Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed providing a visual impression of fluid flowing in a channel solving at least the problems associated with prior art apparatus providing such visual impressions while using a fluid. A method is disclosed attaching an apparatus providing a visual impression of a fluid flowing through a channel into a housing, and including at least one attaching mechanism non-invasively attaching the apparatus to a provided mounting surface.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to providing the visual impression of fluid flowing in a channel for the purposes of amusement and advertising.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0002]    Many people are fond of seeing the flow of fluid in a channel, particularly when the fluid resembles a favorite beverage. This association of fondness has been used to create many mechanisms providing amusement, entertainment, as well as providing an avenue for presenting advertising messages.  
           [0003]    While these devices succeed in creating a visual impression of fluid flow, the inventor has discovered several problems associated with the prior art mechanisms limiting their usefulness. The inventor&#39;s prior invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,280 (referred to as &#39;280 hereafter) provided a similar impression. It used a water reservoir, electric pump and a nine volt battery, all installed on a cap, which must either be specially manufactured, or have holes punched in it.  
           [0004]    There were several problems with the approach of the &#39;280 patent and other approaches to providing the visual impression of fluid flowing in a channel. These problems will be discussed in terms of the &#39;280 to streamline the discussion.  
           [0005]    A water reservoir can not store water indefinitely. Over time, the water evaporates. This limits shelf life. If the water chamber is refillable, this leads to additional problems by allowing individuals to refill the reservoir with a substance other than water, such as alcohol or soda. Such substances might well cause the individuals harm and/or damage the unit. Note that over filling reservoir may also cause damage to the mechanism, irrespective of what fluid is used.  
           [0006]    Another problem associated with storing water in the &#39;280 patent has to do with hot circumstances, such as a sporting event on a bright summer day. The unit may be exposed to intense sunlight for a prolonged period of time. The absorbed heat can cause the water in the unit, which is sealed, to rise to the top, creating a vapor lock. The only way for the pressure to release is for the water to enter the motor compartment, causing the motor to rust and stall.  
           [0007]    There are other problems with the invention of the &#39;280 patent. There was no way to quickly install a unit onto a cap, limiting its use in retail situations to pre-installed units. It required the cap be punctured in several places, with a battery pack mounted on one side, a tap, water chamber and motor/pump installed on a front, vertical surface (during normal operation). The battery pack then had to be wired to the pump through the cap. The pump in turn had a feed from the base installed through the holes in the cap.  
           [0008]    In the &#39;280 patent, a nine volt battery mounts on the cap, which is uncomfortable for the wearer. The battery is also potentially dangerous to the wearer, due to the possibility of battery discharge.  
           [0009]    What is needed is a mechanism and/or way to provide the visual impression of fluid flowing in a chamber, without the problems associated with storing and using a fluid. What is further needed is a way to attach such a mechanism non-invasively to a mounting surface. The mounting surface should include at least some of the following: a beret, a cap, a hat, a shirt, a wall, a refrigerator, an automotive surface, a cash register, and a computer terminal.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The invention addresses at least the problems discussed in the background.  
           [0011]    The invention includes an apparatus providing a visual impression of fluid flowing in a channel. The channel is hollow  10  with a first end  12  and a second end  14 . A hollow helical shaft  20  is positioned between first end  12  and second end  14  within hollow channel  10 . An electric motor  40  is coupled  30  with hollow helical shaft  20  near second end  14  to rotate hollow helical shaft  20  within hollow channel  10 . An electrical power supply  50  powers electric motor  40  in rotating hollow helical shaft  20  to create visual impression. Note that the hollow helical shaft  20  seen within hollow channel  10  has a color similar to the fluid.  
           [0012]    The invention removes the problems associated with the use and storage of fluids in the prior art, extending the shelf life of embodiments, improving their safety, making them more reliable products.  
           [0013]    The hollow helical shaft preferably rotates within the hollow channel between 120 and 240 Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The hollow helical shaft may further be preferred to rotate between 172 and 200 RPM.  
           [0014]    Note that the hollow channel  10  preferably approximates a circular cylinder. However, the hollow channel  10  may alternatively approximate other hollow shapes, including, by way of example, an elliptical cylinder and a rectangular chamber. Hollow channel  10  may be wider than it is tall in certain embodiments, and this relationship may vary among embodiments. The exterior of hollow channel  10  may preferably be a different shape than its interior.  
           [0015]    The invention may further include more than one hollow helical shaft  20  within hollow channel  10 . Not all of the multiple helical shafts need rotate at the same time.  
           [0016]    The invention preferably further includes at least, one and preferably both, a housing  70  containing an electric power supply  50  and at least electric motor  40 , as well as a top piece  100  near first end  12 . Housing  70  and top piece  100  collectively couple to at least one means for attaching  80  the unit to a mounting surface  4 . The visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow channel  10  may further include the fluid flowing toward first end  12  and/or the fluid flowing toward second end  14 .  
           [0017]    The invention may further include a means for making sounds at least whenever hollow helical shaft  20  is rotating.  
           [0018]    The invention further, preferably, includes logo zone  110 , which provides a method of displaying entertaining and advertising messages.  
           [0019]    The invention further, preferably, includes at least a switch  60  controlling at least electric motor  40  rotating hollow helical shaft  20  to create the visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow channel  10 . Switch  60  may be located either within housing  70 , which is preferred, or outside housing  70 , possibly in, on, or near top piece  100 .  
           [0020]    The invention further, preferably, includes at least one light source  90 , active at least whenever hollow helical shaft  20  is rotating. It is often preferred that there be two light sources. The light source(s) may further, preferably, provide additional visual impressions: of the fluid in the housing  70 , the fluid entering the housing  70 , and possibly the fluid entering the top piece  100 .  
           [0021]    The invention includes a preferred method attaching an apparatus providing a visual impression of a fluid flowing through a channel  10  into a housing  70 , and including at least attaching mechanism  80 . A mounting surface  4  of said display mount is provided. The apparatus is non-invasively attached to mounting surface  4  using attaching mechanism  80 .  
           [0022]    This method of non-invasively attaching the apparatus supports rapid installation of the apparatus on at least any of a beret, a cap, a hat, a shirt, a portion of a wall, a refrigerator, an automotive surface, a cash register surface, and a computer terminal. Note that in certain embodiments, the wall may be the wall of an advertising billboard and the apparatus being attached may range in height from a few centimeters to many meters.  
           [0023]    When the attaching mechanism is velcro or a magnet, it is also easy to remove the apparatus for purposes such as cleaning.  
           [0024]    The invention includes methods for making the hollow helical shaft  20 , which may include extrusion molding, machining, as well as bonding of components, to create hollow helical shaft  20 . Hollow helical shaft  20  may be either solid, or hollow, which would favor the bonding of two halves manufacturing approach. The invention includes the hollow helical shaft  20  as a product of the processing making the shaft, as well as assemblies providing a visual impression of fluids flowing based upon rotating the hollow helical shaft in the assemblies.  
           [0025]    The invention includes methods of assembly of the various embodiments of the invention, which will be discussed regarding FIGS.  5 A and SB, as well as those embodiments as product of the processing assembling them.  
           [0026]    The invention also includes the method providing the visual impression of fluid flowing in a channel. An electric power supply  50  provides an electric motor  40  with power. The electric motor  40  through a coupling  30  rotates a hollow helical shaft  20  within the channel  10 . The invention further includes the means for implementing this method.  
           [0027]    The invention also includes apparatus and methods controlling the providing of the visual impression of fluid flowing in a channel  10 . A user control  62  coupled through at least a shaft  20  within channel  10 , controls the state of switch  60 , which further controls the operation of electric motor  40 . This aspect of the invention removes the need for wiring from a user control  62  located outside housing  70 .  
           [0028]    These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 illustrates an external front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention including user control  62 , top piece  100 , hollow channel  10 , hollow helical shaft  20 , top cap  72 , housing  70 , logo area  78 , collectively attached to a mounting surface  4 ;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2A illustrates a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with user control  62  in a first state, and further including electrical power supply  50 , electric motor  40  coupling with hollow helical shaft  20  to rotate hollow helical shaft  20  in hollow channel  10  to a visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow channel  10 ;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2B illustrates a cross section view of an alternative preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2A, with user control  62  in the first state and with an alternative top piece  100 ;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2C illustrates the cross section view of FIG. 2A with the user control  62  in a second state, causing switch  60  to be in an on-state;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3A illustrates a side view of a top piece  100  with a user control  62  as a form of push button;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of top piece  100  with a user control  62  as a form of push button as in FIG. 3A, as well as alternatively including the terminals  60 -A and  60 -B of switch  60 ;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3C illustrates a side cross section view of top piece  100  with user control  62  as an alternative lever switch;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3D illustrates a front view of top piece  100  of FIG. 3C;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4A illustrates a cross section view  100 -A from FIG. 5A, of top piece  100  with notch  104  in rim  102 , which mates with the notch in hollow channel first end  12  of FIG. 5A;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom-up view  12 -A from FIG. 5A, of top piece  100  with notch  104  in rim  102 , which mates with the notch in hollow channel first end  12  of FIG. 5A;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5A illustrates an exploded view of the top half of the preferred assembly of the invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5B illustrates an exploded view of the bottom half of the preferred assembly of the invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6A illustrates a bottom-up perspective  78 -A of FIG. 5B looking into the power supply  50  preferably including two batteries  50 -A and  50 -B;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6B illustrates a block diagram of the invention including hollow channel  10 , hollow helical shaft  20 , coupling  30 , electric motor  40  and power supply  50 ; and  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6C illustrates a refinement of FIG. 6B further including switch  60  controlling electric motor  40 , as well as, power supply  50  including two batteries  50 -A and  50 -B.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1 illustrates an external front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention including user control  62 , top piece  100 , hollow channel  10 , hollow helical shaft  20 , top cap  72 , housing  70 , logo area  78 , collectively attached to a mounting surface  4 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 2A illustrates a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with user control  62  in a first state, and further including electrical power supply  50 , electric motor  40  coupling with hollow helical shaft  20  to rotate hollow helical shaft  20  in hollow channel  10  to a visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow channel  10 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 2B illustrates a cross section view of an alternative preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2A, with user control  62  in the first state and with an alternative top piece  100 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 2C illustrates the cross section view of FIG. 2A with the user control  62  in a second state, causing switch  60  to be in an on-state.  
         [0048]    In FIGS.  1  to  2 C, the illustrated mechanism creates a visual impression of a fluid flowing in hollow channel  10  possessing a first end  12  and a second end  14 . Hollow helical shaft  20  is positioned between said first end  12  and said second end  14  within said hollow channel  10 .  
         [0049]    In FIGS. 2A to  2 C, electric motor  40  couples with said hollow helical shaft  20  near said second end  14  to rotate said hollow helical shaft  20  within said hollow channel  10 . Electric motor  40  couples with hollow helical shaft  20  through a transmission including gear  30  stepping down to gear  34 , further stepping down to gear  32 , which couples with drive shaft  24 .  
         [0050]    Alternatively, electric motor  40  coupling with said hollow helical shaft  20  may include a transmission of any of the following forms: a belt drive transmission, a gear driven transmission, a multi-belt drive transmission, a multi-gear driven transmission, and a combination belt-gear driven transmission.  
         [0051]    As used herein, the electric motor rotates at N_MOTOR Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and couples with a transmission. The transmission couples with the hollow helical shaft to power rotating the hollow helical shaft at N_MOTOR/TRANSMISSION_RATIO to create the visual impression.  
         [0052]    The ratio N_MOTOR/TRANSMISSION_RATIO is preferably between 120 RPM and 240 RPM. The ratio N_MOTOR/TRANSMISSION_RATIO is further preferred to be between 172 RPM and 200 RPM.  
         [0053]    In FIGS. 2A to  2 C, electrical power supply  50  is electrically coupled with electric motor  40  to power electric motor  40  in rotating hollow helical shaft  20  to create said visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow shaft  10 .  
         [0054]    It should be noted that hollow helical shaft  20  seen within hollow channel  10  has a color similar to said fluid, which cannot be illustrated in a line drawing.  
         [0055]    In FIGS. 2A to  2 C, electrical power supply  50 , electrically coupling with electric motor  40 , further includes a switch  60 , controlling electric motor  40  in rotating hollow helical shaft  20  to create said visual impression. Switch  60  operates in one of at least an on-state and an off-state. Whenever switch  60  operates in said on-state, electric motor  40  rotates hollow helical shaft  20  to create said visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow channel  10 . Whenever switch  60  operates in said off-state, electric motor  40  is prevented from rotating hollow helical shaft  20 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIGS. 2A to  2 C further illustrate a coupling assembly  22 - 20 - 24 - 30  including hollow helical shaft  20  between a user control  62  located near said channel first end  12  and switch  60  located near said channel second end  14 . The user control  62  operates in at least one of a first control state and a second control state.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate user control  62  operating in the first control state. Whenever user control  62  operates in said first state, hollow helical shaft coupling  22 - 20 - 24 - 30  puts switch  60  into said off-state. Whenever switch  60  operates in said off-state, electric motor  40  is prevented from rotating hollow helical shaft  20 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 2C further illustrates user control  62  operating in the second control state. Whenever said user control  62  operates in said second state, said hollow helical shaft coupling  22 - 20 - 24 - 30  puts switch  60  into said on-state. Whenever switch  60  operates in said on-state, electric motor  40  rotates hollow helical shaft  20  to create said visual impression of fluid flowing in hollow channel  10 .  
         [0059]    In FIGS.  1  to  2 C, user control  62  is illustrated as various forms of a lever switch.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 3A illustrates a side view of a top piece  100  with a user control  62  as a form of push button.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of top piece  100  with a user control  62  as a form of push button as in FIG. 3A, as well as alternatively including terminals  60 -A and  60 -B of switch  60 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 3C illustrates a side cross section view of top piece  100  with user control  62  as an alternative lever switch.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 3D illustrates a front view of top piece  100  of FIG. 3C.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 4A illustrates a cross section view  100 -A from FIG. 5A, of top piece  100  with notch  104  in rim  102 , which mates with the notch in hollow channel first end  12  of FIG. 5A.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom-up view  12 -A from FIG. 5A, of top piece  100  with notch  104  in rim  102 , which mates with the notch in hollow channel first end  12  of FIG. 5A.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 5A illustrates an exploded view of the top half of the preferred assembly of the invention.  
         [0067]    In FIG. 5A, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a top piece  100  to be assembled with a lever mechanism including lever handle  62 , protrusions  64  and  64 -A, and coupling zone  66 .  
         [0068]    In FIG. 5A, the assembled top piece  100  with lever mechanism  62  is attached successively to hollow channel  10 , and then to top cap  72 . The attaching of hollow channel  10  locks the notch near first end  12  in FIG. 5A to notch  104  within rim  102  illustrated in FIGS. 4A to  5 A.  
         [0069]    In FIG. 5A, hollow helical shaft  20  is then inserted through the top cap  72  and hollow channel  10  to create the coupling of user control  62  with hollow helical shaft  20  illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B,  2 C,  3 A, and  3 C.  
         [0070]    Hollow helical shaft  20  is illustrated in FIGS. 2A to  3 A,  3 C, and  5 A, including a coupling pin  22 , which preferably provides part of the coupling between user control  62  and hollow helical shaft  20 .  
         [0071]    Hollow helical shaft  20  is illustrated in FIGS. 2A to  2 C, and  5 A, including a coupling pin  24 , which preferably provides part of the coupling between user control  62 , through hollow helical shaft  20  to switch  60 .  
         [0072]    In FIG. 5A, gear  34  is placed over the peg on top of housing  70 .  
         [0073]    In FIG. 5A, spring  26  is pressed onto coupling pin  24 , upon which coupling gear  30  is inserted so that the notch in  30  locks onto coupling pin  24 . The base of coupling gear  30  fits into the right hole of housing  70  as illustrated in FIGS. 2A to  2 C.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 5B illustrates an exploded view of the bottom half of the preferred assembly of the invention.  
         [0075]    In FIG. 5B, electric motor  40  is inserted through the left hole in housing  70  of FIG. 5A into gear  32 , which couples with gear  34 , which further couples with coupling gear  30 . The result of this assembly step is illustrated in FIGS. 2A to  2 C.  
         [0076]    In FIG. 5B, at least one, and preferably two light sources  90  and  92  are electrically coupled to motor terminals  42  and  44 , also illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B,  2 C, and  6 C.  
         [0077]    In FIG. 5B, switch  60  is attached to base  78 .  
         [0078]    In FIG. 5B, sheet  76  is inserted into housing  70 , and then light sources  90 - 92  attached to electric motor  40  are inserted into base  78 , which is fitted into housing  70  so that light sources  90 - 92 , when active, shine through sheet  76 , when seen from outside housing  70 .  
         [0079]    In FIG. 5B, batteries  50 -A and  50 -B are inserted into a power supply chamber in base  78  as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C.  
         [0080]    In FIG. 5B, bottom cap  74  is attached to base  78  using the slot illustrated in FIG. 6A and the screw illustrated in FIG. 5B.  
         [0081]    Top piece  100  in FIG. 5A is shown slightly rotated so that attaching mechanism  82  is readily visible, which upon assembly, are preferably attached to top piece  100 . The assembly of attaching mechanism  82  to top piece  100  may occur after assembling the elements of FIG. 5B.  
         [0082]    Note that in certain preferred manufacturing processes the order of assembly may be approximately the reverse of that described for FIGS. 5A and 5B.  
         [0083]    Note that in certain preferred embodiments, illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  2 C, as well as FIG. 5A, housing  70  may be made of a clear molded plastic.  
         [0084]    As illustrated in FIGS. 2A to  2 C, as well as FIG. 5B, sheet  76  may be made of a tinted material similar in color to the fluid, when seen through the housing  70 .  
         [0085]    Using the invention preferably includes at least applying a strip to the logo zone  110  of FIG. 1.  
         [0086]    As illustrated in FIGS. 2A to  2 C, it is often preferred that the color of the hollow helical shaft  20  seen through channel  10  be similar to sheet  76  seen through housing  70 .  
         [0087]    As illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  2 C, as well as  5 A, top cap  72  may preferably include an exterior surface resembling a container top matching the exterior appearance of housing  70 , foam, the fluid&#39;s surface, and/or ice cubes.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 6A illustrates a bottom-up perspective  78 -A of FIG. 5B looking into the power supply  50  preferably including two batteries  50 -A and  50 -B.  
         [0089]    [0089]FIG. 6B illustrates a block diagram of the invention including hollow channel  10 , hollow helical shaft  20 , coupling  30 , electric motor  40  and power supply  50 .  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 6C illustrates a refinement of FIG. 6B further including switch  60  controlling electric motor  40 , as well as, power supply  50  including two batteries  50 -A and  50 -B.  
         [0091]    In FIGS. 6B and 6C, hollow helical shaft  20  rotates within hollow channel  10 . Hollow helical shaft  20  couples  30  with electric motor  40 .  
         [0092]    In FIG. 6B, electric motor  40  terminals  42  and  44  respectively couple with two terminals  52  and  54  of power supply  50 . Note that as used herein, power supply  50  may include any member of the collection comprising any form of batteries, preferably N-AAA batteries, any form of fuel cells, and/or any form of solar cells. Note that in larger embodiments, it may be further preferred that the power supply include a wind engine.  
         [0093]    In FIG. 6C, electric motor terminal  44  also couples with terminal  54  of power supply  50 . Power supply  50  preferably includes two batteries  50 -A and  50 -B, which are further preferred to be N-AAA batteries. Electric motor terminal  42  is preferably coupled to switch  60  first terminal  60 -A and switch second terminal  60 -B is coupled with power supply terminal  52 .  
         [0094]    One skilled in the art will recognize that there are alternative switches which may couple with both terminals of electric motor  40  and power supply  50 , but will do so in an equivalent manner to that illustrated in these Figures. Such switches will at least operate in a similar manner to that illustrated in FIG. 6C. A switch  60  in the on-state will electrically couple the power supply  50  to electric motor  40  to enable hollow helical shaft  20  to rotate in hollow channel  10 . A switch  60  in the on-state will electrically decouple the power supply  50  to electric motor  40  to prevent hollow helical shaft  20  from rotating in hollow channel  10 .  
         [0095]    Hollow helical shaft  20  as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6B and  6 C, does not require either coupling pin  22  nor coupling pin  24  to achieve the operational steps of the invention&#39;s method of providing a visual impression of fluid moving in a channel  10 .  
         [0096]    Switch  60  may be located outside housing  70  as indicated in FIG. 3B, where switch  60  is situated behind push button  62  in top piece  100 .  
         [0097]    The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of example and are not meant to constrain the scope of the following claims.