AU2002100032A4 - Vortex - Google Patents

Description

P:\OPER\Mal1\amp spe.doc-20/1201 -1-

LAMP

This invention relates to a decorative lamp. In particular, a decorative fluid filled lamp which produces an enhanced aesthetic effect by emitting light through fluid which is rotatably mixed to create a whirlpool effect.

Lighting is used in many private and commercial establishments to provide entertaining visual effects or to enhance or compliment the decor or mood of a room. Conventional decorative lamps only generally provide variation by way of emitting light of various colours. However, recent advances in the field of lighting have seen the development of lighting products which are enhanced with visual texture as well as colour variation. Such lamps are of commercial significance as they provide greater visual stimulus than conventional lighting, and are of particular significance in complimenting and enhancing the appeal of a room, or for creating a particular mood.

US 6,135,604 discloses a decorative water lamp which provides lighting in a multitude of colours and which also appears textured. The textured effect is achieved by blowing or pumping air through a water filled container which is illuminated. The air flow is regulated in such a fashion as to produce bubbles. Consequently, the light emitted by the lamp has a bubbling effect. In order to create different moods, it would be desirable to produce lighting which provides other textured effects. Accordingly, the present invention provides an alternative textured effect than the existing decorative lamps by shining light through a fluid medium, which is rotatably mixed to create a whirlpool effect.

Accordingly one of the aspects of the present invention is to provide a decorative lamp comprising: a cylindrical container having a hollow interior for holding a liquid, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the container is transparent; (ii) at least one light source which is located in a position relative to said container such that it can emit light into the interior of the container; and (iii) a rotatable element which is in communication with the interior of the P:\OPER\Mal\lamp spe.doc-20/1201 -2container and which, in use, creates a whirlpool effect in liquid, when liquid is present in the container.

The cylindrical container may be composed of any suitable material, such as plastic, crystal or glass. In a preferred embodiment the cylindrical container is composed of a plastic material, such as acrylic. The container may be prepared from the plastic material by forming a cylinder from a sheet of the plastic material and welding the edges together, preferably in such a way that the join along the length of the cylinder is substantially invisible. A circular base can then be similarly welded to the base of the cylinder to provide the cylindrical container. In another embodiment, the cylindrical container is composed of commercially available transparent piping, to which a circular base has been attached. The cylindrical container may be of any suitable dimension, depending on the desired end use. For commercial applications, it is preferred that the cylindrical container has a diameter of between 20 to 50cm. While cylinders of this diameter would also be suitable for domestic applications, diameters of from 10 to 20cm may be more appropriate.

The cylindrical container may be of any suitable height, although it is preferred that the height is at least twice the diameter. More preferably the height is at least three times the size of the diameter.

Preferably the circumferential wall of the cylindrical container is completely transparent, although for different effects the walls may have one or more opaque areas or a pattern may be applied to the walls. The extent of the opaque or patterned areas on the walls should not be such as to interfere markedly with the view of the whirlpool within the container when the lamp is in use.

The cylindrical container will generally be mounted on or into a support base, which support base may be used to hide the electronic components of the lamp. The cylinder may be physically attached to the support base, or may be simply mounted into a recess or onto supporting elements contained on or in the support base. In another embodiment a support base is provided by an extension of the cylinder forming the cylindrical container.

P:\OPER\Mal\lamp spe.doc-20/1201 -3- In this embodiment a base is inserted into the cylinder a small distance in from the lower end thereof, thereby providing space within the cylinder beneath the base of the container to house the various electrical components of the lamp.

The light emitted into the interior of the container may be provided by any suitable source, such as a Tungsten globe, or one or more LED lights. Where the light source is a Tungsten globe or similar, there is preferably located between the light source and the interior of the container means for providing for different colours of light being emitted into the container. In one embodiment this achieved by positioning an electronically controlled rotatable colour wheel between the light source and the interior of the container.

According to this embodiment the base of the cylindrical container may be opaque, except for an aperture of sufficient size to allow light to pass from beneath the base into the interior of the container. The light source can be placed beneath this aperture, and the colour wheel can be interspersed between the light source and the aperture. The colour wheel is preferably rotated by means of an electronic motor which may be housed within the support base. As the colour wheel rotates the colour of the light entering the interior of the container changes.

In another embodiment, the light is provided by a series of LED lights which are electronically controlled to light up in sequential of various orders. For example the light source could be provided using an LED system of the type described in U.S. Patent No.

6,135,604, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. The control over the light source, or colour of the light source, may be controlled by a computer processor, which may be programmed with a variety of light/colour programs. The lamp may also be associated with a music source which may be controlled by the same computer processor controlling the light source. In this embodiment the various sounds produced by the music or sound source can activate or be associated with the light emitted from the light source. The computer processor may be an integrated circuit with a program recorded on it, which can act to control the turning on or off or sequence of light emission, activating the music source to provide different sounds, as well as controlling the operation of the rotatable element.

P:\OPER\Mal\lamp spe.doc-20/1201 -4- The rotatable element may be any mechanical device which is capable or rotating fluid contained within the container with sufficient power and at such a rate to produce a whirlpool effect within the interior of the container. The rotatable element may be a propeller with at least one blade. The propeller will generally be attached to an electric motor located beneath the base of the container, preferably housed within the support base.

The propeller shaft will generally pass through the centre of the base of the cylindrical container through an appropriate seal. The propeller shaft may be located within a cylindrical member which passes through the base of the cylindrical container and which is sealed against the container base. A person skilled in the art would be aware of suitable sealing devices. The motor should be selected to provide sufficient power to achieve the desired effect. In a preferred embodiment the electric motor is associated with a potentiometer which allows control of the propeller speed. In a preferred embodiment the speed of the propeller is controlled by a computer processor.

Preferably the liquid within the container is water, which may be plain or coloured.

However, any liquid can be used which can be effectively rotated to create a whirlpool effect.

To facilitate an understanding of the invention, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a particular preferred embodiment of the invention. However it is to be understood that the particularity of the following description is not to supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a decorative lamp according to the present invention.

The water lamp of Figure 1 includes cylindrical container 1 mounted on support base 2.

Housed within support base 2 is lamp 3, colour wheel motor 4 and colour wheel 5. Light source 3 is located immediately beneath an opening 6 in the top of support base 2.

Opening 6 allows light emitted from light source 3 to pass into the interior of water container 1. Colour wheel 5 is rotated by colour wheel motor 4 in such a way as to allow P:\OPER\Mal\lamp spe.doc-20/1201 different colours of light to pass into the water container 1.

Mounted within support base 2 is motor 7 and gearbox 8, the speed of motor 7 being controlled by potentiometer 9 extending from gearbox 8 is a propeller shaft 10 which passes through bearing housing 11. The propeller shaft is sealed against base 12 of water container 1 via sealing unit 13. Attached to the end of shaft 10 is propeller 14.

The rotation of propeller 14 causes rotation of the water contained within the water container 1 to create whirlpool The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art referred to forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It is also understood that various modifications, alternations, variations and additions to the construction and arrangement of the embodiment described herein are considered as falling within the ambit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. A lamp comprising: a cylindrical container having a hollow interior for holding a liquid, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the container is transparent; (ii) at least one light source which is located in a position relative to said container such that it can emit light into the interior of the container; and (iii) a rotatable element which is in communication with the interior of the container and which, in use, creates a whirlpool effect in liquid, when liquid is present in the container.

2. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical container is mounted on a support base, said support base housing means for rotating said rotatable element.

3. A lamp according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said light source is located beneath said container.

4. A lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further including means to vary the colour of light emitted into the interior of the cylindrical container. A lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the rotatable element is a propeller.