GB2221333A

GB2221333A - Ornamental crystal ball

Info

Publication number: GB2221333A
Application number: GB8818019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming Hung Lia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-28
Filing date: 1988-07-28
Publication date: 1990-01-31
Also published as: GB8818019D0

Abstract

An ornamental crystal ball for creating a snow scene comprises a base 10, a sphere 20 mounted on the base and filled with water, a model 30 disposed in the sphere, a plurality of suspensionable objects 40 disposed in the sphere and a driving means to agitate the water and the suspensionable objects. The driving means comprises a motor 506 to rotate a second magnet 503, and the second magnet causes a first magnet 502 together with an impeller body 501 to rotate. The impeller body 501 is mounted on an upper plate 101 of the base 10 and in the sphere, so that the rotation of the impeller body 501 agitates the water and the suspensionable objects 40. In a modification, the drive shaft of the motor is extended through the upper plate 101 to drive the impeller directly. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: ORNAMENTAL CRYSTAL BALL A conventional ornamental crystal ball is shown in FIG. 4. The conventional ornamental crystal ball comprises a base 1 and a sphere 2 mounted on the base 1. The sphere 2 is filled with water. A model 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the base 1.

Suspensionable objects 4 float in the sphere 2. When shaking the ornamental crystal ball, the suspensionable objects 4 are float around the model 3 giving the appearance of a winter snow scene. Since the ornamental crystal ball is used for decoration, the ornamental crystal ball is always disposed on the upper surface of a support means. However, for creating a snowy scenery, it is necessary to inconveniently shake the crystal ball.

It is the purpose of the present invention, therefore, to mitigate and/or obviate the abovementioned drawbacks in the manner set forth in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an ornamental crystal ball which comprises an impeller to agitate the suspensionable objects.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an ornamental crystal ball which comprises a pair of magnets. A first magnet engaged with the impeller body and a second magnet aligned with the first magnet and engaged with a shaft of a motor which is driven by dry cell batteries. The first magnet together with the impeller body is rotated by the rotation of the second magnet.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an ornamental crystal ball which automatically agitates the suspensionable objects and completely s-eals the water filled in the sphere to preventing the water from leaking.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this invention.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornamental crystal ball according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a driving means of the ornamental crystal ball shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ornamental crystal ball according to the present invention, showing the driving means engaging the ball; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional ornamental crystal ball.

As shown in FIG. 4, a sphere 2 is disposed on a base 1 and filled with water. Suspensionable objects 4 are sunk in the water. It is necessary to shake the ornamental crystal ball to suspend the suspensionable objects 4 around a model 3 disposed in the sphere 2.

For suspending the suspensionable objects 4 around the model 3, it is necessary to agitate. the water, If the water can be agitated by a driving means, it will be convenient for the user.

A preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 1, an ornamental crystal ball according to the present invention comprises a base 10 and a sphere 20 which is filled with water. A plurality of suspensionable objects 40 and a model 30 are disposed in the sphere 20. The sphere 20 is mounted on an upper plate 101 of the base 10. An impeller body 501 is mounted on a center portion of the upper plate 101.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a driving means is mounted on the upper plate 101 of the base 10. The driving means comprises an impeller body 501, a pair of magnets 502, 503, a housing 504, a carrier 505 and a drive motor 506 connected to a power supply (not shown). The housing 504 which is made of a plastic material has an upright bar 507 upwardly extending through a central hole 102 of the upper plate 101. The housing 504 can be adhered to the upper plate 101. A first magnet 502 is received within the impeller body 501 and adhered to the impeller body 501. The impeller body 501 and the first magnet 502 have central holes to allow the upright bar 507 to extend therethrough. The top end of the upright bar 507 is melted by heat to allow the first magnet 502 and the impeller body 501 to mount on and rotate relative to the upright bar 507.The carrier 505 receives a second magnet 503 and the carrier 504 is engaged to the motor shaft. The motor 506 is connected to and driven by a power supply, such as dry cell batteries (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, a switch is used for controlling the rotation of the motor 506.

When the motor 506 is rotating, the second magnet 503 is driven by the spindle of the motor 506 to rotate. Although the second magnet 503 does not contact with the first magnet 502, the first magnet 502 is driven by the second magnet 503 to rotate due to the magnetic field. Since the impeller body 501 is engaged with the first magnet 502, the impeller body 501 will rotate to cause the water to flow, so that the suspensionable objects 40 (as seen in FIG. 1) can be suspended around the model automatically.

It is noted that there is no rqtating shaft or spindle extending through the upper plate 101, so that the sealing effect can be easily achieved by adhesion.

The suspensionable objects 40 are suspended and moved in the sphere 20 without manual operation, so that the ornamental crystal ball can be stationarily disposed.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in a modified embodiment of the present invention, the spindle of the motor is extended through the upper plate and engaged with the impeller body. The first and second magnets as mentioned above can be removed. The spindle is rotatable and the upper plate is fixed, so that the sealing between the spindle and the upper plate must be taken into consideration when manufacturing. If the water in the sphere leaks into the base, the components of the base will be wet and damaged, and air bulbs will be formed in the sphere. For achieving a perfect seal, a sealing means must be arranged between the spindle and the upper plate. It is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, it will be appreciated that the drawings are exemplary of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Claims

CLAIM:

1. An ornamental crystal ball comprising a base, a sphere filled with water and mounted on an upper plate of said base, a model mounted on said upper plate of said base, a plurality of suspensionable objects disposed in said sphere and a driving means for agitating the water and moving the suspensionable objects, wherein said driving means comprising: a housing having an upright bar extending through said upper plate and engaging with said upper plate; a first magnet disposed on said upright bar; an impeller body disposed on said upright bar, said first magnet being received in and adhered to said impeller, both of said first magnet and said impeller being rotatable relative to said upright bar; and a second magnet received in a carrier engaged with a spindle of a motor, said motor being received in said housing and connecting to a power supply.