Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display device with free article movement – Snowfall simulator
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-17
2004-04-20
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3611)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display device with free article movement
Snowfall simulator
C040S414000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722064
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to enclosed, three dimensional decorative displays, dioramas, and the like, and more specifically a “snow globe” type display including powered means for actively circulating the fluid and particulate matter therein. The present active display uses magnets to agitate the fluid, thus eliminating any possibility of leakage due to a rotary shaft penetrating the display chamber. This permits a modular configuration, with various display configurations being selectively installable upon a common base unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
The basic concept of the “snow globe,” i.e., a three dimensional scene enclosed by a transparent dome and containing a liquid and some particulate matter to simulate snowflakes, etc., has been known for many years. Most such devices are passive, in that no action or movement of the display occurs while the device is at rest. A person must actively move the device, as by inverting it, to cause the particulate matter to drop to the inverted upper portion, whereupon turning the device upright allows the particles to fall, and resembling a snowfall or the like.
More recently, active devices have been developed in which an electric or other motor drives a fan, propeller, or the like to circulate a fluid within the globe, thereby actively moving the particulate matter (or in some cases, only a liquid, to simulate wave action) until motor operation is terminated. However, this additional complexity leads to certain potential problems, the greatest of which is the introduction of a shaft extending between the motor and the impeller or fan which is of course immersed within the liquid contained within the dome or globe. Over a period of time, seals along the shaft wear, causing the fluid within the dome to leak, usually contaminating the motor.
In order to overcome this potential problem, a few individual have applied the principle of magnetic actuation to such snow globe devices, in which a motor rotates a magnet in a base component, with the base magnet magnetically engaging a second magnet in the bottom of the display chamber. Rotation of the base magnet by the motor, causes the display chamber magnet to rotate as well, thereby agitating the fluid within the display chamber. No mechanical communication is required between the base and the display chamber, thereby eliminating any possibility of rotating shaft leaks, etc. This principle of operation was initially developed many years ago for use in the laboratory and in industry, for mixing and stirring chemicals, medicines, etc. in open containers, rather than for use in agitating a fluid within a closed container, as in the present active display device.
A universal characteristic of such industrial magnetic mixing devices is the desire to mix all materials within the container, uniformly and completely. However, in a decorative display device which includes particulate matter therein, it is not desirable to allow the particulate matter to pass through certain areas of the device. Depending upon the size and shape of the particles, they may possibly interfere with tolerances between stationary and moving parts, and in any event, a larger number of particles are required if some considerable percentage of those particles is disposed within the agitator or impeller area of the device, where they are not visible. Moreover, the magnetic stirrers and agitators used in industry are universally removable from the container, for cleaning and reuse of the container for different substances and batches. Similarly, the containers are universally removable from the actuator bases, as the base component with its motor drive and other structure is relatively costly in comparison to the cost of the containers which may be installed thereon.
While a relatively few snow globe type devices having magnetic actuation of the contents have been developed in the past, none have provided the benefits of modular construction, in which any one of a number of different display units may be interchangeably installed atop a single base unit as desired. Moreover, none have provided means for separating particulate matter from the fluid agitation area in a liquid filled display device, nor any means for rotating or otherwise moving the display within the globe while simultaneously agitating the fluid and particles therein.
The present invention responds to these deficiencies by providing an active display having motorized base component, with the motor driving a magnetic impeller. A magnetic rotor or actuator is provided within the lower portion of the permanently sealed display component, with the magnetic impeller within the base engaging the magnetic agitator or rotor in the bottom of the display unit. This permits the display unit to be separable from the relatively costly base unit with its motor drive, with the owner being free to interchange display units depending upon the season (e.g., fall scenes with particles resembling autumn leaves, winter snow globes, holiday scenes, etc.) as desired. The use of a single base unit enables the base to incorporate any of a number of additional devices, e.g., a clock, radio or other audio device, remote actuation, etc., as desired, without the consumer being required to purchase a relatively costly base component incorporating these features, for each display globe desired.
Moreover, the present active display device may include additional moving components within the display portion, as desired. The magnetic actuation may engage an additional magnet(s) within a rotatable display floor within the display globe, causing it to rotate simultaneously with fluid agitation and particle movement. Each of the embodiments of the present display device includes a perforated bottom plate or the like between the magnetic actuator or rotor and the display portion of the display component, which prevents passage of particulate matter into the concealed portion of the device where the magnetic rotor is contained.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventors are aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,020 issued on Nov. 4, 1958 to William R. Eddy et al., titled “Magnetic Driven Collapsible Agitator Assembly,” describes an industry or laboratory type system, employing a radially collapsible insert for removable installation within a bottle or other container having a relatively narrow neck. The Eddy et al. device teaches away from the present active display device, in that the Eddy et al. agitator is adapted for removable installation within an open container, rather than being permanently installed within a permanently sealed container, as in the present invention. Moreover, the environment of the Eddy et al. device is directed to a complete mixing of all materials within the container, and does not provide means for separating particulate matter from one area of the liquid container.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,951,689 issued on Sep. 6, 1960 to Howard L. Asp et al., titled “Magnetic Stirring Bar,” describes a specifically shaped magnetic bar which may be dropped into an open liquid container, and which is rotated and agitated by a magnetic drive in a separate base unit. The Asp et al. magnet includes a larger diameter central structure which serves as a pivot on the bottom of the container, regardless of the orientation of the bar within the container. The Asp et al. magnet and its intended use teaches away from the present invention, as it is not desirable in industry to separate particulate and liquid elements during mixing.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,958,517 issued on Nov. 1, 1960 to Donald K. Harker et al., titled “Vessel For Tissue Culture And The Like Comprising A Magnetic Stirrer,” describes a specialized container and magnetic stirrer element removably installable therein. While the Harker et al. container may be closed, it is not permanently sealed. Moreover, Harker et al. do not provide any means for separating any particulate matter
Knapp Albert F.
Knapp Tammy W.
Litman Richard C.
Morris Lesley D.
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