Abstract:
An apparatus for producing evaporative snow having a snow generation unit including a fluid reservoir, a fluid delivery line and a snow generation tip; and a compressed gas unit including at least one container of compressed gas, a source of electric power, and a gas regulator valve.

Description:
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/867,323 filed Nov. 27, 2006 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Evaporative and illusionary snow systems have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,321,559; 6,474,090; 6,474,091; and 6,868, 691. These machines do not lend themselves to effectively producing evaporative and illusionary snow in a portable apparatus. 
         [0003]    Specifically, previous machines required a flake generator incorporating and impeller and fan to project the flakes away from the apparatus. 
         [0004]    The present invention utilizes Venturi effect to produce the flakes and protect them from the apparatus. DOS the present invention is simple or to manufacture and use because it does not require an impeller and incorporated fan with a flake generator in order to create evaporative snowflakes and propel them from the apparatus. 
         [0005]    The Venturi effect is an example of Bernoulli&#39;s principle, in the case of incompressible fluid flow through a tube or pipe with a constriction in it. The fluid velocity must increase through the constriction to satisfy the equation of continuity, while its pressure must decrease due to conservation of energy: the gain in kinetic energy is supplied by a drop in pressure or a pressure gradient force. 
         [0006]    The limiting case of the Venturi effect is choked flow, in which a constriction in a pipe or channel limits the total flow rate through the channel, because the pressure cannot drop below zero in the constriction. Choked flow is used to control the delivery rate of water and other fluids through spigots and other valves. 
         [0007]    The portable apparatus of the present invention utilizes a source of compressed gas to produce in the desired pressure and airflow for the effective creation of evaporative snow. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides for a novel apparatus for producing evaporative snow. Evaporative snow solution is commercially available from Snowmasters® (Anderson, Ala.). 
         [0009]    In one embodiment the present invention is an apparatus for producing evaporative snow comprising:
       (a) a snow generation unit having a fluid reservoir, a fluid delivery line and a snow generation tip;   (b) a compressed gas unit having at least one container of compressed gas, a source of electric power, and the gas regulator valve.       
 
         [0012]    The fluid reservoir contains the aforementioned evaporative snow solution. The compressed gas is any suitable compressed gas. Suitable compressed gases may include carbon dioxide, atmospheric air, nitrogen, helium, or mixtures thereof. The compressed gas is contained in one or more compressed gas containers. 
         [0013]    The apparatus has source of electric power that may be delivered by batteries providing between about 3-24 volts. 
         [0014]    The apparatus has a snow generation tip that includes a membrane providing a surface for the formation of evaporative snowflakes. The snow generation tip may be movable and non-movable portion on the second end of a fixed telescoping tip. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, the gas regulator valve is an electronically activated solenoid. 
         [0016]    Additionally preferred, the gas regulator valve is an electronically activated solenoid controlled by a tilt switch actuator. 
         [0017]    The tilt switch actuator activates the solenoid when oriented at an angle 45° or greater relative to the horizontal plane. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an air delivery system whereby the air is delivered by compressed gas. Any compressed gas can be used. Preferably, the compressed gas is selected from compressed ambient air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, or combinations thereof. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes compressed air storage, with a hose or other acceptable transport mechanism to deliver the compressed gas to the snow generation tip. 
         [0020]    The snow generation tip includes a novel arrangement by which compressed air enters the first end of the snow generation tip, the interior of the snow generation tip has an inlet for providing evaporative snow solution to the tip, and the pressure produced with in the snow generation tip draws its solution from the inlet into the interior of the tip. The compressed air continues to travel towards the second end of the snow generation tip onto which a membrane is affixed. The membrane provides a surface at which the snow solution mixed with the compressed air forms and evaporative snow flakes. The compressed air passes through the membrane and lifts the flakes off the membrane outward from the snow generation tip. Thus, individualized evaporative snowflakes are discharged from the tip utilizing airflow generated by the compressed air. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, a user will utilize two separate units of the apparatus wherein a first unit includes at least one compressed air cylinder and a valve for controlling the release of compressed air from the cylinder. In one embodiment of valve for controlling the release of compressed air is an electronic solenoid. A second unit includes a snow generation tip. In a preferred embodiment, the snow generation tip is attached to the forearm of the user, such that evaporative snow may be direct a colinearly with the users forearm. In a preferred embodiment, the user will conceal the snow generation tip inside the forearm portion of a shirt sleeve. The second unit may additionally be placed in any prop, case, chair, table and the like. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, the snow generation tip may be concealed such that those viewing the evaporative snow produced from the apparatus of the present invention to not readily ascertain the source of the evaporative snow they are viewing. In one embodiment, the snow generation tip may be concealed alongside a conventional microphone stand. The compressed air and evaporative snow generation solution may be concealed in the base of a microphone stands or alternatively may be delivered to the microphone stand by one or more hoses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a site perspective view of the snow generating tip and snow solution reservoir of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a site perspective view of an apparatus including compressed gas cylinders and a solenoid of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment including a larger compressed gas cylinder connected to a solenoid of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an embodiment whereby the compressed gas cylinders of the present invention are concealed under the base of a microphone stand. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an embodiment incorporating a blower to produce airflow. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment demonstrating the snow generation tip protruding from a microphone stand to deliver evaporative snow in a clandestine manner. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is perspective close up of the snow generation tip interior of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Snow generation unit  5  is secured and attached to an arm band  20  that is secured to the forearm of a user by any appropriate mechanism. The securing may be by corresponding straps  45 A with  45 D, and  45 B with  45 C ties, Velcro, and the like. Snow generation unit  5  has an on/off toggle switch  50  that controls power delivery to an electronic solenoid  55  that regulate the delivery of compressed air. Electricity is transmitted by way of female receptacle  60  receiving male electrical connector  70  that has electrical wire  75  extending outward and terminating at solenoid  55  with electrical connector  35 . Solenoid  55  is opened when tilt switch actuator  31  detects snow generation unit  5  in an orientation relative to horizontal of 45° or greater. When a user orients snow generation unit  5  with arms by their side, the tilt switch actuator will not engage electronic solenoid  55 . When the user raises their arm in the air and orients snow generation unit  5  at an angle of 45° or greater, tilt switch actuator  31  engages solenoid  55  and releases compressed gas from compressed gas cylinder  28  housed within compressed gas cylinder housing  51 . 
         [0031]    Compressed gas unit  6  has at least one compressed gas cylinder  28 . Preferably, compressed gas cylinder  28  is contained within a compressed gas cylinder housing  51 . Compressed gas unit  6  has at least one battery  65  for providing electrical power by which solenoid  55  may be activated and the activated by tilt switch actuator  31 . Compressed air unit  6  has an electrical wire  35  for providing necessary electricity to solenoid  55 . Compressed air unit six also has an outlet air port  25  for transporting compressed gas from compressed air unit  6  to snow generation unit  5 . 
         [0032]    Snow generation unit  5  further includes a reservoir  100  having a one-way delivery valve  105  for filling reservoir  100  with evaporative snow solution. Reservoir  100  has a cap  110  with a solution delivery closed  120  that delivers evaporative snow solution to snow generation tip  10  affixed on one end of telescoping tip  130 . Telescoping tip  130  has a first end configured with air hose inlet  81  to receive air supply hose  80 . Telescoping tip  130  has a second end in which air outlet  131  connects to snow generating tip  10  such that snow generating tip  10  may slidably move along air outlet  131 . 
         [0033]    Snow generation tip  10  is configured to receive compressed gas from air hose inlet  230  that delivers compressed gas into lower chamber  235 . Snow generation tip  10  also includes snow solution delivery line  225  that has outlet  220  delivering snow solution into upper chamber  240 . Compressed gas traveling from lower chamber  235  to upper chamber  240  creates negative pressure inside the snow generation tip can such that evaporative snow solution exiting outlet  220  mixes with compressed gas and formed evaporative snowflakes on membrane  215 . The force of the compressed gas traveling through snow generation tip  10  and exiting through membrane  215  lifts evaporative snowflakes outward from membrane  215  and projects the flakes away from snow generation tip  10 . 
         [0034]    Compressed gas may be provided to compressed gas unit  6  by a compressed gas cylinder  15  that delivers compressed gas through a gas of hose  38  that connects to compressed gas unit  6  by any acceptable connecting mechanism. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , connection of compressed gas hose  38  is accomplished with a thumbscrew fitting  36  as is commonly known. 
         [0035]    Solenoid  55  may further include a secondary regulator adjustment  30  to regulate the flow of gas when solenoid  55  is activated. Solenoid  55  may further be connected to a t-fitting connector  101  to allow to compressed gas cylinders  28  to be used with compressed gas unit  6 . 
         [0036]    In one environment of use, compressed gas unit  6  may be covered by a housing  100  that includes an external actuator  88  for activating solenoid  55 . 
         [0037]    Base  100  may also include snow generation unit  5 . Optionally, the apparatus of the present invention may include a blower  16  that provides airflow. 
         [0038]    In one environment of use, either one or both of snow generation unit  5  and compressed gas unit  6  may be concealed under housing  100  that forms the base of a conventional microphone stand. 
         [0039]    A combined compressed gas/evaporative snow solution line  18  is configured correctly along microphone stand and position with a solution delivery tip holder  98  that holds snow generation tip  10  at an adjustable height in microphone stand middle adjustment  29  and microphone stand upper adjustment  91 . 
         [0040]    In use, the user will turn on the apparatus with on/off switch  50 . The user will secure snow generation unit  5  to the forearm. Where the user raises their forearm in the air such that snow generation unit five is at an angle of 45° or greater relative to the horizontal plane tilt switch actuator  31  will trigger electronic solenoid  55 . Compressed gas will travel from compressed gas cylinder  28  placed within housing  51  and the compressed gas will exit its compressed gas unit  6  through the air outlet  25 . Compressed gas will travel through hose  80  into telescoping tip  130  traveling the length of telescoping tip  130  until the compressed gas enters snow generation tip  10  at compressed air inlet  230 . 
         [0041]    The compressed gas enters first chamber  235  and travels into second chamber  240 . The negative pressure created within snow generation tip and draws evaporative snow solution from snow solution line  225  that causes the evaporative snow solution to travel through evaporative snow solution exiting outlet  220  and enter second chamber  240 . When the evaporative snow solution in the second chamber  240  mixes with compressed gas and is pressed against membrane  215  individualized evaporative snowflakes are formed. The compressed gas of the apparatus push is the evaporative snowflakes outward from membrane  215  and evaporative snowflakes are propelled outward a way from snow generation tip  10 . 
         [0042]    While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.