Wave-producing decoration

• US 5,706,595 A
• Filed: 01/23/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lin, Rich
• Original Assignee: Lin, Rich
• Inventors: Lin, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOP, ANDREA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/590,433
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 40/406, 40/429, 40/430, 74/48, 188/380, 267/150, 434/126, 446/267
• US Class Current: 40/406
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/24 using tubes or the like filled with liquid, e.g. bubbling liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/02 incorporating moving display members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1824 Slidable connections

Abstract

A wave-producing decoration including an elongated liquid container which has an outwardly and downwardly projecting bubble collector integrally formed at a bottom center. The bubble collector communicates with the liquid container and collects any possible bubbles in the container. In addition, the bubble collector has a shape suitable for engaging a seat member partially exposed from a support member of the decoration, such that the liquid container may laterally sway with the pivoting seat member, causing liquid in the container to flow in waves.

Claims

1. A wave-producing decoration, comprising

an elongated, hollow liquid container having a longitudinal axis defining a closed space, containing at least one liquid;

a generally cylindrical bubble collector having a longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said liquid container and having a curved outer wall extending outwardly from a bottom of the liquid container and bounding a bubble collecting chamber with an inlet communicating with the closed space in the liquid container, the bubble collector having an internal, curved backflow stopper wall extending from the inlet past a point on the curved outer wall opposite the inlet so as to form a curved backflow passage between the backflow stopper wall and the curved outer wall;

a support member;

a driving mechanism comprising a motor driving a rotating eccentric member, the driving mechanism located in the support member; and

,

a seat member pivotally located on the support member and having a seat portion receiving the bubble collector therein, the seat member connected to the eccentric member such that rotation of the eccentric member causes oscillation of the seat member and the liquid container.

2. The wave-producing decoration as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat member has an arm portion with an elongated opening therein extending therefrom located such that the eccentric member engages the elongated opening.

3. The wave-producing decoration as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat portion has two supporting shafts extending from opposite side walls engaging two shaft holes formed on two side walls of a frame member located within said support member.

4. The wave-producing decoration as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bubble collector of said liquid container is removably mounted on said seat portion.

5. The wave-producing decoration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid container further comprises a partition dividing the closed space into front and rear chambers.

6. The wave-producing decoration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the driving mechanism further comprises a gearbox driven by the motor and driving the eccentric member.