EP0756150A1 - Wheel for feast decoration - Google Patents

Abstract

The table has a plate (1) which is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft (2) carried on a base (3). The upper end of the shaft is pointed (9) with a truncated section having a helical engagement surface adjacent to a lower truncated section with a smooth surface. The plate has a coaxial hole (12) with a lower section to be entered by the shaft and a guide surface (13) which engages the helical section of the shaft to cause rotation of the plate as the plate falls under gravity. The plate hole has an intermediate section of enlarged diameter and a lower section (15) offset from the entry portion for the shaft.

Description

The present invention relates to a festive merry-go-round for carrying and rotating a tray supporting various party decorations such as one or more pyrotechnic fountains, to produce a rotating animation such as a firework with sun effects or umbrella.

Document DE-A-26 02 291 describes a pyrotechnic device in which six fountains are carried by a fixed upper plate secured to a vertical shaft mounted on a base, with a simultaneous firing device comprising a movable lower plate pushed by a spring and striking by six strikers of the detonators distributed on an intermediate disc at the base of the fountains. There is no rotating animation.

Also known is a pyrotechnic device described in document US-A-1 617 084, in which a plate is rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft. The plate is formed of a lattice of several branches carrying several pyrotechnic fountains, some of which are oriented radially and others are oriented tangentially. Tangential fountains produce both a pyrotechnic effect, and the rotation of the tray around its tree.

Such a device is suitable for achieving a sun effect, but it must imperatively be used outdoors. Indeed, the fountains necessary for the rotation and the maintenance of the rotation of the plate are necessarily outdoor fountains, whose combustion gases have sufficient energy to propel the plate, but whose use is prohibited indoors, and the orientation of the tray along a horizontal axis is also incompatible with indoor use, because of the orientation of the pyrotechnic flows leaving the fountains to the sides and down during part of the rotation of the tray. And the rotation of the plate requires the provision of pyrotechnic fountains oriented tangentially, which increases the cost of the assembly.

Indoor pyrotechnic devices require the use of small indoor fountains, which are already sold to the general public and are designed to be used safely indoors. These indoor fountains only develop a low energy of combustion gas, and for this reason, they do not do not constitute an effective propellant for the rotation of a plate.

The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new festive merry-go-round with a rotary table, with simple and inexpensive means, other than pyrotechnic devices, to cause and maintain the rotation of the table for a satisfactory period, for example of at least a minute.

Another object of the invention is to design such a device which is particularly simple and inexpensive, so that its production cost is compatible with the low prices that buyers are ready to devote to such a device capable of being used. once or a few times.

An application can reside in indoor pyrotechnic arenas, whose indoor fountains do not by themselves allow the rotation of the tray. By its simplicity, the device must then be able to be mounted by the user himself, so as to reduce its size for packaging, transport, and presentation on store shelves.

A second application may reside in external devices comprising non-propellant pyrotechnic devices or without propellant effect because of their non-tangential orientation.

Another application may reside, more generally, in the festive decor rides in which a tray with a vertical axis is rotated to animate a decor that may include two or three dimensional figurative elements, inscriptions, pyrotechnic devices such as as candles, indoor fountains, sparklers.

• l'arbre est porté par une base qui le maintient en position sensiblement verticale,
• l'arbre comprend, à partir d'une extrémité supérieure conformée en pointeau, un tronçon supérieur à moyen d'engagement externe hélicoïdal adjacent à un tronçon inférieur lisse à diamètre réduit,
• le plateau comprend un trou coaxial borgne comportant une portion inférieure d'entrée adaptée pour laisser pénétrer l'arbre et munie d'un moyen d'engagement intérieur pouvant venir en prise sur le moyen d'engagement externe de l'arbre en provoquant la rotation du plateau, une portion intermédiaire à diamètre élargi, et un fond supérieur décalé de la portion d'entrée selon une distance telle que la portion d'entrée est en regard du tronçon inférieur lisse lorsque l'extrémité supérieure en pointeau de l'arbre est en appui contre le fond supérieur du trou.

To achieve these and other objects, a festive merry-go-round according to the invention comprises a tray mounted on a tree. According to the invention:

• the tree is carried by a base which keeps it in a substantially vertical position,
• the shaft comprises, from an upper end shaped as a needle, an upper section with helical external engagement means adjacent to a smooth lower section with reduced diameter,
• the tray includes a blind coaxial hole having a lower inlet portion adapted to allow the shaft to penetrate and provided with a internal engagement means which can engage the external engagement means of the shaft by causing the rotation of the plate, an intermediate portion with enlarged diameter, and an upper bottom offset from the inlet portion by a distance such that the inlet portion faces the smooth lower section when the upper needle end of the shaft bears against the upper bottom of the hole.

According to a preferred embodiment, facilitating the holding in position of the elements of the device before the start of the animation, the merry-go-round furthermore comprises removable stop means for the start of the race, to selectively oppose the descent of the platform on the shaft, and to authorize said descent of the plate and its rotation on the shaft after removal of the stop.

According to a first embodiment, the stop is a transverse fork engaged in an intermediate annular groove provided in the upper section of the shaft.

According to another embodiment, making it possible to make automatic and simultaneous the start of rotation of the plate and the ignition of pyrotechnic devices carried by the plate, the stop is a combustible cord fixed on the upper section of the shaft, and can be connected from preference to pyrotechnic devices to ensure their ignition. The combustion of the cord releases the plate which enters into rotation, and can simultaneously ignite the pyrotechnic devices.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un manège décor de fête selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté du manège décor de fête de la figure 1, dans la position de fin de rotation ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté en coupe partielle du manège décor de fête des figures 1 et 2, en position initiale du plateau ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté en coupe partielle du manège décor de fête des figures 1 et 2 en position finale du plateau ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté en coupe d'un manchon pour assurer la rotation du plateau d'un manège selon les figures précédentes ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus montrant une pièce formant la portion inférieure d'entrée du manchon ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de côté en coupe de la pièce de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de côté de l'arbre du manège représenté sur les figures 1 à 4 ;
• la figure 9 est une vue de côté en coupe des moyens d'entraînement en rotation du plateau selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, en position d'attente ; et
• la figure 10 est une vue de côté en coupe des moyens d'entraînement en rotation de plateau de la figure 9, en position de fin de rotation.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

• Figure 1 is a top view of a party decor carousel according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a side view of the festive carousel of Figure 1, in the end of rotation position;
• Figure 3 is a side view in partial section of the festive carousel of Figures 1 and 2, in the initial position of the tray;
• Figure 4 is a side view in partial section of the festive carousel of Figures 1 and 2 in the final position of the tray;
• Figure 5 is a side view in section of a sleeve for ensuring the rotation of the plate of a carousel according to the preceding figures;
• Figure 6 is a top view showing a part forming the lower inlet portion of the sleeve;
• Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the part of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a side view of the carousel tree shown in Figures 1 to 4;
• FIG. 9 is a side view in section of the means for driving the plate in rotation according to another embodiment of the invention, in the standby position; and
• Figure 10 is a side sectional view of the drive means in plate rotation of Figure 9, in the end of rotation position.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, a festive merry-go-round according to the invention comprises a plate 1 rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 2. The shaft 2 is carried by a base 3 which keeps it in a substantially vertical position.

The tray 1 carries for example two diametrically opposite indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5 whose corresponding outlet orifice 6 or 7 is preferably directed upwards, the fountains 4 and 5 being able to be inclined in a plane tangent to rotation of the plate 1 at an inclination between about 15 ° and 30 °. The inclination of the fountains 4 and 5 is preferably made in the direction that the thrust of the combustion gases maintains the rotation of the plate 1, as will be explained below.

The shaft 2 comprises an upper end 8 shaped as a needle, an upper section 9 by means of external engagement formed by a helical external thread 10 adjacent to a smooth lower section 11 with reduced diameter.

The plate 1 is integral with a sleeve making a blind coaxial hole 12, open downwards, comprising a lower inlet portion 13 with internal engagement means formed by an internal thread 130 engaging on the external thread 10 of the shaft 2 and adapted to allow the shaft 2 to penetrate. Thus, when the plate 1 is fitted on the upper end of the shaft 2, its weight tends to cause it to descend in a helical movement generated by the engagement of the lower inlet portion 13 of hole 12 on the external thread 10 of the shaft 2.

The hole 12 of the sleeve comprises an intermediate portion 14 with a widened diameter, making it possible to avoid any friction contact between said intermediate portion 14 and the shaft 2.

The hole 12 of the sleeve is limited by an upper bottom 15, offset from the inlet portion 13 by a distance D greater than the distance Di between the upper end 8 and the smooth lower section 11 of the shaft 2. From this so, when the upper end 8 of the shaft 2 needle presses against the upper bottom 15 of the hole 12, the inlet portion 13 is opposite the smooth lower section 11, released from the helical external thread 10, so that the plate 1 can then freely continue its rotation around the shaft 2 without its rotation being disturbed by friction between the side walls of the hole 12 and the shaft 2.

As illustrated in the figures, the upper bottom 15 has a coaxial concave inner surface, for example conical with apex centered on the longitudinal axis of the hole 12, and with a more open angle than the upper end 8 of the shaft needle 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the helical external thread 10 of the shaft 2 has a step to the left, to ensure the rotation of the plate 1 in the anticlockwise direction when viewed from above. Obviously, it is possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to use a helical external thread 10 with right-hand pitch, causing a reverse rotation of the plate 1.

It can be seen that the orientation of the indoor fountains 4 and 5 is such that the thrust of the combustion gases maintains the rotation of the plate 1 anticlockwise, rotation initially caused by the helical external thread 10.

In operation, the plate 1 is initially at the start of the race, as illustrated in FIG. 3, adapted on the upper portion of the shaft 2 in the vicinity of the upper end 8 which is engaged in the hole 12 of the sleeve. By the action of the helical external thread 10, on which is engaged the lower inlet portion 13 of the hole 12, the plate 1 tends to descend by its own weight while rotating in the opposite direction of the needles of a watch. At the end of the race, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper end 8 of the shaft 2 comes to bear on the upper bottom 15 of the hole 12, which prevents further progression of the plate 1 downwards. In this position, the lower inlet portion 13 of the hole 12 is located opposite the smooth lower section 11 of the shaft 2, lower section devoid of external helical thread. In this position, the plate 1 freely continues its rotation, this rotation being disturbed by no significant friction between the peripheral lateral face of the shaft 2 and the internal face of the hole 12. The only friction occurs between the needle formed by the upper end 8 of the 'shaft 2 and the upper bottom 15 of the hole 12. This friction is very low, so that the inertia of the plate 1 allows sufficient rotation of the plate 1 for a satisfactory period which may be greater than one minute.

Naturally, in the operation which has just been described, the user must maintain the plate 1 in the initial position of FIG. 3 until the moment when rotation has to start.

To facilitate holding the plate 1 in the initial position of FIG. 3, it is advantageously possible to provide removable stop means for the start of the race, selectively opposing the descent of the plate 1 on the shaft 2, and authorizing said descent of the plate 1 and its rotation on the shaft 2 after removal of the stop. Such a stop means may for example be a transverse fork engaged in an intermediate annular groove 16 provided in the upper section 9 of the shaft 2, or a transverse rod engaged in a removable manner in corresponding radial holes in the shaft 2 and of tray 1.

Alternatively, the abutment means can advantageously be a fuel cord fixed to an intermediate portion of the upper section 9 of the shaft 2. The rotation of the plate 1 can then be ensured by the combustion of the fuel cord, that the user ignites after firing the indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5.

In this case, the fuel cord can advantageously be connected to the indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5, to ensure their ignition. Thus, after firing the single fuel cord, the combustion of the cord simultaneously ensures the rotation of the plate 1 and the ignition of the indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an advantageous embodiment of the removable start stop means. Figure 9 shows the device in the standby position, while Figure 10 shows the device at the end of the descent stroke, during or after rotation.

In this embodiment, the stop means comprise an intermediate shoulder 19 of the hole 12 between a lower bore 20 of larger diameter and an upper bore 21 of smaller diameter, and an intermediate shoulder 22 of the shaft 2 between the upper section 9 and the needle 8.

In the standby position illustrated in FIG. 9, the plate 1 is slightly inclined, the intermediate shoulder 19 of the hole 12 coming to bear on the intermediate shoulder 22 of the shaft 2. Returning to the axis of the plate 1 , as illustrated in FIG. 10, inhibits the stop effect, and authorizes the descent of the plate 1 and its rotation around the shaft 2 to the lower position illustrated in FIG. 10, position in which the rotation of the plate 1 can continue with very low friction.

In this same embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the shaft 2 comprises, in the upper portion of its upper section 9, a radial projection 23 opposing the passage through the lower inlet portion 13 of the hole 12. L 'radial protuberance 23 can, for example, be a pin engaged transversely in a corresponding hole in the shaft 2. This avoids the separation of the plate 1 and the base 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the coaxial sleeve with a hole 12 is offset upward relative to the plate 1, its inlet portion 13 being substantially at the level of the plate 1. This ensures good balance of the plate 1 during its rotation, by the fact that the upper bottom 15 of the blind coaxial hole 12 is then offset upwards relative to the center of gravity of the plate 1.

As illustrated in the figures, the inlet portion 13 of the hole 12 can advantageously be an insert 17, with central hole 18. For example, the insert 17 can have a central hole 18 with a square section, the square section forming the thread interior 130 adaptable to the helical external thread 10 of the shaft 2. In this case, the shaft 2 is a rod with a twisted square section, the twisted square section forming the external helical thread 10.

It is understood that such a device can be produced by assembling several assemblable parts as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8. The shaft 2 can simply be force-fitted into a hole made in the base 3. The hole 12 can also be force-fitted into a central hole in the tray 1. The part 17 can also be forcibly engaged in a bore of greater diameter of the tray 1. The indoor pyrotechnic fountains can be simply engaged in tubular supports engaged in force in plate holes 1.

Thus, one can conceive of such a merry-go-round which can be packaged in spare parts, the parts then being assembled by the user himself.

The tray 1 can be a full disc, as illustrated in the figures. Alternatively, one can provide an openwork tray, or a tray formed by spokes connecting a central hub at the ends carrying the indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5. One can also provide a different number of indoor pyrotechnic fountains, positioned so as to balance the plate 1 around its central axis of rotation.

We understand that the plate 1 is automatically rotated around the shaft 2, and its rotation continues long enough to last during the entire combustion of indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5, this rotation can also be maintained at less in part by the thrust of the combustion gases from the indoor pyrotechnic fountains 4 and 5 carried by the plate 1.

The invention also applies to outdoor pyrotechnic arenas in which we want to avoid, for cost reasons, to provide tangential propelling fountains ensuring the rotation of the plate. The plate can then carry non-propellant pyrotechnic devices such as candles, or pyrotechnic devices with propellant effect, the orientation of which does not produce rotation torque of the plate.

The invention applies to all types of festive merry-go-round in which one or more decorative elements are arranged on the rotary plate 1. The plate 1 can be adapted to receive and retain a wide variety of decorations, for example interchangeable bands around its edge, figures representing an age or a year of birth, or pyrotechnic devices such as candles, indoor pyrotechnic fountains, sparklers. The product is thus suitable for multiple uses.

One can imagine adapting such a festive decor merry-go-round to the decoration of a festive cake. For this, the shaft 2 is for example as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, with a lower part long enough so that the cake can be accommodated between the tray 1 and the base 3 when the device is in the end position of rotation as illustrated in FIG. 4. If necessary, for an adaptation to cakes of different height, the shaft 2 can be of structural telescopic, with adaptable extensions. The shaft 2 is removably adapted by its lower end in the base 3, so that the cake can be adapted on the base 3, then the shaft 2 engaged on the corresponding hole of the base 3 after crossing the cake in its central portion.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (10)

Party decor merry-go-round comprising a tray (1) mounted on a tree (2), characterized in that: - the shaft (2) is carried by a base (3) which keeps it in a substantially vertical position, - the shaft (2) comprises, from an upper end (8) shaped as a needle, an upper section (9) by means of helical external engagement (10) adjacent to a smooth lower section (11) with diameter reduced, - The plate (1) comprises a blind coaxial hole (12) comprising a lower inlet portion (13) adapted to allow the shaft (2) to penetrate and provided with an internal engagement means (130) which can come in taken on the external engagement means (10) of the shaft (2) by causing the rotation of the plate (1), an intermediate portion (14) with enlarged diameter, and an upper bottom (15) offset from the portion d entry (13) at a distance such that the entry portion (13) faces the smooth lower section (11) when the upper end (8) of the shaft needle (2) is in abutment against the upper bottom (15) of the hole (12). Carousel according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises removable stop means for the start of the race, to selectively oppose the descent of the plate (1) on the shaft (2), and to authorize said descent of the plate (1) and its rotation on the shaft (2) after removal of the stop. Carousel according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop is a transverse fork engaged in an intermediate annular groove (16) provided in the upper section (9) of the shaft (2). Carousel according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop is a fuel cord fixed on the upper section (9) of the shaft (2). Armory according to claim 2, characterized in that the abutment means comprise an intermediate shoulder (19) of the hole (12) between a lower bore (20) of larger diameter and an upper bore (21) of smaller diameter, and an intermediate shoulder (22) of the shaft (2) between the upper section (9) and the needle (8), so that, in the standby position, the plate (1) can be inclined with the shoulder ( 19) of the hole (12) coming to bear on the shoulder (22) of the shaft (2), the resetting in the axis of the plate (1) inhibiting the stop effect. Armory according to claim 2, characterized in that the abutment means comprise a transverse rod removably engaged in corresponding radial holes in the shaft (2) and the plate (1). Carousel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shaft (2) comprises, in the upper portion of its upper section (9), a radial protuberance (23) opposing the passage through the portion lower inlet (13) of the hole (12). Carousel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper bottom (15) of the blind coaxial hole (12) is offset upwards relative to the center of gravity of the plate (1). Carousel according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the entry portion (13) of the hole (12) is an attached piece (17). Carousel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the plate (1) is adapted to receive and retain pyrotechnic devices such as candles, indoor pyrotechnic fountains, sparklers.

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