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US 8,336,720 B2Granted
Illusion storage rack
OwnerAnthony B Potterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage rack is provided that exhibits an optical illusion that some of the items stored in the rack have disappeared in all or in part.
Claims20
A storage rack for storing at least one item, comprising:
- a. a frame structure for holding the at least one item, comprising:
- a front and two opposing and substantially planar sides and at least one connecting member, and an interior defined therebetween, wherein:
- i. the two opposing sides are fixed in a position substantially parallel to each other by the at least one connecting member;
- ii. the at least one connecting member is approximately perpendicular to the opposing sides;
- and,
- iii. the opposing sides and at least one connecting member having sufficient symmetry such that at least one plane of symmetry exists between and perpendicular to the opposing sides;
- b. at least first and second pairs of apertures extending through the two opposing sides of the frame sufficiently large to receive at least one of the items to be stored in the storage rack;
- and,
- c. at least one light reflective surface disposed in the at least one plane of symmetry within the frame structure in such an orientation as to:
- i. reflect a portion of the interior of the frame that visually resembles another adjacent portion of the interior of the frame that is hidden by the at least one light reflective surface, and
- ii. hide from view at least part of the one or more items to be stored;
- wherein the first and second pairs of apertures are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the light reflective surface, such that when the item is placed into one of the apertures on one side of the frame structure, behind the light reflective surface, and into another one of the apertures on the opposing side of the frame structure, all or part of the item stored in the apertures is hidden from view, when viewed from the front, by the at least one light reflective surface.
9 more elements
A method of assembling an illusionary storage rack by creating the illusion of empty space where one or more items on display reside, comprising:
- a. providing a frame structure for holding the at least one item, comprising:
- a front and two opposing and substantially planar sides and at least one connecting member, and an interior defined therebetween, wherein:
- i. the two opposing sides are fixed in a position substantially parallel to each other by the at least one connecting member;
- ii. the at least one connecting member is approximately perpendicular to the opposing sides;
- and,
- iii. the opposing sides and at least one connecting member having sufficient symmetry such that at least one plane of symmetry exists between and perpendicular to the opposing sides;
- b. providing at least first and second pairs of apertures extending through the two opposing sides of the frame sufficiently large to receive at least one of the items to be stored in the storage rack;
- and,
- c. providing at least one light reflective surface disposed in the at least one plane of symmetry within the frame structure in such an orientation as to:
- i. reflect a portion of the interior of the frame that visually resembles another adjacent portion of the interior of the frame that is hidden by the at least one light reflective surface, and
- ii. hide from view at least part of the one or more items to be stored;
- wherein the at least first and second pairs of apertures are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the at least one light reflective surface, such that when the item is placed into one of the apertures on one side of the frame structure, behind the light reflective surface, and into another one of the apertures on the opposing side of the frame structure, all or part of the item stored in the apertures is hidden from view, when viewed from the front, by the at least one light reflective surface.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.