Novelty items such as those popularly referred to as snow globes typically include a liquid-filled sealed dome or sphere containing flecks that look like snow.
In some embodiments, a writing instrument generally includes a barrel having a tip and an end distal from the tip. A housing is coupled to the distal end. Movable flecks are inside the housing. A blade is operable to move air and the flecks within the housing. A switch is electrically coupled to the blade. A power supply is electrically coupled to the blade and the switch.
In other embodiments, a novelty item generally includes a housing and movable flecks inside the housing. A blade is operable to move air and the flecks within the housing. A power supply is electrically coupled to the blade.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Also referring to
A decoration base, design stage, or platform 60 is within the housing 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the decoration base 60 is mounted on an axle 64 (see
Movable flecks 130 are inside the housing 50. The flecks 130 are generally sufficiently light to enable them to be moved by blowing air and may comprise materials such as Styrofoam®, ceramics, and plastic. A blade 140 is mounted on the axle 64 within housing 50 and is operable to move air and the flecks 130 within the housing 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the decoration base 60 is between the decoration 90 and the blade 140. In other embodiments, however, the blade 140 could be located elsewhere within the housing 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade 140 is electrically driven by and connected to a motor 144, and the blade is oriented so that its top surface 148 defines a plane that is substantially parallel to the underside 80 of the decoration base 60. The housing 50 has an inner surface 54 that is spaced apart from an edge 58 of the decoration base 60, defining a gap 150 therebetween. The gap 150 is so dimensioned as to allow air and the flecks 130 to move therethrough when the blade 140 is activated. The flecks 130 may thus be moved within the housing 50 so as to resemble falling and/or swirling snow, confetti, or other particles. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrel 20 defines a longitudinal axis 160 and the blade 140 rotates around axis 160 or around an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis 160. In other embodiments, however, the blade 140 may rotate around an axis that is not parallel to the axis 160. The top surface 148 of blade 140 is substantially perpendicular to the axis 160.
Referring also to
A power supply 180 is electrically coupled to the blade 140 and the switch 174. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply 180 is a plurality of batteries that provide electric power. In other embodiments, however, the power supply 180 may provide power by mechanical systems depending upon the capabilities and configuration of the writing instrument 10. For example, the power supply 180 may provide mechanical power by a spiral torsion spring that can be suitably wound and unwound. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply 180 is housed in the barrel 20. In other embodiments, however, the power supply 180 may be positioned external to the barrel 20.
The writing instrument 10 optionally includes a light source, a sound source, or both. In the illustrated embodiment, an electrically operable light source 100 is coupled to the top side 70 of the decoration base 60 for lighting the housing 50. The light source 100 may be, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED). In other embodiments, the light source 100 may be coupled to the underside 80 of the decoration base 60 or elsewhere within the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, an electrically operable sound source 110 is housed within the barrel 20 for generating a sound concurrently with activation of the blade 140. The sound source 110 may be, for example, a sound chip. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrel 20 includes an opening 120 to facilitate the sound traveling out of the barrel 20. In other embodiments, however, the barrel 20 may not include an opening. In still other embodiments, the barrel 20 may not house the sound source 110 and instead the sound source may be external to the barrel 20.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3963914 | Browning et al. | Jun 1976 | A |
4641445 | Rossi | Feb 1987 | A |
5705759 | DeVivo | Jan 1998 | A |
6056464 | Cohen | May 2000 | A |
6129470 | Fang | Oct 2000 | A |
6244772 | Ruchonnet | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6722064 | Knapp et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
20040161289 | Silberman | Aug 2004 | A1 |
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Prior Art Pen Photos, Available as early as Apr. 4, 2012. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130266362 A1 | Oct 2013 | US |