US901319A - Device for producing the representation of a snow-storm. - Google Patents

Description

E. O. BRUEN. DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THE REPRESENTATION OF A SNOW STORM.

AP ILIOATIOI FILED OUT. 19, 1907'. v 901,31 9. Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

' a laterally extendingTflange EDWIN C. BRUEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THE REPRESENTATION OF A SNOW-STORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed October 19, 1907. Serial No. 398,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. BRUEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Producin the Representation of a Snow-Storm, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel amusement device particularly designed for use in connection with Christmas trees.

The main feature which characterizes my invention resides in mechanical means for producing an artificial snow storm, or in other words the representation of a snow storm.

My invention also includes details of construction and operation all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims concludin this specification.

In t e accompanying drawing illustrating my invention in the several figures of which like parts are designated by similar letters of reference, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a Christmas tree having my invention a plied thereto. Fig. 2, is a side view in e evation and partly in section of the device embodying my invention, and Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail view of one of the artificial snow flakes I refer to employ. Fig. 4., is a side view part y in section of a modification.

Referring particularly to Fi s. 1 and 2, A dcsi ates a box or receptac e preferably ma e in the shape ofa bird-house. The receptacle A, is provided with an upper crossbar B, and lower cross-bar C these bars extendin across the interior of the receptacle A, an bein secured to the side walls D, D, thereo in any app-r0 riate manner.

A verticalshaft E, is centra l y mounted in the receptacle A, the upper end of this shaft passing through a suitable opening in the 11 per cross-bar B, and being secured in pl ace by the ring F; the lower end of this shaft passes through a similar opening in the lower cram-bar C, and is rovided' with which rests ontop of the bar C. hese openings through the cross-bars constitute in efiect the bearings'for the shaft E, when a rocking motion is imparted to the latter as hereinafter described. As shown the shaft E, is a hollow or tubular shaft closed at its upper end, and

ha .inthat part of its tower end extendb but the receptacle A, a series of per-- forations H. Near the lower end of the shaft and above the bar G, a sleeve I is keyed to the shaft and a plurality of rods or projections J, are fixed to this sleeve and extend therefrom radially within the receptacle A. Any desired number of these projections may be employed.

K, designates a curved rod rigidly connected to the shaft E, near the top thereof and below the cross-bar B, the rod K, extending upwardly and outwardly and preferably terminating in an enlarged end K. As shown the end K of the rod K, is in contact with an air bellows L. The bellows L, is secured in place to the side wall D, of the receptacle A, in any suitable manner, and from this bellows a rubber tube M, extends downwardly and is connected to the upper end of a tube N, the lower end of which is attached to the upper end of and leads into the hollow standard 0. A rubber tube M, is secured to the lower end of the standard 0, and thence extends and is connected to an air pump P, or other suitable air forcing apparatus. The receptacle A, is rigidly mounted upon the standard O, by means of the curved arms Q, which are respectively attached by suitable means to the standard 0, and side walls of the receptacle A. The bottom of the receptacle A, preferably consists of a wire netting or screen R, which acts as a sieve for the contents thereof as I will presently describe. A mechanical or toy bird S, may be mounted in any appropriate manner on top of the standard 0, and a portion of the air ascending throu h the standard 0, be communicated to the ird S, by means of the tube T. Instead of the bird S, any other appropriate toy actuated by air pressure may be employed.

In the modification of m invention shown in Fig. 4, the standard and parts connected therewith are omitted, and the receptacle A, is inclosed by a globular shaped shield U, and both are suspended from an over head wire V, by hooks or eyes W. In this construction the tube M, passes u wardly through the top of the rece' tacle over the wire V, and is led direct y to the air ump P, which may be located at any desire fpolnt.

Re erring to Figs. 1 and 2, the receptacle A, being mounted 1n the top of a Christmas tree X, oywiring or tying the standard (3, to the tree, or attaching the same in any other convenient manner, the operation of this device is as follows: The receptacle A, being filled with finely cut white paper such, for instance, as what is known as confetti, the air pump P, is operated to force a current of air through the tube M, standard 0, tube N, and tube M, to the bellows L, thereby expanding the latter. With each expansion of the bellows L, the latter moves the rod K, thus rotating and imparting a rocking mo tion to the shaft E with each rotation of the shaft by the means just described a spring Z, coiled around the shaft E, one end of which is secured to said shaft, and the other to the bar B, is tensioned and acts to rotate or rock the shaft in the opposite direction as the air leaves the bellows L, and the latter collapses. The shaft is thus alternately rocked first in one direction and then in the other as long as air is forced into the bellows L. As the shaft rotates to and fro the radial projections J, separate and disintegrate the mass of paper or confetti, and with each rocking or rotation of the shaft a shower of the paper particles or confetti will fall through the openings in the netting or screen R, and drop or float downwardly like a natural fall of snow. The air escaping from the bellows L, as the latter collapses, passes by means of a tube M into and down the shaft E, and then outwardly in jets through the perforations H, serving the purose of blowing the paper particles in diffierent directions and thus enhancing the snow storm effect! As the device is in operation a portion of the air current ascending through the standard 0, can be utilized by means of the small tube T, to cause the toy bird S, to

whistle thus simulating the singing of a natural bird.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the construction and operation of my device is the same as shown in Fig. 2, excepting that the standard 0, arms Q, tube N, bird S, and tube T, are all omitted and the tube M, is carried upwardly through the top of the receptacle A, over the wire V, and thence to the pump P, as stated. In this-modified construction the receptacle A, when used in connection with a Christmas tree is to be suspended by means of the wire V, above the tree, and this wire may be stretched from one wall to the other in a room and secured at each end to the picture molding, or to hooks, or in any convenient manner. Instead of usin the wire V, the device may be suspen ed directly from a ceilin hook.

When the modified form of my invention is employed it may also be used to send out showers of confetti in a ball room, or it may be utilized in connection with masquerade parties, carnivals, childrens parties, theatrical exhibitions etc: I prefer to use in connection with my device confetti of the boomerang shape in general outline as shown in the enlarged view Fig. 3, as I have found in practice that paper particles or confetti of this shape are quickly affected by air currents and thus float downwardly to a certain extent like falling snow.

In the manufacture of this device any materials suitable for the purpose may be employed and, therefore, I do not think it necessary to describe the same.

The receptacle A, standard 0, and shield U, may be painted or otherwise attractively decorated. For instance to give the effect of a winter scene, the receptacle A, and shield U, may be varnished and coated with mica and be provided with artistically arranged imitation icicles. As shown the shield is provided with a tassel like fringe which may be in difl'erent colors to give an attractive finish.

The receptacle A, and shield U may be of any desired shape, and instead of a bottom R, composed of a wire netting or screen, the bottom may be made of other material and provided with openings or perforations therein suitable for the purpose.

It is obvious that instead of the rods J, projections from the shaft E of any desired shape or configuration may be employed provided they answer the purpose of separating the mass of paper partlcles or confetti.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device for producing the representation of a snow storm a receptacle provided with a perforated bottom and containing particles of material representing snow flakes a vertical shaft mounted in said receptacle, a plurality of fixed projections on said shaft, and means for automatically rockin said shaft first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

2. In a device for producing the re resentation of a snow storm a receptacle f dr material .representing snow flakes, a sieve like bottom for said receptacle, a vertical shaft mounted in said receptacle, a plurality of fixed rojections on said shaft, a fixed rod exten ing from said shaft, an air bellows in contact with said rod, means for expanding said bellows to impart motion to sald shaft in one direction and a spring to move said shaft in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

3. In a device for producing the re resentation of a snow storm a receptacle or material re resenting snow flakes, a sieve like bottom or said receptacle, a hollow vertical shaft mounted in said receptacle and having a series of perforations in its lower end, a plurality of fixed projections on said shaft, a fixed rod extending from said shaft, anair bellows in contact with said rod, means for forcing an air current through said bellows to expand the sametherebv imparting-motion to said shaft in one direction and a spring to move said shaft in the opposite direction when said bellows collapses, the said air current passing outwardly throu h the perforations in the end of said sha t, substantially as described.

4. In a device for producing the representation of a snow storm a receptacle provided with a sieve-like bottom and containing paper particles, a supportin standard for said receptacle, a vertical s aft mounted in said receptacle, a plurality of projections extending from said shaft and means for automatically rocking said shaft first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

Signed at New York city, in the county 15 and State of New York, this 15" day of October A. D. 1907.

EDWIN O. BRUEN.

Witnesses:

KATHRYN R. BRoMM, CHARLES v. BRETT.

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