Technical Field

This invention relates generally to the field of amusement devices of the type described in my prior U.S. Patent, No. 4,909,501, granted March 20, 1990 under the title "Anamorphic Amusement Device", to which reference is made. More particularly, it relates to an improved form of device particularly suited for use by children traveling on a train, bus, or aircraft, as distinguished from use while seated in a fast food restaurant or the like.

Background Art

In my above identified prior patent, there is disclosed an anamorphic amusement device which includes a frusto-conical cup, usually of disposable single use type, an outer surface of which is provided with a reflective member of metallic foil or metallic coated synthetic resinous material. The device also includes a paper place mat having one or more anamorphic images printed thereon which are reflected by the outer surface of the cup in undistorted condition. The place mat has a printed indication of the proper position or positions of the cup thereon to assure this result.

This device is useful principally in locations where the place mat may be positioned on a relatively immobile surface, such as a table supported by a horizontal floor which is not subject to vibration or movement. A typical location of such table is in a fast food restaurant, or in the kitchen of a home.

However, food is often served and consumed in moving vehicles having means for supporting food containers, such as aircraft, trains and buses, as well as automobiles.

Such vehicles include selectively positionable table surfaces for supporting plates and cups which are subject to movement of the vehicle, such that cups, plates, even when filled with a comestible, cannot reasonably be expected to remain in fixed position. The utility of the device disclosed in my above mentioned patent, in such instances, is, therefore, reduced.

It is known in the art to provide supporting surfaces in vehicles which are provided with cup accommodating recesses. These are usually located near the dashboard of the vehicle, with minimal surface area surrounding the recess.

Disclosure of Invention

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved device of the class described which is more suitable for use in moving vehicles. To this end, the device includes a planar mat element which is provided with a circular orifice surrounding the location where the bottom wall of the cup would normally be placed. A cup supporting device having a horizontal surface is provided with a through circular opening, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the bottom wall of the cup, whereby it supports the cup either by contact with a side wall thereof, or engagement of the bottom wall by a parallel surface of a wall forming a recess disposed inwardly of the opening in the horizontal surface. Thus, should the longitudinal surface be moved, the mutual relation between the cup and the place mat remains undisturbed.

Brief Description of the Drawing

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been

employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a frusto-conical cup forming a part of the disclosed embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view of a planar place mat element forming a part of the embodiment. Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a horizontal supporting surface member having cup supportin structure incorporated therein. Figure 4 is a fragmentar vertical sectional view showing the device in use. Figure 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 is a side elevational view thereof.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

In accordance with the invention, reference character 10 (Figure 1) designates a frusto-conical drinking cup of disposable type bounded by an upper edge 11 and a lower edge 12, between which a reflective frusto-conical side surface 13 extends. Referring to Figure 2, reference character 16 designates a planar mat element, usually of paper or other similar material, bounded by a pair of longer edges 17 and 18, and a pair of shorter edges 19 and 20 enclosing an upper surface 21 having one or more printe anamorphic images 22 and an index location in the form of circular opening 23.

Referring to Figure 3, reference character 27 designates an upper wall defining a horizontal surface 28 including a recess 29 of frusto-conical configuration. Th recess has a principal axis which is generally vertically oriented, and includes a tapered or cylindrical side wall 31 and a bottom wall 32 corresponding in area generally to that of the bottom wall 33 of the cup 10.

Figure 4 illustrates the above elements in assembled condition. Where the horizontal supporting surface is par of a known conventional cup retainer disposed in a vehicle the areas surrounding the recess will normally be quite small. In such case, the second Dlanar mat element can be

made of heavier paper or corrugated material so as to maintain a degree of planar rigidity when it is supported only in the areas surrounding the opening 23. Owing to th tapered configuration of the cup and the close engagement of the outer surface of the same with the opening in the second element, it will be appreciated that the cup cannot be readily shifted unintentionally out of the recess or opening, and the mat cannot shift in a horizontal directio owing to its close engagement with the cup. Thus, vibration and shaking normally encountered while traveling in the vehicle does not affect the use of the device. Whe it is desired to substitute the mat element, it is necessary only to lift the glass, disengage the in use second element, and substitute a desired one. In many cases, the vehicle in which the user is traveling does not have any provision whatsoever for the support of a drinking cup or the like, in which case, it i possible to support the assembly upon the legs of a seated user. Figure 5 illustrates a small child's tote case whic may be manufactured at relatively modest cost using injection molding techniques. The case 40 includes first and second molded symmetrical halves 41 and 42 interconnected by hinge means 43 and provided on an opposite side with a carrying handle 44. When used by a child, a supply of second planar elements (not shown) can be carried within the case 40 for selective use, and where a drinking cup is not available, this may be substituted by a separate reflective member as disclosed in my above-mentioned patent. The first half 41 is bounded by a peripheral edge 50 bordering a side wall 51 which incorporates a molded recess 52 extending from an outer surface 53. As best seen in Figure 5, this recess is preferably not centrally located, but is positioned adjacent a segment of the peripheral edge which will be most distant from the eyes of the user when

in use, to thereby enable the user to enjoy something more than 180 degrees of visibility with respect to the reflective surface of the cup.

In use, the user merely opens the case 40, selects the desired planar element, and positions it on the surface 53 anchoring the same by inserting the cup in the aligned openings in the selected element and the surface 53. The case is then closed and supported in the lap of the user when in seated condition. When use has been terminated, the case is again opened, and the first and second element stored therein for subsequent use.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in anamorphic devices of the type described, in which the utility of such devices is extended for use in locations where the device is not readily supported for observation by a user. In the present disclosed embodiments, the cup-like reflective element is positively anchored with respect to the planar mat disposed therebeneath by projecting through an opening in the latter, and a corresponding opening in a supporting surface disposed beneath the mat element.