The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1995
Shigeru Sugawara, Tokyo, JP;
Tenyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A variable-display device comprises an outer hollow cylinder made of a transparent material, an inner hollow cylinder disposed inside and substantially coaxially with the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder having a passage formed therein in a direction substantially parallel to the axis thereof and communicating to outside from the inside of the inner cylinder, an opaque sheet-like member made of a soft material, disposed as curled and having one end thereof located inside the inner cylinder and the other end located outside the passage formed in the inner cylinder, and an operating member fixed to the sheet-like member and disposed rotatably in relation to the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder carries a first display such as a picture, characters, figure or other pattern, and the inner cylinder carries a second display different from the first one. When the operating member is rotated in a direction or in an opposite direction to the direction, the sheet member is moved along the outer surface of said inner cylinder through said passage to sequentially conceal said second display or reveal it through said first display. As the operating member is rotated, the display such as a picture, characters, figure or other pattern is varied gradually, which will add to the amusement.