GB2313328A

GB2313328A - Pneumatically operable amusement apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2313328A
Application number: GB9710151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wai Sang Lam
Original assignee: ALLIANCE PET SUPPLY Co LI; Alliance Pet Supply Co Ltd
Current assignee: ALLIANCE PET SUPPLY Co LI; Alliance Pet Supply Co Ltd
Priority date: 1996-05-21
Filing date: 1997-05-19
Publication date: 1997-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-19
Also published as: GB2313326A; GB9710151D0; JPH1071277A; CN1166371A; JPH1099556A; GB2313327A; JPH1071278A; GB2313328B; GB9710148D0; GB9610610D0; GB2313327B; GB2313326B; CN1166913A; CN1165708A

Description

2313328 A Pneumatically Operable Water-Submersible Amusement A1212aratus

This invention relates to a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus and, in particular, such an apparatus suitable for use in aquaria.

There are existing aquarium accessories used in conjunction with air from an air source, e.g. an electric air compressor. Air supplied to the accessories are sometimes used for moving certain parts of the accessories. However, such conventional accessories are often simplistic in construction, and do not take full use of the bubbles to provide an aesthetically pleasing amusement apparatus. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatically operable watersubmersible amusement apparatus wherein the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus comprising driving means and moving means, wherein when the apparatus is pneumatically connected to an air source, air from said air source acts on said driving means to move directly or indirectly said moving means. 20 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement system comprising an air source and a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus comprising driving means and moving means, wherein when the apparatus is pneumatically connected to said air source, air from said air source acts on said driving means to 2 move directly or indirectly said moving means.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a pneumatically operable watersubmersible amusement apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figs. 2A to 2C show, respectively, the top view, side view and back view of a second embodiment of a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus as 15 shown in Fig. 1 connected to an air source, thus forming a pneumatically operable amusement system according to the second aspect of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a partly-sectioned perspective view of a third embodiment of a pneumatically operable water- submersible amusement apparatus according to the first 20 aspect of present invention; Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the amusement apparatus shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the amusement apparatus shown in Fig. 4.

3 Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a pneumatically operable watersubmersible amusement apparatus, in the form of a water vehicle figure 10, according to the first aspect of the present invention. The vehicle 10 is made up of an upper half body 12 and a lower half body 14. The lower half body 14 is provided with three upwardly standing poles 16 for insertion into corresponding holes (not shown) in the upper half body 12, to ensure proper alignment of the two half bodies 12, 14. Weights 18a, 18b are received within the lower half body 14, so that the vehicle 10 is at least partly submersible in water.

Air from an outside source (not shown in Fig. 1) is provided to the cavity formed by the upper and lower half bodies 12, 14 via an air tube 20. The air is directed towards a wheel 22 contained within two hemispherical half casings 24a, 24b, so that the wheel 22 rotates about its longitudinal axis. The wheel 22 is fixedly engaged with a worm 26, which is in turn fixedly engaged with a first end of a shaft 28. The second end of shaft 28 is fixedly engaged with a propeller 30, such that rotation of the wheel 22 will bring about a corresponding rotation of the propeller 30. A rudder 32 including two protrusions 34a, 34b receivable within recesses 36 at the rear end of the upper and lower half bodies 12, 14 is provided. The rudder 32 is thus hingedly engaged to the stern of the vehicle 10 and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, so that the vehicle 10 may move in a circular manner.

The worm 26 is in mesh with a worm gear 38, which is in turn in mesh with a threaded portion of a cap 40. The worm gear 38 is rotatable about a pin 42, an end of which being received within a hole 44 of a substantially rectangular half chamber 4 50b. In like manner, the cap 40 is rotatable about a pin 46, an end of which being received within a hole 48 of the half casing 50b. The respective other end of the pins 42, 46 are received within corresponding holes (not shown) in a half chamber 50a.

Rotation of the wheel 22 will therefore cause the worm gear 38 and cap 40 to rotate about their respective pin 42, 46.

Air supplied to the vehicle 10, after acting upon the wheel 22, is allowed to ascend through the cavity formed by the joining of the half chambers 50a and 50b. The air is, however, only allowed to pass through cap 40 through an opening 52, such that the air will be released away from the vehicle 10 through an aperture 54 in the upper half body 12 in the form of a stream of bubbles.

For ease of connection, the vehicle 10 is provided with an internal air tube 56 connected to one end of a connecting duct 58. The other end of the connecting duct 58 is connectible to the air tube 20. The vehicle 10 may therefore be disconnected from the air tube 20 as a unit.

As shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, a second embodiment of the pneumatically operable amusement apparatus is in the form of a figure diver driving an underwater vehicle, generally designated as 60. There are provided a pair of flippers 62 which are swivellable about joints 64. During movement of the apparatus 60 in water, the flippers 62 will exhibit swivelling action to more vividly mimic the action of a diver in water. An alternative type of rudder is shown and designated as 66. The rudder 66 is in the form of a ring, which is rotatable about a vertical axis, so as to adjust the course of movement of the apparatus 60.

The amusement apparatus may alternatively assume the shape of a fish model, in which the tail fin is freely hinged to the body portion and swivellably movable during movement about a vertical axis. The amusement apparatus may further assume the shape of a bird model, in which case the wings are freely hinged to the body portion and each swivellably movable during movement about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

Turning to Fig. 3, a vehicle 10 is shown as connected via the air tube 20 to an electric air compressor 68 housed within a container 70 in the form of an island. The container 70 may be made of plastic material, such that the air compressor 68 and the container 70 may float on top of water while the vehicle 10 moves in water.

In addition, the vehicle 10 may be connected to an electric air compressor used in aquarium tanks. Such enhances the appearance of the tank, and the interest in viewing the animals within.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, a third embodiment of a pneumatically operable water submersible amusement apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is generally designated as 100. The apparatus 100 includes a base 102 in the form of a working platform. To the bottom of the base 102 is secured a weight- container 104 having a cavity 106 for receiving therein a heavy object, e.g. a lead disc (not shown), for ensuring that when the apparatus 100 is put in an aquarium, it sits 6 securely on the bottom of the aquarium, despite movement of its various parts, to be discussed below.

Air from an air source, e.g. an electric air compressor (not shown), is supplied to the apparatus 100 via a tube 108. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, a T-shaped coupling member 110 is connectible to the tube 108, for distributing the incoming air onto two turbines 1 12a and 1 12b, each rotatable about a respective axis 1 14a and 1 14b. It can be seen from Fig. 6 that air from the air source acts on and thereby rotates the turbines 112a and 112b. After acting on the turbine 112a, the air is released from the apparatus 100 in the form of bubbles through an orifice 116a. After acting on the turbine 112b, the air bubbles then ascend to meet a downwardly pointing edge 117 formed by two downwardly facing surfaces of an angled plate 118, which guides the movement of the bubbles to orifices 116b and 116c through which the bubbles exit the apparatus 100. In addition, the angled plate 118 also serves to adjust the relative amount of bubbles released through the orifices 116b and 116c. If the angled plate 118 is moved more to the right, more bubbles will be directed towards the orifice 116b. On the other hand, if the angled plate 118 is moved more to the left, more bubbles will be directed towards the orifice 116c. It can also be seen that the bubbles directed towards the orifice 116b will act upon a third turbine 120 rotatable about an axis 122, before exiting the apparatus 100 via the orifice 116b.

To the top end of the respective orifice 116a and 116b is fixed a respective mouthpiece 124a, 124b. Each of the mouthpieces 124a, 124b includes a respective cover plate 126a, 126b with a number of small holes through which bubbles are 7 released to the outside environment. Bubbles of various sizes may thus be released out of the apparatus 100 to enhance the overall visual effect.

The apparatus 100 includes a number of movable parts which are driven by the turbines 112a, 112b and 120. Referring first to the turbine 112a, its axis 114a is connected to a disc 128 having an outwardly extending pin 130. When the disc 128 is rotated by the turbine 112a, the pin 130 acts on the underside of an arm 132 at one end of an engine figure 134. The engine figure 134 is loosely connected at another end to a stepped portion 138 via a pair of claws 136. Circular movement of the pin 130 will thus act on the arm 132 to cause the engine figure 134 to swivel about the stepped portion 138.

The apparatus 100 also includes a human figure 140 having a trunk portion 142 with two downwardly extending poles 144 receivable within two recesses 146. A head is portion 148 is fixed to the top end of the trunk portion 142. To the front side of the trunk portion 142 is engaged an arm portion 150 which is swivellably movable relative to the trunk portion 142. The arm portion 150 includes an extension 152 which may be acted upon by the pin 130 during its rotation. The arm portion 150 will thus swivel about the trunk portion 142 when the disc 128 rotates, and conveys the impression that the human figure 140 pours some materials into the apparatus 100.

Turning to the turbine 112b, its axis 114b is connected to a rotatable wheel 154.

Extending from the wheel 154 is a finger 156 receivable within a hole 158 at one end 8 of a rod 160. Another end 161 of the rod 160 is of a larger width and is receivable through a slot 162. By reason of the rotational movement of the finger 156, the rod will reciprocate within the slot 162. An arrow may be painted on the wider end 161 of the rod 160, and conveys the visual effect of a moving meter arrow visible through a window 164.

As to the turbine 120, it is connected via its axis 122 to a wheel 166 which rotates simultaneously with the turbine 120. The turbine 120 is also connected to a cam member 168, which acts on two legs 170 of a swivelling part 172. It can be seen that the two legs 170 are of unequal lengths. The swivelling part 172 also includes two wires 174 which extend into two slots 176. By way of such an arrangement, rotation of the turbine 120 will rotate the cam member 168 to act on the swivelling part 172, to cause it to swivel, and thus convey the idea of a piston part of an engine.

It is clear from the foregoing that the entire apparatus 100 gives the idea of a complicated machine with a lot of movable parts. Such significantly increases the interest in viewing the operation of the apparatus 100.

It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples in which the present invention may be carried out, and that further modifications andlor alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

9

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus comprising driving means and moving means, wherein when the apparatus is pneumatically connected to an air source, air from said air source acts on said driving means to move directly or indirectly said moving means.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said driving means comprises at least one turbine member.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said driving means comprises a plurality of turbine members.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein each or the turbine member is rotatable about an axis.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said axes of said turbine members are substantially parallel to one another.

6. An apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein each or the turbine member is engaged with said moving means via said respective axis.

7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said moving means comprise at least one rotatable member.

8. An apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said rotatable member comprises a propeller.

9. An apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said rotatable member comprises a wheel.

10. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said moving means comprises at least one swivellable member.

11. An apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said swivellable member is movable by actuation means connected to said driving means.

12. An apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said actuation means comprises a cam member.

13. An apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said actuation means comprises a pin member.

14. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein said swivellable member comprises a model of an engine.

15. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein said swivellable member comprises a movable element engaged with a model of a human.

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16. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein said swivellable member comprises a model of a piston.

17. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said moving means comprises at least one reciprocable member.

18. An apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein movement of said reciprocable member is viewable through a window.

19. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said apparatus is in the form of a model of a machine.

20. A pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement system comprising an air source and a pneumatically operable water-submersible amusement apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.

21. A system according to Claim 20 wherein said air source is an electric air compressor.

22. An apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.