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US4395835A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid rainbow

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-03-16
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Granted: 1983-08-02
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Expires: 2001-03-16
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Abstract

Abstract Devices comprising a transparent chamber containing three mutually immiscible liquids two of which are colored yellow, cyan, or magenta with an external region colored yellow, cyan, or magenta. Static, they display four or more colored regions. When deformed or inverted, they create multicolor kinetic displays. Preferred devices comprise two liquid-filled, sheet-like chamberss in face to face relationship with five colored bands forming a rainbow pattern.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald A. Schneider

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 19:59
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/24; A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/22; B; B44; B44F; B44F1/00; B44F1/06; B44F1/066

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 206 words
A display device comprising two transparent sealed sheet-like chambers in face to face relationship containing colored liquids, (A) one chamber containing at least three multually immiscible liquid phases at least two of which are colored with colors selected from the group consisting of yellow, cyan, and magenta, and (B) a second chamber containing at least two mutually immiscible liquid phases at least one of which is colored with colors selected from the group consisting of yellow, cyan, and magenta, the volumes of said liquid phases being selected such that when the device is vertical and at rest, each of said at least two liquid phases in said second chamber are in overlapping relationship with at least two of the liquid phases in said one chamber, such that one horizontal ray of light can pass through one liquid in one chamber and a second liquid in the second chamber; a second horizontal ray passing through the same two chambers can pass through a different combination of two liquids; a third horizontal ray passing through the same two chambers can pass through a third combination of two liquids; and a fourth horizontal ray passing through the same two chambers can pass through a fourth combination of two liquids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 206 words
A display device comprising two transparent sealed sheet-like chambers in face to face relationship containing colored liquids, (A) one chamber containing at least three multually immiscible liquid phases at least two of which are colored with colors selected from the group consisting of yellow, cyan, and magenta, and (B) a second chamber containing at least two mutually immiscible liquid phases at least one of which is colored with colors selected from the group consisting of yellow, cyan, and magenta, the volumes of said liquid phases being selected such that when the device is vertical and at rest, each of said at least two liquid phases in said second chamber are in overlapping relationship with at least two of the liquid phases in said one chamber, such that one horizontal ray of light can pass through one liquid in one chamber and a second liquid in the second chamber; a second horizontal ray passing through the same two chambers can pass through a different combination of two liquids; a third horizontal ray passing through the same two chambers can pass through a third combination of two liquids; and a fourth horizontal ray passing through the same two chambers can pass through a fourth combination of two liquids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
The device of claim 1 consisting of less than three liquid-containing chambers, such that when the decive is vertical and at rest and illuminated with white light, at least four bands of color can be perceived, each color different from any of the other three and a member of the group consisting of red, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and magenta.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the observed colors form a rainbow pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein when the device is vertical and at rest and illumunated with white light, at least five bands of color can be perceived, each of the five colors being different from any of the other four.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the perceived colors include red, yellow, green, cyan, and blue, in that order.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
The deive of claim 4 wherein the interior space in each chamber is less than one-tenth as thick as it is wide, and the path of light rays forming each of at least five bands of color passes sequentially through one liquid in one chamber and then another liquid in a second chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the perceived colors include red, yellow, green, cyan, and blue, in that order, and the device consists of no more than two sheet-like, liquid-containing chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said overlapping colors synthesize red, blue, and green by the superposition of yellow and magenta, cyan and magenta, and yellow and cyan.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 133 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the interior space in each chamber is less than one-tenth as thick as it is wide, said one chamber contains three mutually immiscible liquid phases, the top liquid having a color selected from the group consisting of yellow, cyan, and magenta, the bottom liquid having a color selected from the group consisting of those two colors not selected for the top liquid, and the middle liquid being substantially colorless, tinted by the colors of the two adjacent layers to only a minor extent, and said second chamber contains at least two mutually immiscible liquid phases at least one of which is colored a color selected from the group consisting of yellow, cyan, and magenta, said color being one not selected for any layer of any other chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein at least five liquid phases are colored with the colors being selected from the group consisting of yellow, magenta, and cyan.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 154 words
The device of claim 1 wherein when the device is vertical and at rest, white light passing through it horizontally emerges (a) from one section with more that 10% of the light having been transmitted at one wavelength selected from the group consisting of 450, 540, and 610 nm, and less than 5% of the light having been transmitted at the other two wavelengths, and (b) from another section with more than 10% of the light having been transmitted at a different one of said wavelengths and less than 5% having been transmitted at the other two, and (c) from another section with more than 10% of the light having been transmitted at two of said wavelengths and less than 5% at the third, and (d) from yet another section with more than 10% of the light having been transmitted at a different two of said wavelengths and less than 5% at the third.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US894509A Cited
US2480902A Cited
US3365816A Cited
US3706149A Cited
US3778063A Cited
US4085533A Cited
US4002333A Cited
US3964194A Cited
US4057921A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-08-01 1987-01-31 1987-08-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-08-01 1991-01-31 1991-08-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-08-01 1995-01-31 1995-08-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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