anaperture provided therein for blocking a major portion of the projected picture, a device for vibrating the mirror which reflects the picture onto the viewing screen and colored filters for cancelling portions of the project picture.

Manually operable lever means are connected to the visual effect means for positioning them in the path of the projected picture.

The audio-visual toy includes a recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of sound tracks including lead-in grooves having a predetermined spacedapart relationship and picture-carrier means immovably mounted on the recorded-message carrier means. A plurality of picture transparencies are mounted on the picture-carrier means with at least some of the transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relationship as the lead-in grooves so that indexing of the recorded-message carrier means to bring a particular transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of the lead-in grooves into playing position. The toy also includes means for automatically bringing the sound pickup means into playing position on the proper lead-in groove when the audio-visual toy is energized. Suitable indexing means is provided for indexing the recorded-message carrier means to bring predetermined transparencies-into viewing position.

The light at the film plane in the picture-projecting means is reinforced by a small spherical portion formed on the rear surface of an off-axis, elliptical reflector.

The recorded-message carrier means remains sta tionary while the sound-tracks are tracked by the sound pickup means which is swingably mounted on a tumtable rotatably mounted above the recorded-message carrier means. A flapper bar is rockably mounted on the turntable and includes an arcuate member which is slidably engaged by the pick-up means for transmitting vibrations to the flapper bar. A speakencone engaging member is carried by the flapper bar for engaging the speaker-cone when the flapper bar is rocked to a predetermined position bringing the sound-pickup means into engagement with the sound tracks.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial plan view of the deviceof FIG. 1 with parts removed to show internal construe tion;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, enlarged perspective view of a portion of the operating controls of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a record indexing mechanism including a somewhat schematic showing of a record indexed thereby;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGJS with the addition of a record and portions of the housing;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged, partial views similar to FIG. 3 showing only portions of the sound reproduc ing means therein shown; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line llll of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, sand more particularly to FIG. 1, an audio-visual device constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a housing 12 comprising a base member 14 and a cover member 16. Cover member 16 includes an encompassing side wall 18 which surrounds the upstanding encompassing side wall portion 20 of base member 14, a substantially hori zontal, lower top wall 22, an upstanding front wall 24, an upper top wall 26 and an upstanding rear wall 28. A translucent viewing screen 30 is provided in front wall 24 and reinforcing ribs 32 connect the lower top wall 22 to the front wall 24. Screen 30 is mounted in an opening 34 formed in front wall 24 during a suitable molding operation wherein coverzmember 16 is formed from a suitable plastic material, such as a high-impact polystyrene, as a one-piece unit.

The audio-visual device 10 also includes a scanner lever 36 which is articulately mounted in base member 14 for circular movement, as indicated by arrow 38, front-toback movement, as indicated by arrow 40, and side-to-side movement, as indicated by arrow 42, and extends upwardly through a rectangular opening 44 provided in top wall 22.

A picture 46, displayed on screen in a manner to be hereinafter described may be scanned by an iris plate 48 (FIG. 4) which blocks projected light from screen 30, except for a spot of light passing through an aperture 50 provided in iris plate 48. Plate 48 may be moved in the direction of arrows 52, 54 by scanner lever 36 which includes an L-shaped arm 56 having a tip portion 58 engaged in an aperture 60 provided in a first plate arm 62 carried by, and lying normal to, a second plate arm 64 having an offset portion 66 to which plate 48 is attached. An upstanding post 68 is connected to the junction between

arm

62, 64 by a web 70 and receives one end 72 of a spring 74 (FIG. 2) having another end 76 connected to a platform 78 carried by a control panel 80 mounted in an opening 82 (FIG. 1) provided in top wall 22 of cover member 16. Spring 74 normally biases iris plate 48 to a neutral position where it is out of the path of the light beam reflected onto screen 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, scanner lever 36 includes a pair of trunnions, like the one shown at 84 in FIG. 4, which may be seated in

journals

86, 88 provided on platform member 78. Arm 56 is joined to lever 36 by a circular disc 90 adapted to be seated in an arcuate member 92 (FIG. 2) on platform 78 to facilitate circular movement of lever 36. Movement of plate 48 in the direction of arrow 54 is facilitated by a slidable plate 94 slidably mounted on

ribs

96, 98, and 102 upstanding from the bottom wall portion 104 of base member 14. Movement of plate 48 in the direction of arrow 52 is facilitated by slidably mounting arm 62 in ways I06, 108 carried by slidable plate 94. Lever 36 may be manipulated by grasping a handle 110 provided on the upper end 112 thereof. The lower end 114 of lever 36 carries an arcuate shield 116, which is disposed below rectangular opening 44 (FIG. 1) for enhancing the appearance of device 10. Lever 36 may be used to manipulate plate 48 from its normal position away from a light source 118 into the path thereof and will block all of the light normally reflected onto screen 30 except the light passing through aperture 50. Thus, a child-user of device 10 may cause a spot of light to scan screen 30 by manipulating lever 36 in circular path 38, front-to-rear path 40 or side-to-side path 42. Thus, plate 48 and its associated operating means may be referred to broadly hereinafter as scanning means."

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, light source 118 includes an electric light bulb 120 (FIG. 3) securred in a socket 122 formed in the bottom wall 124 of a reflector 126 having a peripheral flange 128 secured to the lower surface 130 ofa horizontal plate 132 by suitable fastening means, like the cold staked plastic member 134 depending from plate 132. Flange 128 is maintained in spaced relationship with plate 132 by suitable spacers, like the ones shown at 136, 138, so that scanner plate 48 is free to move from the normal, retracted position shown in FIG. 3 to various positions where aperture 50 in plate 48 assumes different locations within a light opening provided in plate 132 above bulb 120.

serted through an opening provided in a leg 152 formed on bottom wall 104 of base member 14 during a suitable molding operation wherein base member 14 is molded from a suitable plastic material, such as highimpact polystyrene.

Light rays 154 from bulb 120 pass through opening 140 in plate 132, a suitable pictorial transparency 156 carried by an audio-visual record 158, and a condensor lens 160. Light rays 154 are then reflected from the rear surface 162 of a first mirror 164 swingably mounted in housing 12 by a pair of

trunnions

166, 168 joumalled in posts, 170, 172, respectively, carried by a mechanism-supporting member 174 secured in housing 12 above plate 132 and record 158. Light rays 154 are reflected by swingable mirror 164 onto a fixed mirror 176 which, in turn, reflects them onto screen 30, which may be made from a suitable material, such as polypropylene having a suitable finish created by sand blasting the mold in which it is formed.

Picture 46 (FIG. 1) from transparency 156 may be brought into focus on screen 30 by manipulating a knob 176 within a slot 178, as indicated by arrow 180 in FIG. 4, provided in control panel 80. Knob 176 is formed integrally with a cam follower 182 connected to lens 160 by a yoke 184 for rotating lens 160 within a pair of arcuate slots, like the one shown at 186 in FIG. 3, provided in a lens housing 187 for raising and lowering lens 160 by having cam follower 182 ride on a pair of cams, like the one shown at 187.

Referring now more in particular to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, picture 46 on screen 30 may be caused to flutter by reciprocating a flutter knob 188, as indicated by arrow 190 in FIG. 4, within an elliptical opening 192 provided in instrument panel 80. Knob 188 is carried by a block 194 reciprocably mounted on the underside 195 (FIG. 3) of panel 80 by suitable means (not shown) causing block 194 to follow a path defined by arrows A and B. A finger 196 is formed integrally with block 194 and knob 188 from a suitable plastic material, during an injection molding operation and carries a plurality of teeth 198 engageable with an arm 200 affixed to mirror 164 by a plate 202 for vibrating mirror 164 during reciprocation of teeth 198. Finger 196 is guided during reciprocation by a way 204 mounted on plate 174 for slidably receiving finger 196. There are a number of different play situations where it is desirable to flutter mirror 164. For example, picture 46 may depict the interior of a submarine with men at its controls. The audio portion of record 158 may suggest that the submarine has been hit. Flutter knob 188 may then be manipulated causing picture 46 to flutter in simulation of a submarine which has been shaken by a depth charge.

Referring now to FIG. I, 2, 3 and 4, picture 46 may be displayed in suitable colors and may have a scene of one color superimposed over a scene of another color so that portions ofa scene may be eliminated by manipulating a filter knob 205 extending upwardly through an arcuate slot 206 provided in instrument panel 80. Knob 205 is formed integrally with a filter frame assembly 208 which may be molded from a suitable plastic material. Filter assembly 208 includes a semi-circular plate 210 which carries knob 205 and to which a pivot post 212 is affixed by a depending leg 214 reinforced by a web 216. Filter assembly 208 also includes a filtercarrying member 218 which is connected to post 212 by a substantially horizontal arm 220, vertical leg 222 and reinforcing webs 224 and 226 and which is provided with

openings

228, 230 in which a blue filter 232 and a red filter 234 (FIG. 4) may be mounted. With the exception of filters 232 and 234, filter assembly 208 may be molded as a unitary assembly from a suitable plastic material, and is held in different rotated positions by a detent spring 236 having an apertured head 238 connected to a fixed pin 240, which rotatably receives pivot post 212. Spring 236 includes a resilient finger 242 adapted to be engaged in one of a plurality of notches 244, 246 and 248 (FIG. 4) provided on the under side of filter-carrying member 218. Spring 236 also includes a depending protuberance 249 biased into engagement with record 158 adjacent opening 140 by the resilient nature of spring 236 for preventing unwanted vibration of transparency 156 during the reproduction of sounds recorded on record 158 by soundreproducing means to be hereinafter described.

Knob 205 may be moved in the direction of an arrow 250 until member 218 engages a suitable fixed stop, like the one indicated in broken lines at 252 in FIG. 4, whereby filters 232 and 234 will not intercept light from light source 118. Alternatively, knob 205 may be moved to the position'shown in FIG. 4 where blue filter 232 is in the light path for changing the color and nature of the picture 46. Additionally, knob 205 may be moved in the direction of arrow 254 until member 218 strikes another suitable stop, such as the one indicated schematically in FIG. 4 at 256, whereby red filter 234 is positioned over transparency 156 for changing the color of picture 46. While red and blue filters have been shown for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other colored filters may be employed to enhance the play value of the device by making it possible to employ background scenes on transparency 156 in a particular color which will be cancelled by one of the filters 232, 234. A child-user of device 10 may be instructed by the audio portion of record 158 to actuate knob 205 and bring a particular filter into lightintercepting position for eliminating a monster or other figure from the scene protrayed by picture 46.

Forces exerted by spring 236 are absorbed by plate 132, which supports record 158, and by a vertical plate 187A, which is formed integrally with lens housing 187 for providing a bearing surface for an arcuate rib 257 carried by filter assembly 208. Semi-circular plate 210 is supported beneath slot 206 by a pair of upstanding webs 258, 260 (FIG. 3) formed integrally with an elevated portion 262 of bottom wall 104 and connected to the lower portion Referring now to FIGS. I, 2, 3, 5 and 7, indexing means 277 includes a control lever 279 (FIG. I) swingably mounted in a rectangular opening 280 provided in lower top wall 22 of housing 12.

For manufacturing simplicity, control lever 279 may be identical to lever 36 shown in FIG. 4 including a grip portion 282 and an arcuate shield 284. Additionally, lever 279 is provided with a leg, like the one shown at 56 for lever 36 in FIG. 4, which engages an aperture 286 (FIGS. 2 and 5) provided in a slide bar 288 slidably mounted on top ofa vertical rib 290 (FIG. 2) extending upwardly from bottom wall 104 of bottom housing member 14. Slide bar or push rod 288 is guided during reciprocation by a pair of ways 292, 294affixed to bottom wall 104 and is biased to the position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 5 by a spring 296 having a first end 298 connected to a hook 300 formed integrally with slide bar 288 and a second end 302 connected to way 294. Push rod 288 includes a first offset finger 304 having a free end 306 which carries an upstanding shoe 308 engageable with a start-stop latch or reset lever 310 when push rod 288 is moved in the direction of arrow 312 to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. Push rod 288 also includes a second off set finger 314 having an end 316 connected to anindexing arm 318 by a depending boss 320 formed integrally with end 316 during a suitable molding operation wherein push rod 288 is formed as a unitary structure from a suitable plastic material. When push rod 288 is moved in the direction of arrow 312 to its FIG. 5 broken-line position, boss 320follows the path defined by arrow 322 moving indexing arm 318 to its FIG. 5 broken-line position. 264 thereof by a stepped, substantially 1 vertical wall 266. This arrangement forms a chamber 268 in housing 12 which serves as a battery housing.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7, audio-visual record 158 may comprise any suitable picture-carrying, pho nograph record and is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as being the same type as the audio-visual record shown and described in copending application Ser. No. 163,160, filed July 16, 1971 and incorporated herein by reference. Record 158 maycomprise aunitary picture ring 270 and a groove-carrying disc portion 27.2 having uniformly spaced picture-receiving openings 274, phonographneedle lead-in grooves 276 and recorded-message grooves 278 provided thereon. Suitable transparencies, like the one shown at 156 in FIG. 7, may be mounted in openings 274 with every other transparency being reversed so that record 158 may have recorded mes sages provided on both sides for use by playing one side and showing one half the pictures mounted in openings Although record 158 remains stationary while a rotating phonograph needle tracks the recorded-message grooves 278, record 158 may be indexed by incrementally rotating it with a suitable indexing means 277 for brining different transparencies 156 into viewing position over opening 140 and bulb (FIG. 3).

As best seen in FIG. 3, and as previously described, record 158 rests on top of plate 132. It will be apparent from FIG. 7 that finger 304 is above plate 132 and that finger 314 and index arm 318 are mounted helow plate 132 on a hollow, depending boss 324 (FIG. 3) which engages an elliptical slot 326 provided in indexing arm 318 and which carries

lateral tabs

327, 328 for holding indexing arm 318 in position thereon. Indexing arm 318 includes a tail piece 330 which carries an upstanding pin 332 adapted to follow a path defined by a pair of

arcuate ramps

334, 336 depending from plate 132 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Ramp 336 includes an elevated end 338 forming a depending shoulder 340 adjacent the low end 342 of ramp 334. Ramp 336 also includes a low end 344 adjacent a shoulder 346 formed by the high end 348 of ramp 334. A transition section 350 slopes downwardly from ramp 348 to the low end 344 of ramp 336. When push rod 288 is moved in the direction of arrow 312, boss 320 exerts a force on indexing arm 318 in the direction of arrow 322 causing pin 332 to ride along shoulder 340 until pin 332 reaches the low end 342 of ramp 334 for bringing a nib 357, provided on the end of leg 352 of indexing arm 318, into engagement with an indexing notch 354 provided at the peripheral edge 356 of record 158 by moving nib 357 in the direction of arrow 358. Continued'movement of push rod 288 in the direction of arrow 312 moves pin 332 along ramp 334 in the direction of arrows 360 causing nib 351 to travel along an arcuate slot 361 (FIG. 7) in plate 132 and to index record 158 in the direction of arrows 362 (FIG. for moving transparency 156 in the direction of arrows 362 and place it in viewing position at opening 140. An arcuate rib 364 is engaged by pin 332 during its movement in the direction of arrows 360 for assuring that nib 351 will follow the path defined by slot 361 and arrows 362 until indexing arm 318 reaches its broken line position indicating the end of one complete indexing stroke. At this time, pin 332 will be on transition section 350 adjacent shoulder 346 which will cause pin 332 to move along a straight line toward the low end 344 of ramp 336 when push rod 288 is returned to its solid-line position by spring 296. Additionally, pin 332 will move along ramp 336 in the direction of arrows 365 and drop off shoulder 340 leaving indexing arm 318 in its solid-line position ready for the next indexing stroke. It should be noted that the spacing between notches 354 and that the length of each indexing stroke are such that every other one of the transparencies 156 will be positioned at opening 140.

Record 158 is retained in a particular'position by a pair of detent springs 366, 368 secured to plate 132 by cold-headed

pins

370, 372, respectively, and spring loaded by an associated set of

plastic tabs

374, 376 formed on plate 132. Detent springs 366, 368 each includes a protuberance 378 engageable in notches 354 for holding record 158 in its various rotated positions.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, the audio portion of record 158 may be reproduced by a sound reproducing means 380 including a turntable 382 having a hollow spindle 384 rotatably journalled in a low-coefiicient-of-friction plastic sleeve 386 mounted in a plastic collar 388 formed integrally with plate 174 and having an upper end 390 swaged over a metal washer 392. Turntable 382 may be die cast from a suitable metal, such as a zinc alloy, and is driven by a belt 394 trained about the output shaft 396 of an electric motor 398 resiliently mounted in a motor housing 400 formed integrally with plate 174.

Sound reproducing means 380 also includesa tone arm assembly 402 having a first end 404 provided with a frusto-conical bore 406 (FIG. 8) rockably and swingably connecting tone arm 402 to a pivot pin 408 depending from turntable 382 and formed integrally therewith during the die-casting operation in such a manner that an arcuate shoulder 410 is formed thereon for engagement by a pair of arcuate rockers 412, 414 (FIGS. 3 and 8) formed on end 404 of tone arm 402. End 404 of tone arm 402 is free to slide a short distance up-and-down on pin 408 and is prevented from becoming detached therefrom by a tab 415 which depends from turntable 382 and which is engaged beneath an arcuate web 416 formed on end 404 of tone arm 402 and including depending tang 418 engageable with tab 415 for stopping tone arm 402 in one of its rotated positions. Tone arm 402 also includes a second end 419 which carries aphonograph needle 420 engageable with record 158 for tracking recorded message grooves 278 receiving vibrations therefrom. These vibrations are trasmitted by the upper surface 422 of end 419 of tone arm 402 o a flapper bar 424 swingably connected to turntable 382 by a pair of trunnions, like the one shown at 426 in FIGS. 3 and 8 each rotatably mounted in a saddle 428 depending from turntable 382. Trunnion 426 carries a pip or tab 430 which is trapped between saddle 428 and a depending plate 432 for preventing displacement of trunnion 426 from saddle 428 during axial movement of trunnion 426.

Flapper bar 424 includes an arcuate plate 434 along which upper surface 422 of tone am 402 slides during playing of record 158 from its inner periphery 436 to its outer periphery 438 for transmitting vibrations from needle 402 to a speaker cone 440 through a fluid coupling 441, a piston 442 and a piston-engaging member 444. Piston-engaging member forms an integral part of flapper bar 424 which is biased to turn clockwise about trunnion 426 (as viewed in FIG. 8) by a spring 446 having a first end 448 connected to a spring hook 450 on flapper bar 424 and a second end 452 connected to a spring hook 454 depending from turntable 382. Spring 446 exerts a force just sufficient to engage needle 420 with record 158 against the force exerted by a spring 456 having a first end 458 seated in piston 442 and a second end 460 seated against a fixed speaker grill 462 for biasing piston 442 into engagement with pistonengaging member 444 on flapper bar 424 when it is in the position shown in FIG. 8 where it extends through an opening 464 (FIG. 3) in record 158.

FIGS. 3 and 9 show flapper bar 424 in an elevated position with tone arm 402 in its returned position wherein needle 420 is over the inner periphery 436 of record 158. Tone arm 402 is biased to this position by a tone arm return spring 466 having a first end 468 connected to a hook 470 depending from turntable 382 and a second end 472 connected to tone arm 402. Tone arm 402 is stopped in its FIG. 3 position by a tone arm stop member 474 having a hook 476 extending over flapper bar 424 for preventing tone arm 402 from becoming disengaged with flapper bar 424 when tone arm stop member 474 engages a fixed web 478 which establishes the correct starting position for needle 420. Flapper bar 424 is elevated to its FIG. 3 position by a flapper lifter 480 comprising a shaft 482 extending through turntable spindle 384 and having a first end 484 connected to flapper bar 424. Shaft 482 has a second end 486 which carries an enlarged head 488 seated on an arcuate opening 490 provided in a lifting lever 492 swingably mounted on plate 174 by a pair of trunnions 494, 496 (FIG. 2) journalled in fixed

mounts

498, 500, respectively, formed integrally with plate 174. Lifting lever 492 is biased to the elevated position shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 by a spring 502 (FIG. 2) having a coiled portion 504 cradled in a trough 506 provided in lifting lever 492, a first arm 508 engaged under clip 510 carried by liftinglever 492, and a second arm 512 engaged under plate 174.

Referring now to FIG. 7, as more fully explained in co-pending application Ser. No. l63,l60, filed July I6, 197] the lead-in groove 276 for a particular transparency 156 must be under the phonograph needle 420 (FIG. 8) at the beginning of play so that the sound for a particular picture 46 will be automatically played when device is energized. To accomplish this, it is essential that turntable 382 be stopped at the same rotated position at the end of the playing of each re corded message. This is accomplished by providing a fixed stop 514 (FIGS. 3 and 8) which depends from plate 174 in the path of travel of an upstanding finger 516 on flapper bar 424 which extends through an opening 517 in tum-table 382 for engaging stop 514 only when flapper bar 424 is in the elevated position shown in FIG. 3 and also shown in broken lines in FIG. 8. If, for some reason, finger 516 becomes wedged against stop 514 with sufficient tightness that spring 446 will not return flapper bar 424 to the playing position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8 when device 10 is again energized, a depending finger 518 on lifting lever 492 (FIG. 3) will pass through a suitable opening in plate 174 (not shown) and engage flapper bar finger 516 freeing it from stop 514.

Referring now more in particular to FIGS. 9 and 10, flapper bar 424 automatically lowers needle 420 (FIG. 8) onto record 158 when flapper lifter 480 is moved from its FIG. 9 position to its FIG. 10 position. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that unwanted displacement of lifter 490 to its FIG. 10 position when device 10 is dropped or the like could damage needle 420 or record 158 or both. Such unwanted displace ment of lifter 480 is prevented by a safety stop assembly or locking lever 520 (FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 10) including an arm 522 having a bifurcated end 524 swingably engaged against a fixed post 526 extending upwardly from plate 174 anda free, L-shaped end 528 normally holdingan upstanding stop member 530 in position beneath head 488 of lifter 480. Stop 530 is held in its normal position by a spring 532 having a first end 534 connected to arm 522 and a second end 536 connected to a hook 538 carried by a start-stop latch 310 and extending upwardly through an opening 540 provided in plate 174. Spring 532 also biases the bifurcated end 524 of arm 522 into engagement with post 526 and a pair or clips 542, 544, which are formed integrally with arm 522, prevent upward displacement of arm 522 by engaging the under surface of plate 174 adjacent an opening 546 provided therein (FIG. 2).

Locking lever 520 also includes a cam member 548 which is connected to arm 522 by a bracket 550 and which is normally disposed beneath the leading edge 552 of lifting lever 492 for engagement thereby during downward travel thereof (in the direction of plate 174) to swing lever 520 clockwise about post 526 (as viewed in FIG. 2) therby moving stop member 530 in the direction of arrow 554 (FIG. 10) from its FIG. 9 position beneath button 488 to its FIG. 10 position outside of button 488 which is then free to move from its FIG. 9 posi tion to its FIG. 10 position under the influence of flapper bar spring 446 (FIG. 8). Thus, lifting lever 492 not only automatically lifts flapper lifter 480 under the in fluence of spring 502, but also controls the lowering of lifter 480 when lever 492 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9. Such rotation of lever 492 may be accomplished by an actuator means 556 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) including a lever 558 swingably mounted beneath plate 174 by a unitary trunnion means 560 seated in a saddle means 562 provided in an upstanding bridging member 564 forming a cover over a portion of lever 558 while giving it room for its swinging move ments. Lever 558 includes a first end 566 extending into an opening 568 which is provided in plate 174 adajcent bridging member 564 beneath an actuating finger 570 extending rearwardly from the trailing edge 572 of lifting lever 492 for engagement by end 566 to rotate lever 492 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 2), thereby lowering leading edge 552 against cam 548 and against the: bias to spring 502. Lever 492 may be locked in this position by a clip 574 carried by reset lever 310. Actuating lever 558 also includes an L-shaped end 576 which carries an upstanding actuating button 578 extending upwardly through an aperture 580 (FIGS. 1 and 2) provided in control panel 80.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 11, reset lever 310 is swingably mounted in lower housing half 14 on a pin 582 depending from plate 174 and includes a first end 584 having a short finger 586 (FIG. 2) riding on a shelf 558 formed in plate 174 during the molding thereof by displacing the material of plate 174 to a position be neath the top wall portion 590 thereof. Shelf 588 supports end 584 during swinging movements of reset lever 310 about pin 582. Lever 3310 appears in elevation as shown in FIG. 3 so that end 584 will depend sufficiently beneath plate 174 to lie in the path of travel of shoe 308 on push rod 288 (FIG. 5) so that shoe 308 will move end 584 in the direction of arrow 592 when push rod 288 is moved to its broken-line position. This swings the opposite end 594 of lever 310 clockwise moving clip 574 in the direction of arrow 596 to its broken line position thereby releasing lifting lever 492 for movement under the influence of spring 502. This, in turn, lifts flapper lifter 480 elevating flapper bar 424 and tone arm 402 above record 158 so that it will not be damaged if a user of device 10 actuates push rod 288 for moving another transparency 156 into viewing position while flapper bar 424 and tone arm 402 are in playing position. I

Clip 574 is automatically moved in the direction of arrow 596 (FIG. 5) each time sound reproducing means 380 completes the playing of a particular recorded message. When tone arm 402 reaches the end of play at the outer periphery 438 of record 158, stop member 474 on tone arm 402 engages a depending portion 600 of end 594 (FIGS. 3% and 11). Tone arm 402 is momentarily locked in this. position by a shoulder 602 (FIG. 8), formed on the upper surface 422 of tone arm 402, engaging edge 604 (FIG. 3) of flapper bar 424. Reset lever 310 then swings clockwise, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 5, releasing lifting lever 492 which then lifts flapper lifter 480,. flapper bar 424 and tone arm 402. Spring 466 then swings tone arm 402 to its FIG. 3 position where needle 420 is stopped at the inner periphery 436 of record 158 by the engagement of tone arm stop 474 with fixed stop 478.

Clip 574 on lever 310 is also moved in the direction of arrow 596 when an access door 606 is swung upwardly in the direction of arrow 608 (FIG. 11) by grasping its knob 610 (FIGS. 3 and 5) for getting access to record 158 through an access opening 612 (FIG. 3) provided in housing 12. Access door 606 includes a cover portion 614 covering opening 612 and an arm 616 having an end 618 remote from cover portion 614. Arm 616 is pivotally connected to a hollow boss 620 on plate 174 by a pin or shaft 622 carried by end 618 and is biased to the position shown in FIG. 11 by a torsion spring 623 having a body portion 626 coiled about shaft 622, a first arm 628 engaging a clip 629 on plate 174 and a second arm 630 engaging a bracket 632 carried by arm 616. Arm 616 carries a cam 634 engageable with a finger 636 on latch 310 for moving finger 636 in the direction of arrow 638 when cam 634 is swung upwardly in the direction of arrow 640 (FIG. 11) by opening access door 606. This releases clip 274 from engagement with lifting lever 492 assuring that flapper bar 424 and needle 420 are always elevated when record 158 is being inserted into, or removed from, housing 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3, housing 12 carries a fixed stop 642 which is engaged by record 158 when it is correctly positioned in housing 12 on plate 130. Should record 158 only be partially inserted through access opening 612, door 606 will be prevented from completely closing by engaging record 158. Should this happen, lifting lever 492 is prevented from moving to its down position, which would bring needle 420 into engagement with record 158, by an abutment 644 carried by an arm 646 (FIGS. 2 and connected to end 594 of latch 310. So long as door 606 is in a partially elevated position, cam 634 is in engagement with finger 636 swinging lever 310 sufficiently in the direction of arrow 638 to position abutment 644 beneath a finger 648 carried by lifting lever 492.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, spring 532 draws clip 574 into latching engagement with lifting lever 492 when it is in its depressed position. When lever 492 is in its elevated position, spring 532 is prevented from pulling clip 574 beneath lever 492 by a tab 60 (FIGS. 3 and I1) depending from lever 492 in the path of travel of clip 574.

Electric current for operating light bulb 120 and electric motor 398 may be supplied by suitable dry cell means (not shown) which may be mounted in battery housing 268 (FIG. 3). Such dry cell means may be connected to bulb 120 by a negative lead 652 (FIG. 2) having an end 654 connected to a movable contact 656 carried by an actuating button 658 slidably mounted in an opening 660 provided in instrument panel 80. Bulb 120 may be connected to the positive said ef the dry cell means by a lead 662 having an end 664 connected to a fixed contact 666 affixed to instrument panel 80 and engageable by movable contact 656 when it is moved in the direction of arrow 668 by button 658.

Motor 398 may be connected to the positive side of the dry cell means by a lead 670 having a first end 672 connected to motor 398 and a second end 674 connected to a movable contact 676 having a portion 678 (FIG. 3) depending downwardly through plate 174 beneath which it is engageable with the end 680 of a fixed contact 682 (FIG. 2) having an end 684 connected to a negative lead 686 which, in turn, has an end 688 connected to motor 398. Depending portion 678 of movable contact 676 is moved into engagement with fixed contact 682 by lever 492 when his moved to its down or lower most position and is moved upwardly out of engagement with fixed contact 682 by finger 516 on flapper bar 424 just before finger.5l6 engages stop 514.

Since it is possible to energize device l0 without having a record I58 in position on top of partition or plate I32, means are provided for quickly directing needle 420 to the outer periphery of plate 132 where tone arm 402 will engage lever 310 and de-energize sound reproducing means 380. These means are shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 wherein the upper surface 690 of plate 132 is provided with a spiral groove 692 which will be engaged by needle 420 if sound reproducing means 380 is energized without having a record 158 in position on plate 132. Groove 692 rapidly carries needle 420 from the inner periphery 694 (FIG. 7) of groove 692 to the outer periphery 696 thereof where tone am 402 will engage lever 310 and deenergize sound reproducing means 380.

As best seen in FIG. 3, mirror 176 and rear wall 28 of upper housing half 16 are swingably mounted by a hinge means 698 whereby mirror 176 may be swung from the vertical position shown in FIG. 3 to a substantially horizontal position permitting light rays 154 to be projected onto a wall or screen outside of housing 12.

As best seen in FIG. 2, lower housing half 14 includes suitable reinforcing ribs, as indicated generally at 700 and may be connected to upper housing half by any suitable means, such as upstanding

hollow bosses

702, 704, each including a base portion 706 and. an upper end portion 708.

Bosses

702, 704, each taper from base 706 to upper end 708 and each upper end 708 is provided with an aperture 710 through which a suitable screw (not shown) may pass for connecting lower housing half 14 to upper housing half 16.

In use, a record 158 may be inserted through opening 612 into position on top of plate 130. If flapper bar 424 and tone arm 402 were not previously in the positions shown in FIG. 3, they would have been automatically moved to these positions by the opening of access door 606, as previously described.

Indexing lever 278 (FIG. 1) may then be actuated to index a transparency 156 into position over opening 140 above bulb 120, as shown in FIG. 3. This indexing manipulation also automatically brings the correct lead-in groove 276 into position beneath needle 420. Switch button 658 (FIGS. 1 and 2) may then be moved into its ON" position energizing light bulb for projecting picture 46 onto screen 30.

Sound reproducing actuating button 578 may then be depressed bringing end 566 (FIG. 2) of actuating lever 556 into engagement with lifting lever 492 rotating it to its lowermost position where it closes the circuit to motor 398 causing turntable 382 to rotate. The lowering of lever 492 also releases flapper lifter 408 permitting flapper bar 424 to lower needle 420 onto record 158 and lower button or cone-engaging member 444 into engagement with piston 442. Rotation of turntable 382 swings tone arm 420 about a circle above record 158 while needle 420 tracks recorded-message grooves 278 for playing the recorded message related to transparency 156.

This recorded message may instruct a user of device 10 to manipulate scanning lever 306 for scanning portions of picture 46. The user may also be instructed to operate flutter button 188 causing mirror I64 to vibrate picture 46. Additionally, filter button 205 may be actuated to bring filters 232 and 234 into position over transparency I56.

It will, of course, be understood that the user of device l0 may focus picture 46 by manipulating knob I76.

At the end of play of the recorded message, tone arm 402 will engage latch 310 swinging clip 574 out of engagement with lifting lever 492 which, in turn, will raise flapper lifter 480 causing flapper bar 424 and tone arm 402 to become elevated whereupon tone arm return spring 466 will swing tone arm 402 into position over the inner periphery 436 of record 158. Finger 516 on flapper bar 424 will the engage portion 678 of movable contact 676 and move it out of engagement with fixed contact 682 de-energizing motor 398. Turntable 382 will then coast sufficiently to bring flapper bar finger 516 into engagement with fixed stop 514 stopping turntable 382 at the correct rotated position for positioning needle 420 over the lead-in groove 276 corresponding to the transparency 156 then in position over opening 140. Indexing lever 279 may then be actuated to bring another transparency 156 into viewing position.

While the particular audio-visual device herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. in an audio-visual toy of the type having pictureprojecting means for projecting pictures onto a viewing screen and sound-reproducingmeans for reproducing sounds while said pictures are being projected, said sound reproducing means including sound-pickup means, the improvement, comprising:

visual effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of said projected picture;

manually operable lever means connected to said visual effect means for positioning said visual efi'ect 'means in the path of a light beam traveling from said projecting means to said screen;

recorded-message carrier means having aplurality of sound tracks including leadin grooves having a predetermined spaced-apart relationship;

picture-carrier means immovably mounted on said recorded-message carrier means; i

a plurality of picture transparencies mounted on said picturc-carrier means, at'least some of said transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relationship as said leadin grooves, whereby indexing of said recorded-message carrier means to bring a particular transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of said leadin grooves into playing position;

means for automatically bringing said sound pickup means into playing position on said an associated one of said leadin grooves when said audio-visual toy is energized; and

indexing means for indexing said recorded-message carrier means to bring predetermined transparencies into viewing position.

2. An improvement as Stated in claim I wherein said picture-projecting means includes an off-axis, elliptical reflectorhaving a rear surface formed by a small spherical portion for reinforcing light at a predetermined film plane.

3. An audio-visual 'device, comprising:

recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of interleaved sound tracks including spaced-apart lead-in grooves;

picture carrier means immovably mounted on said recorded-message carrier means;

a plurality of picture transparencies mounted on said picture-carrier means, at least some of said picture transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relation as said lead-in grooves, whereby indexing of said recorded-message carrier means to being a particular picture transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of said lead'in grooves into playing position;

projection means for projecting said picture encies onto a viewing surface;

indexing means for indexing said recorded-message carrier means to bring predetermined transparencies into viewing position;

sound-reproducing means for reproducing sounds recorded in said sound tracks, said soundreproducing means including pickup means for tracking said sound tracks;

means for automatically bringing said pickup means into playing engagement with said an associated one of said lead-in grooves when said audio-visual device is energized;

visual effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of said projected picture; and

manually operable lever means connected to said visual effect means for positioning said visual effect means in the path of a light beam traveling from said projecting means to said screen.

4. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 3 wherein said visual-effect means is a plate having an aperture provided therein for blocking a major portion ofsaid projected picture, and means mounting said plate for articulated movement within saidlpath of light.

5. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 4 wherein said visual-effect means includes a mirror, a second lever and means connected to said second lever for vi bratingsaid mirror.

6. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 5 wherein said visual-effect means also includes a colored slide, said picture includes a scene printed in a color which is cancelled by said colored slide, and said device in cludes a third lever connected to said colored slide;

7. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 6 wherein said sound-reproducing means also includes:

a housing;

a speaker mounted in said housing;

a turntable rotatably mounted in said housing;

means swingably mounting said pickup means on said turntable;

a flapper bar rockably mounted on said turntable, said flapper bar including a member engageable with said speaker to transmit vibrations thereto;

means slidably connecting said pickup means to said flapper bar for transmitting vibrations from said pickup means to said flapper bar;

flapper-bar spring means connected to said flapper bar and to said turntable for rocking said flapper bar to bring said pickup means into engagement with said recorded-message carrier means and to simultaneously bring said speaker-engaging memher into engagement with said speaker;

flapper-bar lifter means connected to said flapper bar for rocking it against the bias of said flapper-bar spring to lift said pickup means off of said recorded-me'ssage carrier means when said lifter meansis moved in a predetermined direction; and

latch means for locking said flapper-bar lifter means against the bias of said lifter spring means, said pickup means being automatically lifted from said recorded-messagecarrier means when said latch meansis released from engagement withsaid flapper-bar lifter means.

transpar- 8. In an audio-visual device of the type having a housing and a stationary recorded-message carrier means, a rotating sound pickup means, a speaker-cone means and a picture projecting means mounted in said housing, the improvement comprising:

a turntable rotatably mounted in said housing;

means swingably mounting said sound pickup means on said turntable;

a flapper bar rockably mounted on said turntable, said flapper bar including a member engageable with said speaker-cone means to transmit vibrations thereto;

means slidably connecting said sound pickup means to said flapper bar for transmitting vibrations from said sound pickup means to said flapper bar;

flapper-bar spring means connected to said flapper bar and to said turntable for rocking said flapper bar to bring said sound pickup means into engagement with said recorded-message carrier means and to simultaneously bring said speaker-engaging member into engagement with said speaker-cone means;

flapper-bar lifter means connected to said flapper bar for rocking it against the bias of said flapper-bar spring to lift said sound pickup means ofi of said recorded-message carrier means when said flapperbar lifter means is moved in a predetennined direction;

lifter spring means connected to said flapper-bar lifter means to move it in said predetermined direction, said lifter spring means being stronger than said flapper-bar spring means for lifting said flapper bar against the bias of said flapper-bar spring pickup means being automatically lifted from said recorded-message carrier means when said latch means is released from engagement with said flapper-bar lifter means, said sound pickup means automatically releasing said latch means at the endof-play of said recorded-message carrier means;

a plurality of sound tracks provided on said recordedmessage carrier means, said sound tracks including lead-in grooves having a predetermined spacedapart relationship;

picture carrier means immovably mounted on said recorded-message carrier means;

a plurality of picture transparencies mounted on said picture-carrier means, at least some of said transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relationship as said lead-in grooves, whereby indexing of said recorded-message carrier means to bring a particular transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of said lead-in grooves into playing position;

means for automatically bringing said sound pickup means into playing position on said an associated one of said lead-in grooves when said audio-visual device is energized;

visual effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of a picture projected by said picture projecting means; and

i i l i

Claims

1. In an audio-visual toy of the type having picture-projecting means for projecting pictures onto a viewing screen and soundreproducing means for reproducing sounds while said pictures are being projected, said sound reproducing means including soundpickup means, the improvement, comprising: visual effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of said projected picture; manually operable lever means connected to said visUal effect means for positioning said visual effect means in the path of a light beam traveling from said projecting means to said screen; recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of sound tracks including leadin grooves having a predetermined spacedapart relationship; picture-carrier means immovably mounted on said recorded-message carrier means; a plurality of picture transparencies mounted on said picturecarrier means, at least some of said transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relationship as said leadin grooves, whereby indexing of said recorded-message carrier means to bring a particular transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of said leadin grooves into playing position; means for automatically bringing said sound pickup means into playing position on said an associated one of said leadin grooves when said audio-visual toy is energized; and indexing means for indexing said recorded-message carrier means to bring predetermined transparencies into viewing position.

2. An improvement as stated in claim 1 wherein said picture-projecting means includes an off-axis, elliptical reflector having a rear surface formed by a small spherical portion for reinforcing light at a predetermined film plane.

3. An audio-visual device, comprising: recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of interleaved sound tracks including spaced-apart lead-in grooves; picture carrier means immovably mounted on said recorded-message carrier means; a plurality of picture transparencies mounted on said picture-carrier means, at least some of said picture transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relation as said lead-in grooves, whereby indexing of said recorded-message carrier means to being a particular picture transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of said lead-in grooves into playing position; projection means for projecting said picture transparencies onto a viewing surface; indexing means for indexing said recorded-message carrier means to bring predetermined transparencies into viewing position; sound-reproducing means for reproducing sounds recorded in said sound tracks, said sound-reproducing means including pickup means for tracking said sound tracks; means for automatically bringing said pickup means into playing engagement with said an associated one of said lead-in grooves when said audio-visual device is energized; visual effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of said projected picture; and manually operable lever means connected to said visual effect means for positioning said visual effect means in the path of a light beam traveling from said projecting means to said screen.

4. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 3 wherein said visual-effect means is a plate having an aperture provided therein for blocking a major portion of said projected picture, and means mounting said plate for articulated movement within said path of light.

5. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 4 wherein said visual-effect means includes a mirror, a second lever and means connected to said second lever for vibrating said mirror.

6. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 5 wherein said visual-effect means also includes a colored slide, said picture includes a scene printed in a color which is cancelled by said colored slide, and said device includes a third lever connected to said colored slide.

7. An audio-visual device as stated in claim 6 wherein said sound-reproducing means also includes: a housing; a speaker mounted in said housing; a turntable rotatably mounted in said housing; means swingably mounting said pickup means on said turntable; a flapper bar rockably mounted on said turntable, said flapper bar including a member engageable with said speaker to transmit vibrations thereto; means slidably connecting said pickup means to said flapper Bar for transmitting vibrations from said pickup means to said flapper bar; flapper-bar spring means connected to said flapper bar and to said turntable for rocking said flapper bar to bring said pickup means into engagement with said recorded-message carrier means and to simultaneously bring said speaker-engaging member into engagement with said speaker; flapper-bar lifter means connected to said flapper bar for rocking it against the bias of said flapper-bar spring to lift said pickup means off of said recorded-message carrier means when said lifter means is moved in a predetermined direction; and latch means for locking said flapper-bar lifter means against the bias of said lifter spring means, said pickup means being automatically lifted from said recorded-message carrier means when said latch means is released from engagement with said flapper-bar lifter means.

8. In an audio-visual device of the type having a housing and a stationary recorded-message carrier means, a rotating sound pickup means, a speaker-cone means and a picture projecting means mounted in said housing, the improvement comprising: a turntable rotatably mounted in said housing; means swingably mounting said sound pickup means on said turntable; a flapper bar rockably mounted on said turntable, said flapper bar including a member engageable with said speaker-cone means to transmit vibrations thereto; means slidably connecting said sound pickup means to said flapper bar for transmitting vibrations from said sound pickup means to said flapper bar; flapper-bar spring means connected to said flapper bar and to said turntable for rocking said flapper bar to bring said sound pickup means into engagement with said recorded-message carrier means and to simultaneously bring said speaker-engaging member into engagement with said speaker-cone means; flapper-bar lifter means connected to said flapper bar for rocking it against the bias of said flapper-bar spring to lift said sound pickup means off of said recorded-message carrier means when said flapper-bar lifter means is moved in a predetermined direction; lifter spring means connected to said flapper-bar lifter means to move it in said predetermined direction, said lifter spring means being stronger than said flapper-bar spring means for lifting said flapper bar against the bias of said flapper-bar spring means; latch means for locking said flapper-bar lifter means against the bias of said lifter spring means, said pickup means being automatically lifted from said recorded-message carrier means when said latch means is released from engagement with said flapper-bar lifter means, said sound pickup means automatically releasing said latch means at the end-of-play of said recorded-message carrier means; a plurality of sound tracks provided on said recorded-message carrier means, said sound tracks including lead-in grooves having a predetermined spaced-apart relationship; picture carrier means immovably mounted on said recorded-message carrier means; a plurality of picture transparencies mounted on said picture-carrier means, at least some of said transparencies being in the same spaced-apart relationship as said lead-in grooves, whereby indexing of said recorded-message carrier means to bring a particular transparency into viewing position automatically brings an associated one of said lead-in grooves into playing position; means for automatically bringing said sound pickup means into playing position on said an associated one of said lead-in grooves when said audio-visual device is energized; indexing means for indexing said recorded-message carrier means to bring predetermined transparencies into viewing position; visual effect means for creating at least one change in the nature of a picture projected by said picture projecting means; and manually operable lever means connected to said visual effect means for positioning said visual effect means in the path of a light beam traveling from said projecting means to said screen.