Flowing liquid illusion

Abstract: A display provides the illusion of a stream of liquid coming from an unconnected spigot (9), the stream flowing into a receptacle (5). A transparent tube (17), hidden within the stream, runs from the receptacle (5) to the spigot (9) to carry the liquid upwardly to the spigot (9). A second tube (7), colorless and transparent, surrounds the stream of water, to prevent evaporation and accidental spillage on a person. A small colorless and transparent air tube (45) runs from the receptacle (5) upwardly between the inner (17) and outer (7) tubes to a mixing chamber (5) at the top of the tubes. Air is drawn upwardly through the tube by a suction or Venturi-like effect within the mixing chamber (5) and mixes with the water. As a result, the downwardly flowing water is filled with bubbles and can be seen.

Description: This invention relates to the field of displays which present optical illusions. In particular, it relates to a display in which liquid appears to flow continually from an unattached source, such as an unattached spigot, faucet, cock, tap, etc., into a receptacle which doesn't fill. This liquid, which may be water, could have the appearance of water, or could be colored to represent some other liquid such as cola or beer. Displays of this general type are old. They have been made by having a colorless transparent tube, to carry the water upwardly, hidden within the stream of down flowing water. The water appears to flow from a free-standing unattached spigot to a receptacle resting on the base. A pump is hidden in the base to pump the water up through the tube to the spigot. Displays of this type, as for example those disclosed in FR-A-2 517 097 and in GB-A-2 082 362, which are reflected by the preamble of claim 1, have two disadvantages: the water, being exposed to the air, evaporates, and, so, the display unit has to be periodically refilled; and persons can accidentally bump into it, getting themselves or their clothes wet. The invention alleviates these problems by having an outer, transparent tube surrounding the return or downward flow of liquid from the spigot or other unattached simulated source, and surrounding the tube carrying the liquid to the simulated source. According to the invention, there is provided a display as defined in claim 1. In one embodiment, a display unit or device provides the illusion of a stream of water flowing continuously from an unconnected spigot into a receptacle therebelow, which is mounted on a base. A transparent tube, hidden within the stream, runs from the base to the spigot to carry water upwardly to the spigot. A pump within the base pumps the water from the receptacle up the tube to the spigot. A second tube, colorless and transparent, surrounds the stream of water, to obviate the above-mentioned problems of evaporation and accidental spillage on a person. This improvement, however, creates another problem: it is hard to see the motion of a liquid when it is flowing through a tube, since the flow is quite steady and uniform. It has been found that this problem can be cured by foaming the water with air to create a stream of bubbles. A small colorless and transparent air tube runs from the receptacle, upwardly between the inner and outer tubes, to a mixing chamber at the top of the tubes. Air is drawn upwardly through the air tube by a suction or Venturi-like effect produced by the water flow within the mixing chamber, and mixes with the water. As a result, the downwardly flowing water is filled with bubbles and can be seen. Preferably, the entire system is closed, to prevent evaporation or escape or air. The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, in this instance a spigot apparently pouring "beer" into a beer bottle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the inside of the base and the bottle. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the passages for, and flow of, the water and air. Fig 4 is a vertical section through the mixing chamber. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the centering bushing which holds the various tubes used in the display device. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4, showing the mixing chamber. Fig. 8 is an exploded view showing details of the mixing chamber. The display embodying the present invention creates an illusion which makes it appear that liquid is continuously flowing from an unattached spigot into a vessel which never fills up. As seen in Fig. 1, the display is a unit or device including a base 3 having a receptacle 5 on it. By way of an example, a beer bottle is shown with a transparent outer tube 7 running from the mouth of the bottle, vertically to an unattached spigot 9. In use, a bubbly air and water mix indicated at 12 in Fig. 3, is seen flowing down tube 7. If desired, the water can be colored to look like beer or some other beverage such as cola. The top 29 of bottle 5 is sealed around outer tube 7 so that the joint is substantially air and water tight. This prevents or reduces evaporation of the water. To enhance the illusion, base 3 can carry cubes 21 of imitation ice. The ice and the bottle are illuminated by lamps 23 and 25. A water tube 17 is positioned concentrically inside tube 7 (Figs. 2 and 3). This tube serves to carry water 11 upward to the spigot end of tube 7. The water, which collects in bottomless bottle 5 interconnected with base 3, is forced upwardly by a pump 15. The water flows downwardly to the bottle in the space between outer tube 7 and inner water tube 17. Water tube 17 may be colored the color that is desired for the liquid, so that the downwardly flowing water appears to be the color of the tube. Alternatively, dye can be added to the water. It is difficult to see the flow of water within a tube. To overcome this problem, the water is aerated to give it a bubbly appearance. To do this a transparent, colorless air tube 45 runs from the neck of bottle 5 upwardly between outer tube 7 and inner water tube 17 to the spigot area. Tube 45 is best hidden if it is located on the rearward side of the display. Outer tube 7 and air tube 45 are supported by a tube-centering bushing 33, positioned in the neck of the bottle. (Water tube 17 continues down and is supported by pump 15). Bushing 33 includes centering pins for water tube 17, a base for outer tube 7, a supporting pin for air tube 45, and spacers 39 to center the bushing itself (Figs. 3 and 6). Air 10, from within the bottle, enters tube 45 through holes 47 in the tube, and is drawn upwardly by suction, for example by a Venturi-like action, to a mixing chamber 51, located at the top of tubes 7, 17, and 45, and just inside the outlet of spigot 9. The water and air are mixed in mixing chamber 51, producing a frothy mixture which they goes down to the bottle in the space between outer tube 7 and inner water tube 17. Mixing chamber 51 fits within the end of the spigot and the upper end of outer tube 7. It has an air-receiving well 53 with a base 55. Air from air tube 45 enters well 53 through air inlet opening 57. Air leaves the well through an air outlet opening 59, the latter being connected, via slot 61, to the space between tubes 7 and 17. Water, forced upwardly through inner water tube 17 by pump 15, passes through water return openings into outer tube 7. In so doing, it creates a Venturi-like effect or suction which pulls air upwardly through air tube 45, into air-receiving well 53, and out of air outlet 59 and slot 61. The air mixes with the water and creates the bubbly, frothy effect, and thus permits the water to be seen more readily as it flows down between outer tube 7 and inner tube 17. This water flow conceals inner tube 17 from view and so helps to create the illusion. It should be noted that this display is a closed, recirculatory system. The water which forms the stream from the spigot goes into base 3 and is pumped back upward to be reused. The air which comes down with the water goes into the bottle and is sucked up tube 45 for reuse. Bottle 5 has an inconspicuous corked opening 31 in the back of the neck, permitting initial filling and change of liquids. When the display is in operation, one sees a stream of bubbly water apparently flowing from the unattached spigot 9 down the outer tube 7 into a bottle or other receptacle 5, which appears never to fill up. The rising water tube 17 is concealed within the water stream and so is not seen. As can be seen, this display overcomes the problems of earlier displays in that evaporation is eliminated or greatly reduced, and persons cannot accidentally bump into the water stream and get themselves or their clothes wet.

Claims: A display (1) for creating the illusion of liquid flowing from an unattached source, said display including a receptacle arrangement (3, 5), a spigot or other device simulating an unattached source (9) positioned in spaced relation to the receptacle arrangement, a first tube (17) running from the receptacle arrangement (3, 5) to the simulated source (9), and means (15) to cause liquid (11) to flow along the first tube in a direction from the receptacle arrangement towards the simulated source, characterised in that the first tube (17) is located within a second, transparent outer tube (7) also running from the receptacle arrangement (3, 5) to the simulated source (9), the first and second tubes (17, 7) being interconnected at or adjacent their ends adjacent the simulated source, whereby, in use, when liquid (11) is caused to flow along the inner, first tube (17) by said means (15), liquid will also be caused to flow through the outer, second tube (7), between the first and second tubes, in a direction from the simulated source (9) towards the receptacle arrangement (3, 5). A display as claimed in claim 1, including means (45) to supply air to the liquid, whereby, in use, liquid flowing through the outer, second tube (7) between the first and second tubes will have a bubbly appearance. A display as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air supply means (45) is operable to supply air to the liquid at the location of the interconnection between the first and second tubes (17, 7). A display as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the air supply means (45) includes a third, air tube located within the outer, second tube (7), between the first and second tubes, and communicating with the outer, second tube (7). A display as claimed in claim 4, wherein the air tube (45), at or adjacent one end (57), communicates with the outer, second tube (7) at the location of the interconnection between the first and second tubes (17, 7). A display as claimed in claim 5, wherein the opposite end of the air tube (45) extends into the receptacle arrangement (3, 5), and includes air inlet openings (47). A display as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, including a mixing chamber (51) by which the first and second tubes (17, 7) are interconnected, and to which air is supplied from the air supply means (45). A display as claimed in claim 7, wherein flow of liquid within the mixing chamber (51) is operable to draw air into the mixing chamber from the air supply means (45). A display as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the simulated source (9) is located above the receptacle arrangement (3, 5), and the first and second tubes (17, 7) are substantially vertical and concentric. A display as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the simulated source (9) is connected to and supported from the receptacle arrangement by the outer, second tube (7). A display as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle arrangement includes a base (3) supporting a receptacle (5), the base and receptacle being interconnected and capable of holding the liquid, and wherein said means (15) is operable to force liquid contained in the base (3) along the inner, first tube (17) to the simulated source (9). A display as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said means (15) comprises a pump mounted within the receptacle arrangement and connected to the inner, first tube (17). A display as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer, second tube (7) is colorless, and the inner, first tube (17) is colored, thereby imparting colour to liquid when flowing along the outer, second tube between the first and second tubes. A display as claimed in any preceding claim, the display being a closed recirculatory system inhibiting air and liquid loss from the display.

Inventors: TORRENCE ARTHUR L, TORRENCE, ARTHUR L.
Applicants: MECHTRONICS CORP, MECHTRONICS CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G09F19
IPC codes: G09F19