Patent Publication Number: US-8122640-B2

Title: Vase with rotatable inner container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to vases and more particularly to an amusement oriented vase having a stationary outer shell and an inner container adapted to rotate about the outer shell so that, for example, a pattern on the outer surface of the inner container can be rotatably seen through an opening of the outer shell by rotating the inner container. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     One conventional type of vase has a specially designed pattern formed on its outer surface. However, such vases may be dull since they are stationary. 
     There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for vase. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,692 discloses a spinning vase device and method. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of vase are constantly being sought. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an amusement oriented vase having a stationary outer shell and an inner container adapted to rotate about the outer shell so that, for example, a pattern on the outer surface of the inner container can be rotatably seen through an opening of the outer shell by rotating the inner container. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an amusement oriented vase having a stationary, transparent outer shell and an inner container adapted to rotate about the outer shell so that, for example, a pattern on the outer surface of the inner container can be seen by rotating the inner container or not. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of vase according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled vase; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the vase of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  where another configuration of the inner container with a first pattern is shown prior to rotation; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  where the vase is rotating with a second pattern of the inner container being shown; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of vase according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of vase according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a vase in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
     An outer shell  10  comprises an open top end  15 , an open bottom end  16 , a neck  17  interconnecting a smaller upper portion and a larger lower portion, and a heart-shaped opening  11  on the outer surface. Two or more openings  11  can be formed on the outer surface of the outer shell  10  in other embodiments. 
     The outer shell  10  can be transparent or opaque. Preferably, the outer shell  10  is made of jade, ceramic, glass, porcelain, stone, metal, plastic, timber, bamboo, or the like. 
     An inner container  30  comprises an upper upright  31 , an open top end  35  on the mouth of the upright  31 , a closed bottom end (not numbered), a shaft  32  projecting downward from the center of the underside. Preferably, a first pattern  33 A is formed on a first portion of the outer surface of the inner container  30  and a second pattern  33 B different from the first pattern  33 A is formed on a second, remaining portion of the outer surface thereof. 
     The inner container  30  can be transparent or opaque. Preferably, the outer shell  10  is made of jade, ceramic, glass, porcelain, stone, metal, plastic, timber, bamboo, or the like. 
     A circular base  20  comprises a smaller flat, circular member  21  projecting out of the top, an annular flange  22  on the top of the circular member  21 , and an annular bearing  23 . 
     The bearing  23  is fastened in the flange  22 . The height of the shaft  32  is substantially the same as that of the flange  22 . Hence, the surrounding area of the shaft  32  is seated upon the bearing  23  when the shaft  32  is rotatably disposed in the bearing  23 . The bottom end  16  is sufficiently large to allow the inner container  30  to insert into the outer shell  10  until the upright  31  slightly projects out of the top end  15 . Also, the bottom end  16  is sized to put onto the peripheral surface of the circular member  21 . The assembly of the vase is thus finished. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  specifically, a person may hold and rotate the projecting top of the upright  31  as indicated by arrow. Hence, the shaft  32  rotates in the bearing  23  and thus the inner container  30  rotates about the outer shell  10 . The person may, for example, see the first pattern  33 A disappeared (see  FIG. 4 ) and the second pattern  33 B appeared (see  FIG. 5 ) in turn through the opening  11 . This is more amusable than the conventional stationary vases. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a vase in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristic of the second preferred embodiment is detailed below. The opening  11 A is hexagonal. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a vase in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristic of the third preferred embodiment is detailed below. The outer shell  10  is made of a transparent material (e.g., glass, porcelain, or plastic) so that a person may directly see the inner container  30  in the outer shell  10 . 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.