Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display device with free article movement – Snowfall simulator
Patent
1996-10-15
1999-01-12
Davis, Cassandra H.
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display device with free article movement
Snowfall simulator
40409, G09F 1324
Patent
active
058572775
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to playthings. More particularly, but not exclusively this invention relates to water filled decoration.
Water filled decorations are common and usually comprise a snow scene, for example a chalet similar to the sort that are found in Switzerland. The scene is provided inside a sealed casing which is, filled with water. The decoration also includes a white particulate material to simulate snow.
In order to simulate a snow storm, the decoration is lifted and then shaken, thereby agitating the particulate material. When the decoration is then replaced in its former position, the particulate material is seen to descend in a manner similar to falling snow.
It is a disadvantage of such decorations that they need to be shaken in order to simulate falling snow and, in order to view the falling snow continuously, once the particulate material has fallen, it is necessary to shake the decoration again.
It is an object of this invention to obviate and/or mitigate this disadvantage.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a plaything comprising a display means for displaying a desired scene, a particulate material in said display means, pick-up means for picking up at least some of the said particulate material at a first region of the display means and for depositing the picked up particulate material at a second region of the display means, and drive means for driving said pick-up means.
The pick-up means may comprise an annular member extending around the display means and having thereon a plurality of pick-up members each being capable of picking up some of the particulate material. Preferably, the annular member is substantially circular in configuration and may extend around the periphery of the display means.
Each pick-up member preferably has a profile so shaped to enable it to receive and pick up some of the particulate material, for example substantially L or C shaped. Preferably, each pick-up element extends from a rear region of the display means to a front region of the display means.
Conveniently, the annular member is arranged at the .sup..perp. r region of the display means, whereby each pick-up member extends from said annular member to the front region of the pick-up means.
Preferably, the display means comprises a casing suitable for holding a fluid. The casing may comprise a transparent portion at the front thereof to enable the scene to be viewed. Means may be provided to prevent the operator viewing the pick-up means when viewing the scene through said front portion. Preferably, said means for preventing viewing comprises an annular screen extending between the rear and the front of the display means; the screen being preferably adapted to allow said particulate material to form therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, the screen comprises a plurality of concentric concave rings and support means for said rings, wherein said rings may be in the form of arms extending from the rear of the screen.
Advantageously, the plaything comprises a fluid, suitably water, held within the display means.
Preferably, said first region of the display means is a bottom region of the casing, and said second region of the display means is preferably a top region of the casing, such that the particulate material is picked up by the pick-up means at the bottom region of the casing, and is deposited at the top region of the casing. The particulate material being such that when the particulate material is deposited at the top region of the casing it decends to the bottom region of the casing to give the impression of a snow fall on said desired scene.
Preferably, the pick-up members are arranged substantially equi-spaced from each other around the annular member.
The drive means may comprise a suitable motor which may be electrical or wind-up. The motor may be connected via a gear arrangement to a rotary member capable of driving the pick-up means. It will be appreciated that the motor may be connected directly to the rotary member, thus obviating the need for a gear arrangem
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patent: 5313727 (1994-05-01), Murry, Jr.
patent: 5666750 (1997-09-01), Segan et al.
Davis Cassandra H.
Maylodge Limited
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