US2663960A - Illuminated illusion device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1953 E. CERRACCHIO ILLUMINATED ILLUSION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 24, 1949 Inventor:

ENRICO CERRACCHIO,

v 47m, g wm Dem-29, 1953 CERRACCHIO 2,663,960

ILLUMINATED ILLUSION DEVICE Filed June 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: ENRICO CERRACCHIO,

1953 E. CERRACCHIO ILLUMINATED ILLUSION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, 1949 Inventor:

1 orn ENRICO CERRA'CCHIO,

Dec. 29, 1953 c cc -uo 2,663,960

ILLUMINATED ILLUSION DEVICE Filed Jung 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 LO 9' LI- Inventor:

ENRICO CERRACCHIO,

Dec. 29, 1953 E. CERRACCHIO 2,663,960

ILLUMINATED ILLUSION DEVICE Filed June 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG? Inventor: ENRICO CERRACCHIO Attorneys.

of the box. An inwardly projecting flange or wall 1 extends around the periphery of the box and extends at right angles to the side walls, thereby providing a marginal screen behind which electric lamp bulbs may be located so that they will not be seen from the front, as will be described. The side walls of the cabinet are illustrated at 2. 3 is the rear wall of the box which is oppositely positioned from the flange i with respect to the side walls 2. The edge of the opening provided by the innermost edges of the flange l is indicated at 4. At about the central point of the rear wall 3 is an opening 5 and fitted with respect to that opening is the article 5 to be illustrated, which, in this case, is a boy's face with the eyes open and showing obvious animation. The marginal edge of the boys head, face and hair, with a small cap illustrated on the head, is fitted to the edge of the openin 5. As in the case of the devices shown in my earlier applications, the face, indicated at 6, is in concavity as contrasted to relief. In other words, the face extends from the plane of the rear wall 3 still further rearwardly, as will be clear from the sectional'views, Figs. 3 and 4.

The material of the wall 3 could be formed as a continuation of the material of the boys face and head 6; however, as shown in cross section in Figs. 3 and 4, the element 6 is affixed to the rear surface of the wall 3. It is important that the junction of the face and head 6 with the wall 3 be such that the marginal edge 5 is not shown as a thick wall. Preferably the face and head should appear to merge at its edges into the plane of the Wall 3.

In operation, to obtain different expressions for the boys face, the lamp bulbs I and 8, respectively above and below the face are alternately lighted by means of a circuit selecting device 9 which may be located between the source of electricity and so that the lamps 1 and 8 are lighted. In Fig. l, the circuit selecting device 9 is illustrated a having one double wire l leading to the lower lamp 8 and a second double wire I l leading to the upper lamp 1. With the use of a conventional circuit selecting device adapted to periodically shift power from one line to another, the tubes 1 and 8 may be caused alternately to light up, whereby the expression on the face varies from that shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, and conversely.

Figs. and 6 show the face of element 6 as viewed from the right, thus showing the left side of the face and with the different expressions due to the fact that the light is from above, as in Fig. 5, and from below as in Fig. 6'.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the face of the element 6 when viewed from a position to the left of the full front position and. showing the right side of the face, the different expressions being due to the fact that in Fig. '7 the light is from above and in Fig. 8 the light is from below.

The article 6, in this case a mask of a boys face, may be of a simple and preferably light weight article, of which the display surface is concave. More particularly, the mask is preferably of a thin piece of light weight plastic, opaque and colored on the concave side to portray the character of the face or other element to be delineated. The article is preferably stamped or molded to provide the desired selected features, all illustrated from the negative or concave side.

One of the essential features of this invention is the use of color, to suggest vitality, life, animation, or movement in the face or article which comprises the element 6 to be illuminated in the device of this invention.

The article described in the foregoin affords mechanism for giving the observer the illusion impression that the concave features of the element 6 are normal features in convexity, that is in relief. In other words, the shape shown is provided in negative full relief whereas it produces the illusion of being in positive full relief. The illusion is heightened when the observer passes in front of the device while looking at it. Not only does the flashing light mechanism provide for a change of delineation so far as expressions are concerned, but as the observer moves, the article 6 appears to turn as the observer progresses. The impression on the observer caused by that apparent turning movement is complicated by the change of expression. The combined effect to the observer results in an intensely awakened interest on the part of the observer.

The cabinet device of this invention may be either small or large. The relation of parts requires no limitation as to size. One of the sole requirements is that the illuminating bulbs or lights 1 and 8 should be hidden from view from the front to avoid glare directly to the observer. Changes in proportions and materials may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Although for purpose of illustration the present invention has been described as incorporated in a cabinet device, it is to be understood that the a paratus does not require a boxlike housing. To the contrary, the illusion device and its cooperating flashing lights are peculiarly adapted to outdoor advertising of the type employing large signs. In this latter use the size of the face or article depicted is almost without limit, and depends only on the available space and permissible size of the article and its supports. Obviously also the distance from the article at which the lamps are placed will depend on the desired effect, ground area, and height. Accordingly it follows that the lamps or source of illumination need not be supported by the same structure which supports the article or object to be illuminated.

The kind of materials used in preparing the article or object depicted for use for outdoor display is immaterial, provided it can be decorated and tinted, and otherwise is satisfactory for the purposes intended. For example, a material adapted to be worked while in a plastic condition may be prepared either at a factory or at the site selected, depending on the process used and other conditions, or previously prepared articles or objects of plastic or film may be used. Resistance to weather may be insured by the nature of the material or by suitable roofing, which forms no part of this invention. The factor which must be present in display objects for this purpose is that the decorated surfac must be a concavity.

The article depicted may be the representation of a face or any other animate or inanimate object, as disclosed in my said application for patent filed June 20, 1949.

The device illustrated embodie the mask of a boy which is in true proportion in that it shows in reverse the width, height and depth of concavity and the same facial details of those features which are by the illusion depicted in convexity.

I claim:

1. In a display device, a cabinet having an upright wall, an element to be illuminated located in said wall and extending rearwardly of it, a first lamp positioned to throw light upon said 5 element from a position below said element, a second lamp positioned to throw light upon said element from a position above said element, both of said lamps being located forwardly of said wall, means for alternately lighting said lamps, means for shielding said lamps from a front view, said element consisting of a, face mask having, as its display portion, the negative side of the mask in negative full relief, and which negative side portrays, in concavity by contour an tinting, a face including nose and both eyes, with the eyes open, the forward edge of said concave portion terminating at its juncture with said wall whereby to the observer the illuminated element, as displayed, appears to show, in positive full relief, live features possessed of animation and varying expression depending on the movement of the observer and the illumination, the element being characterized by surfaces which are respectively concave and convex, and which, when I viewed from the front, serve to provide the illusion of being respectively convex and concave, the mask having proportions of width, height and depth of concavity substantially exactly those of a complete face having corresponding measurements of the same width, height and measure of a forward convex projection of the face, the illusion of which is depicted, and said element providing the further illusion that as the observer moves from right to left, he appears to see an increasingly larger portion of the right side of the face depicted, and conversely when moving from left to right regardless as to which lamp is illuminated.

2. In a display device, a cabinet having an upright wall, an element to be illuminated located in said wall and extending rearwardly of it, a first lamp positioned to throw light upon said element from a position below said element, a second lamp positioned to throw light upon said element from a position above said element, both of said lamps being locate forwardly of said 6 wall, means for alternately lighting said lamps, means for shielding said lamps from a front view, said element havine a decorated portion in concavity and in negative full relief extending rearwardly from said wall, the forward surface of said concavity depicting by contour and tinting an object, whereby, to the observer, the object delicted by the decorated concave portion, as illuminated, appears to show in convexity in full relief varying contour and shadings depending on the movement of the observer and the illumination, the element being characterized by surfaces which are respectively concave and convex, and which, when viewed from the front,

serve to provide the illusion of being respectively convex and concave, the object having the same proportions of width, height and depth of concavity substantially exactly thos of an object having corresponding measurements of the same width and height and measure of a forward convex projection of the object, the illusion of which is depicted, and said element providing the fur- I ther illusion that as the observer moves from right to left, he appears to see an increasingly larger portion of the right side of the object depicted, and conversely when moving from left to right regardless as to which lamp is illuminated.

ENRICO, CERRACCHIO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 830,834 Hudson Sept. 11, 1906 1,395,379 Adelsperger Nov. 1, 1921 1,480,375 Cristadoro Jan. 8, 1924 1,828,177 Curtiss Oct. 20, 1931 2,334,750 Cerracchio Nov. 23, 1943 2,399,121 Janson Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 458,328 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1936

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