GB2119752A

GB2119752A - Rotating means with visual aid

Info

Publication number: GB2119752A
Application number: GB08311149A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kazuo Hashimoto
Original assignee: Hashimoto Corp
Current assignee: Hashimoto Corp
Priority date: 1982-04-27
Filing date: 1983-04-25
Publication date: 1983-11-23
Also published as: JPH0237030B2; GB2119752B; JPS58188376A; GB8311149D0

Abstract

Associated pictorial information (a, b) is applied to the surfaces of two or more rotary bodies (4, 5) of a device, e.g. a tape cassette or an automobile, the rotary bodies rotating in association with each other and being observable from outside the device. Utilizing fluctuation in the relative rotational frequencies of the rotary bodies, the information provides an animated motion effect, especially for infants. The tape cassette casing may be transparent and the reels flanged. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Incorporated rotating means with visual aid The present invention relates to a plurality of incorporated rotating means with visual aids, which may be externally observed.

A plurality of incorporated rotating means which may be externally observed, such as tape reels of a tape recorder, are conventionally of the same design. Therefore, external observation simply indicates rotation or non-rotation of such rotating means, and does not provide any further feature. Furthermore, in a conventional tape cassette as shown in Fig. 1, a label is attached on a nontransparent upper half 1. Therefore, when such a tape cassette is loaded on a cassette tape recorder and is externally observed, only the rotation of pins 2 of hubs engaging with the spindles can be observed. Observation of such rotation does not provide any special entertainment.

Meanwhile, cassette tape recorders are prevalent in the field of video/audio equipment for infant education of infant children. However, data transmission to an infant largely depends upon visual transmission through his eyes in addition to the transmission of sounds or music through his ears. Simultaneous visual and aural stimulation is an important factor in information transmission for infant education. In order to achieve this, a video disc or a video tape therefor are being developed.

However, equipment of this type is expensive, is complex in structure and is, therefore, inappropriate for infant education.

The present invention provides an incorporated rotating means in which pictorial information of associated designs is provided on a plurality (i.e.

two or more) of rotary bodies rotating in association with each other, the information providing an animated motion effect in accordance with a relative fluctuation in rotational frequencies of said plurality of rotary bodies.

It is thus possible to provide an incorporated rotating means with a visual aid, in which pictorial information of associated designs is provided on rotary bodies rotating in association with each other, so that observation of the incorporated rotating means will provide entertainment to a viewer.

It is further possible to provide means in which pictorial information of associated designs is provided on two open tape reels or two reels of a tape cassette for a tape recorder, so that the open tape reels or the tape cassette reels may provide visual as well as audio information by utilizing relative movement between the two reels.

It is yet further possible to provide a tape cassette in which pictorial information of associated designs is provided on the surfaces of two reels in accordance with information recorded on the tape, thereby providing visual as well as audio information.

The present invention may also be applied to wheels of automobiles or the like as well as to two open tape reels or a tape cassette for a tape recorder.

The invention will now be more particularly described, with reference to the acconioanvina drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a conventional tape cassette; Fig. 2 is a tape cassette before pictorial information is drawn on its reels when the present invention is applied to the tape cassette; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a tape cassette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a tape cassette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows it before pictorial information is drawn on (or otherwise applied to) the reels, and Fig. 3 shows it after such information is drawn. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, an upper half 3 of a tape cassette is transparent and large reels 4 and 5 are housed therein. Unlike the conventional cassette reels, the reels 4 and 5 are of a shape resembling conventional open reels, but are of smaller size. Pictorial information is drawn on (or otherwise applied to) the reels 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 3. Different pictorial information is drawn on the reels 4 and 5 so that it may provide highly imaginative effects. Assume that the reel 4 is the take-up reel and the reel 5 is the supply reel.Then, the rotation of the take-up reel 4 is faster than that of the supply reel 5 at the beginning of the winding operation. A bird a is drawn on the take-up reel 4 and a bird b is drawn on the supply reel 5. Then, the bird a on the take up reel 4 rotates more quickly than the bird b on the supply reel 5. When this is viewed externally through the upper half 3, the bird a on the take-up reel 4 appears to be flying at high speed and the bird b on the supply reel 5 appears to be trying to catch up with the bird a. As the tape is wound further, the rotational frequencies of the reels 4 and 5 become equal. Thereafter, the bird b on the supply reel 5 flys at high speed and the bird a on the take-up reel 5 tries to catch up with the bird b.

The pictorial information to be drawn on the reels need not be birds, and may be other moving objects, such as animals or automobiles.

Furthermore, if the pictorial information on the reels is made to coincide with the contents, such as a fairy tale, of the tape mounted inside the cassette, it can provide visual as well as audio information in association with the tape contents.

In this manner, according to the incorporated rotating means of the present invention, while the tape is being reproduced, the pictorial information is provided in an animated fashion by utilizing the rotational frequency difference between the take up and supply reels 4 and 5. Although some conventional records or record cases are available which have some pictorial information to provide entertainment during play of such records, they are based on a simple concept. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the pictorial information is provided in an animated fashion by utilizing the rotational frequency difference between take-up and supply reels and the like, while simultaneously allowing reproduction of a music piece or other contents recorded on the tape. This effect is very effective with infants.The means of the present invention, however, is not limited to use during reproduction of the contents from the tape. It may be used during recording; an unrecorded tape is driven while the user sings a song or an infant chats with his or her mother viewing the pictorial information on the reels.

Although the embodiment is described with reference to a tape cassette, the present invention may be similarly applied to any plurality of rotary bodies, such as wheels of automobiles, the rotational frequencies whereof change in relation to each other or fluctuate. For example, pictures may be drawn on the wheels of an automobile.

Then, in accordance with the fluctuation in the rotational frequencies of the wheels at the front and rear sides of the automobile during a start or braking, the drawn pictures appear to be animated. Thus, an abrupt braking or slipping of an automobile may be confirmed at a distance by general people or police, also providing useful traffic accident information.

Claims

1. An incorporated rotating means with a visual aid, which allows observation from the outside, and has associated information on a plurality (i.e.

2. An incorporated rotating means according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of rotary bodies comprise a pair of tape reels for a tape recorder.

3. An incorporated rotating means according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of rotary bodies comprise a first reel engaging with a tape supply spindle, and a second reel engaging with a tape take-up spindle, said first and second reels being housed in a transparent case to provide a tape cassette.

4. An incorporated rotating means according to claim 3, wherein the pictorial information drawn on said first and second reels is associated with audio information recorded on a tape mounted inside said tape cassette.

5. An incorporated rotating means, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.