60: Foldable Paper with Multi-Faceted Images | Japanese Patent Drawing

Foldable Paper with Multi-Faceted Images | Patent Drawing
Cited from JP2012-194234A(J-PlatPat

Introduction: A Single Sheet That Reveals Multiple Images

Some of the most delightful paper inventions are those that change depending on how they’re folded. This patent drawing describes a foldable paper system that displays different images depending on the viewing angle and the fold pattern, creating a playful and interactive visual experience.

What the Patent Drawing Shows

The diagram reveals a sheet divided into multiple foldable sections:

  • A grid or segmented structure enabling multiple folding directions
  • Distinct images printed on specific faces of folded panels
  • Hinged fold lines that allow flipping and reconfiguration
  • Alternating surfaces that reveal a new picture with each fold
  • A system designed for manual, tactile interaction

The paper behaves like an analog “multi-image switcher.”

How the Multi-Image Folding Mechanism Works

The paper is folded along predetermined lines.
Each fold exposes a different surface, which holds part of a new image.
Unfolding and refolding in alternative patterns reveals another hidden picture.
Users can cycle through multiple visual states using a single sheet.
The delight comes from discovering how the images change.

Benefits for Education, Entertainment, and Interactive Media

  • A compact way to store multiple images on one sheet
  • Encourages hands-on exploration and visual curiosity
  • Ideal for children’s books, greeting cards, educational materials
  • Can be used for puzzles, art projects, and promotional materials
  • Offers low-tech interactivity with high emotional impact

It blends creativity with mechanical elegance.

Engineering & Print-Design Considerations

  • Fold lines must be durable but flexible
  • Paper thickness must allow repeated folding
  • Color alignment must remain accurate across folds
  • Surfaces must resist wear from finger pressure
  • Printing requires precise registration for multi-image transitions

Accuracy determines the magic of the reveal.

Patent Attorney’s Thoughts

Paper, when guided by intention, becomes more than a surface—it becomes a sequence.
This invention turns simple folds into storytelling moments, where each gesture reveals a new layer of meaning.

Application of the Technology: Dynamic Reality-Folding Interfaces and Multi-Layered Narrative Surfaces

Original Key Points of the Invention

  • A sheet of paper displays different images depending on how it is folded.
  • Specific crease patterns reveal or hide selected illustrations.
  • The system integrates physical manipulation with sequential visual storytelling.
  • A single 2D sheet encodes multiple “states” through geometric transformation.

Abstracted Concepts

  • Encoding multiple layers of information into one surface via fold logic.
  • Activating content only when a precise geometric configuration is achieved.
  • Using user interaction (folding) as a method of accessing alternate states.
  • Creating shape-dependent narrative progression.

Transposition Target

  • A dynamic “reality-folding interface” where physical manipulation of a surface (paper, fabric, flexible display) unlocks parallel narratives, hidden data, or alternate modes of perception.

Concrete Realization

A flexible e-paper sheet contains micro-printed imagery, hidden ink layers, and fold-sensitive sensors.
When folded into specific geometries, new images, AR overlays, or narrative segments activate.
Folding the sheet one way reveals a lost civilization; another way reveals its future; another shows alternate timelines.
The sheet becomes a multidimensional storytelling device—an interactive portal where geometry determines reality.
It functions as a hybrid between a book, a map, and a reality-switching interface.

Disclaimer: This content is an AI-generated reinterpretation based on a patent drawing.
It is provided for educational and cultural purposes only, and not as legal advice.

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