GB2364253A

GB2364253A - Flying ball toy.

Info

Publication number: GB2364253A
Application number: GB0016384A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rich Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-28
Filing date: 2000-07-05
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-05
Also published as: DE20011365U1; GB2364253B; GB0016384D0

Abstract

An executive toy / desktop ornament comprises a stand 12 supplying a stream of air in which an object 20 is suspended. A motor is provided in the stand which drives a fan to supply the air. A flow guide 14 is provided in an air outlet at the head portion of the stand. The flow guide is formed from a number of volute shaped blades causing the air to form an upward spiral. The object 20 of light material is suspended in a rolling manner in the airflow.

Description

2364253 DESKTOP ORNAMENT WITH AIR-SUSPENDED FLOAT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

5 The present invention relates to a desktop c-rnament with air-suspended f loat.

There are various types of: desktop ornaments available in the markets. Among these desktop ornaments, there is 10 one type employing the principle of magnetic field to cause an article suspended in the air without falling dcwn, and thereby attracting many consumers.

SUINIMARY OF THE IN71ENTICN A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new type of desktop ornament that shows one or more air-suspended f loats-.

20 To achieve the above and other objects, the desktop ornament of the present invention includes a tubular body, at a lower central portion of which a motor is mounted to drive blades to rotate and thereby continuously induce external air into the tubular body. Air in the tubular 25 body continuously flows upward to pass an air outlet provided at a head portion of the tubular body. A flow guide with volute blades is mounted in the air outlet.

Air flowing through the air outlet is guided by the volute blades of the flow guide to form a continuous and upward 30 spiral airf lo above the air outlet. A f loat made of light material positioned on the air outlet is suspended and I rolling in the continuous spiral airf low to create a novel decorating effect. Lamps may be provided with the ornament to project lights on the float to enhance the deCora-in,g e"ec' therec' L L BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects 10 can be best understood by referring to the following detailed desc- ription of the pref-erred embodiments and the acccmoanving drawings, wherein Fig. I is a perspective of a stand for a desktop ornament 15 with air-suspended float according to a first embodimentof the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the stand of Fig. 1; 20 Fig. 3 is a perspective of the desktop ornament of Fig. 1 in use, with a float suspended in the air above the stand; and Fig. 4 is a perspective of a desktop ornament with 25 air-3uspended float according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

30 Please refer to Figs - 1, 2 and 3 in which a desktop ornament with airsuspended float according to a first embodiment 2 of the present invention is shown. As shown, the ornament mainly includes a stand 10 and a float 20. The stand 10 may be differently designed to have variou s con Iffigura t ions and mainly includes multiple supports 11 5 that surround and firmly support a central tubular body 12 thereon and allow the stand 10 to be stably positioned on a desktop. The tubular body 12 is a hollow casing with a predetermined diameter. A motor 30 is mounted in the tubular body 12 at a lower central portion thereof for driving several blades 31 to rotate. The tubular body 12 is provided at a bottom with an air inlet 13 and has a diamete r- reduced head por-IL-.ion that serves as an air outlet 14. A flow guide 15 with a plurality o-E volute blades is horizontally mounted in the air outlet 14.

is When the motor 30 is started to drive the blades 31 to rotate at properly determined speed, external air is continuously induced into the tubular body 12 via the air inlet 13 and then continuously flows out of the tubular 20 body 12 in a vertical direction via the air outlet 14. With the volute blades of the flow guide 15, air passing the air outlet 14 produces a continuous, upward and spiral flow directly above the air outlet 14. This spiral airflow has a carry ability strong enough to carry the 25 float 20 that is light in weight, so that the float 20 is suspended in the air without falling down. Moreover, the float 20 rolls while the spiral airf low keeps flowing upward, creating a novel and interesting decorating effect.

The float 20 is not limited to any specific shape but is 3 preferably a spherical body. By regulating the rotary speed of the blades 31 and accordingly the amount of airflow induced into and flown out of the tubular bcdy 12, the float.- 20 may be controlled to suspend in the air 5 at different distance from the air outlet 14 of the stand 10.

The float 20 may be decorated with reflective material on its outer surface. And, the supports 11 may be 10 internally provided with, for example, projection lamps 40 to upward project light onto the float 20. The projection lamps 40 may be controlled through. electronic means so that they can be turned on or off or flash at preset time intervals, so that the float 20 glitters under 15 the light projected onto it and looks more attractive.

The number of the air outlet 14 is not limited to only one. Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, in which two air outlets 14 are provided on 20 the head of the tubular body 12. By well controlling the rotary speed of the blades 31 and the air amount induced into 'the tubular body 12, only one single set of blades 31 are needed to supply air to two air outlets 14, such that two floats 20 are suspended in the air separately 25 above the two air outlets 14. Moreover, it is possible for the two air outlets 14 to have different amount of airflow passing therethrough and the two floats 20 to be different in size and/or weight, 30 that the two floats 20 may be suspended in the air at different heights to 30 create more hanges in the decorating effects.

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Claims

1. A desktop ornament with air-suspended float, com-orisina a st and and afloat positioned on said st and; said stand being provided with supports for supporting a central tubular body, such that said stand can be stably positioned on a plane surface, such as a desktop; said tubular body being a hollow casing having a 10 P_-edetermlned diameter, a motor being mounted in said tubular body at a lower central area thereof f or driving multiple blades to rotate, said tubular body being provided at a bottom with an air inlet and having a d4 ameter-reduced head portion that serves as an air 15 outlet, and a flow guide having volute blades being mounted in said air outlet; and sa id float being made of a light material without limitation in its configuration; whereby when said motor is started to drive said blades to- rotate, external air is continuously induced into said tubular body via said air inlet to continuously f low upward and pass said air outlet and said f low guide 25 mounted in said air outlet, and said volute blades of said flow guide causing said air passing said f low guide to form a continuous and upward spiral airf low having a carry ability to keep said float positioned on said stand suspended and rolling in the air above said air 30 outlet.

2. A desktop ornament with air-suspended float as claimed in claim 1, wherein said float J s pre-frerably a s3Dherical body provided on an outer surface with a reflective material.

3. A desk-Lop ornament with air-suspended float as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supports are internally provided with projection lamps for upward projecIL:ing lights onto said float.

4. A desk-Lco ornament with ai-r-sus-.ended float as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supcorts are internally provided with projection lamps for upward projecting lichts onto said float.

5. A des ktou ornament with a i r-suspended f loat as cla -imed in claim 3, wherein said projection lamps are controlled by electronic means to be turned on or off and to flash at predetermined intervals.

6. A desktop ornament with air-suspended float as claimed in' claim 4, wherein said projection lamps are controlled by electronic means to be turned on or off and to flash at predetermined intervals.

7. A desktop ornament with air-suspended float as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular body has more than one air outlet provided at said head portion.

8. A desktop ornament with air-suspended float substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

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