Patent Publication Number: US-7914166-B2

Title: Ice sculpture display platform with integrated water collection and self-powered illumination

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to ice sculptures, and more particularly to platforms for displaying ice sculptures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ice sculptures are an attractive and popular form of decoration. They can take on many shapes, and can be carved by hand or formed in a mold. Due to their transient nature, ice sculptures are often used to enhance the decorative atmosphere of a special occasion. For example, ice sculptures are frequently displayed at serving tables during festive dining events. Specially arranged lighting is sometimes used to significantly enhance the attractive appearance of an ice sculpture, by shining light through the ice to give it a translucent, illuminated appearance. 
     While an ice sculpture can be formed into almost any size and shape, the indoor use of illuminated ice sculptures is typically limited to large serving tables and the like, due to the need to connect illuminating lights to a power outlet, and due to the need to manage the water that flows from an ice sculpture as it melts. When an ice sculpture is displayed on a food-serving table, for example, the table is typically placed against a wall for easy access to a power outlet, and the ice sculpture is often placed in a large basin that is partially masked by flowers and/or fruit surrounding the ice sculpture. However, this approach does not enable display of ice sculptures in more general locations, such as the center of a dining table, a coffee table in the center of a living room, or any other location where it is inconvenient to provide space for a water catch-basin, and/or where a power outlet is not readily available. 
     Special carts have been proposed that include drainage tubes, water collection basins, and power cords all concealed within their structures. However, these carts still require access to a power outlet, and they do not provide for use of ice sculptures in limited spaces and/or in locations that are not close to a power outlet. 
     A self-contained ice sculpture display platform is known that illuminates an annular-shaped ice sculpture using a candle placed in the center of the annulus, and includes a water-catching bowl located beneath the platform so as to catch water flowing through drainage holes in the platform as the ice melts. While this approach does not require placement near a wall outlet, and is adaptable to small spaces, it is limited in that it is adaptable only to ice sculptures with an annular shape, and can only provide the weak illumination that results from a candle. The proximity of the candle to the ice can also accelerate melting of the ice sculpture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An ice sculpture display platform is claimed that includes integrated water collection and self-powered illumination, thereby allowing the platform to be used in small spaces, and to provide strong illumination of an ice sculpture of arbitrary shape without requiring access to a power outlet and without unduly accelerating the melting of the ice. The display platform includes a display surface having drainage holes and resting above a water collection bowl. In preferred embodiments, the display surface forms a water-tight seal with the water collection bowl. Battery-powered lights illuminate an ice sculpture resting on the display surface. The battery-powered lights can be incandescent bulbs and/or LED lights, can be cooperative with the display surface and/or the water collection bowl, and can illuminate the ice sculpture from the rim of the bowl and/or from beneath the display platform in embodiments where at least a portion of the platform is transparent. In embodiments where the battery-powered lights illuminate the ice sculpture from beneath the display platform, the battery-powered lights are impervious to water and/or are sealed within a water-tight enclosure. 
     The present invention is an apparatus suitable for displaying and illuminating an ice sculpture. The apparatus includes a water collection bowl, a display platform located above the water collection bowl and having dimensions and load-bearing capacity sufficient to support the ice sculpture, the display platform also having at least one drainage hole that is able to allow melting water to drain into the water collection bowl, and a battery-powered light source configured so as to illuminate the ice sculpture. 
     In preferred embodiments, the display platform can rest on the water collection bowl, in some preferred embodiments the display platform can be attached to the water collection bowl, and in certain embodiments the display platform can form a water-tight seal with the water collection bowl. 
     In various embodiments the display platform includes a plurality of drainage holes that can allow melting water to drain into the water collection bowl. 
     In some embodiments the battery-powered light source is an incandescent light. In other embodiments, the battery-powered light source is an LED light. In various embodiments the battery-powered light source is supported by an outer rim of the display platform. And in certain embodiments the battery-powered light source is attached to an under-side surface of the display platform. 
     In preferred embodiments at least a portion of the display platform is transparent, and the battery-powered light source is configured so as to illuminate the ice sculpture by transmitting light through the transparent portion of the display platform. And in various embodiments the display platform does not include any drainage holes located directly above the battery-powered light source, thereby avoiding exposure of the battery-powered light source to draining water. 
     In some preferred embodiments the battery-powered light source is attached to the water collection bowl. In other preferred embodiments the battery-powered light source is supported by a rim of the water collection bowl. In certain preferred embodiments the battery-powered light source is impervious to water. And in still other preferred embodiments the battery-powered light source is enclosed within a water-resistant enclosure. 
     In certain preferred embodiments the apparatus includes a plurality of battery-powered light sources. 
     In preferred embodiments the battery is surrounded by a water-resistant enclosure. In some preferred embodiments the battery is attached to an under-side surface of the display platform. In other embodiments the battery is supported by an interior surface of the water collection bowl. And in still other preferred embodiments the battery is attached under a rim of the water collection bowl. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment that includes battery powered lights that are cooperative with the display platform; 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view of the display platform of  FIG. 1A , showing a plurality of drainage holes in the display platform and showing the location of a battery installed under the rim of the display platform; 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  with the display platform and water collection bowl displayed separately; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an embodiment that includes battery powered lights cooperative with the rim of the water collection bowl and a flat display platform that does not cover the lights; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A  with the display platform and water collection bowl displayed separately, showing a battery placed within the rim of the water collection bowl; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an embodiment that includes battery powered lights positioned below the center of the display platform, the display platform being transparent and free of drainage holes in the region directly above the battery powered lights; and 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the water collection bowl of  FIG. 3A , showing a plurality of batteries placed within a waterproof container directly below the battery powered lights. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1A , the present invention is an apparatus  100  suitable for displaying and illuminating an ice sculpture  108 . The apparatus  100  includes a water collection bowl  104  and a display platform  102  that rests on, and preferably attaches to, the rim ( 114  of  FIG. 1C ) of the water collection bowl  104 . In preferred embodiments, the rim ( 112  of  FIG. 1C ) of the display platform  102  forms a water tight seal with the rim  114  of the water collection bowl  104 . The display platform  102  and water collection bowl  104  have dimensions and load-bearing capacity sufficient for supporting an ice sculpture  108 . At least one battery-powered light  106  is cooperative with the apparatus  100  and configured to illuminate an ice sculpture  108  supported by the display platform  102 . 
       FIG. 1B  presents a top view of the display platform  102  of  FIG. 1A . The display platform  102  includes a plurality of drainage holes  110  in the display platform  102  that allow melting water (not shown) from the ice sculpture  108  to drain into the water collection bowl  104 . A battery  116  is located beneath the rim of the display platform  102 , and is connected by wires  118  to the battery powered lights  106 . Some preferred embodiments also include a switch (not shown) that allows the lights  106  to be turned off without removal of the battery  116 . 
       FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the display platform  102  and water collection bowl  104  of  FIG. 1A  displayed separately. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an embodiment  200  in which the battery powered lights are cooperative with the water collection bowl  204 . In this embodiment there is a rim  202  around the outer edge of the water collection bowl, and a plurality of battery-powered lights  206  is mounted in the rim  202 . A display platform  208  with a flat outer edge  212  rests on a groove ( 214  in  FIG. 2B ) formed in the inner part of the rim  202  surrounding the water collection bowl  204 . The plurality of battery-powered lights  206  is configured to illuminate the ice sculpture  108  supported by the display platform  208 . When an ice sculpture  10  resting on the display platform  208  melts, the water (not shown) drains through a plurality of drainage holes  210  included in the display platform  208 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A  with the display platform  208  and water collection bowl  204  displayed separately. A battery  216  is located beneath the rim of the water collection bowl  204 , and is connected by wires  218  to the battery powered lights  206 . Some preferred embodiments also include a switch (not shown) that allows the lights  206  to be turned off without removal of the battery  216 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a plurality of battery-powered lights  306  are contained within a waterproof container  302  that is located in the center of the water collection bowl  310  beneath the display platform  308 . Light from the battery-powered lights  306  shines upward through a transparent section  314  in the center of the display platform  308 . A plurality of drainage holes  304  in the display platform  308  allow water from a melting ice sculpture to drain into the water collection bowl  310 . The plurality of drainage holes  304  is arranged near the outer rim  312  of the display platform  308  but not directly over the battery-powered lights  306 . In various embodiments the display platform  308  is made of a transparent material such as glass or Lucite. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of water collection bowls  310  of  FIG. 3A , showing the waterproof container  302  placed within the water collection bowl  310 . A plurality of batteries  316  is placed cooperatively with the interior of the waterproof container  302  below the battery powered lights  306 . In various embodiments, the battery-powered lights  306  are incandescent lights or LEDs. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , the battery-powered lights  306  are resistant to water exposure. 
     Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.