Abstract:
A point of sale display combines clear shelves with a visually attractive and attention holding liquid motion lamp background. The liquid motion lamp combines motion to attract the attention of shoppers with an ever changing display of color and light to hold the shopper&#39;s attention. The rising and descending patterns are unique and random and thereby hold the shopper&#39;s attention for long periods of time obtaining valuable exposure of products displayed on the shelves.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/899,152 filed Feb. 2, 2007, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to point of sale displays and in particular to a point of sale display incorporating a liquid motion lamp providing an ever changing combination of lighting, motion, and color to attract and hold the attention of shoppers. 
         [0003]    Point of sale displays are used in almost all sales environments. Such displays may range from simple shelves allowing the products to be displayed in an organized manner to elaborate constructions creating a fanciful setting for the products. The elaborate, and often expensive, displays demonstrate the value sellers place on attracting and holding a shopper&#39;s attention. Unfortunately, shoppers have been exposed to such elaborate and extensive displays to a degree that most displays are ignored. There is thus a need for a point of sale display which both attracts and holds the attention of shoppers. 
         [0004]    Liquid motion lamps, or lava lamps, are well known as small home decorative lighting. U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,396 for “Display Devices,” U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,156 for “Display Devices,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,576 for “Novelty Lamp,” describe such lamps. A detailed description of liquids used in such lamps is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,283 for “Liquid compositions for display devices.” Such lamps are very limited in size and only suitable for residing on shelves and tables, generally residential, as a conversation piece. The &#39;396, &#39;156, &#39;576, and &#39;283 patents are herein incorporated by reference 
         [0005]    While the decorative qualities of liquid motion lamps have been long known, such known lamps are small and provide inconsistent performance. Known lamp materials (the liquid composition in the lamps) is added to the lamps at a manufacturing location, and large liquid motion lamps were not available because of shipping difficulties and locating and relocating difficulties resulting from the large amount of liquid lamp materials in the lamps. As a result, large liquid motion lamps suitable for point of sale displays were not available for commercial use. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,720 for “Liquid Motion Lamp,” filed by the present applicant, discloses a method for preparing a first lamp material suitable for use in a large liquid motion lamp. The first lamp material is a solid at room temperature and a liquid at a lamp operating temperature. The first lamp material is adapted to cooperate with a second lamp material, which second lamp material is a liquid at room temperate and is preferably water. The first lamp material has a higher density than the second lamp material at room temperature and a lower density than the second lamp material at the lamp operating temperature. The first lamp material and methods disclosed in the &#39;720 patent allow a large liquid motion lamp, as tall as nine feet tall, to be constructed and shipped with a small amount of the first lamp material, and a much larger amount of the second lamp material to be added to the liquid motion lamp at a final location, thus making large liquid motion lamps practical for shipping. The &#39;720 patent is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
         [0007]    While the &#39;720 patent made shipping large liquid motion lamps practical, such large lamps may fail to consistently perform as desired because of difficulty of open loop heating to maintain a desired operating temperature. The first and second lamp materials within the lamps would often fail to produce the intended patterns and motion thereby failing to produce the desired visual effect, and higher than necessary temperatures can significantly shorten the life of the first lamp material in the lamp by accelerating chemical reactions. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/605,779 for “Control System for Liquid Motion Lamp,” filed by the present applicant, discloses a closed loop control system for liquid motion lamps which both maintains the desired behavior of the first and second lamp materials in the lamps, and extends the life of the first lamp material by preventing higher than necessary temperatures. The &#39;779 application is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a point of sale display combining clear shelves with a visually attractive and attention retaining liquid motion lamp background. The liquid motion lamp combines motion to attract the attention of shoppers with an ever changing display of color and light to hold the shopper&#39;s attention. The rising and descending patterns are unique and random and thereby hold the shopper&#39;s attention for long periods of time obtaining valuable exposure of products displayed on the shelves. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a point of sale display having a liquid motion lamp as a center attracting feature. The liquid motion lamp comprises a lamp base portion, a clear container, and a top piece. Three round shelves reside concentric to the liquid motion lamp. The lamp base portion includes a base flange supported by a horizontal surface, a base ring supported above the base flange, a cylindrical base cover covers the base ring, and electronics providing light and heat. The clear container extends vertically upward from the base ring and is supported by the base ring and receives the light and heat from the base portion. First and second lamp materials reside in the container and are adapted to cooperate wherein the first lamp material has a greater density than the second lamp material at room temperature, and a lower density than the second lamp material at a higher temperature. The light and heat provided by the lamp base portion cooperates thermally with the first and second lamp materials to heat the first and second lamp materials. Heating the lamp materials causes a portion of the first lamp materials residing proximal to the lamp base portion to agglomerate forming globules which rise proximal to the top piece within the second lamp material. The second lamp material then cools and falls within the second liquid back to the lamp base portion resulting in an ever-changing display of motion within the container. The three round shelves reside concentric to the liquid motion lamp and the ever-changing shapes and motion of the liquids within the liquid motion lamp uniquely draw and hold shopper&#39;s attention to products on the shelves. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for locating and relocating a point of sale display. The method includes transporting an essentially dry liquid motion lamp containing a solid phase first lamp material to a point of sale, adding a liquid phase second lamp material to the lamp at the point of sale, positioning shelves proximal to the lamp to construct a point of sale display, heating the first and second lamp materials, closed loop controlling a temperature of the lamp to provide an ever changing display of shapes and motion to attract and hold the attention of shoppers, removing heat from the lamp and allowing the lamp to cool, removing the liquid phase second lamp material from the lamp, disassembling the point of sale display, and relocating the liquid motion lamp and shelves to a second point of sale location and reassembling the point of sale display. 
         [0011]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a large locatable and relocatable point of sale display including a liquid motion lamp for attracting and holding the attention of shoppers. Advantageously, if the liquid motion lamp according to the present invention is allowed to cool to room temperature, a first lamp material will settle to the bottom in a solid phase and a second lamp material (still in a liquid phase) may be removed. The point of sale display including the liquid motion lamp may then be relocated and the liquid motion lamp refilled with the liquid phase second lamp material. The present invention recognizes the significant advantage of being able to locate and relocate a suitably large liquid motion lamp in a point of sale application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0012]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a liquid motion lamp. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a point of sale display according to the present invention comprising the liquid motion lamp and shelves residing around the liquid motion lamp. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the shelves and shelf support posts according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention comprising shelves and clear spacing cylinders according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the present invention having a shelf supported by a base portion of the liquid motion lamp according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows the point of sale display with a base cover lifted for access to lighting and heating elements of the liquid motion lamp. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the base portion of the liquid motion lamp taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  showing a closed loop heating system for the liquid motion lamp. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  describes a method for assembling, using, and disassembling a point of sale display. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0023]    A known large liquid motion lamp  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The liquid motion lamp  10  includes a top piece  12 , a container  14 , and a base portion  19  including a base cover  16  and a base flange  18 . A first lamp material  15   a  and a second lamp material  15   b  reside inside the container  14 . The first lamp material  15   a  is a solid at room temperature and is preferably a liquid at and above a lower lamp operating temperature, and is adapted to cooperate with the second liquid  15   b,  which is a liquid at room temperature. The first lamp material  15   a  has a higher density than the second lamp material  15   b  at the lower lamp operating temperature and a lower density than the second lamp material at a second higher lamp operating temperature. The first lamp material  15   a  is generally colored and the second lamp material  15   b  is generally, but not necessarily, clear, and is preferably water. The first lamp material  15   a  is formulated to form globules of various size and shape which rise in the second lamp material  15   b  from the heated bottom of the container  14  and cool near the container top piece  12  and then fall back through the second lamp material  15   b  to the bottom of the container  14 . The resulting ever changing visual effects are random and visually attractive and retentive. A liquid state of the first lamp material  15   a  near the lower lamp operating temperature is not a requirement of the liquid motion lamp  10 , and a liquid motion lamp wherein the first lamp material  15   a  become solid or semi solid at the lower lamp operating temperature is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The container  14  is preferably transparent and more preferably made from borosilicate glass or any clear stable plastic, such as acrylic or polycarbonate. The top piece  12  and base portion  19  are preferably made from cast aluminum. The container  14  preferably extends into the base portion  19  and elements of the base portion  19  support the container  14  in a vertical attitude. 
         [0025]    The diameter of the container  14  is preferably between about six inches and about thirty-six inches. The base portion  16  preferably has a diameter of between about the diameter of the container  14  and about two inches greater than the diameter of the container  14 . In embodiments having a base flange  18 , the diameter of the base flange  18  is preferably between about one inch and six inches greater than the diameter of the container  14  and the footprint of the base flange  18  may be increased in size to provide additional support to the lamp  10 . The overall height of the liquid motion lamp  10  is preferably between about three feet and about nine feet, and more preferably is about seven feet. 
         [0026]    Because the lamps  10  are displayed in various environments with varying ambient temperature and various air flow, the closed loop temperature control disclosed in the &#39;267 patent application is preferably incorporated into the base portion  19 . Such temperature control generally includes a sensor which may be inside the container  14  or outside the container  14 , and may be a remote sensor. The lamp  10  generally includes a light  32  (see  FIG. 6 ) which provides both light and heat, and a second heating element providing only heat. Further details of the closed loop temperature control are disclosed in the &#39;267 patent application. 
         [0027]    The liquid motion lamp  10  is preferably for use in a commercial setting, such as building lobbies, clubs, lounges, and salons. As such, the relatively large overall dimensions of the preferred embodiment, especially as compared to traditional lava lamp designs, permit the liquid motion lamp  10  to be used in conjunction with or as part of, a point of sale display  20  according to the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The point of sale display  20  includes the liquid motion lamp  10  and one or more product display shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c  comprising tiered surfaces. The shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c  are preferably clear to allow viewing the liquid motion lamp  10  to the greatest extent, and are shown supported by vertical posts  24   a,    24   b,  and  24   c,  but may be supported by any appropriate support. Multiple shelves are preferably concentrically arranged about one liquid motion lamp  10 , but in other embodiments, a point of sale display according to the present invention may comprise one or more liquid motion lamps as a background for display shelves, for example, a row of liquid motion lamps behind display shelves. The shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c  may carry, for example, bottles of shampoo, wine bottles, figurines, books, magazines—nearly anything that would benefit from being displayed in an eye-catching fashion. 
         [0028]    An exploded view of the shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c  and sets of the vertical posts  24   a,    24   b,  and  24   c,  is shown in  FIG. 3 , and an exploded view second shelves  26   a,    26   b,  and  26   c  and clear spacing cylinders  28   a,    28   b,  and  28   c  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The sets of vertical posts  24   a,    24   b,  and  24   c  comprise sequential sets of at least three parallel vertical posts each, to support the shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c.  The lower most set of vertical posts  24   c  is supported by the base flange  18  and extend vertically upward to support the lower most shelf  22   c.  The next set of vertical posts  24   b  extend vertically upward from the lower most shelf  22   c  to support the center shelf  22   b  and are supported by the lower most shelf  22   c  or by the lower most posts  24   c  directly. The upper most posts  24   a  extend vertically upward from the center shelf  22   b  to support the upper most shelf  22   a  and are supported by the center shelf  22   b  or sequentially by the lower most posts  24   c  and the center posts  24   b  directly. First couplings  25   a  reside between the vertical posts  24   a  and the shelf  22   a.  Second couplings  25   b  reside between the second posts  24   b  and first posts  24   a  supporting the second shelf  22   b,  and between the third posts  24   c  and second posts  24   b  supporting the third shelf  22   c.  The couplings  25   a  and  25   b  include cylindrical portions passing through the shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c  and into the posts  24   a,    24   b,  and  24   c,  and support rings for supporting the shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c.  The shelves  22   a,    22   b,  and  22   c  may or may not touch the container  14 . 
         [0029]    The clear spacing cylinders  28   a,    28   b,  and  28   c  reside outside the container  14 . The lower most clear spacing cylinder  28   c  preferably rest on an upper edge of a base ring  35  (see  FIG. 5 ) inside the base cover  16  allowing the base cover  16  to be raised to access electronics inside the base portion  19 , but may also reside on an upper edge  16   a  of the base cover  16 , or on a support flange  17  (see  FIG. 5 ) resting on the upper edge  16   a  (see  FIG. 1 ). The lower most shelf  22   c  rests on the lower most clear spacing cylinder  28   c.  The center clear spacing cylinder  28   b  rests on the lower most shelf  26   c  and the center shelf  26   b  rests on the center clear spacing cylinder  28   b.  The upper most clear spacing cylinder  28   b  rests on the center shelf  26   b  and the upper most shelf  26   a  rests on the upper clear spacing cylinder  28   a.    
         [0030]    An embodiment of the present invention having the shelf  26   c  supported by the base portion  19  of the liquid motion lamp  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The shelf  26   c  may reside on an upper edge of the base cover  16  directly, or on a support flange  17  resting on the upper edge  16   a  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the base cover  16 . The center and upper spacing cylinders  28   b  and  28   a,  and the center and upper shelves  26   b  an  26   a  may reside on the lower shelf  26   c  to provide a tiered point of sale display, or the point of sale display may only include the lower most shelf  26   c.    
         [0031]    Because of the size and weight of the point of sale display  20  and the liquid motion lamp  10  in particular, it is very useful to provide access to electronics in the base portion  19 . A preferred way to provide such access is allow the base cover  16  to slide vertically as shown by arrow  38  in  FIG. 6 . Such access allows, for example, routine replacement of the light  32  connected to a light receptacle  34 . Alternatively, the base cover  16  may separate into two halves to remove and gain access to the electronics, or may include a door which may open to obtain access to the electronics. A base ring  35  supports the container  14  and is preferably supported by three spaced apart vertical supports  36  allowing access to electrical elements of the liquid motion lamp  10 . 
         [0032]    A detailed cross-sectional view of the bottom portion  19  of a preferred embodiment of the liquid motion lamp  10 , taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 , is shown in  FIG. 7 . The container base  35  surrounds and supports the bottom of the container  14 . The container base  35  includes a shelf  35 ′ reaching under a lower edge of the container  14  to provide vertical support to the container  14 . A sealing material  29  resides between vertical walls of the container base  35  and the container  14 , and between the bottom edge of the container  14  and the shelf  35 ′. The container base  35  cooperates with a base ring  35   a  to sandwich a container bottom  14   a.  Seals, which are preferably O-rings  37 , reside between the bottom  14   a  and the container base  35  and between the bottom  14   a  and the base ring  35   a.  The supports  36  (also see  FIG. 5 ) are preferably attached to the container base  35  using support studs  36   a,  passing through the base ring  35   a,  thereby joining the base ring  35   a  to the container base  35 , and compressing O-rings  37 . The container bottom  14   a  is preferably fabricated from a transparent material suitable to pass light from the heat source  22  into the container  14 , and the container bottom  14   a  is more preferably made from the same material as the container  14  described above. A recess  35   c  in the container base  35  and base ring  35   a  provide space for the wires  30   b  and  46  to pass downward inside the base cover  16 . 
         [0033]    Continuing with  FIG. 7 , electronics (or electrical circuit)  40  providing power to the light  32  (which also generally provides heat) and to a second heater  38  are housed in the base portion  19  (see  FIG. 1 ). A temperature sensor  42  is shown attached to the second heater  38  and positioned to reside inside the bottom of the container  14 . An important advantage of attaching the sensor  42  to the second heater  38  is an ability to sense an empty container  14  by high temperature measurements. Other temperature sensors include but are not limited to any sensor inside the container  14 , a sensor on the outside of the container  14 , or a remote sensor (e.g., an infrared sensor). Wires  46  carry a temperature signal generated by the temperature sensor  42  to the electronics  40 . The electronics  40  receive power through a cord  32  and provide a closed loop controlled power signal to the light  32  through wires  30   a  and the second heater  38  through wires  30   b.    
         [0034]    A method for locating and relocating a point of sale display including a suitably large liquid motion lamp according to the present invention is described in  FIG. 8 . The method includes positioning a liquid motion lamp containing a solid phase first lamp material at a point of sale at step  50 , adding a liquid phase second lamp material to the lamp at step  52 , adding shelves proximal to the lamp to construct a point of sale display at step  54 , heating the first and second lamp materials at step  56 , closed loop controlling a temperature of the lamp to provide an ever changing display of shapes and motion to attract and hold the attention of shoppers at step  58 , removing heat from the lamp and allowing the lamp to cool at step  60 , removing the liquid second lamp material from the lamp, and disassembling the point of sale display at step  62 . The liquid motion lamp may then be relocated to a new point of sale and reassembled for further use. 
         [0035]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.