Display device

Abstract

A multi-functional decorative display device as shown and described.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Interpretation Considerations

When reading this section I have described several preferred embodiments of the invention, however, one should keep in mind several points. First, the following preferred embodiments are what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following preferred embodiments, that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following preferred embodiments should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to those embodiments.

Likewise, individual aspects of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following preferred structure (or a following preferred act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated herein, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described herein.

A function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”).

Discussion of Figures

FIG. 1 is one depiction of a multiple compartment tank which includes a tank base 1, three lamps 2, 3 & 4, in the lamp base, incremental heating or cooling devices 5-10 affixed to the back of the tank, and one long heating or cooling device in the form of a strip 11 affixed to the back of the tank. FIG. 1 is divided into three separate compartments 12, 13 & 14. FIG. 1 also includes a plurality of tubing 15 & 16, affixed to a pump 17 located in the housing at the top of the tank, through which one or more component fluids that rise to the top of the tank are pumped down through either side of the tank casing and delivered back to the base of the tank 1. One of the tubes is equipped with a heating device 18 which heats the fluid in order to maintain its fluidity or viscosity while being transported through the tube.

FIG. 2 is a depiction of a tank with a single compartment which includes a tank base 19, two lamps 20 & 21, in the lamp base, an intertwining path of barriers 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26, which guide the flow of the liquid in a FIG. 8 shape. FIG. 2 also includes a flap/valve mechanism 27, which permits the flow through of rising fluid, however, prevents the flow through of falling liquid. FIG. 2 also includes a heating/cooling strip 32 imbedded in the back of the tank which runs the length of the path of barriers so as to maintain or effect the convection of the fluids traveling through such barriers. FIG. 2 also includes a tube 28, through which falling fluid may travel. FIG. 2 further depicts an apparatus 29 which injects dye, bleach or other chemical components into the tank which have the effect of altering the color, appearance or viscosity of one or more fluids contained within the tank. FIG. 2 also depicts a water pump device 31 to which one end of a tube 31A is connected, the other end of the tube being connected to a location in the tank 31B, and through which water or other fluids are pumped at varying forces into the tank at specific locations to effect the path or change the visual effects of the fluids within the tank. FIG. 2 also depicts a sound control device 38 which has the effect of changing the visual display effects based on rhythm, sound and/or music. FIG. 2 further depicts a computer 30 which is connected 33, 34, 35, 36 & 37 to the various electronic components of the tank, which control the activities of such devices and thereby effect the workings of the tank.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of one potential shape of a tank with a tank base 38, a lamp 39, and an elongated heating/cooling strip 40 imbedded in the back of the tank which runs the approximate height of the tank. FIG. 3 also includes a translucent barrier 41 & 42 which directs and controls the flow of the liquid. FIG. 3 also includes a flap/valve mechanism 43, which permits the flow through of rising fluid, however, prevents the flow through of falling liquid.

FIG. 4 is a depiction of a tank that has a tank base 44, which includes a non-illuminate electric heating source 45 in the tank base. FIG. 4 also includes barriers of various shapes and sizes 46-51 which control and alter the flow of liquid rising and falling within the tank. FIG. 4 also includes a barrier that is a pinwheel 52 that moves in a circular motion as liquid rises or falls thereon. Incorporated within certain of the barriers of FIG. 4, are heating/cooling devices which affect the rising and falling of the fluid. FIG. 4 also depicts a plurality of lighting devices 52A which when cast through the tank create additional visual effects.

FIG. 5 is a depiction of a three-compartment tank with the first compartment 53 located in the front, the second compartment 55, located in the back, and the third compartment 54, located between the first compartment 53 and the second compartment 55. The compartments are separated by translucent barriers 55A & 55B. The first compartment 53 serves as an actual fish tank, the second compartment 55 displays bubbles rising through the water via a mechanism 56 built under the tank housing, and the third compartment 54 includes the heating and cooling rising and falling fluid effects as described in the prior figures. A motion generating means 65 imparts an oscillating pivotal motion to the second compartment 55. The motion generating means 65 preferably comprises a motor 59 that turns a cam 60 and a pivot arm 58 to pivot the second compartment of the tank 54. The pivot arm 58 is secured to one of the ends 56A of the second compartment 55 of the tank. Preferably, the motor 59 pivots the cam 60 and pivot arm 58, and thus the second compartment 55, in a range of motion preferably between approximately −6.5. degree. and +6.5. degree. inclination from level at a preferable speed of approximately 2.5 to 6 rpm. However, the exact range of motion desirable by the motion generating means 65 depends on the size and dimensions of the container, the viscosity of the fluids and the constraints of the particular environment in which the liquid display system is installed. Preferably, the system also includes a means 57 by which to control the speed at which the motion generating means 65 pivots the second compartment 55. The light directing means 62 preferably comprises a lamp assembly having a reflector. The lamp is preferably of the incandescent, halogen or xenon type. The light means 62 is preferably centered beneath the bottom of the second compartment 55, so that light is projected through the phenomenon created by the bubbles generated in the second compartment 55 and toward an outer surface 66. A means 61 for controlling the intensity of the output of the lamp 62 is preferably provided so as to enable a user to soften or enhance the refracted light pattern on the displaced surface 66. A colored, light-transmissive element 63 may additionally be placed between the light directing means 62 and the second compartment 55 so as to impart color to the light beam. The element 63 may consist of a colored filter, gel or other such means. Alternately, one or more of the liquids included in the second compartment 55 may be naturally or artificially colored.

FIG. 6. is a depiction of a tank that has a tank base 67, which includes a lamp 68 in the tank base. FIG. 6 also incorporates various heating/cooling devices 69-74 which effect the rising and falling of the fluid. FIG. 6 also includes a plurality of tubing 76-79, affixed to a pump 75, through which one or more component fluids are pumped down through the tubes on either side or the back of the tank casing and delivered back to the base of the tank.

FIG. 7 depicts a close up of the top portion of FIG. 6, depicting barriers that may be included therein and which would have the effect of altering or directing the flow of the component fluids either rising or falling within the tank.

Claims

1. An enclosed tank which may be built into a wall or ceiling as a panel or otherwise, or incorporated into a unit of furniture, or which may be free standing, comprising: one or more compartments having a visually perceivable inner surface; and, a heat source at the bottom of the tank housing heating said housing, which contains two fluids, the first of which is denser, wherein said fluids move under the influence of internal convection currents within said tank, and by the force of gravity. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that such heating sources can include light, chemical heating elements, electricity, heated fluid being pumped into the tank or any number of other sources. One of ordinary skill in the art can also appreciate that such heating source may be located within the tank, within the tank housing, or outside of the tank. One of ordinary skill in the art can further appreciate that the heat source may or may not have illuminating properties, and that if such heating source emits visible light, that such light could be of any one color or multiple colors, or could be one of any type of frequency on the radio wave spectrum.

2. The tank as in claim 1 where the tank contains one fluid, or three or more fluids, with differing densities, which move (at the same or different speeds) under the influence of internal convection currents within said tank, and by the force of gravity.

3. The tank as in each of claims 1 & 2 above, that contains at least one immiscible fluid (which may be comprised of silicone or some other viscous substance) within said tank housing of sufficient viscosity, to act as a lubricant as at least one of the initial dense fluid components moves through the inner surface of the tank housing.

4. The tank as in each of claims 1-3 above, wherein there is a plurality of dense fluids, wherein (a) one of said fluids forms at least one globule flowing within said other dense fluid, or (b) at least one dense fluid forms at least one globule flowing within said other fluids, and at least one other dense fluid forms at least one globule flowing within said first globule, or (c) at least one dense fluid forms at least one globule flowing within said other fluids, and at least one other dense fluid forms at least one globule flowing within said first globule, and at least one further dense fluid forms at least one globule flowing within said second globule.

5. The tank as in each of claims 1-4 above, wherein there are multiple heating sources contained in the tank housing at various heights (or one or more large or long heating sources running along, within or behind a wall of the tank, or otherwise contained within the tank), which continue the convection current and enables the first component fluid to continue rising.

6. The tank as in each of claims 1-5 above, wherein there are one or more cooling sources contained in the tank housing (or one or more large or long cooling sources running along, within or behind a wall of the tank, or otherwise contained within the tank), which can influence the weight and gravity of the first component so as to result in a sinking of the first component at a desired point. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that such cooling sources can be cold fluid pumped into the tank, refrigeration tubes, chemical coolants, or any number of other sources.

7. The tank as in each of claims 1-6 above, wherein the amount of heat or cold generated by each heating or cooling source can be increased or decreased either manually or by computer.

8. The tank as in each of claims 1-7 above, wherein all or a portion of the tank walls are translucent. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that such translucent walls can be achieved using glass, fiberglass resin, polycarbonate or any other material that would have the a translucent effect.

9. The tank in each of claims 1-8 above, that includes one or more pumps contained within the casing at the top of the tank, on either or both sides of the tank, behind the tank and/or at the bottom of the tank, which contain tubing (or some other separate passageway) which is sufficiently heated (or cooled) to maintain the viscosity of one or more of the component fluids, so as to enable it to suck up such component fluid(s) and transport it/them through said tubing (or other separate passageway), to another location within the tank.

10. The tank as in each of claims 1-9 further comprising an inner reflector reflecting emitted light from said tank toward one or more light transferable walls of said tank housing.

11. The tank as in each of claims 1-10 that includes multiple compartments, tubes, barriers or obstructions which split, combine or otherwise alter the course of a component fluid as it rises and/or falls.

12. The tank as in claim 11 wherein said compartments, tubes, barriers or obstructions include a valve, a flap or other device that opens as fluid is rising or falling in a specific direction (ie., up), and closes when fluid is rising or falling in the opposite direction (i.e., down), thereby diverting the flow of the rising or falling fluid.

13. The tank as in each of claims 11 and 12 wherein, all or some portion of said compartments, tubes, barriers or obstructions includes a heating and/or cooling device that has the effect of changing the density or viscosity of, or otherwise changing the fluid contacting or in the vicinity of such obstruction, such that such fluid is broken into two or more streams or globules, combines or changes course.

14. The tank as in each of claims 5-13 wherein the temperature of such heating and cooling devices can be varied manually or by computer.

15. The tank as in each of claims 1-14 which includes a means of dynamically changing the color of one or more of the fluids through the use of lighting effects (such as reflecting different colors or frequencies of light or radio waves on the fluid from a source inside or outside of the tank), and/or dyes, bleaches, other coloring agents or other means.

16. The tank as in each of claims 1-15 which includes a means of dynamically changing the viscosity, movement and/or motion of one or more of the fluids through the injection of chemicals, the application of cold, hot or neutrally temperatured water, or some other method.

17. The tank as is claims 1-16 which incorporates mirrors at the top, bottom, sides and/or back of said tank which have the effect of varying the visual effects of the display through the interaction of light.

18. The tank as in each of claims 1-17 which includes two or more separate cavities or spaces which are separated by translucent plates or panes (which could be glass, fiberglass or some other transparent material), each of which cavities or spaces incorporates none, some or all of the concepts described in claims 1-18 above, and which may or may not be linked together by tubes or other means such that the fluids can be circulated between or among such separate cavities or spaces.

19. The tank as in each of claims 1-18, which incorporates the elements of vibrational frequencies or otherwise incorporates an electronic device which causes the visual effects to vary as a result of music, rhythms or sounds.

20. The tank as in each of claims 1-19, which incorporates one or more variable-pressure sources which inject air, water and/or some chemical or other substance into that tank at variable flow rates to manipulate or alter the appearance or flow of one or more of the liquids or to create some visual effect (such as creating a bubbling pattern). It can be appreciated that some or all of the features and technologies described above can be incorporated into smaller devices to create lava lamps or other small displays that incorporate the new added effects described herein, and this application is intended to include the same. It cah also be appreciated that some or all of the features and technologies described above can be incorporated with other patents and technologies to create similar or unique effects.Further, the claims above should not be constructed to be limited by the other in which they are listed or by the specific references back to certain claims, however, should be constructed so as to combinable in any order with any of the other claims set forth above.