Convex-Lensed Zoetrope with Central Image Hub

Abstract

A convex-lensed zoetrope for providing bright, clear, and straight-on animation. An image hub retains images in series for animation, and an outer drum concentrically rotates with the image hub. The outer drum is at least partially transparent, and a plurality of convex Fresnel lenses retained along a ring shape form a lens structure retained by the outer drum. During rotation of the outer drum, the lens structure, and the inner image hub, the animation of images retained on the image hub can be viewed in a straight-on manner through the transparent outer drum and the convex lenses retained thereby. The Fresnel lenses can comprise lens sheets with an outwardly-facing lensed surface and an inwardly-facing flat surface. Animation members, such as animation strips, can be selectively applied to encircle the image hub, and alignment formations of the animation members and the image hub promote alignment of the images with the lenses.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.