Abstract:
A water flow simulation system for audio and visual illusion has an inner conduit and an outer conduit spaced apart to define a flow channel therebetween. A blower directs a flow of air through the inner conduit from one end to an opposite end where at least some of the air exits and is redirected through the flow channel and back to the blower. The conduits are formed of clear plastic and a light source is positioned to light up a plurality of objects floating in the airflow to produce a visual effect of moving water. A sound source operates concurrently with the blower to produce a sound reminiscent of rippling water. The light source can change colors and strobe to enhance the visible image. A lenticular lens on an inner surface of the outer conduit also enhances the image.

Description:
SPECIFIC DATA RELATED TO THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of the Nov. 14, 2003 filing date of U.S. provisional application No. 60/519,716. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a columnar structure that appears to have water flowing in the structure and, more particularly, to a column that is lighted to simulate water flow in the column using air to move light reflective objects in the column. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of one form of the present invention;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-section of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a horizontal cross-section of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a simulated water column in accordance with the present invention. The column  10  has three externally visible sections, namely a base unit  12 , a top unit  14  and a columnar unit  16 . The appearance of each of the units may be varied to represent various styles of classical column structures. Base unit  12  and top unit  14  are typically opaque and may be constructed of various types of materials having sufficient strength to support the columnar unit  16 . For example, the units  12  and  14  may be molded from various types of plastic polymers or composites or constructed of wood or metal. The columnar unit  16  is constructed from clear or transparent plastic such as an acrylic.  
         [0007]     The column  10  simulates a water column by light reflected from beads of material moving within the columnar unit  16 . The beads are moved upwards in the column by airflow generated in base unit  12 . Light is directed downward from a source in top unit  14  and reflected from the moving beads. A lenticular lens helps to create the flowing effect. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,635,196 and 6,490,092 for discussions of the use of such lens for optically creating a motion effect. The effect is also enhanced by changing lighting colors, i.e., using red, green, blue or other colors in changing patterns. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,781,329 and 5,528,714 for methods and apparatus for changing light colors in lighting systems.  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is shown respectively, a vertical cross-section and a horizontal cross-section of the column  10 . In this exemplary embodiment, the columnar unit  16  comprises an inner conduit  18  positioned within an outer circuit  20 . The diameters of conduits  18 ,  20  are selected to provide sufficient space  22  between the conduits to form a return duct (indicated as space  22 ) for the aforementioned air-movable beads shown at  24 . The beads  24  move upward in inner conduit  18  under the impetus of air forced upward in the conduit by air handler  26  located in base unit  12 .  
         [0009]     Air handler  26  may be any known type of blower such as an electric motor driven squirrel cage blower of the type used in conventional household air conditioning or furnace systems. The air handler  26  could also be a compressed air source or a common propeller blade fan. Air from the air handler  26  is directed through appropriate in-line filters, not shown, but of a type well known in the art, and via ductwork  28  to a first or lower end  30  of conduit  18 . A mesh screen  32  is preferably positioned at outlet end of ductwork  28  to prevent beads  24  from falling into the ductwork  28  when the system is not operating. While Applicant prefers use of a blower in base unit  12 , it will be recognized that the structure could be inverted and have the blower in the top unit.  
         [0010]     The beads  24  are blown upward through conduit  18  and exit at second or upper end  34 . The conduit  18  is shorter than conduit  30  so end  34  is below an upper end  36  of conduit  20 . The top unit  14  is seated on and attached to conduit  20  so as to form an upper air space at  38  for the beads  24  to transition into the return duct source  22 . A panel  40  that may comprise a screen or a clear acrylic or other plastic sheet prevents the beads from being blown into the top unit  14 . The beads  24  fall and are blown downward through return duct  22  and accumulate in the space  42  near the lower end  30  of conduit  18 . A plurality of openings  44  in conduit  18  allow the upward moving air to pull the beads  24  back into conduit  18  using the Venturi effect so that the beads are continually circulated. Alternately, the beads  24  may be simply allowed to return to conduit  18  via a space formed between the lower end  30  and bottom end of conduit  20 , i.e., an arrangement similar to the upper end of the conduits. In this form, however, positioning of the duct  28  is critical to prevent air from being directed upward into space  22 .  
         [0011]     The beads  24  are a lightweight product and may be made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) or other similar lightweight material. EPS is somewhat heavier than styrofoam and has a firmer outer layer that reduces “sticking”. Applicant has found that Styrofoam beads are too lightweight to work effectively. The air handler  26  preferably uses a variable speed blower that is electrically controlled to enable varying the airflow rate. It is also possible to use mechanical means such as air bypasses or vents to vary airflow. By varying airflow, the system can create not only the illusion of flowing water but, with higher airflow rates, also the illusion of an electrical plasma flow including pulsating particle flow. The pulsating effect at lower flow rates enhances the “ripple” effect characteristic of some water flows. Further, varying airflow causes a swirl and swoop effect in the visual display. Devices for speed control of air handlers and such controllable air handlers are well known in the art and commercially available from numerous sources. The beads  24  may be spheroids or irregular in shape. The light source located in top unit  14  and indicated at  46  may be an LED array or colored halogen lighting. It is also possible to use a white light source with colored filter such as the type available from Super Vision International, Inc. of Orlando, Fla. In such systems, the light may be brought to unit  14  via optical fiber in the manner as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,714. Either LED or optical fiber lighting could be used to illuminate the display from other directions such as by incorporating lighting axially along the structure or by lighting from below the structure.  
         [0012]     In the use of LED lighting, the system may be DMX controlled using conventional systems such as those available from Color Kinetics, Inc. of Boston, Mass. Such systems can be programmed for specific color changing effects and can also be used to create a “strobe” effect which causes the beads to appear as though suspended in the column.  
         [0013]     One issue with flow through plastic tubes, such as conduits  18  and  20 , is the build-up of static charge on the tubes. The static charge creates an attraction for the lightweight beads causing them to stick on the tubes. Applicant has found that spraying the tube surfaces with an anti-static spray provides short-term relief for this problem but the spray eventually wears off. Techspray, Inc. makes a permanent anti-static spray under the tradename Licron®. A better long-term solution is to protect the conduit surfaces with an anti-static film such as that sold by Policrom Screen, SpH under the tradename Polifoil Bi-As®.  
         [0014]     As previously discussed, the simulated water or plasma flow effect can be enhanced by use of a lenticular lens  46  bonded to the inner surface of outer conduit  20  shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  also illustrates one form of the base unit  12  in a rectangular rather than circular shape. While the drawings are not to scale, it is noted that the columns may have varying dimensions depending upon application. For example, columns have been produced in heights from 4 feet to 24 feet with diameters from 4 inches to 16 inches.  
         [0015]     Considering  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the base unit  12  includes air intake vents  48  for air handler  26 . The air handler  26  is also preferably positioned in a separate lower section  50  of base unit  12  defined by intermediate mounting plate  52 . The air circulating in conduits  18 ,  20  can be exhausted at least partially through screen  32  which extends across space  22 . Vents (not shown) through plate  52  allow pressure relief. Air vents may also be placed in top unit  14  to allow cooling of the light system.  
         [0016]     The action of the column in creating an illusion of flowing water (or plasma) is enhanced by use of appropriate sound effects. A sound unit  54  may be mounted in base unit  12 . Unit  54  may comprise a typical sound generator of the type commercially available for producing simulated or recorded water sounds.  
         [0017]     The present invention may also be used as an air cleaning source by incorporating an ionizing apparatus  56  into duct  28  so as to remove dust and other particulate matter from the air stream. In this form, there may be provided additional venting at top unit  14  to allow more of the cleaned air to flow out of the system.  
         [0018]     It is also contemplated that spokes  58  may be attached to the inner surface of conduit  20  and extend into space  22 . The spokes  58  are of sufficiently small diameter to be deflected by impact of the beads  24  to create a vibration to further the sounds produced by the system and enhance the illusion of falling water. Note that the conduits  18 ,  20  are illustrated as circular in  FIG. 3  but can also be rectangular or have other configurations such as suggested by  FIG. 1 . While columns can be formed as extruded tubes, treatment of the columns by adding anti-static film, for example, is simplified if columns are initially formed in split designs and then bonded to form the unitary structure. The spokes  58  may be inserted from external of conduit  20  through holes drilled in the conduit and then bonded in place.  
         [0019]     While the structure described and shown appears as a column with a defined inner and outer conduit, it will be recognized that the invention could be constructed as a series of flat, spaced plates that could be displayed as a wall hanging. For example, with three spaced plates, the beads could be blown upwards through a rear space and downward through a front space. The air handler could be in a base unit with the light source in a top unit as described for the columnar unit. By adding another plate to define a three space unit, one could create a room divider in which the illusion of water flow would be visible from opposite sides. The only difference between the plate arrangement and the illustrated columnar arrangement is the shape of the unit. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiment but be interpreted within the scope of the appended claims.