WO2007032669A1

WO2007032669A1 - Magician's box with magician's attributes

Info

Publication number: WO2007032669A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herman Jacques Monshouwer
Original assignee: World Magic International (W.M.I.) A.V.V.
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2006-09-13
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: NL1029941C1; US20070060401A1

Abstract

A magician's kit is described, comprising the combination of at least one magician's attribute (10) being at least partially fluorescent, and at least one black light lamp (20) adapted for emitting light with a predetermined wavelength in the ultraviolet part of the light spectrum. The magician's attribute (10) may have a surface part (11) which is non-fluorescent. The magician's attribute (10) may have a first part (12) having a first fluorescence colour, and a second part (13) having a second fluorescence colour differing from the first fluorescence colour.

Description

Magician's box with magician's attributes

The invention relates in general to magician's attributes, with which a magician can perform magic tricks.

It is commonly known that sleight-of-hand magicians are capable to amuse their audience with magic tricks, wherein they make use of magician's attributes, i.e. objects that they let, for example, disappear or "conjure up", or objects that they use as aid in performing the trick, such as the well-known top-hat and the magic wand. This applies to professional magicians, but also to amateurs, and even to children, in which case the magician's attributes can be regarded as toy. Especially for this latter target group, there are boxes in the market, with a collection of magician's attributes in it.

Essentially, a magic trick comprises the actual trick as well as a show element. In the field of magic tricks, innovation usually takes place in the creative area, by magicians, usually the professional magicians, changing the show element of their act. Furthermore, there is however a technical innovation possible by changing the magician's attributes, so that new magic tricks become possible or magic tricks known per se can be performed in another way, or that another show effect is possible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technical innovation in this field, consisting of an adaptation of magician's attributes known per se and adding a new magician's attribute, and enabling new magic tricks to be performed or, in any case, the show element of known tricks to be renewed, whereby the amusement amount for the audience is increased. Performing magic is a nice activity for children. Certainly when they control a particular act well, children can experience much pleasure when they can proudly show their arts. However, it may be that a child has some shyness to perform a magic trick, if that means that "everyone is looking at him"; thus, a form of stage fright. The invention aims at providing a solution for this problem as well.

To that end, magician's attributes according to the present invention are at least partly implemented fluorescently, and the present invention provides a so-called "black light" lamp, with which the fluorescent magician's attributes can be lit while performing a magic trick. The magician can now perform his trick in the dark, in which case only the magician's attribute are visible for the audience. This adds an extra attraction element to the magic act. Moreover, for children with some degree of stage fright, the present invention offers the advantage that the magician himself is not visible.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained by the following description with reference to the drawings, in which same reference numerals indicate same or similar parts, and in which: figure IA shows a schematic top view of a magician's box; figure IB shows a realistic top view of a magician's box; the figures 2A-D schematically show examples of magician's attributes; figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a stand for a black light lamp; figure 4 shows schematic perspective views illustrating the use of the magician's kit according to the present invention.

Figure IA schematically shows a top view of a magician's box 1, with a container 2 in it provided with storage compartments 3 for magician's attributes 10. Not all storage compartments are shown, and not all storage compartments shown are filled. The storage compartments 3 may have a contour corresponding to the shape of the magician's attributes 10 concerned, but that is not necessary. The magician's attributes 10 can have various forms, for example in the form of a rod, disc, ring, cup, sphere, dice, etc. Figure IB shows a realistic top view of an example of a magician's box 1.

The figures 2A-D schematically show examples of magician's attributes 10, mutually distinguished by the addition of a letter. Figure 2A illustrates a magician's attribute 1OA in the form of a flat disc with a circular contour. Figure 2B illustrates a magician's attribute 1OB in the form of a ring. Figure 3C illustrates a magician's attribute 1OC in the form of a cup on a base. Figure 2D illustrates a magic wand 1OD. Various other forms are possible, as, among others, appears from figure IB.

According to the present invention, the magician's attributes 10 are implemented fluorescently. This can be achieved by a magician's attribute 10 being made of a material that is fluorescent, for example a synthetic material with a fluorescent additive, or being provided with a material over which a fluorescent layer is applied, for example a synthetic material with a fluorescent paint. Since fluorescent materials are known per se and are usable in implementing the present invention, it is not necessary to discuss details of the composition of such fluorescent materials. It suffices to notice that fluorescent materials have the properties to absorb light of a particular wavelength and to emit light of another wavelength, wherein this other wavelength is typically larger than the wavelength of the absorbed light. By absorption of photons having the said particular wavelength, atoms or molecules of the material attain an excited state, and when falling back to the ground state, they emit photons having lower energy content. In the magician's attributes 10 according to the present invention, use is preferably made of fluorescent materials being sensitive to ultraviolet light, and at least partially emit the absorbed energy by means of photons in the visible part of the spectrum.

The light emitted by the fluorescent materials will hereinafter also be indicated by the phrase "fluorescence light", and the wavelength thereof will hereinafter also be indicated by the phrase "fluorescence wavelength"; it is noted that this is a material property of the fluorescent material concerned.

Special effects are attained if the fluorescence wavelengths of two different magician's attributes 10 mutually differ. A magician's attribute can be completely made of the fluorescent material, or be provided with a fluorescent layer over its entire surface. However, this is not necessary: in a particular embodiment, a magician's attribute is only partially fluorescent, and the other part is non-fluorescent. It is also possible that a magician's attribute has different parts with mutually different fluorescence colours. Figure 2D illustrates these possibilities, because the magic wand 1OD has a central part 11 which is non-fluorescent, a first end 12 having a first fluorescence colour, and a second end 13 having a second fluorescence colour. In a practical implementation, the magic wand 1OD may exist of a non-fluorescent rod, at its first end provided with a first cap 12 of which at least the surface is made of a fluorescent material having a first fluorescence wavelength, and at its second end provided with a second cap 13 of which at least the surface is made of a fluorescent material having a second fluorescence wavelength.

In another embodiment, for example a dice may have a surface with a first fluorescence colour and dots with a second fluorescence colour. A single magician's attribute may have three or more fluorescence colours.

In addition to the said magician's attributes 10, a magician's box according to the present invention further comprises a black light lamp 20. Herewith, a lamp is meant that is suitable for emitting light in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum, and which emits no (or at least very little) light in the visible part of the spectrum. The combination of at least partially fluorescent magician's attributes 10 and the black light lamp 20 will be indicated as kit.

Preferably, the black light lamp 20 is suitable to function on batteries, so that no wires are necessary.

Preferably, the black light lamp 20 is adapted to emit light in a bundle with a predetermined aperture angle, with a relatively small apical angle, so that the bundle is relatively narrow. Advantageously, the black light lamp 20 can have an elongated shape, resembling a pen.

The kit further comprises a stand 30 for the lamp 20. Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of a suitable stand 30, formed of three plate parts 31, 32, 33. During use, a first plate part 31 is directed substantially horizontally. A second plate part 32 makes an angle with the first plate part 31, and, during use, is directed substantially vertically. A third plate part 33 again makes an angle with the second plate part 32, and, during use, is directed substantially horizontally, above the first plate part 31. At its free edge 34, the third plate part 33 has a recess 35, which is suitable to extend as a collar around an end of the lamp 20. During use, the lamp 20 will be coupled to the stand, wherein the lamp 20 will stand on the first plate part 31 and be supported by the collar-shaped recess 35 of the third plate part 33, wherein a lamp window 21 of the lamp 20 projects above the third plate part 33. In a favourable embodiment, the stand 30 is foldable, so that it takes up less space in the box 1.

Figure 4 shows schematic perspective views illustrating the use of the magician's kit according to the present invention. At 11, it is shown that a user places the lamp 20 in the stand 30, as explained above.

At £, the lamp 20 is shown, placed in the stand 30. An

0 aureole 22 originating from the window 21 symbolises the invisible light emitted by the lamp 20. When a magician uses the kit according to the present invention, the surprising effect at its audience is larger if one can not see the lamp 20. The magician may perform his acts on a table or desk, on which he puts the stand 30 with the lamp 20: the stand 30 largely hides the lamp 20 from view. However, the stand itself is well visible, and that is less desired. In a preferred embodiment, the kit therefore comprises a work platform, in which the lamp 20 can be positioned sunk down separately or together with the stand 30.

To that end, a professional magician can make use of a table or desk or the like, with a compartment sunk down in the top surface. Such an embodiment, which is not illustrated, is also an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment described now, the box 1 itself is suitable as work platform, as shown at

<J. The box 1 has a top surface 41 with a compartment 42 sunk down in it . A side 43 of the box 1 can be folded to a position in which the side 43 is substantially perpendicular to the top surface 41, and projects above that top surface 41, and thus, seen from the audience, forms a background for the top surface 41 functioning as work platform. This side 43 functioning as background may be provided with a text or picture, as illustrated.

Finally, at ^<τf, it is shown that a magician sits behind the box 1, with the lamp 20 placed in the sunk compartment 42, and has a magic wand 1OD in his hand, which magic wand has a fluorescent part 12 at its end, as discussed in the preceding. Typically, the magician will perform his act in a darkened room, so that the audience does not see him, but only sees the "glowing" end 12 of the magic wand 1OD, as well as possible other "glowing" attributes 10 that the magician will use in his act.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed in the preceding, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Magician's kit, comprising the combination of at least one magician's attribute (10) being at least partially fluorescent, and at least one black light lamp (20) adapted for emitting light with a predetermined wavelength in the ultraviolet part of the light spectrum.

2. Magician's kit according to claim 1, wherein the magician's attribute (10) at least partially comprises a fluorescent material which is suitable to absorb light having the said predetermined wavelength and, as a result thereof, to emit fluorescence light with a predetermined fluorescence wavelength.

3. Magician's kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magician's attribute (10) has a surface part (11) which is non- fluorescent.

4. Magician's kit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magician's attribute (10) has a first part (12) having a first fluorescence colour, and a second part (13) having a second fluorescence colour differing from the first fluorescence colour.

5. Magician's kit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the kit comprises a first magician's attribute (10) at least partially having a first fluorescence colour, and a second magician's attribute (10) at least partially having a second fluorescence colour differing from the first fluorescence colour.

6. Magician's kit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one magician's attribute (10D) is implemented as a magic wand with a non-fluorescent centre part (11) and at least one fluorescent end part (12), wherein the opposite end part (13) is preferably also fluorescent.

7. Magician's kit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a stand (30) for the lamp (20) .

8. Magician's kit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a storage box (1) with a compartment (42) sunk down in a main surface (41) for placing the lamp (20) in it.

9. Magician's kit according to claim 8, wherein the box (1) has a side (43) capable of being folded to an operating position in which this side (43) is substantially perpendicular to the said main surface (41) and projects above this main surface (41) .

10. The use of at least partially fluorescent magician's attributes (10) and a black light lamp (20) in performing a magic act.