Apparatus for circulating artificial snow

• US 4,962,922 A
• Filed: 11/22/1989
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ven-Chung Chu
• Original Assignee: Ven-Chung Chu
• Inventors: Chu, Ven-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/440,327
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 272/6, 272/15, 272/22 B, 272/8 R, 272/8 N, 47/23, 40/410, 40/430, 40/409, 40/431, 40/435, 40/502
• US Class Current: 472/65
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0845 Artificial snow, ice or icicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/028 Devices for making snow effects

Abstract

Apparatus for use with a Christmas tree cascades artificial snow particles through the tree branches. The apparatus includes a substantially conical collecting receptacle having an interior surface formed with means for better directing snow particles by force of gravity alone into a sump portion. The invention further includes a small air intake hole formed in the particle inlet for facilitating communication with the sump portion of the receptacle and the particle outlet. The deflector atop the tree is provided with a fan for facilitating the dispersion of particles discharged by particle outlet conduit.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for use with a tree for continuously cascading artifical snow particles through branches thereof, said apparatus including a particle receptacle cone constructed from a sheet of a pliable material provided in the form of a circular disc having a radial cut between a perimeter thereof and an aperture thereof, said radial cut forming two radial edges which overlap to form said receptacle cone including an interior surface with sufficient smoothness and sufficient downward incline from the periphery thereof to the cone axis such that, when said receptacle is installed at the base of the tree, gravitational force alone moves the particles along said interior surface into a bottom sump portion of said receptacle, a blower having an inlet conduit for taking up particles contained in said sump portion and an outlet conduit for delivering said particles to a point adjacent the top of the tree, and deflecting means which, when installed atop the tree, directs particles received from as outlet conduit downwardly through the branches of the tree into said receptacle;

the improvement wherein

said radial edges being reinforced with a rigid material such that when overlapped to form said receptacle cone said radial edges together form a rigid radial guide for encouraging said artificial snow particles into said sump portion of said receptacle cone.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 having the further improvement wherein said inlet conduit is formed with an air inlet hole for intake of additional air along with said artificial snow particles into said inlet conduit.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 having the futher improvement wherein said outlet conduit is provided with a fan for better dispersement of particles received by said outlet conduit and directed by said deflecting means.