HAZE OR FOG MACHINE WITH RECIPROCATING NOZZLE

Abstract

A fog or haze machine having a reciprocating emission nozzle is provided. More particularly, a fog generating mechanism is provided that includes a heater for heating a fluid provided by a pump and to emit a fog or haze vapor from the heater to outside of the machine. The nozzle is cyclically moved back and forth along an arcuate path and a wave of fog/haze is continuously emitted from the nozzle in an arc outside the machine, via an elongated slot in which a distal end of the nozzle travels.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fog or haze machine having a vertically oriented, reciprocating fog jet for creating stage effects.

Description of the Related Art

The use of fog or haze as part of a stage effect for live events has been commonplace for many years (fog and haze will be, hereafter, referred to as fog throughout this application). The fog helps to create a desired setting and ambience on a stage or on-camera, such as simulating atmospheric fog, smoke from a fire, etc. Fog is also widely used to accentuate light beams at concerts and other events by making the beam more visible to an audience.

Typically, fog machines output fog through a nozzle that is fixed in a particular position. Some fog machines allow the user to manually move the nozzle orientation to eject the fog in a desired angle, but the nozzle is secured in that particular position and orientation. The fixed orientation of the fog output nozzle is a limitation that forces users to fill the entire space with fog, and use moving light beams to create moving light beam effects within the space. This requires the use of significantly greater amounts of fog fluid, and may create an uncomfortable fog-filled environment for the audience.

Systems and methods for providing fog or haze as part of a stage effect is known in the art. For example, referring now to FIG. 1, one particular fog machine 10 presently on the market is GEYSER™ P5 fog machine sold by CHAUVET DJ. The fog machine 10 includes a fixed nozzle or jet 12 surrounded by a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 14 for producing a variety of lighting effects in combination with the fog emitted from the jet 12. The jet 12 of fog machine 10 does not move, but rather, produces a fixed vertical jet of fog or, if the machine 10 is turned on its side, a fixed horizontal jet of fog.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown another fog machine 20 sold by CHAUVET DJ under the name HURRICANE 1800 FLEX. The fog machine 20 offers a manually adjustable output angle of up to 180°. More particularly, the angle of the front portion 22 can be adjusted by loosening the angle adjustment knobs 24 and manually tilting the front portion 22 up or down, before retightening the adjustment knob 24 with the front portion 22, and correspondingly the fog nozzle 26, at a desired angle. See also, for example, U.S. Design Pat. No. D572,353.

Chinese Patent Publication No. CN200966931Y discloses a fog machine for the stage utilizing stepper motors to pan and tilt the entire head of the device in the X and Y directions to create a multi-angle, all-round and head-shaking fog spraying. See, for example, FIGS. 2A and 2B.

What is needed is a fog or haze machine having an automatically movable nozzle or jet, for producing a moving light beam effect, without requiring multiple motors to move an entire head assembly. What is further needed is a movable nozzle that will allow users to reorient the angle of the output stream of fog, on demand and without any manual interaction with the machine, to limit the amount of fog filling the room, while still allowing for moving light beam effects without requiring moving lights. In other words, what is needed is a fog machine that allows for the automatic redirection of the emitted fog, rather than the prior art's use of a moving light beam through a fixed output fog machine.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is particularly suited to meet the above-described needs in a manner not previously known or contemplated. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a fog or haze machine including a reciprocating nozzle for distributing the fog or haze leaving the machine at a plurality of angles to produce an atmospheric stage effect.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a haze or fog machine including a reciprocating nozzle, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing background, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an exemplary embodiment that is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. Additionally, like reference numerals represent like items throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fog machine in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another fog machine in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fog machine in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the fog machine of FIG. 3 having parts removed for better clarity and explanatory purposes;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial side and top views, respectively, of a fog machine in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention having the fog generating mechanism in a forward rotated position;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial side and top views, respectively, of a fog machine in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention having the fog generating mechanism in a central position;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial side and top views, respectively, of a fog machine in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention having the fog generating mechanism in a rearward rotated position;

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a control system for a fog machine in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9A is top plan view of a fog machine in accordance with another particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9B and 9C are plan views from the left side and right side, respectively, of the fog machine of FIG. 9A;

FIGS. 9D and 9E are plan views from the front and rear, respectively, of the fog machine of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9F is a bottom plan view of the fog machine of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a simplified schematic view taken from the top of a fog machine in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown without the top cover of the fog machine housing;

FIG. 10B is a view of the simplified schematic view of the fog machine of FIG. 10A, having the top cover of the housing in place and with the main internal components of FIG. 10A illustrated in dotted line; and

FIG. 10C is a side view illustration of a reciprocating heater assembly for a fog machine according to the embodiment of FIG. 10A.

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are, respectively, a perspective view taken from the front, a perspective view taken from the rear and a top plan view of a fog machine in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application only to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It should be understood that the terms “fog” and “haze” are used relatively interchangeably in the present application, and that reference to one can also be applied equally to the other, without limitation. Similarly, the terms “nozzle” and “jet” are used interchangeably, herein, for the tube and orifice from which the fog or haze is emitted. Additionally, the term “reciprocating” is used herein to describe a cyclically, repetitive back and forth movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a fog machine 100 having a reciprocating fog jet or nozzle 110 is illustrated in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the fog machine 100 includes a haze generating mechanism that rocks back and forth inside the housing 105 about a pivot point, resulting in the fog emitting nozzle 110 jetting fog at the different angles along an arcuate path.

The internal fog generating mechanism of the fog machine 100 includes a pump 130 and a heater 140, which may be accessed in the housing 105 by removal of the door panel 107. A water-based or oil-based fog generating fluid is provided from to the pump 130 from a fluid tank 120 in the housing 105. The fluid tank 120 is accessible from outside the housing 105 via an opening in the top of the fluid tank 120, which opening is closed by the screw cap 125. A fluid tube 127 extends out from the tank 120, through the cap 125, through an opening in the side of the housing 105 (see 127, 305 of FIG. 9C), and to an inlet 132 of the pump 130. A fluid line 134 connects the outlet 136 of pump 130 to an inlet of the heater 140. Thus, the pump 130 pumps fluid from the tank 120 into the heater 140. Heater 140 heats the incoming fluid to generate fog or haze, which exits the heater via the nozzle or jet 110 of the heater 140. Pump 130 and heater 140 operate in a typical manner known in the art to produce fog or haze.

However, the fog machine 100 of the present invention includes a non-typical mechanism that rocks the fog generating mechanism back and forth inside the housing 105 about a pivot point, as illustrated by the arrow “A”. In one particular embodiment, the pivot point is defined by a pin or shaft at the center of the drive pulley 156. Additionally, in the present embodiment, the distal end of nozzle 110 is contained in or abuts up to, and reciprocates along, an elongated slot 117 formed through the top face of the housing 105. The rocking back and forth (i.e., “reciprocating”) of the fog generating mechanism about the pivot point causes fog emitted from the distal tip of the nozzle 110 to be jetted from the slot 117 along an arcuate path. Thus, in the present invention, the housing 105 containing the heater 140 does not move, while the heater 140, itself, is rocked back and forth on a carriage 150 inside the stationary fog machine housing 105.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-7B, in the presently described preferred embodiment, the pump 130 and heater 140 are jointly mounted on a rocking plate or carriage 150 that is supported by the arms 152, 154. Arms 152, 154 are fixed, at the bottom to the floor 105b of the housing 105, and do not move. The tops of arms 152, 154 (not shown) may be rounded to permit the rocking plate or carriage 150 to rock.

The carriage 150 is pivotally mounted on arms 152, 154 such that it can rock back and forth on a pin or shaft, as illustrated by arrow “A”, about a pivot point defined through the center of the drive pulley 156. A stepper motor 160 controls the movement of the carriage 150. More particularly, a drive pulley 166 of the stepper motor 160 is connected to the drive pulley 156 of the carriage 150, via a drive belt 162. Operation of the motor 160 thus drives the drive pulley 156, and correspondingly the carriage 150, in the direction of operation of the motor 160. The motor 160 controls the forward and backward reciprocating motion of the carriage 150 by alternating its operation between the forward and reverse directions. Thus, the heater 140 of the fog generating mechanism, and correspondingly its nozzle 110, is rocked by operation of the motor 160 back and forth between a near position (relative to the stepper motor 160), a central position, and a far position, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-7B.

In operation, the stepper motor 160 is alternately driven between forward and reverse, to alternately pivot the carriage 150 towards it and away from it, respectively. For example, the fog generating mechanism may start in the central, upright position, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In such position, the nozzle 110 is vertically positioned (i.e., perpendicular to the length of the slot 117) and fog is emitted vertically from the jet 110 over the slot 117 (or horizontally, if the machine 100 is turned on its end or side face). Driving the motor 160 forward results in the carriage 150 rocking forward, towards the motor 160. Consequently, the heater 140 and its associated jet 110 will rock forward from the central position shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, until the frontmost position is reached, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Fog is continuously emitted from the nozzle 110 as the motor 160 pivots the carriage 150 forward, thus fanning the emitted fog in a forward arc as the heater rocks from the central position to the forward position.

Once the carriage 150 has pivoted forward to its full extent, the direction of the motor 160 is reversed, and the belt 162 is driven in the opposite direction in order to rock carriage 150, pump 130, heater 140, and nozzle 110, backwards from the frontmost position (FIGS. 7A-7B), through the central position (FIGS. 6A-6B), and to the rearmost position illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B. As the nozzle 110 moves from the frontmost position to the rearmost position, a wave of fog is continuously emitted from the jet 110 in an arc.

Once the carriage 150 has pivoted to the rearmost position, the motor 160 again reverses and the process is repeated. This results in fog being jetted from the nozzle 110 continuously at the different angles along an arcuate path between the frontmost position and the rearmost position, as the fog generating mechanism is pivoted on the carriage 150 by operation of the motor 160.

It should be noted that the angle at which the nozzle 110 emits fog changes as the carriage 150 is pivoted from its rearmost position to its frontmost position and back again. Thus, the fog generated is jetted from the nozzle 110 at different angles as the heater 140 is rocked along the arcuate path.

The fog machine 100 of the present embodiment additionally includes a plurality of lights 115 that encircle the slot 117 to produce a number of different kinds of lighting effects in combination with the fog emitted from the reciprocating nozzle 110. Each light 115 includes a light emitting diode (LED) mounted to the lighting printed circuit board (PCB) 116 and enclosed within a light tube 118. Light may be emitted from the LEDs through an opening 115a in the top surface of the housing 105. Each opening 115a may be covered by a clear or colored lens, if desired. The LEDs may be any known LEDs. In one particularly preferred embodiment, multicolor LEDs, such as RGB, RGBW, RGBA and/or RGBUV LEDs are used in the lights 115. In another preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, twelve lights 115 surround the slot 117. Further, in one particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a rim 112 may be included that encircles the lights 115 and slot 117.

Additionally, as LEDs are directional light sources, if the lights 115 are selected to be LEDs, they can be oriented to emit light at any desired angle relative to the top surface 105a of the housing 105. In one particularly preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C, certain of the LEDs 115′ are angled on the PCB 116 in the direction of the front 106a of the fog machine, so that they emit light at an angle relative to the top face 105a of the housing 105, towards the front 106a of the fog machine 100, and not merely straight up (i.e., 90° relative to the surface 105a) from the fog machine. If desired, different sets of LEDs 115′, 115, 115″ can be mounted at different angles in order to direct the light into the fog, and thus illuminate it, throughout the arcuate path of the nozzle. In another example, some of the LEDs 115′ can be angled (i.e., relative to the top of the housing 105a) towards the front 106a of the fog machine 100, while other LEDs 115, 115″ may be angled straight up from the fog machine 100 and/or towards the rear 106b of the fog machine 100, respectively, if desired.

As can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 4, 5B, 6B and 7B, the lighting PCB 116 includes a slot 116a formed therethrough that corresponds to the slot 117 through the housing. This permits the nozzle 110 to pass through the board 116 and/or pass fog to and through the slot 117 to the outside of the fog machine 100. A fan 170 is mounted to the housing 105 to draw outside air into the housing 105, in order to cool the LEDs on the board 116. The fan 170 may be omitted, if not needed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-8, the fog machine 100 includes a control system 200 including a processor or controller 210, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, ASIC, etc., configured by hardware, software and/or firmware, to perform the desired operations of the fog machine 100. In one particular embodiment, the processor 210 may be a microprocessor that communicates with a non-transitory memory device of the fog machine 100, in which is stored control software to perform the coordinated operation of the stepper motor 160 that pivots the carriage 150, the fog generating mechanism 130, 140 and lighting effects from the lights 115.

For example, in addition to other things, the processor 210 controls the operation of the pump 130, the heater 140 and the stepper motor 160, in order to draw fluid from the tank 120, pump it into the heater 140, vaporize it into fog or haze, and jet the fog/haze out of the machine 100 along an arcuate path in a reciprocating manner. The processor 210 is additionally configured to control the operation of LEDs 220a, 220b, . . . , 220n, to coordinate lighting effects in time with the jetted fog. The processor 210 additionally receives inputs locally from a user interface 230 on the outer housing 105 of the fog machine 100, and provides information to the user via a local output device, such as the display 240. The processor 210 can additionally receive signals from a remote source, such as DMX signals from a remote DMX controller or lighting board, and output signals to a remote device, via the Input/Output interface 250. The processor 210 may further control the operation of the fan 170, to coordinate with the operation of the LEDs 220a-220n. The pump 130, heater 140, stepper motor 160, processor 210, LEDs 220a-220n, user interface 230, display 240, input/output interface 250 and fan 260 are all powered by an internal power supply of the fog machine 100 (e.g., power supply 410 of FIG. 10B), which is connected to an AC power supply via a connector through the housing 105 (e.g., connector 322 of FIG. 9B).

Referring now to FIGS. 8-9F, there is shown fog machine 300 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the fog machine 300 includes a fog generating mechanism and tilting mechanism, as described in connection with FIGS. 3-8, with like parts sharing the same reference numbers. Fluid from the tank 120 is converted to fog that is jetted from a nozzle 110 that cyclically reciprocates along an arcuate path defined by the slot 170. Further, the emission of fog from the device 300 can be timed with lighting effects produced by the lights 115. Additionally, a handle 310 is provided at the front of the fog machine 300 for ease of handling.

Power is connected to the fog machine 300 via a power cord (not shown) connected to a power-in connector 322, which includes a fuse holder 324. A power switch 320 is used to power on or off the fog machine 300, including the control system 200.

Additionally, menu buttons 330 are provided as part of the user interface 230. The input/output interface 250 includes the DMX In/Out connectors 340 and a controller in connector 335, which can be used for a local wired controller or remote control. A safety loop 350 may be provided on the housing 105, as well as a fluid level indicator window 355 for viewing the level of fluid in the tank 120. Rubber feet 360 may be provided on the bottom housing surface, as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10C, there is shown a simplified schematic of another embodiment of a fog machine 400. Note, however, that certain elements, such as power lines, brackets and housing portions and parts are not shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, in order to more clearly show the reciprocating mechanism of the fog machine 400. In general, the fog machine 400 is similar to those described in connection with the fog machines 100, 300, in FIGS. 1-9F, above, with like reference numbers having like functionality. The fog machine 400 includes a fluid tank 120 accessible from outside the housing 105 and a plurality of lights 115 that encircle the slot 117 to produce a number of different kinds of lighting effects in combination with the fog emitted from the reciprocating nozzle 110. As discussed above, the lights 115 may be LEDs mounted to an internal PCB (116 of FIG. 4) at one or more desired angles relative to the top face 105a of the housing 105. The components of the fog machine 400 are powered by a power supply 410 located inside the housing and controlled by a processor 210 programmed by software and/or configured in hardware, as described in connection with FIG. 8.

The internal fog generating mechanism of the fog machine 400 includes a pump 130 and a heater 440, which may be accessed in the housing 105 by removal of the top panel 407. However, in contrast to the previously described embodiments, the heater 440 of the present embodiment is mounted on a reciprocating or pivoting carriage 450 without the pump 130. The carriage 450 is pivotally mounted on arms 452, 454 such that it can rock back and forth about a pivot point, as illustrated by arrows “A”. The carriage 450 can be pivotally mounted to the arms 452, 454 via a shaft or bearings 453, as desired. Pivoting of the carriage 450 is controlled by the controller 210 selectively operating a motor 160, as described above. Motor 160 can be any type of motor, as desired, including, but not limited to, a servo motor or a stepper motor. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the motor 160 is a servo motor. In the present embodiment illustrated, rotation of the motor 160 is translated to a pivoting movement of the carriage 450 by a gear mechanism 460 contained in a gear box 465 supported in the housing 105 by a bracket (not shown). Such a gear mechanism 460 includes individual gears, a gear train, a rack and pinion gear system, a worm drive, etc., as desired. Additionally, if desired, the gear mechanism 460 can be replaced by a pulley system as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, without changing the scope of the invention.

Operation of the motor 160 thus drives the gear mechanism, and correspondingly the carriage 450, based on the operation of the motor 160. The motor 160 controls the forward and backward reciprocating motion of the carriage 150 within the housing 105 by alternating its operation between the forward and reverse directions. Thus, the heater 440 of the fog generating mechanism, and correspondingly its nozzle 110, is rocked by operation of the motor 160 back and forth between a near position (relative to the front of the fog machine 400), a central position, and a far position (e.g., as described and illustrated in connection with FIGS. 5A-7B).

The heater 440 receives a fog generating fluid from the fluid tank 120 using the pump 130. More particularly, fluid from the tank 120 is drawn from the fluid tank 120 via the fluid tube 127 and further tubing 430 into the inlet 132 of the pump 130. The pump 130 pumps the fluid to the heater 440, via a fluid path through the outlet 136, fluid line 134, T-connector 435 and right-angle connector 437. The T-connector 435 and right-angle connector 437 are rigidly held in place relative to the heater 440 using a right-angle bracket 456 fixed to the carriage 450. Thus, the right-angle connector 437 and T-connector 435 also pivot when the carriage 450 pivots. Slack in the fluid lines 134, 472, prevents them from being pulled from the connectors 136, 435, when the carriage 450, and thus the T-connector 435, pivots. The heater 440 heats the incoming fluid to generate fog or haze, which exits the heater via the nozzle or jet 110 of the heater 440 reciprocating in the top housing slot 117 to provide fog or haze in an arcuate path.

Additionally, in one particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10A, an electromagnetic valve or solenoid 470 is provided between the tank 120 and heater 440, to return excess fluid from the heater 440 back to the tank 120 when the production of fog is to cease (e.g., after the pump 130 has stopped). Like the pump 130, operation of the solenoid 470 is controlled by the processor 210 in coordination with the operation of the fog machine 400 and/or a program running thereon. More particularly, the solenoid 470 operates to remove excess fog fluid from the heater 440 via a fluid path including the right-angle connector 437, the T-connector 435, fluid line 472 into the solenoid 470, fluid line 474 out of the solenoid 470 and the fluid tube 127 to the tank 120. Note that, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the fluid tube 127 is connected to both the inlet 132 of the pump 130 and the outlet of the solenoid 470.

Although described as a haze or fog machine for providing stage effects, the present invention is not limited only thereto. For example, a bubble generating mechanism can be added into the housing, if desired, and bubbles may be emitted from the slot 117 in addition to the fog generated by the heater 140, 440. The bubble generating mechanism may be structured to inject the fog into the bubbles before the bubbles are emitted, or to emit the bubbles separately from the fog. Alternatively, bubbles may be emitted from a nozzle or opening not associated with the slot 117. In one particular embodiment, a bubble generating mechanism may be included on the carriage 150, 450, such that it, too, pivots with the carriage 150, 450, and bubbles may be emitted from the slot 117 in an arcuate fashion, as described in connection with the fog jetted from the nozzle 110, herein. Additionally, if desired, the device of the present invention can include a communication module for communicating wirelessly with other devices and/or controllers. For example, although discussed herein as the fog being jetted in coordination with the lights 115 of the fog machine, a fog machine in accordance with the present invention could be configured to communicate wirelessly with other lighting fixtures or application software configured to recognize the device and/or pair with the fog machine, via WIFI and/or BLUETOOTH™ protocols, in order to coordinate the production of fog and lighting effects of the fog machine 100, 300, 400 with other types of lighting fixtures local to the fog machine 100, 300, 400.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications, which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved, especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended. Accordingly, while a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that within the embodiments certain changes in the detail and construction, as well as the arrangement of the parts, may be made without departing from the principles of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A machine for emitting fog or haze as part of a stage effect, comprising: a housing including an elongated slot through one face;an emission nozzle contained in said housing, one end of said emission nozzle extending up to or into said slot;a source of fog or haze disposed inside said housing in fluid communication with said emission nozzle; anda mechanism for moving said emission nozzle back and forth along at least a portion of said slot while emitting fog or haze from said emission nozzle.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said source of fog or haze includes a heater connected to a second end of said nozzle, said heater configured to receive a fog or haze producing fluid and produce the fog or haze from said fluid, said mechanism for moving configured to move said nozzle by cyclically rock said heater back and forth in said housing.

3. The machine according to claim 2, wherein said mechanism for moving includes a carriage to which the heater is mounted, said mechanism for moving configured to rock said carriage about a pivot point.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein said mechanism for moving further includes a motor connected to said carriage such that said carriage is pivoted in a first direction when said motor is driven forward and said carriage is pivoted in a second direction opposite said first direction when said motor is driven in a reverse direction.

5. The machine according to claim 2, further comprising a pump configured to supply the fog or haze producing fluid from a tank to said heater.

6. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lights arranged around said slot.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein at least one light of said plurality of lights is arranged to emit light at an angle relative to said one face.

8. The machine according to claim 6, further comprising a processor configured to coordinate a timing of the moving of said emission nozzle with a lighting effect produced by said plurality of lights.

9. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism for moving is configured to move said emission nozzle along an arcuate path about a pivot point.

10. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism for moving repetitively, cyclically moves said emission nozzle between a first position in said slot and a second position in said slot.

11. A fog or haze producing machine for providing at least one stage effect, the machine comprising: a fluid tank;a pump in fluid communication with said fluid tank;a heater in fluid communication with an outlet of said pump, said heater configured to heat fluid provided by said pump to produce fog or haze;an emission nozzle connected to said heater at a first end, said emission nozzle configured to emit the fog or haze generated by said heater from a second end of said emission nozzle distal from said first end; anda mechanism for repetitively cyclically rocking the second end of said emission nozzle between a first position and a second position while continuously emitting fog or haze from said first position to said second position.

12. The machine according to claim 11, wherein the fog or haze is continuously emitted from a distal end of said emission nozzle along a reciprocating, arcuate path.

13. The machine according to claim 11, further comprising a housing including at least said heater, the fog or haze emitted from the second end of said emission nozzle being emitted from an elongated slot through a portion of said housing.

14. The machine according to claim 11, wherein said mechanism includes a pivoting carriage, and said mechanism rocks said carriage back and forth about a pivot point.

15. The machine according to claim 14, wherein said mechanism includes a motor that drives said pivoting carriage back and forth.

16. The machine according to claim 15, wherein rotation of said motor is translated into rotational motion of said carriage via a drive belt.

17. The machine according to claim 15, wherein rotation of said motor is translated into rotational motion of said carriage via a gear mechanism.

18. The machine according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of lights arranged around said slot.

19. The machine according to claim 18, wherein at least one light of said plurality of lights is arranged to emit light at an angle relative to said one face towards a front of the machine.

20. The machine according to claim 18, further comprising a processor configured to coordinate a timing of the moving of said emission nozzle with a lighting effect produced by said plurality of lights.