Patent Application
20200324309
The present invention relates to ornamental fluid displays, and more particularly to a liquid display apparatus using a silicone oil as the fluid.
Fluid displays can have a significant aesthetic appeal in a variety of environments, and may be used in commercial, special event and residential applications. An ornamental fluid display may be designed for use indoors as well as outdoors, and may be fixed or mobile. It should be understood that the ornamental fluid display of the present invention may be deployed in sitting areas, lobby entrances, residences, feature walls, functional signage, logos and wall dividers. In particular, liquid displays (used interchangeably but considered to be a subset of fluid displays) can be used to create powerful visual effects. Nonetheless, deploying and maintaining an engaging liquid display may be difficult depending on the desired materials and design of the display. The present invention overcomes several of the disadvantages of previous displays, including many that use water or hydrocarbon based oils.
Fluid displays that use water have a number of disadvantages. Open air displays employing water as a circulating fluid typically have an issue with evaporation. Water that is exposed to the air, whether the water is standing or circulating, will eventually evaporate (particularly in hot and dry environments) and can leave mineral deposits. There are maintenance costs associated with replenishing the water supply and removing said mineral deposits. Standing water involves the additional concern of organic factors, as it may support the growth of mold, bacteria, and mosquito larvae (particularly in outdoor applications), possibly leading to toxicity or other direct or indirect health concerns. Water may also lead to oxidation and corrosion in various display components, placing constraints on which materials may be used. In cold environments, water can be subject to freezing which, beyond stopping the flow of fluid, can damage the display through expansion as ice forms.
Previous efforts to manage disadvantages of open air water displays have involved sealing waterfall display units, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,898 issued in 2000 to Gruff.
Other previous efforts have contemplated using low and high viscosity oils (including heavy and light machine oils, typically hydrocarbon-based or unspecified) in decorative and advertising displays, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,381 issued in 2000 to Hones. Among hydrocarbon-based oils, toxicity and flammability can be significant concerns. In addition, many hydrocarbons may evaporate at room temperature.
There remains a need for a decorative fluid display that safely employs a low maintenance fluid having flow performance properties similar or superior to that of water.
The present invention overcomes many of the drawbacks of previous displays by employing a non-toxic, non-evaporative, odor-free, non-flammable liquid in place of traditional fluids within the ornamental fluid display. The present invention improves upon the state of the art in ornamental fluid displays by employing a specific subset of fluids with properties improve upon the properties of water and many other fluids for applications in scope. In particular, the present invention looks to the group of silicone oils to achieve superior performance, safety and low-maintenance operation of ornamental fluid displays. Within this group, polydimethylsiloxane stands out for its optical properties in addition to being inert, non-evaporative, non-toxic and non-flammable. The fluid motion performance of certain low-viscosity variants adds visual interest. Combined, these properties are uncommon within the field of ornamental fluid displays and the application of silicone oil and associated techniques to the field represents a significant technical advance.
Some embodiments of the invention will take the form of a “water wall,” with key differences. One skilled in the art of water walls will understand that a water wall may be constructed according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,538 issued in 1988 to Dunn or U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,368 issued in 1992 to Nash. One key difference between the construction of a Nash or Dunn display and a display consistent with the teachings of the present invention is that at least some silicone oil will be used as the fluid within the display. Using silicone oil as the selected fluid (or primary fluid) enables safety, maintainability and fluid motion performance benefits. Once the materials have been selected, a typical construction can take place using skills expected of a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Many embodiments will employ a large planar surface oriented as a wall for fluid to flow over from top to bottom. The surface may include perturbations 130 to enhance the visual or audible effects resulting from the motion of the fluid. The surface may be made of a transparent or translucent material, such as glass, a metallic material, a natural material, such as stone, or any other material that provides a desired effect when used with the selected fluid. Some material structures that may have desired effects include mirrors, steel mesh, clear film, granite (smooth, sealed), non-porous tile, steel and copper. One embodiment is shown as an example in
The filter medium 110, in the above example, serves as a purifier. In other embodiments, the fluid may be purified by neutralizing additives, for example, or by treatment with radiation or extreme temperatures.
Some embodiments of the invention may take the form of an outdoor water feature, with key differences. Such a feature may be constructed, for example, by the following steps: creating a pond shape; laying out filters and pumps (appropriate to the properties of the selected fluid) to determine flow; digging the shape to desired depths; installing a filter, underlayment (to prevent fluid leakage) and decorative stones; and filling to a desired height with fluid.
Many fluid display designs will highlight the motion of fluid as acted upon by gravitational forces, but a variety of other factors may influence or even dominate the motion. Pumps can be used to move fluid through the display. If a pump is part of the design, it may be hidden from view as necessary. In some embodiments, the pump will be submerged within the reservoir.
Lighting may be provided to illuminate the display or add to the visual effect. Many lighting sources and techniques may be used within the display. As an example, light emitting diode (LED) lighting may be desirable for applications which can benefit from low-heat generation and low power consumption. Multiple colors may be used to provide effects within the fluid and upon the adjacent surfaces.
A flow controller or shield may be used to reduce spitting, splashing and loss of fluid relating to motion. This may be necessary in certain installations to reduce the potential for a slip hazard.
In some embodiments, decorative waterfalls may be created by substituting water with an approximately 20 centistokes (cSt) silicone oil such as polydimethylsiloxane. As the viscosity of water at 72 degrees fahrenheit is 0.9504 cSt, a fluid with a kinematic viscosity substantially higher than that water can be used to enable fluid motion effects that may be less familiar to viewers. A fluid that appears to move slower, for example, may be considered more calming than a fluid that appears to move rapidly. It should be noted that although the increased viscosity of this fluid is visually appreciable, the viscosity is sufficiently comparable to water such that one may use pumps which are standard in the art.
The selected fluid may be enhanced, if desired, with metallic flakes to provide a sparkle effect. The flakes may be selected with weight, size and buoyancy within the selected fluid to enable the flakes to selectively settle or remain suspended within the fluid. As with traditional water features, the selected fluid may also be appended with dyes and/or perfumes as needed to achieve desired effects.
Where the display is in close proximity to people, it may be desirable to select components and materials that are less likely to injure or be damaged by the people. For this reason, sharp edges and toxic materials may be particularly avoided in certain applications such as shopping centers and playgrounds. Nonetheless, a properly designed installation may provide an engaging display in restaurants, lobbies and many other settings where people may be present frequently and/or in large numbers.
Although embodiments of techniques and objects have been described in language specific to features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as example implementations of the present invention.
The present application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/656,105, filed Apr. 11, 2018, by the present inventor. The provisional application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
