Method and apparatus for creating a spectacular display

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit of light is controlled by modifying the outer boundary surface of the stream so that light within the stream will strike certain portions of the outer boundary surface at an angle less than said critical angle.

Claim 4

The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by the creation of turbulence in the stream.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in the direction of flow of the stream.

Claim 6

The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the turbulence is created by placing an obstruction in the path of flow of a portion of said outer boundary surface.

Claim 7

The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in a direction laterally of the flow of the stream.

Claim 8

The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the turbulence is created by moving a means laterally into the stream to create turbulence.

Claim 9

The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by providing vibrations in the liquid medium adjacent the formation of the stream to form undulations in said outer boundary surface extending in the direction of liquid flow in the stream.

Claim 10

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing air bubbles in the liquid.

Claim 11

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing particulate matter in the liquid.

Claim 12

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the light is provided at a location remote from the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere, and guiding the light to the, point where it is introduced into the stream.

Claim 13

The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of varying the light uniformly throughout the body of liquid in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.

Claim 14

The method as defined in claim 12 including the steps of sensing the temperature of the liquid and automatically varying a characteristic of the light in accordance with the sensed temperature.

Claim 15

The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the color of the light.

Claim 16

The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the intensity of the light.

Claim 17

The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of controlling the introduction of light in accordance with flow of liquid.

Claim 18

The method as defined in claim 16 including the steps of sensing the flow of liquid and introducing light into the liquid when flow of liquid is sensed.

Claim 19

Apparatus for creating a spectacular display comprising means for forming an elongated stream comprising a body of liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth continuous outer boundary surface enclosing the stream and contacting the ambient atmosphere, means for introducing light of a certain intensity directly into the body of liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of liquid flow in the stream in such a manner than light striking the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is initially guided downstream within the liquid at substantially the same intensity by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, and means for creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream.

Claim 20

Apparatus for creating a spectacular display comprising means for forming an elongated stream comprising a body of liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth continuous outer boundary surface enclosing the stream and contacting the ambient atmosphere, means for introducing light of a certain intensity directly into the body of liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of liquid flow in the stream in such a manner than light striking the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is initially guided downstream within the liquid at substantially the same intensity by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, and means for creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream.

Claim 23

The method as defined in claim 19 including the steps of sensing the temperature of the liquid and automatically varying a characteristic of the light in accordance with the sensed temperature.

Claim 24

The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the color of the light.

Claim 25

The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the intensity of the light.

Claim 26

The method as defined in claim 19 including the step of controlling the introduction of light in accordance with flow of said liquid.

Claim 27

The method as defined in claim 19 including the steps of sensing the flow of liquid and introducing light into the liquid when flow of liquid is sensed.

Claim 28

The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the exit of light is controlled by modifying the outer boundary surface of the stream so that light within the stream will strike certain portions of the outer boundary surface at an angle less than said critical angle.

Claim 29

The method as defined in claim 25 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by the creation of turbulence in the stream.

Claim 30

The method as defined in claim 26 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in the direction of flow of the stream.

Claim 31

The method as defined in claim 27 wherein the turbulence is created by placing an obstruction in the path of flow of a portion of said outer boundary surface.

Claim 32

The method as defined in claim 26 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in a direction laterally of the flow of the stream.

Claim 33

The method as defined in claim 29 wherein the turbulence is created by moving a means laterally into the stream to create turbulence.

Claim 34

The method as defined in claim 25 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by providing vibrations in the liquid medium adjacent the formation of the stream.

Claim 35

The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the frequency of said vibrations are varied in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream.

Claim 36

The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing air bubbles in the liquid.

Claim 37

The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing particulate matter in the liquid.

Claim 38

The method as defined in claim 19 wherein light is provided at a location remote from the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere, and guiding the light to the point where it is introduced into the stream.

Claim 39

Apparatus for creating a spectacular display comprising means for forming a solid elongate stream of substantially non-turbulent liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth outer boundary surface of the stream contacting the ambient atmosphere, means for introducing light into the liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of flow of the stream so that light which enters the stream to strike the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is guided downstream within the stream by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, means for creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream, and means for varying the light in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.

Claim 40

Apparatus for creating a spectacular display comprising means for forming a solid elongate stream of substantially non-turbulent liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth outer boundary surface of the stream contacting the ambient atmosphere, means for introducing light into the liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of flow of the stream so that light which enters the stream to strike the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is guided downstream within the stream by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, means for creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream, and means for varying the light in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.