US3706149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-29
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1990-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A display device for producing a constantly changing, completely random multi-colored effect is disclosed herein. The display device includes wall means dividing a fluid compartment into a plurality of juxtaposed chambers having highly viscous fluid therein, and means are provided in the lower portion of each chamber for generating bubbles of air within the fluid. Each of the fluids has a different color, and the walls within the chambers have sufficient light transmissibility, so that when a light source illuminates one side of the display device, the air bubbles passing upwardly through the chambers will create the desired visual effect.
Inventors
- 👤 George Olivieri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:44
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/24; F; F21; F21S; F21S10/00; F21S10/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A display device comprising: means defining a compartment having a viewing area; front and back wall means within the compartment and dividing the same into at least two liquid tight, coextensive chambers juxtaposed one behind the other, the viewing area of said compartment and said wall means being transmissive of light; a column of colored liquid within each chamber, each liquid being transmissive of light and the liquid in each chamber being of a different color; and means for generating independent gaps in the liquid in each of the chambers comprising means at the lower end of each of said chambers for introducing gas bubbles of random occurrence, size, shape and location, each of said gaps contacting said front and back wall means of its respective chamber to eliminate the color of the liquid in the chamber thereat and thereby present different and changing color combinations to an observer looking along lines of sight through the viewing area of said display device as said gaps move into and out of alignment with one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A display device comprising: means defining a compartment having a viewing area; front and back wall means within the compartment and dividing the same into at least two liquid tight, coextensive chambers juxtaposed one behind the other, the viewing area of said compartment and said wall means being transmissive of light; a column of colored liquid within each chamber, each liquid being transmissive of light and the liquid in each chamber being of a different color; and means for generating independent gaps in the liquid in each of the chambers comprising means at the lower end of each of said chambers for introducing gas bubbles of random occurrence, size, shape and location, each of said gaps contacting said front and back wall means of its respective chamber to eliminate the color of the liquid in the chamber thereat and thereby present different and changing color combinations to an observer looking along lines of sight through the viewing area of said display device as said gaps move into and out of alignment with one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A display device as set forth in claim 1, in which said bubble-introducing means establishes a plurality of side-by-side gas bubbles in a single line generally parallel to said chamber defining wall means at the base of each of said columns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A display device as set forth in claim 1, in which said compartment defining means further includes an illuminated area opposite said viewing area and wherein a light source is provided adjacent said illuminated area for illuminating said chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A display device as set forth in claim 1, in which said wall means include planar front and back walls parallel with one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A display device as set forth in claim 1, in which said wall means define at least three parallel chambers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A display device as set forth in claim 5, in which said wall means are flat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A displAy device as set forth in claim 1, in which said bubble introducing means includes a tube at the lower end of each chamber, each tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A display device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said gap generating means includes a single gas pumping means and each of said tubes is connected to said single gas pumping means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of displaying a constantly changing color pattern in a viewing area, comprising the steps of: providing at least two differently colored light-transmissive liquid columns juxtaposed one behind the other, each liquid column being confined between light transmissive front and back spaced apart surfaces and each liquid column being coextensive at least with said viewing area; generating independent gaps in said columns by introducing gas bubbles at spaced locations at the lower end of each of said columns so that the gaps generated by said bubbles have random occurrence, size, shape and location, each of said gaps contacting its said front and back spaced apart surfaces to displace the liquid and to eliminate the color of the liquid thereat and thereby present different and changing color combinations to an observer looking along lines of sight through said viewing area as said gaps move into and out of alignment with one another.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of displaying a constantly changing color pattern in a viewing area, comprising the steps of: providing at least two differently colored light-transmissive liquid columns juxtaposed one behind the other, each liquid column being confined between light transmissive front and back spaced apart surfaces and each liquid column being coextensive at least with said viewing area; generating independent gaps in said columns by introducing gas bubbles at spaced locations at the lower end of each of said columns so that the gaps generated by said bubbles have random occurrence, size, shape and location, each of said gaps contacting its said front and back spaced apart surfaces to displace the liquid and to eliminate the color of the liquid thereat and thereby present different and changing color combinations to an observer looking along lines of sight through said viewing area as said gaps move into and out of alignment with one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein three differently colored liquid columns are provided in juxtaposed relationship, with gaps being generated in each of said columns so that various color combinations are produced for viewing, including mixtures of the colors of all three liquids, including combinations of two of the liquids, including the individual colors of the three columns, and further including an absence of the colors of the three columns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising the further step of illuminating said liquid column on the side opposite said viewing area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |