US2384168A

US2384168A - Activated amusement device

Info

Publication number: US2384168A
Application number: US539753A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur M Hillery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-06-10
Filing date: 1944-06-10
Publication date: 1945-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1962-09-04

Description

Sept. 4, 1945.

A. M. HILLERY ACTIVATED AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 10, 1944 4s. AMUSEME Patented Sept. 4, 1945 Search Room UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement or advertising device.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a device of the class described embodying a construction for obtaining motion without the use of any externally applied power or heat except for the heat ordinarily encountered at room temperatures; the provision of an amusement device or the like which is adapted to be pivoted in conjunction with a fluid receptacle and embodying means providing for pivoting or swinging motion thereof so that a part will dip into the fluid receptacle thus obtaining liquid for the purpose of cooling a part of the device by vaporization for the continued operation thereof at room temperatures; and an amusement or advertising device as above described comprising a pair of hermetically sealed bulbs connected by a tube an extension of which projects into one of the bulbs, the latter bulb containing a fluid which boils or vaporizes rapidly at room temperature, the other bulb having secured thereto a fluid absorbing material, the device being set on a pivot so that vaporization of the fluid in the bulb will cause the fluid to rise in the tube, over-balance the same so as to dip the fluid absorbing material into a liquid for the purpose of condensing the vaporized fluid to cause a continuous pivoting motion of the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing the device as it appears in operation;

Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the same with parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with parts omitted.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing for the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown a tube l which may be of glass, plastic, or other material, and which connects with a closed bulb l2 which is herein referred to as the upper bulb and also to a lower bulb I4. The tube l0 opens into bulb I2 without interference but it is closed ofl from lower bulb I by using an extension of the tube as shown at IS, the latter extending down into the lower bulb I 4 almost but not quite to the bottom thereof as illustrated at I8.

A fluid is located in the device and as shown in Fig. 1 this fluid will obviously collect in the lower part of the bottom bulb I 4. However, the particular fluid used is one that will boil or vaporize quickly at ordinary room temperatures and one of the fluids acceptable for the purpose is acetone,

although I do not limit the invention to this particular material. Any fluid having a very low boiling point can be utilized to carry out the invention. The two bulbs and connecting tube may be exhausted to facilitate the action.

There is provided a liquid absorbing covering for the upper bulb as indicated at 20 and this covering may take the form of, for instance, the head of an animal, or human being, as shown. In any case this head, which may .be of cloth, is provided with a protruding part 22 for a purpose to be described, part 22 simulating a tongue, nose, or beak, as the case may be.

It is intended that this device shall be used in conjunction with a receptacle as for instance shown at 24 and an ordinary water tumbler or the like will be satisfactory for this purpose. There is provided a bracket for securing the amusement device to the fluid receptacle and this bracket is provided with a pair of legs 26 which extend down at either side of the receptacle to secure the bracket in position. A pair of arms 28 extend outwardly from legs 26 and provide a pivot point as by means of hooks 30. The tube itself is provided with a wire pivot 32 which may be secured thereto by any desired means, but as illustrated this wire is wound around a resilient collar 34 and extends laterally outwardly as shown for instance in Fig. 3 to rest in the hooks 30 so that the entire device is pivotable on the

bracket

26, 28.

In the operation of the device the part 20 is wetted to provide cooling for the upper bulb I 2.

The liquid in the bottom bulb M will start to vaporize and create a pressure in the space above the liquid in the bulb l4. As this pressure increases the liquid is forced up the extension l6 into the tube 10 and up into the bulb l2 whereupon the weight of the liquid will cause the entire device to tilt in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. When this occurs the projection 22 will dip into the water or other liquid in the fluid receptacle 24 and will thus keep the liquid absorbing material at 20 constantly in a. wet condition to condense the vapor in bulb 12.

In any case as the tube 1 0 approaches the horizontal, the bottom of the extension tube IE will be uncovered and the liquid will merely run down back into the bottom bulb l4 thus tilting the device back to its original position. As the liquid runs down the tube, any liquid which has condensed in bulb l2 will likewise run back down. It is to be noted that the fluid contained in the fluid absorbing material 20 will add to the weight of the device above the pivot point. When the part 20 is dry the tube will remain upright in the Fig. 1 position but when the part 20 is wet it will tilt slightly to the left in Fig. 1 due to the unbalancing efiect of the protuberance 22 and this will insure the pivoting of the device towards the fluid receptacle 24.

The speed with which the device oscillates is determined to some degree by the position of the pivot at 32 lengthwise to II). That is, by unbalancing the weights above and below the pivot the simulated animal will seem to take a longer drink or a shorter drink depending upon the location of the pivot.

It is to be noted that continuous motion is here obtained with only such heat as is usually found at room temperatures. However, as long as the protuberance 22 dips into the fluid container 24 the device will continue to operate and thus it will be seen that it is only necessary to replace evaporated fluid for continuous operation.

Having thus described by invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tube, a bulb axially located at one end of the tube having free communication therewith, a second bulb at the other end of the tube, said tube extending into said second bulb, highly volatile liquid in said second bulb, fluid absorbing material associated with the first bulb, a protuberance extending outwardly from said water absorbing material, a pivot for the tube, said tube moving to a substantially vertical position when the liquid is in the second bulb and said protuberance overbalancing the tube when the liquid is volatilized and rises above the pivot.

2. In a device of the class described in combination with a fluid receptacle, a bracket adapted to be mounted on the receptacle, a tube pivoted on the bracket, a bulb at each end of the tube, said tube extending into one of the said bulbs, the latter containing highly volatile liquid, fluid absorbing material arranged on the other bulb, said material extending substantially to the side thereof toward the fluid receptacle, said tube and one bulb normally depending below the bracket.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of bulbs, a tube entering one bulb and terminating in an open end adjacent a wall of the said one bulb, the tube communicating freely with the other bulb, a quantity of highly volatile liquid in the one bulb, a pivot for the tube, said liquid tending to maintain the tube substantially vertical, absorbent material on the said other bulb, and a projection extending laterally from said other bulb, said projection having a weight insufflcient to pivot the tube until a major portion of the liquid in the one bulb enters the tube and said other bulb so as to be above the pivot, said tube maintaining a pressure seal in said one bulb until uncovered by the pivoting of the tube.

ARTHUR M. HILLERY.