EP0685247A1 - Dispositif de représentation marine ayant un réservoir de liquide avec une surface traitée pour éliminer l'effet de focalisation - Google Patents

Dispositif de représentation marine ayant un réservoir de liquide avec une surface traitée pour éliminer l'effet de focalisation Download PDF

Info

Publication number: EP0685247A1
Authority: EP; European Patent Office
Prior art keywords: mold; panel member; finished surface; relatively flat; rear panel
Prior art date: 1994-06-04
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.): Granted

Application number

EP94108591A

Other languages

German (de)

English (en)

Other versions

EP0685247B1 (fr

Inventor

Shigeyuki Horiuchi

Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

Individual

Original Assignee

Individual

Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)

1994-06-04

Filing date

1994-06-04

Publication date

1995-12-06

1994-06-04 Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual

1994-06-04 Priority to DE1994600479 priority Critical patent/DE69400479T2/de

1994-06-04 Priority to EP19940108591 priority patent/EP0685247B1/fr

1994-06-04 Priority to DK94108591T priority patent/DK0685247T3/da

1995-12-06 Publication of EP0685247A1 publication Critical patent/EP0685247A1/fr

1996-09-04 Application granted granted Critical

1996-09-04 Publication of EP0685247B1 publication Critical patent/EP0685247B1/fr

2014-06-04 Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Status Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/22—Optical, colour, or shadow toys
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
- G09F19/02—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for incorporating moving display members
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
- G09F19/12—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects

Definitions

This invention relates generally to a display apparatus for animated marine life and is particularly related to a display device comprising a liquid vessel and one or more animated marine life species swimming therein, against a coral reef or the like underwater backgrounds in order to simulate an aquarium. More specifically, the present invention relates to an aquarium of the type herein described wherein the reflector surface of the liquid vessel of the aquarium has been specially treated or matt finished in order to eliminate the so-called "focusing effect" associated with such surface when such surface is not treated or not finished in accordance with this invention.
the focusing effect results from the concentration of sun rays upon striking such untreated or unfinished surfaces from a convex surface, i.e., a convex lens effect.
the concentrated rays are reflected from the untreated surface and are concentrated on a relatively small area outside the aquarium, thus generating heat and smoke which can possibly cause fire hazard.
the marine display device described in said application comprises, as shown in figures 1 and 2 thereof, a liquid vessel made of a transparent rigid plastic material in the general form of a semi-spherical structure having a front convex surface and a generally flat rear surface.
the liquid vessel is provided with an opening for the introduction of liquid into the vessel, and a closure cap to seal the vessel.
the display apparatus shown in figures 1 and 2 of the aforementioned application comprises a generally circular housing or casing to accommodate said liquid vessel.
the casing has a base and a background plate disposed between the rear surface of the liquid vessel and the casing to provide a background view, such as a coral reef, a rock cave or some other underwater marine habitat.
a background view such as a coral reef, a rock cave or some other underwater marine habitat.
One or more magnetic marine objects such as a fish and the like are suspended freely in the liquid vessel and move about therein much in the same manner as a natural marine life moves about in the sea.
Magnetic means are suitably located in said apparatus in order to impart movements to the magnetic fish in all different directions.
the disclosure of said application serial number 08/041,566 is fully incorporated herein by reference.
An apparatus for display of animated marine life, the apparatus having a liquid vessel at least partially filled with liquid.
the liquid vessel is formed of a convex front member and a relatively flat rear panel member which is bonded to the rear peripheral edge of the convex member.
the flat panel member is matt finished to insure that the finished surface refracts incident sun rays which impinge upon the finished surface.
the matt finished surface of the rear flat plate is produced by injection molding of a thermoplastic material in a mold which has been etched to form an etched surface.
the marine display device illustrated therein comprises a liquid-containing vessel 1 made of transparent rigid plastic material in the general form of a semi-spherical structure having a front convex surface 1a and a rear generally flat plate 1b.
the liquid vessel 1 is provided with an opening 3 for introducing the liquid and the marine lives into the vessel, and a closure cap 2 seals the vessel after it has been filled with liquid.
the lower portion of the front convex surface 1 converges toward the rear flat plate 1b as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
the marine display device of this invention comprises a housing or casing 5 formed to accommodate the liquid vessel 1.
the casing 5 has a base 5a which supports the flange portion 1c which may be formed integrally with the liquid vessel 1.
a background surface 6 is disposed intermediate the rear panel 1b of the liquid vessel and the casing 5 to provide a background view corresponding to the liquid habitat for the swimming toy fish.
the background view depicts a rock cave, it may be designed to depict a coral reef or other marine habitats, if desired.
the panel 1b has a rear unfinished surface 1c and a front matt finished surface 1d which is treated as hereinafter described in order to eliminate any focusing effect when the display device is placed in the sun.
the matt finished surface 1d of the panel 1b is formed by injection molding the panel 1b in a chemically etched mold.
the mold in which the panel 1b is formed is first etched by coating the mold surface with an acid-resistant film of a suitable wax such as, for example, hard paraffine wax, and the wax film is perforated forming channels therethrough across the surface of the wax film.
An appropriate needle or other suitable sharp object is used to perforate the wax film thus providing random or irregularly distributed holes across the entire surface of the film.
the mold is then dipped in a suitable acid such as nitric acid for a few minutes, usually for about 2 to about 3 minutes, at ambient conditions, and the acid is then rinsed away with water to wash the mold clean. Dipping the mold into the acid causes the acid to attack or "bite" the exposed portions of the mold surface, i.e., the perforated portions, thus etching the mold surface.
the rear panel 1b In order to form the rear panel 1b, a suitable amount of a thermoplastic resin, preferable reinforced polystrene, is injected molded in the etched mold and the matt finished panel 1b is formed therein.
a suitable amount of a thermoplastic resin, preferable reinforced polystrene is injected molded in the etched mold and the matt finished panel 1b is formed therein.
the surface of the panel 1b which conformally contacts the etched surface of the mold is formed with a matt finish and exhibits the property of refracting incident sun rays rather than concentrating these rays as is the case when the surface is not matt finished.
the matt finished panel formed as hereinabove described is removed from the mold, cooled and then used in forming the liquid vessel 1 for the aquarium.
the matt finished plate 1b is formed with an integral peripheral lip 1e which may be 1 ⁇ 4 to 1 ⁇ 2 inch thick, and plate 1b is slightly tapered rearward so as to insure that opening 3 is wide enough to facilitate easy introduction of the marine objects into the liquid vessel.
the plate 1b is bonded to the periphery of the semi-spherical member to define the liquid vessel, using a suitable adhesive or bonding agent.
thermoplastic material which is used.
quantity of the thermoplastic material which is used is not critical and, as it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this quantity can vary depending on the desired size and thickness of the finished plate which is desired.
plate 1b be formed with a matt finished surface which is capable of refracting the sun rays so as to avoid the possibility of hot spot formation and smoking due to focusing effect.
Figure 4 illustrates how the sun rays which impinge upon the finished surface of the rear panel of the liquid vessel is refracted in different directions, thus minimizing or eliminating focusing effect.
the sun rays when the sun rays impinge upon the surface of an unfinished panel, the sun rays are not refracted in different directions, but rather they are concentrated or focused onto one small area, which can cause hot spot, smoke or even fire hazards.
matt finishing the back panel of the aquarium as herein described insures safety of use and operation of the display device. Needless to say that elimination or prevention of focusing effect is a major factor in commercialization of these display devices.

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Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
Marketing (AREA)
Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
Toys (AREA)

EP19940108591 1994-06-04 1994-06-04 Dispositif de représentation marine ayant un réservoir de liquide avec une surface traitée pour éliminer l'effet de focalisation Expired - Lifetime EP0685247B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number	Priority Date	Filing Date	Title
DE1994600479 DE69400479T2 (de)	1994-06-04	1994-06-04	Gerät zur maritimen Darstellung, bestehend aus einem Flüssigkeitsgefäss mit behandelter Oberfläche zur Beseitigung von Fokusierungseffekt
EP19940108591 EP0685247B1 (fr)	1994-06-04	1994-06-04	Dispositif de représentation marine ayant un réservoir de liquide avec une surface traitée pour éliminer l'effet de focalisation
DK94108591T DK0685247T3 (fr)	1994-06-04	1994-06-04

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number	Priority Date	Filing Date	Title
EP19940108591 EP0685247B1 (fr)	1994-06-04	1994-06-04	Dispositif de représentation marine ayant un réservoir de liquide avec une surface traitée pour éliminer l'effet de focalisation

Publications (2)

Publication Number	Publication Date
EP0685247A1 true EP0685247A1 (fr)	1995-12-06
EP0685247B1 EP0685247B1 (fr)	1996-09-04

Family

ID=8215994

Family Applications (1)

Application Number	Title	Priority Date	Filing Date
EP19940108591 Expired - Lifetime EP0685247B1 (fr)	1994-06-04	1994-06-04	Dispositif de représentation marine ayant un réservoir de liquide avec une surface traitée pour éliminer l'effet de focalisation

Country Status (3)

Country	Link
EP (1)	EP0685247B1 (fr)
DE (1)	DE69400479T2 (fr)
DK (1)	DK0685247T3 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
GB2345021A (en) *	1998-12-22	2000-06-28	Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd	Matt surface display window

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
GB2080129A (en) *	1980-07-23	1982-02-03	Tomy Kogyo Co	Amusement device
US4521982A (en) *	1984-05-07	1985-06-11	Nicholas Altuchow	Novelty viewer
WO1986003992A1 (fr) *	1985-01-07	1986-07-17	Liu P Dong Guang	Revetement ameliorant la transmission
EP0348137A2 (fr) *	1988-06-22	1989-12-27	Third Dimension Limited	Appareil d'affichage optique
US5214539A (en) *	1992-07-27	1993-05-25	Sorko Ram Paul	Concave mirror with convex acrylic cover
EP0584944A2 (fr) *	1992-07-29	1994-03-02	Masudaya Corporation	Poisson-jouet nageant

1994
- 1994-06-04 EP EP19940108591 patent/EP0685247B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-06-04 DK DK94108591T patent/DK0685247T3/da active
- 1994-06-04 DE DE1994600479 patent/DE69400479T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
GB2080129A (en) *	1980-07-23	1982-02-03	Tomy Kogyo Co	Amusement device
US4521982A (en) *	1984-05-07	1985-06-11	Nicholas Altuchow	Novelty viewer
WO1986003992A1 (fr) *	1985-01-07	1986-07-17	Liu P Dong Guang	Revetement ameliorant la transmission
EP0348137A2 (fr) *	1988-06-22	1989-12-27	Third Dimension Limited	Appareil d'affichage optique
US5214539A (en) *	1992-07-27	1993-05-25	Sorko Ram Paul	Concave mirror with convex acrylic cover
EP0584944A2 (fr) *	1992-07-29	1994-03-02	Masudaya Corporation	Poisson-jouet nageant

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
GB2345021A (en) *	1998-12-22	2000-06-28	Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd	Matt surface display window
US6273573B1 (en)	1998-12-22	2001-08-14	Nokia Mobile Phone Limited	Display window

Also Published As

Publication number	Publication date
DE69400479T2 (de)	1997-02-27
EP0685247B1 (fr)	1996-09-04
DK0685247T3 (fr)	1997-02-24
DE69400479D1 (de)	1996-10-10

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1995-10-20	PUAI	Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase	Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012
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1996-03-06	17Q	First examination report despatched	Effective date: 19960117
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