Animated advertising display

Abstract

 An advertising apparatus (10) comprising a casing (12) defining a chamber (18) for a fluid (24) and having a wall (50) through which at least a portion of the chamber (18) is visible. The chamber (18) contains one or more discrete particles and a structure for repeatedly elevating the particle(s) (5) and releasing the particle(s) (5) to allow it (them) to fall under gravity through the chamber (18).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to advertising displays and, more particularly, to a display in which discrete particles are continuously elevated and released, as to simulate snowfall, to enhance the appearance of the static portion of the display.

[0002] In the highly competitive advertising industry, designers are constantly striving to develop advertising displays that are both eye-catching and economically feasible. One way to stimulate consumer interest is to animate the advertising displays.

[0003] It is known to move different parts relative to each other on a display so that different messages are displayed depending upon the relative positions of those moving parts.

[0004] This same concept is also used in lighted displays. Light from a source within the display projects towards the relatively moving parts and, depending upon the relative positions of the parts and the registration of cutouts therein, different amounts and patterns of light are allowed to pass therethrough to produce different messages.

[0005] While the industry has for decades used the above devices successfully to produce very visually appealing displays, there is one primary drawback with the above displays. No matter how appealing the displays, the change therein is repetitive.

[0006] Another interesting visual effect is realized with known devices which simulate falling snow. Typically these items have a sealed, partially clear case which contains a finite amount of liquid. A small scene and/or figure is mounted within the liquid. Discrete white particles are suspended in the liquid and have sufficient weight to fall under the force of gravity through the liquid. The user manually picks the case up and turns it upside down long enough to allow the "snow" particles to accumulate at the top of the case. By then righting the case, the particles float gently downwardly to simulate a shower of snow over the figure/scene.

[0007] To the knowledge of the applicant, the simulated snow concept has not been employed in the advertising industry. It is believed that this is due in large part to the impracticality of having to repeatedly reorient the case. Since the particles will normally fall through the liquid in a short time period, it is impractical to repeatedly keep the device "animated". In its normal state, absent the "falling snow", the display normally lacks the desired visual appeal.

[0008] The present invention is specifically directed to an advertising apparatus employing one or more discrete particles that move continuously through a fluid to afford an eye-catching advertising tool.

[0009] More particularly, the present invention is directed to an advertising apparatus having a frame/case with structure on the case defining a chamber for a fluid and having a wall through which at least a portion of the chamber is visible, a discrete particle, and structure for continuously a) elevating the particle from a first position to a second position and b) releasing the particle in the second position to allow it to fall by gravity through the chamber back towards the first position.

[0010] In one form, the fluid is a liquid. The particle can be shaped to move randomly through the liquid.

[0011] In one form, there are a plurality of discrete particles within the chamber. These particles can be made white, silver, or otherwise reflective to simulate snow. It has been found that vinyl chips are particularly effective for this purpose.

[0012] To convey the particle(s), one, and preferably a plurality of moving fingers are provided. In one form, the fingers are mounted to rotate about an axis. Preferably, a plurality of the fingers are mounted on a ring in circumferentially spaced relationship. The fingers have shoulders to bear on and advance the particles as the ring is rotated.

[0013] To enhance the uniformity of distribution of particles within the chamber, the fingers can be made to have different configurations so that the particles release at different locations.

[0014] In one form, the fingers define shoulders that have flat surfaces that are angled inwardly in the direction of rotation of the ring. The fingers define individual pockets for the particles. Alternating fingers have different pocket configurations and a different shoulder orientation so that the particles hang on those fingers longer than on others.

[0015] The ring can be driven by a motor having a geared shaft which is in mesh with circumferentially spaced teeth on the ring.

[0016] To further enhance the appearance of the apparatus, a light source can be provided to project through the fluid past the discrete particles falling through the liquid.

[0017] In one form, the light source is arcuately-shaped to engulf the liquid in light.

[0018] A reflector can be provided on the ease and is situated to direct light from the light source towards the case wall to maximize light distribution and intensity.

[0019] The case may also define a cavity within which an advertising object can be placed in such a manner to give the effect that it is being showered by the particles falling through the fluid, to thereby enhance the appearance of the object for advertising purposes.

[0020] The invention further contemplates an advertising apparatus having a frame/case, with there being a closed chamber bounded by a wall through which at least a portion of the chamber is visible. A plurality of discrete particles is provided in the cavity. Structure is provided in the chamber for continuously a) elevating the particles from a first position to a second position and b) releasing the particles in the second position to allow them to fall back through the chamber towards the first position.

[0021] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an advertising apparatus, according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the advertising apparatus with part of the front wall thereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation view of the advertising apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the advertising apparatus.

[0022] In the figures, a preferred form of advertising display apparatus, according to the present invention, is shown at 10. The apparatus 10 has a frame/case 12 defining an internal cavity 14 for a three dimensional object 16 that is to be the subject of the message advertised by the apparatus 20. In this case, the object 16 shown is a soft drink, or the like. The advertised subject matter for the apparatus 10 is, of course, a matter of design.

[0023] A "snow chamber" subassembly 17 is provided in the cavity 14 at the front of the apparatus 10. The subassembly 17 defines a chamber 18 in which snowfall is simulated. When viewed from the front of the apparatus 10 the "snow" appears to be showering the object 16. While in a preferred form, falling snow is simulated with the present invention, the same concept can be used to produce other aesthetically pleasing effects.

[0024] The subassembly 17 includes a forward plate 20 and a rearward plate 22, which together define the chamber 18. The plates 20, 22 are sealingly mated so that a discrete quantity of fluid, and preferably a liquid such as water 24, can be retained therebetween in the chamber 18. A removable plug 23 permits access to the chamber 18 for filling and emptying thereof.

[0025] The forward plate 20 has fingers 26, 28 projecting rearwardly into the chamber 18. As will be described in greater detail below, the fingers are arranged in an annular array around the forward plate 20. The subassembly 17 is rotated as a unit by a motor 30 about a fore and aft axis 32. In the construction shown in the Figures, the subassembly 17 rotates in the direction of the arrow 34, i.e. clockwise in Fig. 2. As this occurs, the fingers 26, 28 pick up individual particles 36 from an accumulation of the particles 36 at the bottom 38 of the chamber 18. Continued rotation of the subassembly 17 causes the fingers 26, 28 to advance the particles 36 in an arcuate pattern until they reach the top 40 of the chamber 18, at which point they release into the liquid 24 and drift downwardly in random fashion. The details of the inventive apparatus 10 will now be described.

[0026] The case 12 has a front panel 42 and a rear, cup-shaped back panel 44, which cooperatively bound the cavity 14. The front and rear panels 42, 44 captively maintain in assembled relationship the snow chamber subassembly 17, the object to be advertised 16, and a light source 46 which projects light both into the liquid 24 and by reflection forwardly through the snow chamber subassembly 17.

[0027] The object 16 can be combined with a reflector 48, which directs light from the source 46 forwardly through the front wall 50 of the case 12 through which the object 16 is normally viewed. The reflector 48 is, however, optional. A suitable reflective material is made by a German company, Mirrorflex, and distributed in the U.S. under the trademark Mirrorflex™.

[0028] A pressure sensitive label 52 is applied over the curved front wall 54 of the object 16 to provide more specific identifying material or coloring, as desired. To further enhance the appearance of the object 16, a separate light source 56 can be placed in a recess 57, defined behind the object 16, to project light forwardly therethrough.

[0029] To uniformly and brightly light the chamber 18, the light 46, which is flexible, is formed into an arcuate shape and extends preferably through in excess of 270° around the case within the cavity 14. The light 46 thus surrounds the liquid 24, which is thus engulfed in light. Lights suitable for this application are commercially available through the company Lite Lab Corp. in Buffalo, New York. A transformer 58 is used to convert 120 volt power supplied through a cord 60 from a supply 62. It has been found that powering the light 46 with 18 volts most effectively illuminates the apparatus 10.

[0030] To add further to the winter theme associated with the apparatus 10, the front panel 42 has a base at 64 shaped to look like a snow drift, with there being a matching part 66 on the rear panel 44.

[0031] An insert panel 68 is provided in front of the subassembly 17 and is designed to give the appearance that the viewer is looking through a frosted window in viewing the object 16.

[0032] The back of the case 12 can be adorned with a pressure sensitive label 70 that may be of any suitable design in keeping with the theme of the apparatus 10.

[0033] A desirable feature of the present invention is that the individual particles 36 are distributed by the apparatus 10 substantially uniformly over the field of vision of the viewer. To accomplish this, the fingers 26, 28 are made in at least two different styles. The fingers 26 have generally a straight configuration and are angled inwardly in the direction of rotation of the subassembly 17. The fingers 26 have a substantially straight surface 72 defining a shoulder which advances the particles 36 as the subassembly 17 is rotated. The fingers 26 define, in conjunction with a rim 74 on the plate 20, from which they project, pockets 76 within which several particles 36 can accumulate. As the subassembly 17 rotates, the pockets 76 invert so that the particles 36 therein release from the fingers 26 and slide under their weight into the chamber 18. In a preferred form, the plate 20, including the fingers 26, 28 thereon, is molded as a single piece.

[0034] To cause a more even distribution of the particles 36 into the chamber 18, the fingers 28 are made with a different configuration so that the fingers 28 carry the particles 36 further around before they release. The fingers 28 have an L shape with a first leg 78 extending generally parallel to the fingers 26. A second leg 80 is offset from the leg 78 so that it projects substantially at right angles to a line from the point of connection of each finger 28 on the rim 74 to the axis 32. The result of this is that each pocket 82, formed by the fingers 28, is not situated to release the particles 36 until it resides over the right hand portion of the chamber 18 in Fig. 2.

[0035] It was found that if all of the fingers 26, 28 have the configuration of the fingers 26, the majority of the particles 36 would be released primarliy in the left two-thirds of the chamber 18 in Fig. 2. The fingers 26, 28 are alternated so that every third finger in the circumferential direction is one of the fingers 28.

[0036] The subassembly 17 is driven by the motor 30 through a gear 84 on the end of a shaft 86 driven by the motor 30. The gear 84 meshes with teeth 88 on the rear plate 22. In a preferred form, the teeth 88 are molded integrally as one piece with the rearward plate 22.

[0037] The particles 36 may be made from any of a number of different materials. In one form, vinyl chips are used. White vinyl, silver vinyl, or the like, can be used and respond to light from the light source 46 to give a snow-like appearance.

[0038] The vinyl is die cut or shredded to be in 1/8-1/4 inch (3.2-6.4 mm) pieces. Suitable vinyl material is available from Q.B.C. Corporation in Westmont, Illinois.

[0039] The light from the light source 46 projects directly through the liquid 24. That portion of the light from the source 46 that projects rearwardly is reflected forwardly by the reflector 48 so as to maximize light intensity at the front of the apparatus 10.

[0040] The appearance of the apparatus 10 can be altered by changing the speed of the motor 30, the size of the particles 36, the viscosity of the fluid 24, the color of the panels 20, 22, 68, etc., giving the user considerable flexibility.

[0041] The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.

Claims

1. An advertising apparatus comprising:
   a case;
   first means on the case defining a chamber for a liquid;
   said first means having a wall through which at least a portion of the chamber is visible;
   a discrete particle; and
   second means on at least one of the case and first means for continuously a) elevating the particle in the chamber from a first position to a second position and b) releasing the particle in the second position to allow it to fall by gravity through said chamber back towards the first position.

2. The advertising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second means includes at least one finger and means for mounting the finger to at least one of the first means and case for rotation about an axis to thereby elevate the particle from the first position to the second position.

3. The advertising apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with a liquid in said case chamber.

4. The advertising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second means comprises a ring and means mounting the ring to the case for rotation about an axis, said ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers each defining a shoulder to engage and advance the particle from its first position into its second position.

5. The advertising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of discrete particles within the chamber that are continuously elevated and released by the second means.

6. The advertising apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the discrete particles are vinyl chips that simulate falling snow.

7. The advertising apparatus according to claim 1 including a source of light and means for mounting the light source to at least one of the case and first means so that light projects a) through the chamber and past the discrete particle as it falls through the chamber and b) through the wall on the first means.

8. The advertising apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the ring has circumferentially spaced teeth and the second means comprises a motor with a geared shaft and means for mounting the motor to the case so that the geared shaft is in mesh with the teeth on the ring and rotates the ring as the motor is operated.

9. The advertising apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the case includes a reflector to cause light directed towards the reflector to be redirected towards the wall on the first means.

10. The advertising apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of fingers includes first and second fingers having different configurations so that the particle advanced by the first finger is released at a different location than the location that the particle is released by the second finger.

11. The advertising apparatus according to claim 1 including an arcuately-shaped light source and means for mounting the light source to the case.

12. The advertising apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the case defines a cavity, the first means resides with the cavity and including an advertising object mounted within the cavity so that as viewed through the wall on the first means the discrete particles appear to be showering the object to enhance the appearance of the object.

13. An advertising apparatus comprising:
   a case;
   first means on the case defining a substantially closed chamber,
   said first means having a wall through which at least a portion of the chamber is visible;
   a plurality of discrete particles in the chamber;
   second means on at least one of the case and first means for continuously a) elevating the particles from a first position to a second position and b) releasing the particles in the second position to allow them to fall back through the chamber towards the first position; and
   means for projecting light from within the chamber through the wall to enhance the appearance of the discrete particles falling through the chamber.

14. The advertising apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the second means comprises a plurality of fingers and means for mounting the fingers to at least one of the case and first means for movement in a predetermined path, said fingers each defining a shoulder to engage and advance the discrete particles as the fingers move in the predetermined path.

15. The advertising apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the means for mounting the fingers includes a ring that is rotatable about an axis and the shoulders are defined at least in part by a flat surface the plane of which does not intersect the rotary axis of the ring.

16. The advertising apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said plurality of fingers include first and second fingers and the first finger is configured differently than the second finger so that the first finger releases the discrete particles at a different location than the second finger.

17. The advertising apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the means for mounting the fingers includes a ring that is rotatable about an axis, said fingers being spaced circumferentially around the ring, there being at least first and second different finger configurations with the first finger configuration releasing the discrete particles at a different location than the second finger configuration, said first and second finger configurations alternating around the circumference of the ring to distribute the discrete particles evenly over a substantially region of the chamber that is visible through the wall.

18. The advertising apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the chamber is substantially leakproof and including a liquid in the chamber through which the particles pass.

19. The advertising apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the discrete particles comprise chips of vinyl that are one of a) a white color, a silver color, and c) a light reflective material to simulate snow.

20. The advertising apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the means for projecting light comprises a source of light and means for mounting the light source to one of the case and first means so that light from the source passes through the liquid and the wall on the first means.

21. A subassembly on an advertising apparatus for continuously distributing discrete particles in a liquid, said subassembly comprising:
   first means defining a chamber for a liquid and having a rotational axis;
   a quantity of liquid within said chamber;
   at least one discrete particle within the liquid in said chamber; and
   means on the first means for continuously a) elevating the particle in the chamber from a first position to a second position and b) releasing the particle in the second position to allow it to fall by gravity through said chamber back towards the first position as an incident of rotation of the first means about the rotational axis.

22. An advertising apparatus comprising:
   a casing defining a chamber for a liquid;
   the casing having a wall through which at least a portion of the chamber is visible;
   a discrete particle; and
   means for repeatedly elevating the particle in the chamber and releasing the particle to allow it to fall under gravity through the chamber.

Drawing