EP0444773A1 - Anzeigevorrichtung - Google Patents

Anzeigevorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0444773A1
EP0444773A1 EP91300509A EP91300509A EP0444773A1 EP 0444773 A1 EP0444773 A1 EP 0444773A1 EP 91300509 A EP91300509 A EP 91300509A EP 91300509 A EP91300509 A EP 91300509A EP 0444773 A1 EP0444773 A1 EP 0444773A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid
display device
platform
apertures
main portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91300509A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Yu Shun Lam
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Merton Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Merton Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merton Co Ltd filed Critical Merton Co Ltd
Publication of EP0444773A1 publication Critical patent/EP0444773A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/02—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for incorporating moving display members

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a display device for creating a realistic, interesting, and aesthetically pleasing visual effect.
  • the present invention relates to a display device, including (A) an enclosure; (B) fluid located within the enclosure; (C) visible particles suspended within the fluid; and (D) vortex creating means for creating a plurality of separate vortexes within the enclosure.
  • the particles include snow-like particles and the fluid includes liquid.
  • the enclosure is transparent and dome-shaped.
  • the vortex creating means includes a fan.
  • the present invention also relates to a display device and a method of operating a display device, the method including the steps of: (A) supporting a figurine or the like on a platform within a main portion of fluid; and (B) creating a plurality of vortexes within the main portion of fluid by (1) swirling a separated portion of fluid and (2) communicating the separated portion of fluid with the main portion of fluid through a plurality of apertures through the platform.
  • the fluid includes liquid.
  • particles are suspended within the fluid and create the appearance of a snowstorm within the main portion of fluid.
  • the present invention also relates to a display device, including: (A) a housing; (B) swirling means for swirling a separated portion of fluid, the swirling means being located within the housing; and (C) a platform for (1) separating the swirling means from a main portion of fluid and (2) supporting a figurine or the like within the main portion of fluid, the platform including a plurality of apertures for providing fluid communication between the separated portion of fluid and the main portion of fluid, the apertures creating a plurality of vortexes within the main portion of fluid during operation of the swirling means.
  • the housing includes: (1) a transparent enclosure for containing the separated portion of fluid and the main portion of fluid; and (2) a base for supporting the enclosure and the platform.
  • the enclosure is dome-shaped.
  • the swirling means includes a fan.
  • the fan includes fan blades and rotating means for rotating the fan blades, the fan blades being located between the platform and the base, the rotating means being located within the base.
  • the rotating means includes a pull-string actuated gear box.
  • the platform includes a top surface, the apertures being located within the top surface.
  • the top surface includes a periphery, the apertures being symmetrically located in the vicinity of the periphery.
  • the apertures include four symmetrical and evenly spaced apart apertures.
  • the top surface is flat, the platform including cylindrical side walls which support the top surface above the swirling means.
  • a display device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally at 10.
  • the display device 10 includes a domed transparent enclosure 12 which is completely filled with water or other fluid (not numbered), a figurine 14 supported on a platform 16 for display within the enclosure 12 and an opaque base 18 for supporting the enclosure 12 and the platform 16 and housing a drive means (described below).
  • snow-like particles 20 are suspended within the water to create the effect of a snow storm, or the like, when agitated.
  • a fan for agitating the water is indicated generally at 22 (Fig. 2).
  • the fan 22 has fan blades 24 which, when rotated, swirl a portion of fluid which is separated by the platform 16 from the main portion of fluid within the enclosure 12.
  • the fan blades 24 are connected to a gear box 26 by a pin 28 which extends through the top of the base 18.
  • a string 30 and a pulley 32 are provided for manually operating the gear box 26.
  • the gear box 26, the pulley 32, and the string 30 are housed within the base 18.
  • a ball 34 which enables the operator to easily grip and pull on the string 30 is located outside of the base 18.
  • an operator pulls on the ball 34 to rotate the pulley 32 via the string 30, to drive the gear box 26.
  • the gear box 26 in turn, rotates the fan blades 24 via the pin 28.
  • the rotating fan blades 24 swirl the separated portion of fluid located between the platform 16 and the base 18.
  • the platform 16 has a plurality of apertures 36 for providing fluid communication between the separated portion of water between the platform 16 and the base 18 and the main portion of fluid within the enclosure 12.
  • a plurality of separate vortexes 37 are created within the main portion of fluid, causing the particles 20 to agitate within the transparent enclosure 12 in a very realistic and interesting way.
  • the plurality of apertures 36 were not present, the desired separate vortexes 37 would not be created.
  • the vortexes 37 are preferably parallel to and spaced apart from one another so as to cause a more realistic movement of the particles 20 within the enclosure 12. In a real-life snowstorm, there are a plurality of vortexes and snow swirls in a myriad of directions. By creating the vortexes 37, the present invention mimics this effect, and does so in a simple and inexpensive manner.
  • the configuration of the platform 16, the domed enclosure 12, the apertures 36 and the fan blades 24 is very important.
  • the platform 16 can support the figurine 14 for display within the transparent enclosure 12 while permitting the fluid to communicate through the platform 16 to create the separate vortexes 37.
  • the platform 16 preferably has a flat top 38 supported by cylindrical sides 40, with the four apertures 36 (Fig. 3) symmetrically and equally spaced apart with respect to each other in the vicinity of the periphery 42 of the top 38 of the platform 16.
  • the apertures 36 are preferably located above outermost portions 44 of the fan blades 24.
  • a plug closes the enclosure 12 after the enclosure 12 is filled during assembly.
  • the platform 16 and the fan blades 24 can be made of clear material and the platform 16 can support decorative snow-like material, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
EP91300509A 1990-02-26 1991-01-23 Anzeigevorrichtung Withdrawn EP0444773A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US48513290A 1990-02-26 1990-02-26
US485132 1990-02-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0444773A1 true EP0444773A1 (de) 1991-09-04

Family

ID=23927025

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91300509A Withdrawn EP0444773A1 (de) 1990-02-26 1991-01-23 Anzeigevorrichtung

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0444773A1 (de)
CA (1) CA2034843A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0617395A1 (de) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-28 Thomas A. Schutz Company Bewegte Werbungsanzeige
WO1995029476A1 (en) * 1994-04-23 1995-11-02 Maylodge Limited Improvements in or relating to playthings

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2435612A (en) * 1942-03-19 1948-02-10 Sarah S Snyder Crystal novelty and paperweight
US2518502A (en) * 1943-10-08 1950-08-15 Sarah S Snyder Crystal novelty and paperweight
US4817311A (en) * 1987-12-16 1989-04-04 Ong S T Raymond Decorative ball device

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2435612A (en) * 1942-03-19 1948-02-10 Sarah S Snyder Crystal novelty and paperweight
US2518502A (en) * 1943-10-08 1950-08-15 Sarah S Snyder Crystal novelty and paperweight
US4817311A (en) * 1987-12-16 1989-04-04 Ong S T Raymond Decorative ball device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0617395A1 (de) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-28 Thomas A. Schutz Company Bewegte Werbungsanzeige
WO1995029476A1 (en) * 1994-04-23 1995-11-02 Maylodge Limited Improvements in or relating to playthings
US5857277A (en) * 1994-04-23 1999-01-12 Maylodge Limited Playthings

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2034843A1 (en) 1991-08-27

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Effective date: 19920305