WO2011108923A1

WO2011108923A1 - Folding card with four images in flat state

Info

Publication number: WO2011108923A1
Application number: PCT/NL2011/050144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Coenraad Johannes Augustinus Van Den Bos
Original assignee: Coenraad Johannes Augustinus Van Den Bos
Priority date: 2010-03-03
Filing date: 2011-03-03
Publication date: 2011-09-09
Also published as: NL2006330A; NL2006330C2

Abstract

A card which can be folded to endlessly show sequentially four flat folded images while continuously folding in the same direction, with during each folding step folding around two parallel spaced folding lines perpendicular to spaced folding lines of the preceding and subsequent folding steps, such that the actual image is broken in two along a line of separation to from there below reveal the next image of the four images. This folding card has one or more of: one or more asymmetric located folding and separating lines {cut through lines), an asymmetric shape of the folding card; one or more non-straight separating lines.

Description

Folding card with four images in flat state.

It is known from e.g. US5759328, US7416222, GB2444916, EP0987668, the contents of which is enclosed in here by reference, a folding sheet or card of which in an endless cycle alternately the top and lower areas mutually and both side areas, respectively, can be folded backward over 180 degrees relative to a central area such that, of the attitude of the folding card remains unchanged, the front of the folding card sequentially shows the viewer four scenes or appearances.

Basically such folding sheet can be assembled from two lower separate panels next to each other which overlap with two top separate panels next to each other, wherein each panel has at least two parallel straight folding lines which are an extension of those of the adjacent panel, and which folding lines of the lower panel extend crosswise relative to the corresponding folding lines of the top panels, while each top panel is only fixed to both lower panels at a location outside the area that is enclosed between both the folding lines of the top and of the lower panels. In the most practical embodiments six fields at the top side and six different fields at lower side can be distinguished at the folding sheet in one of its four folding states, which six fields are mutually separated by a folding line or separating line.

With the known folding sheets, of which figs. 1 - 7 of the attached drawing show examples, the folding and separating lines required for sequential folding, are always symmetrically located, while the shape of the folding sheet is also always symmetrical and also simple. The separating lines are always straight.

The object of the invention is to improve the versatility of the design and appearance of the folding sheet.

This patent for the first time propose to located the folding and/or separating (cut through lines) asymmetrical and/or make the shape of the folding plate asymmetric, such that complicated shapes become possible, or even wherein large differences in shape can be realised between the one and other folding state of the folding sheet. Besides, non-straight separation lines become possible. The invention is as according to the accompanying claims. Thus, many novel shapes become possible, e.g. the following shapes (the numbers between brackets refer to the corresponding figure of the drawing) : Robot-transformer (8) which transforms between a rectangular outline and a there from significantly differing complicated, however indeed

symmetrical, outline (e.g. human figure) and has a non-straight separating line located non-symmetrical (viz. e.g. the image at the right hand top corner), house (9) which a from a rectangular significantly deviating complicated and

non-symmetrical outline, truck in side view (10), which has non-symmetrical located folding and separating lines and a non-symmetrical shape, star (11), business card (12), flower (13), heart shape (14) which has a non-symmetrical located separating line as e.g. the image at the left hand top corner shows, infinite shape (15), iPhone (16), car in front view (17), cloud (18), X (19), logo (20) which has a non-straight separating line and has in the fourth scene (central image in the second row from below) a central window in the top material layer, transformer (21) with two non-straight separating lines of which the one is located non-symmetrical, soda bottle (22) .

And also different shapes wherein the front is

substantially different from the back of the folding sheet (fig. 8 and 9, also showing a non-straight separating line) .

The folding sheet can be made even more attractive as message media (e.g. for advertising and promotion) by integration of a removable computer memory unit, e.g. USB stick or (flash) memory card, or user interface (loudspeaker, voice memory module, a key, monitor) .

The folding sheet can be made of paper, cardboard or different materials which are processed into printed matter e.g. of lenticular type.

In the following the invention is elaborated by way of the drawing which shows an elevational view (fig. 1-3) or perspective view.

Fig. 1-7 show prior art folding sheets, fig. 1, 2, 4-7 show different folding states, fig. 3 the four separate panels (the two to the left contain the fields 1-3 and 4-6, respectively, the two to the left contain the even and odd, respectively, numbered fields) ;

Fig. 8-22 show of an equal number of different folding sheets according to the invention different succeeding folding states, each time starting at the left hand top corner and then from the left to the right and from top to bottom.

The different shapes are already discussed above. In fig. 4 the arrows and letter G' indicate the fields which are glued together.

The card is preferably made from a sheet of two or more on top of each other laminated layers. The folding lines are made by cutting through at least one layer while at least one layer remains uncut. The layer which remains uncut offers a living hinge and is preferably of polypropylene/ The layer of layers that are cut through at the location of the folding line are preferably made from paper.

In an embodiment, viz. e.g. fig. 22, use is made of a non-straight outline of two opposite each other located external edges of both the top and the lower panels. Thus at the second folding step a ''composite shape' is obtained, such as the central window having the outline of a bottle {sixth image fig. 22, second folding step, window completely transparent, no card part behind the window) . Fig. 23 shows an embodiment with a central window which is partly taken by a card part with outline in the shape of a hand or different outline while behind the window there is a card part which obstructs viewing through the window.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A card which can be folded to endlessly show sequentially four flat folded images while continuously folding in the same direction, with during each folding step folding around two parallel spaced folding lines perpendicular to spaced folding lines of the preceding and subsequent folding steps, such that the actual image is broken in two along a line of separation to from there below reveal the next image of the four images.

2. Folding card according to claim 1, with one or more asymmetric located folding and separating lines (cut through lines) , an asymmetric shape of the folding card and one or more non-straight separating lines.

3. Folding card according to claim 1, with one or more of: an asymmetric located folding and/or separating line, an asymmetric shape of the folding card; a non-straight separating line.

4. Folding card according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which has in one of its four folding states an irregular, such as one of the following outlines: human figure (fig. 8), a house (fig. 9), a truck in side view (fig. 10), a star (fig. 11), a business card (fig. 12), a flower (fig. 13), a heart shape (fig. 14), number 8 (fig. 15), an iPhone (fig. 16), a car in front view (fig. 17), a cloud (fig. 18), an X (fig. 19), a logo (fig. 20), a transformer (fig. 21), or has a window with e.g. the shape of a rectangle or a soda bottle (fig. 22) ; a non-straight outline of two opposite external edges of both the lower and the top panels; or the outline of the top panel differs from that of the lower panel, e.g. the top panel has the shape of a rectangle or car in side view and the lower panel the shape of a robot or human figure or car in back view, respectively; and e.g. in one or two different folding states is substantially rectangular, e.g. substantially square.

5. Folding card according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, laminated and with folding lines provided by cutting the layers, but not all, and the uncut layer provides a living hinge.