EP0685247B1 - Marine display device having a liquid vessel with a finished surface to eliminate focusing effect - Google Patents

Marine display device having a liquid vessel with a finished surface to eliminate focusing effect Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0685247B1
EP0685247B1 EP19940108591 EP94108591A EP0685247B1 EP 0685247 B1 EP0685247 B1 EP 0685247B1 EP 19940108591 EP19940108591 EP 19940108591 EP 94108591 A EP94108591 A EP 94108591A EP 0685247 B1 EP0685247 B1 EP 0685247B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mold
panel member
relatively flat
finished surface
rear panel
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19940108591
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0685247A1 (en
Inventor
Shigeyuki Horiuchi
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DK94108591T priority Critical patent/DK0685247T3/da
Priority to DE1994600479 priority patent/DE69400479T2/de
Priority to EP19940108591 priority patent/EP0685247B1/en
Publication of EP0685247A1 publication Critical patent/EP0685247A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0685247B1 publication Critical patent/EP0685247B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/22—Optical, colour, or shadow toys
    • 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
    • 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
    • G09F19/12—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a display apparatus for animated marine life and is particularly related to a display device comprising a liquid vessel and one or more animated marine life species swimming therein, against a coral reef or the like underwater backgrounds in order to simulate an aquarium. More specifically, the present invention relates to an aquarium of the type herein described wherein the reflector surface of the liquid vessel of the aquarium has been specially treated or matt finished in order to eliminate the so-called "focusing effect" associated with such surface when such surface is not treated or not finished in accordance with this invention.
  • the focusing effect results from the concentration of sun rays upon striking such untreated or unfinished surfaces from a convex surface, i.e., a convex lens effect.
  • the concentrated rays are reflected from the untreated surface and are concentrated on a relatively small area outside the aquarium, thus generating heat and smoke which can possibly cause fire hazard.
  • the marine display device described in said application comprises, as shown in figures 1 and 2 thereof, a liquid vessel made of a transparent rigid plastic material in the general form of a semi-spherical structure having a front convex surface and a generally flat rear surface.
  • the liquid vessel is provided with an opening for the introduction of liquid into the vessel, and a closure cap to seal the vessel.
  • the display apparatus shown in figures 1 and 2 of the aforementioned application EP-A-0 584 944 comprises a generally circular housing or casing to accommodate said liquid vessel.
  • the casing has a base and a background plate disposed between the rear surface of the liquid vessel and the casing to provide a background view, such as a coral reef, a rock cave or some other underwater marine habitat.
  • a background view such as a coral reef, a rock cave or some other underwater marine habitat.
  • One or more magnetic marine objects such as a fish and the like are suspended freely in the liquid vessel and move about therein much in the same manner as a natural marine life moves about in the sea.
  • Magnetic means are suitably located in said apparatus in order to impart movements to the magnetic fish in all different directions.
  • An apparatus for display of animated marine life, the apparatus having a liquid vessel at least partially filled with liquid.
  • the liquid vessel is formed of a convex front member and a relatively flat rear panel member which is bonded to the rear peripheral edge of the convex member.
  • the flat panel member is matt finished to insure that the finished surface refracts incident sun rays which impinge upon the finished surface.
  • the matt finished surface of the rear flat plate is produced by injection molding of a thermoplastic material in a mold which has been etched to form an etched surface.
  • the marine display device illustrated therein comprises a liquid-containing vessel 1 made of transparent rigid plastic material in the general form of a semi-spherical structure having a front convex surface 1a and a rear generally flat plate 1b.
  • the liquid vessel 1 is provided with an opening 3 for introducing the liquid and the marine lives into the vessel, and a closure cap 2 seals the vessel after it has been filled with liquid.
  • the lower portion of the front convex surface 1a converges toward the rear flat plate 1b as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
  • the marine display device of this invention comprises a housing or casing 5 formed to accommodate the liquid vessel 1.
  • the casing 5 has a base 5a which supports the flange portion 1c which may be formed integrally with the liquid vessel 1.
  • a background surface 6 is disposed intermediate the rear panel 1b of the liquid vessel and the casing 5 to provide a background view corresponding to the liquid habitat for the swimming toy fish.
  • the background view depicts a rock cave, it may be designed to depict a coral reef or other marine habitats, if desired.
  • the panel 1b has a rear unfinished surface 1c and a front matt finished surface 1d which is treated as hereinafter described in order to eliminate any focusing effect when the display device is placed in the sun.
  • the matt finished surface 1d of the panel 1b is formed by injection molding the panel 1b in a chemically etched mold.
  • the mold in which the panel 1b is formed is first etched by coating the mold surface with an acid-resistant film of a suitable wax such as, for example, hard paraffine wax, and the wax film is perforated forming channels therethrough across the surface of the wax film.
  • An appropriate needle or other suitable sharp object is used to perforate the wax film thus providing random or irregularly distributed holes across the entire surface of the film.
  • the mold is then dipped in a suitable acid such as nitric acid for a few minutes, usually for about 2 to about 3 minutes, at ambient conditions, and the acid is then rinsed away with water to wash the mold clean. Dipping the mold into the acid causes the acid to attack or "bite" the exposed portions of the mold surface, i.e., the perforated portions, thus etching the mold surface.
  • the rear panel 1b In order to form the rear panel 1b, a suitable amount of a thermoplastic resin, preferable reinforced polystrene, is injected molded in the etched mold and the matt finished panel 1b is formed therein.
  • a suitable amount of a thermoplastic resin, preferable reinforced polystrene is injected molded in the etched mold and the matt finished panel 1b is formed therein.
  • the surface of the panel 1b which conformally contacts the etched surface of the mold is formed with a matt finish and exhibits the property of refracting incident sun rays rather than concentrating these rays as is the case when the surface is not matt finished.
  • the matt finished panel formed as hereinabove described is removed from the mold, cooled and then used in forming the liquid vessel 1 for the aquarium.
  • the matt finished plate 1b is formed with an integral peripheral lip 1e which may be 63,5 mm - 127 mm (1 ⁇ 4 to 1 ⁇ 2 inch thick), and plate 1b is slightly tapered rearward so as to insure that opening 3 is wide enough to facilitate easy introduction of the marine objects into the liquid vessel.
  • the plate 1b is bonded to the periphery of the semi-spherical member to define the liquid vessel, using a suitable adhesive or bonding agent.
  • thermoplastic material which is used.
  • quantity of the thermoplastic material which is used is not critical and, as it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this quantity can vary depending on the desired size and thickness of the finished plate which is desired.
  • plate 1b be formed with a matt finished surface which is capable of refracting the sun rays so as to avoid the possibility of hot spot formation and smoking due to focusing effect.
  • Figure 4 illustrates how the sun rays which impinge upon the finished surface of the rear panel of the liquid vessel is refracted in different directions, thus minimizing or eliminating focusing effect.
  • the sun rays when the sun rays impinge upon the surface of an unfinished panel, the sun rays are not refracted in different directions, but rather they are concentrated or focused onto one small area, which can cause hot spot, smoke or even fire hazards.
  • matt finishing the back panel of the aquarium as herein described insures safety of use and operation of the display device. Needless to say that elimination or prevention of focusing effect is a major factor in commercialization of these display devices.

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  • 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)
EP19940108591 1994-06-04 1994-06-04 Marine display device having a liquid vessel with a finished surface to eliminate focusing effect Expired - Lifetime EP0685247B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK94108591T DK0685247T3 (xx) 1994-06-04 1994-06-04
DE1994600479 DE69400479T2 (de) 1994-06-04 1994-06-04 Gerät zur maritimen Darstellung, bestehend aus einem Flüssigkeitsgefäss mit behandelter Oberfläche zur Beseitigung von Fokusierungseffekt
EP19940108591 EP0685247B1 (en) 1994-06-04 1994-06-04 Marine display device having a liquid vessel with a finished surface to eliminate focusing effect

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19940108591 EP0685247B1 (en) 1994-06-04 1994-06-04 Marine display device having a liquid vessel with a finished surface to eliminate focusing effect

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0685247A1 EP0685247A1 (en) 1995-12-06
EP0685247B1 true EP0685247B1 (en) 1996-09-04

Family

ID=8215994

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19940108591 Expired - Lifetime EP0685247B1 (en) 1994-06-04 1994-06-04 Marine display device having a liquid vessel with a finished surface to eliminate focusing effect

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0685247B1 (xx)
DE (1) DE69400479T2 (xx)
DK (1) DK0685247T3 (xx)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2345021A (en) * 1998-12-22 2000-06-28 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Matt surface display window

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6013512Y2 (ja) * 1980-07-23 1985-04-30 株式会社トミー 水中遊泳玩具
US4521982A (en) * 1984-05-07 1985-06-11 Nicholas Altuchow Novelty viewer
US4604297A (en) * 1984-07-31 1986-08-05 Liu Peter D Transmission enhancing coating
GB2222000A (en) * 1988-06-22 1990-02-21 Dimplex Ltd Glen Optical component used for flame effect in heating apparatus
JP2551373Y2 (ja) * 1992-07-29 1997-10-22 株式会社増田屋コーポレーション 遊泳玩具
US5214539A (en) * 1992-07-27 1993-05-25 Sorko Ram Paul Concave mirror with convex acrylic cover

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK0685247T3 (xx) 1997-02-24
DE69400479T2 (de) 1997-02-27
EP0685247A1 (en) 1995-12-06
DE69400479D1 (de) 1996-10-10

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