Abstract:
Apparatus for generating the appearance of clouds by forcing air over dry ice and channeling the resultant cloud out the top of an enclosure. The apparatus includes an insert having four sides, a bottom and an open top. A manifold may be coupled to a perforation in the insert wherein an optional silo may extends from the manifold toward the open top of the insert. The manifold and silo may be adapted to store dry ice, or dry ice may be stored in a chamber juxtaposed to the manifold. A fan juxtaposed to manifold forces air into the manifold and, ultimately, over the dry ice. The resultant cloud is then channeled out of the manifold by a diffuser plate and, ultimately, out of the enclosure. In one embodiment, feet beneath the manifold provide a gap between the enclosure and the apparatus such that the cloud exits the enclosure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/830,230 filed Jul. 10, 2006 in the name of Brian Hoover entitled “DRY ICE CLOUD GENERATOR AND METHOD”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to generating the appearance of clouds through use of dry ice and water in conjunction with beverage dispensing or for amusement purposes.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Beverage consumption, particularly beer consumption, is perceived to be more pleasurable if the beverage is consumed in cool or even cold surroundings. A consumer&#39;s perception that the most enjoyable beverage comes from, or has been stored in, an extremely cold environment, such as in snow or in a blizzard, is enhanced by numerous contemporary television commercials, many of which are aired in conjunction with the broadcast of sporting events, such as baseball.  
         [0006]     Since baseball is played largely in the summer when the weather is warm, spectators at baseball games and within similar amusement venues desire cold beverages for refreshment. To the extent a beverage consumer and such spectators have the perception that their beverages come from storage and dispensing areas that are exceedingly cold, the spectator&#39;s desire and thirst for the beverages increases. To this end, an apparatus and method are desired to create and communicate a cold beverage such that the spectator&#39;s desire and thirst for beverage is aroused. The present invention addresses this need.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The object of this invention is to provide artificial cold clouds at locales at which beverages, such as beer, are dispensed, with particular emphasis on providing such cold clouds in an amusement venue such as a baseball stadium.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides an apparatus and method for controlling and containing flow of ambient air around and through dry ice to create and control what appears to be cold clouds for creating the perception of a cooling effect for beverages being dispensed close to the apparatus. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention forces ambient air to contact the dry ice such that vapor, appearing to be a cold cloud or even smoke, is produced. Air is directed in such a fashion that even as the dry ice settles, changes shape and builds up insulative frost against the walls of the apparatus, air is still forced to contact the dry ice through use of baffles or perforations, thereby resulting in the desired cold clouds or smoke appearing to emanate continuously from the apparatus.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of an insert and an enclosure, such as a vendor box for distributing beverages. The insert may be comprised of four sides, a perforate bottom or a bottom with at least one hole and an open top wherein the insert is of a rectangular configuration. The sides of the insert may taper from the top to the bottom to define a bottom area of the box that is smaller than the top area of the box. A manifold may be proximate to and coupled to the perforate bottom of the insert and may be adapted to retain dry ice therein. Extending from the bottom of the insert is a diffuser plate wherein the diffuser plate is in communication with the manifold and channels air, having passed over dry ice within the manifold, laterally along the perforate bottom of the rectangular box. Feet protruding downwardly from the perforate bottom of the insert may support the insert within the enclosure.  
         [0010]     An upstanding storage silo may be coupled to and extend from a top of the manifold such that the storage silo is in fluid communication with the manifold and downwardly guides dry ice that is inserted into the top of the silo to the interior of the manifold. A fan may be mounted within the silo proximate the top thereof, such that the fan drives air downward within the silo into the manifold. Additionally, a lid may be mounted on the top end of the silo such that the lid prevents debris from entering the silo and dry ice from escaping the silo in the event the insert or vendor box is overturned. Moreover, the lid may be adapted to cover the top end of the silo while allowing air to pass through the lid and silo.  
         [0011]     The insert is adapted to fit within an enclosure, wherein the enclosure may be a vendor box of the type conventionally used in an entertainment venue such as in stadium to carry beverages through the spectator stands for sale thereof to the spectators. To this end, the insert is dimensioned to fix within the enclosure such that the top of the silo is below the upper edge of the vendor box and gaps exist between the outer surfaces of the rectangular box and the interior surfaces of the vendor box.  
         [0012]     In operation, a user may insert dry ice through the open top of the silo such that it settles, ultimately, in the manifold or within the silo. Warm air may be forced through the top of the silo by a fan wherein the air is forced downwardly through the silo and into the manifold such that it passes over the dry ice. Warm air over the dry ice causes the dry ice to sublimate to some extent and the cold dry ice causes moisture in the air to condense. This creates a cold-appearing cloud as the sublimated, now gaseous, carbon dioxide from the dry ice and the condensed water vapor are carried by the air forced from the fan and directed by the diffuser plate upwardly and outwardly from the enclosure through the gap between the enclosure and the insert. Accordingly, cold beverages may be stored within the insert and/or enclosure such that the carbon dioxide and water vapor signals to patrons of the entertainment venue the presence of a cold beverage for sale.  
         [0013]     In an alternative embodiment, the present invention may be adapted to fit within a beverage kiosk such that air is forced over dry ice from a fan mounted on the side of the insert, rather than the top of a silo. More specifically, the apparatus has an outer wall and an inner wall separated by insulation. A fan is mounted on one of the outer walls and is adapted to introduce air flow from outside the insert into the manifold through a side wall of the insert. For example, the air flow may be directed by a fan mounted over a plurality of air passages in the inner and outer walls for passage therethrough. The manifold is bounded in part by a diffuser plate that is spaced away from the inner surface of inner wall to define the manifold. Diffuser plate has a canted portion located at the bottom of diffuser plate wherein the canted portion directs the air flow over the dry ice. Finally, the insert further includes a flap coupled to a lid which, in turn, is mounted to the insert. During operation, the flap is in an upright position thereby to creating an exhaust opening at an upper extremity of the open interior of the rectangular box-like portion of apparatus. Accordingly, the fan passes ambient air over the dry ice to create the carbon dioxide and vapor mist. This mist signals the presence of a cold beverage to patrons of the entertainment venue. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front elevation of one embodiment of apparatus, in the form of an insert, for generating artificial cold clouds at locales at which beverages are dispensed.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic rear elevation of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic front elevation of a vendor box of the type conventionally carried by vendors selling beer and other beverages in stadia where sporting competitions are conducted.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic front elevation of the vendor box illustrated in  FIG. 3 , with the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  positioned therein.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side elevation, partially cut away, of a second embodiment of apparatus for providing artificial cold clouds at locales at which beverages are dispensed.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 5  illustrating dry ice in position within the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic left side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of a kiosk, which may be located within an athletic stadium or other public place, illustrating the manner in which the apparatus disclosed in  FIGS. 5 through 7  may be positioned.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged schematic front elevation of the vendor box illustrated in  FIG. 3 , with the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  positioned therein similarly to  FIG. 4 , showing the flow of air during use of the apparatus.  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is an schematic top and side view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 9 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is a schematic top view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     Referring to the drawings in general and to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in particular, the apparatus for generating cold appearing clouds is designated generally  10  and is preferably constructed in a form of an insert to fit within an enclosure designated generally  30  and shown in  FIG. 3  as a vendor box. Insert apparatus  10  has a front wall  32 , a rear wall  34 , a left side wall  36 , and a right side wall  38 , with the front, rear, left side and right side walls tapering somewhat from top to bottom as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , so that the bottom or floor  42  of apparatus  10  is smaller in total area than the open top  48  of apparatus  10 .  
         [0026]     Insert apparatus  10  may be fabricated from plastic with the joints between respective walls  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  formed by either thermal welding or using suitable adhesive. Walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are preferably solid plastic and are thick enough, for example on the order of ⅜ of an inch, as to be sufficiently rigid to resist bending when moderate loads are applied. Alternatively, insert apparatus  10 , specifically walls  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  thereof, may be fabricated from metal such as, but not limited to, aluminum wherein the metal insert is capable of resisting bending when moderate loads are applied. Additionally, the structural integrity of the insert apparatus is able to withstand cold temperatures such as temperatures associated with the contact of dry ice.  
         [0027]     Handles  96 ,  100  may extend from the walls of the insert. Preferably, a first handle  96  may be coupled to the left side wall  36  of the insert  10  and a second handle  100  may be coupled to a right side wall  38  of the insert such that both handles  96 ,  100  are coupled to opposing side walls of the insert. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  10 , the handles may extend from side walls  36 ,  38  such that a user may lift the insert  10  by the handles  96 ,  100 . However, the figures are intended only for illustrative purposes and the handles  96 ,  100  may be in any form understood in the art to facilitate lifting the insert  10 .  
         [0028]     The top  48  of insert apparatus  10  is preferably open while the floor  42  of insert apparatus  10  may be perforate or may contain at least one hole. Floor  42  may be fabricated using hardware cloth or other screen-like material secured in place, or may be a piece of plastic thermally bonded or adhesively bonded to the lower edges of front, rear, left side and right side walls  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  and thereafter drilled to provide the required perforate character for insert floor  42 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and the floor  42  may be a solid piece of plastic or metal with similar characteristics attributed to the insert walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 .  
         [0029]     The enclosure  30  may be a vendor box of the type that is well-known to anyone who has attended a baseball game in a major or minor league stadium. Specifically, the enclosure  30  conventionally is equipped with straps permitting a carrier to place the straps around the carrier&#39;s neck (not illustrated), thereby distributing the load of the enclosure over the carrier&#39;s neck and shoulders. The enclosure  30  may be insulated and may include a top (not illustrated) to maintain beverages in the enclosure at a cold temperature.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 10 , insert apparatus  10  is preferably dimensioned so as to fit within the enclosure  30  in the manner illustrated. Additionally, as illustrated by  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 10 , the insert  10  may be secured to the enclosure  30 . In one embodiment, the insert may be secured to the enclosure by a plurality of clasps  94  wherein the clasps  94  are coupled to the handles  96 , 100  of the insert  10 . In one embodiment, the clasps  94  may secure the insert to the enclosure by clasping the handles  96 ,  100  of the insert  10  to handles of the enclosure, referenced generally as  98 . For example, as illustrated, the clasps may utilize a hook and loop system, such as Velcro, wherein the clasps  94  substantially surround one of the insert&#39;s handles  96 ,  100  and one of the enclosure&#39;s handles  98 . To this end, when a carrier lifts the insert by the handles  96 ,  100  he or she also lifts the enclosure by the handles  98  such that the insert and the enclosure are lifted as one unit. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, however, and may be comprised of any method understood in the art to secure and insert to an enclosure such as, but not limited to, clips, screws, rope, or the like wherein the method of securing facilitates the lifting of both the insert and enclosure as one unit.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  10 , insert apparatus  10  further includes a storage silo  12  which is upstanding relative to the walls of insert apparatus  10  and desirably extends above the open top  48  of insert apparatus  10 . Storage silo  12  is adapted to retain dry ice therewithin and has a fan, designated generally  18  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , within the unnumbered upper region of storage silo  12 . Fan  18  is electrically powered by a battery and motor combination (not illustrated in the drawings). Fan  18  is shown only in schematic form in the drawings and may be comprised of any fan  18  which may be mounted within a silo  12  such that the blades of the fan may rotate freely about an axis without contacting the silo  12 .  
         [0032]     Fan  18  is also mounted within the silo such that it draws air downwardly through storage silo  12  with air entering storage silo  12  at the upper, open end thereof, which is designated generally  50  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a lid  88  may cover an open top  50  in the upper, open end of the storage silo  12 . The lid  88  may be perforated, porous, or in any configuration understood in the art to allow air to pass through the lid  88  and downwardly through the storage silo  12 . In one embodiment, the lid  88  may be a porous or metal mesh, such as an aluminum mesh screen, wherein the lid  88  is coupled to the open top  50  of the storage silo  12 . The lid  88  may be coupled by a hinge  90 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , or by any mechanism understood in the art to couple a mesh screen over a top such that debris is precluded from entering the storage silo  12  without interfering with the air flow into the storage silo  12 . The lid  88  may also be secured to the storage silo using retaining latch  92  preferably in the form of a hook and loop system, such as Velcro. In addition to securing the lid  88  to the storage silo  12 , the retaining latch may prevent any escape of the dry ice in the event vendor box  30  is accidentally overturned.  
         [0033]     Storage silo  12  is further configured to retain dry ice in the lower portion of storage silo  12 , where the dry ice is indicated by wavy lines in  FIG. 4  and is designated generally  44  in the drawings. As apparent from  FIG. 4 , storage silo  12  is preferably dimensioned and configured such that open top  50  of storage silo  12  is slightly below the upper extremity of enclosure  30 .  
         [0034]     Storage silo  12  preferably is mounted on a manifold  16  above the hole in the floor  42  of the insert  10 , which preferably extends horizontally along a portion of the bottom of insert apparatus  10  and protrudes below insert floor  42  in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , the manifold  16  may be substantially centered within the insert  10  and covering the hole in the insert (not illustrated). The silo  12  may be substantially centered on the manifold  16 . The interior of manifold  16  is in fluid communication with the interior of storage silo  12  such that dry ice may be placed in the interior of manifold  16 , in the position illustrated in  FIG. 4 , by dropping pieces of dry ice into storage silo  12  through open top  50 . Once the dry ice  44  is dropped into open top  50  of storage silo  12  it may be distributed throughout the manifold  16  and storage silo  12 . For example, the vendor may vigorously shake the insert apparatus  10  after dropping the dry ice into the storage silo  12 , with the shaking being from side to side, wherein the shaking serves to distribute the dry ice throughout manifold  16  in the manner illustrated generally in  FIG. 4  in schematic form.  
         [0035]     Feet  20  extend downwardly from and below the plane defined by insert floor  42 . To this end, the feet  20  extend from the hole in the floor of the insert  10  and serve to keep the assembly of storage silo  12  and manifold  16  raised relative to the bottom interior of the enclosure  30 , where the bottom of vendor box  30  is designated  46  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0036]     Extending from the floor  42  of the insert  10  is a diffuser plate, designated generally  40  in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , wherein the diffuser plate  40  preferably runs along and is preferably coplanar with the lower extremities of supporting feet  20 . Diffuser plate  40  has an upwardly extending lip portion, not numbered in the drawings, which is coincident with the vertically extending sides of manifold  16 , as is apparent in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 . Diffuser plate  40  serves to force air that is driven downwardly within storage silo  12  by fan  18 , to move laterally upon exiting manifold  16 , in the directions indicated by arrows C in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0037]     In order to facilitate the air flow indicated by arrows C in  FIG. 9 , insert apparatus  10  is dimensioned to fit within the enclosure  30  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 4  so that there is a gap, denoted by arrows A-A in  FIG. 4  and designated generally  54 , between the vertically extending walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  of insert apparatus  10  and the inner surfaces of the generally vertically extending walls of the enclosure  30 . The vertically extending walls of the enclosure  30  have not been numbered in the drawings to insure drawing clarity.  
         [0038]     In  FIG. 9 , air flow into storage silo  12  is denoted by arrows B, where the air is drawn through the lid  88  and into storage silo  12  by the action of fan  18 , and is pushed downwardly through the pieces of dry ice  44  occupying the lower portion of storage silo  12  and manifold  16 . The air exits manifold  16 , as indicated by arrows C in  FIG. 9 , and travels through gap  54  between generally vertically upstanding walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  of insert apparatus  10  and the inner surfaces of the vertically extending, unnumbered walls of vendor box  30 , with such air being indicated by arrows D. The air then exit the enclosure  30  as indicated by arrows E.  
         [0039]     With the air having passed over dry ice  44  residing within the lower portion of storage silo  12  and within manifold  16 , the warm air causes the dry ice to sublimate to some extent and the cold dry ice causes moisture in the air to condense. This creates a cold-appearing cloud as the sublimated, now gaseous, carbon dioxide from the dry ice and the condensed water vapor are carried by the air, as indicated by arrows C, D and E, upwardly and outwardly from the enclosure  30 .  
         [0040]     As a result of the configuration of insert apparatus  10 , such that the vertically extending walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are spaced from the interior surfaces of the unnumbered vertically extending walls of the enclosure  30  to create gap  54  therebetween, the cold appearing clouds emanate upwardly from around the entire periphery of the enclosure  30  as the vendor carries the vendor box through the stadium. This effect is eye catching and serves to stimulate and enhance sales of beverages which may be carried by the vendor within the insert and/or enclosure such that the beverages are kept in the space between the walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , the floor  42  and the silo  12  of the insert.  
         [0041]     Fan  18  preferably has blades that are sufficiently large and sufficiently spaced apart to allow passage therethrough of the chunks of dry ice as the dry ice is loaded into silo  12  via opening  50 . Alternatively, fan  18 , and the motor and battery driving fan  18 , may be adapted be easily removed, on a temporary basis, from silo  12 , to allow silo  12  and manifold  16  to be filed with dry ice whereupon fan  18  and its drive motor and battery may be replaced.  
         [0042]     With the configuration of insert apparatus  10  relative to vendor box  30 , there is no direct contact of the dry ice with water resulting from melting of conventional ice carried within the vendor box or within the interior of insert apparatus  12 , nor there is any contact of the dry ice with the beverages resident within the interiors of insert apparatus  10  and vendor box  30 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 , an alternate embodiment of apparatus for generating cold clouds is illustrated and designated generally  10 A where the apparatus is of generally configured as a rectangular chamber. Apparatus  10 A preferably has an outer wall  58 , an inner wall  60 , and insulation  62  between inner and outer walls  60 ,  58 , all as generally illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Apparatus  10 A further includes a fan  18 A that is analogous to fan  18  illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 . Fan  18 A is preferably housed within a fan housing  56  mounted on one of the outer wall  58  of one of the vertically upstanding sides of apparatus  10 A. A plurality of air inlets  76  are preferably formed in a vertically upstanding wall portion of fan housing  56 ; this vertically upstanding wall portion has not been numbered in the drawings.  
         [0044]     Further formed in outer wall  58 , inner wall  60  and through insulation  62  are a plurality of air passages  78  for passage therethrough of air drawn inwardly by operation of fan  18 A through air inlets  76 , into a manifold region  16 A formed along an inner surface of inner wall  60 , where the inner surface of inner wall  60  has not been numbered in the drawings. Manifold  16 A is preferably bounded in part by a diffuser plate  40 A that is preferably spaced away from the inner surface of inner wall  60  to define manifold  16 A, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Diffuser plate  40 A has a canted portion  41  located at the bottom of diffuser plate  40 A, with a bottom extremity of canted portion  41  preferably being spaced away from inner bottom  66  of apparatus  10 A, again as illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0045]     Apparatus  10 A further includes a flap  68  connected via a hinge  72  preferably to a lid  70 , wherein the lid covers the top of the chamber portion of the apparatus  10 A. The lid  70  may be secured to the top of the apparatus  10 A by a hinge  74 , all as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . During operation, flap  68  is normally in the position illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; that is, flap  68  extends upwardly thereby to create an exhaust opening  80  at an upper extremity of the open interior of the rectangular box-like portion of apparatus  10 A. The open interior has not been numbered in the drawings. Preferably resident within the open interior of apparatus  10 A are pieces of dry ice denoted  44  in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0046]     During operation of apparatus  10 A, fan  18 A, which is preferably driven by a motor powered by a battery, neither of which are illustrated in the drawing, draws air inwardly, from left to right in  FIG. 5 , through air inlets  76  and through air passageways  78  into manifold  16 A. The air is then pushed, due to the action of fan  18 A, downwardly in manifold  16 A past the lower lip of canted portion  41 , whereupon the air travels through the interstices between the pieces of dry ice  44  resident within the open interior chamber of apparatus  10 A. The air, which may be warm and moist since apparatus  10 A preferably is used, but not limited to, in the summer, causes some sublimation of the dry ice  44  and the dry ice causes moisture in the air to condense. The condensed moisture carried by the air and the sublimated carbon dioxide form a cold-appearing cloud as the air exits exhaust opening  80 .  
         [0047]     The general flow of the air using apparatus  10 A is illustrated by arrow F in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0048]     The configuration of fan housing  56  and fan  18 A relative to outer wall  58  of apparatus  10 A is illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0049]     Apparatus  10 A is intended to be fabricated in a somewhat miniaturized scale so that apparatus  10 A may be mounted within the umbrella or canopy of a kiosk from which beer or other beverages are dispensed in a stadium. The apparatus  10 A may be mounted by an mechanism understood in the art to mount a air controlling mechanism, such as a fan, to an umbrella, cover or canopy. Such orientation and positioning of apparatus  10 A in the umbrella or cover or canopy  86  of such a kiosk  82  having a beverage storage and dispensing unit  84 , is preferably in the form of a beer keg and tap, is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . To this end, the carbon dioxide and water vapor created by the apparatus  10 A serves to signal to a patron of an entertainment venue that a cold beverage is contain within the dispensing unit  84  and may be purchased there.