Illumination – With fluid distributer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-06-05
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With fluid distributer
C362S101000, C362S318000, C362S806000, C040S406000, C040S441000, C446S136000, C446S267000, C446S485000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241359
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluid-filled light apparatus which provides light and simultaneously produces separate and distinct visual effects with a two-tube transparent container. The two-tube transparent container includes an outer transparent tube which contains liquid and colored decorative objects and an inner transparent tube which contains liquid and pearl-like particles. Separate and distinct visual effects are produced when decorative objects and pearl-like particles are simultaneously suspended by the rotational flow or spin of the liquid in which they are contained. Magnetic rotors disposed in each transparent tube simultaneously rotate and spin the liquids. Magnetic rotors are operated by a motor housed in a base member which mounts the two-tube transparent container as one assembly. The visual effects are enhanced by light provided from an illuminating unit housed in the base member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
shows a prior art fluid device which includes a centrifugal propeller mounted in a transparent container at an off-center position at bottom of the transparent container. A disc-like partition is mounted above the centrifugal propeller with a suction inlet disposed on the partition at a position corresponding to the centrifugal propeller. A plurality of discharge openings are provided at the periphery of the partition. Two different liquids are contained in the transparent container, each with a different specific gravity. A tornado-like whirlpool is produced when the centrifugal propeller rotates and draws down the liquid of lower specific gravity. The whirlpool can be produced in different sizes by the adjustment of the rotational speed of the centrifugal propeller.
Other than the size of the whirlpool, the prior art device cannot significantly alter nor vary the visual effect produced. The prior art device cannot, for instance, produce whirlpools of different shapes or forms. The prior art device produces only one visual scene and cannot simultaneously produce more than one visual effect.
In addition, the prior art device shown in
FIG. 1
is constructed with the centrifugal propeller positioned in the transparent container whereby the centrifugal propeller and the liquids commingle. Such an arrangement of the centrifugal propeller produces a potential for damage to the centrifugal propeller by the liquids thereby reducing the life of the propellant means of the prior art device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a fluid-filled light apparatus for providing light and pleasant visual effects comprising a two-tube transparent container which simultaneously produces separate and distinct visual effects by suspending decorative objects and pearl-like particles in a rotational flow of liquid in each of two transparent tubes. The present invention includes an outer cylindrical transparent tube which contains liquid and colored decorative objects, an inner cylindrical transparent tube which contains liquid and pearl-like particles, magnetic rotors disposed in each of the transparent tubes with a plurality of stirrer arms, a transparent tube cap and ring which seal-off a first terminal end of each of the transparent tubes and suspends the inner transparent tube within the outer transparent tube, and a base member which mounts the outer and inner transparent tubes as one assembly. The base member houses a motor, a power supply and an illuminating unit. The magnetic rotors disposed in each of the transparent tubes are in alignment and parallel to one another and a magnet attached to a shaft of the motor. During operation of the invention, the magnet attached to the motor shaft rotates and through magnetic coupling, created by a magnetic field produced by the motor magnet, causes the magnets of the rotors to simultaneously rotate and consequently spin the liquids of the transparent tubes. The construction and arrangement of the motor, the shaft and the magnet within the base member separates and seals-off these features from the liquids of the transparent tubes thereby eliminating any potential for damage to these features by the liquids.
The inner cylindrical transparent tube is necessarily of a smaller diameter and may be of a shorter length than the outer cylindrical transparent tube and is supported within the outer transparent tube by a transparent tube cap. The transparent tube cap is of the same diameter as the outer transparent tube and includes a ring to seal openings of each of the transparent tubes at a first terminal end and to centrally suspend the inner transparent tube within the outer transparent tube. In each of the outer and inner transparent tubes, a magnetic rotor is disposed at a second terminal end opposite the transparent tube cap which includes a rotor with a plurality of stirrers disposed on a side periphery of the rotor and a magnet mounted within the rotor. The magnet of the rotor in the outer transparent tube is positioned below and parallel the magnet of the rotor in the inner transparent tube. The outer and inner transparent tubes are mounted as one assembly to a base member by attachment of the second terminal end of the outer transparent tube to the base member. The bottom surfaces of the second terminal ends of the outer and the inner transparent tubes are transparent.
The base member includes a motor, a power supply and an illuminating unit. The motor is an electrical motor with a shaft on which is attached a magnet. The motor shaft and magnet are positioned below and parallel the magnets of the rotors of the outer and inner transparent tubes. The motor, the motor shaft and the magnet housed in the base member are separated and sealed-off from the liquid held in the outer transparent tube which prevents commingling of the liquid with the motor, the shaft and the magnet thereby eliminating any potential damage by the liquid to such features.
The power supply may be an electrical transformer, as in the case of A.C. power, or a battery bay equipped with batteries disposed within the base member, or, alternatively, external to the base member. The power supply furnishes electricity to both the electrical motor and the illuminating unit. The illuminating unit includes a reflector surface, such as a hemispherical reflector, and a light bulb which is connected to the power supply. The hemispherical reflector reflects light emitted from the light bulb upward toward the transparent bottom surfaces of the outer and inner transparent tubes. The transparency of the bottom surfaces permits light to be reflected into the outer and inner transparent tubes.
During operation, the motor drives the shaft and consequently rotates the magnet attached thereon which causes the magnets of the rotor in each of the outer and inner transparent tubes to simultaneously rotate. Rotation of the rotors is produced by magnetic coupling, whereby the magnet attached to the shaft of the motor and parallel to the magnets of the rotors rotates and produces a magnetic field which causes the magnets mounted within the rotors to simultaneously rotate. As the rotors rotate, the stirrer arms turn and spin the liquids in the outer and inner transparent tubes, suspending the decorative objects and pearl-like particles to create a first visual effect within the outer transparent tube and a second visual effect within the inner transparent tube. The light reflected by the hemispherical reflector through the transparent bottom surfaces into the inner and outer transparent tubes enhances the visual effects produced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3593444 (1971-07-01), Akrongold et al.
patent: 4974127 (1990-11-01), Foley
patent: 5189821 (1993-03-01), Lee
patent: 5272604 (1993-12-01), Lin
patent: 5678918 (1997-10-01), Lin
Cariaso Alan
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
LandOfFree
Fluid filled light apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fluid filled light apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fluid filled light apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2510547