GB2237624A

GB2237624A - A display device

Info

Publication number: GB2237624A
Application number: GB8924927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Barry Johnson; George Vincent Hurst
Original assignee: AQUAFLORA Ltd
Current assignee: AQUAFLORA Ltd
Priority date: 1989-11-04
Filing date: 1989-11-04
Publication date: 1991-05-08
Also published as: GB8924927D0

Abstract

A display device for use, for example, in restaurants to display bottles of wine comprises a first vessel (10) depicting a champagne goblet, a second vessel (12) of shallow formation resting upon the rim of or formed integral with the first vessel (10), and a third vessel (13) in the shape of an ice bucket in which is positioned a bottle-shaped housing (21). Liquid in the first vessel (10) is fed by an electric pump (16) to a foaming head (22) at the top of the housing (21) to issue therefrom as a foaming fountain depicting champagne which falls back into the first vessel (10) via the third vessel (13). Bottles of wine or other merchandise may be displayed on a bed of crushed ice in the second vessel (12). <IMAGE>

Description

A DISPLAY DEVICE THIS INVENTION concerns a display device for use, for example, in restaurants to display bottles of wine, particularly sparkling wine such as champagne and to maintain the bottles in a chilled condition.

According to the present invention there is provided a display device comprising a first vessel for containing a liquid, a second vessel mounted on the first vessel for containing ice, a drain passage connection the two vessels, an upstanding housing within the second vessel, a foaming head at the top of the upstanding housing, and a pump connected to draw liquid from the first vessel and to direct it into the foaming head, whereby, in use, foamed liquid issues from the top of the upstanding housing as a fountain and is returned to the first vessel for recirculation.

A third vessel in the shape of an ice bucket may be disposed within the second vessel to receive the upstanding housing which may be bottle-shaped.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is vertical cross-sectional view of a display device made in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; The device is intended to provide an eye-catching display and for containing and chilling bottles of wine, particularly sparkling wine and champagne. The device has particular application in restaurants or wine stores as a promotional aid to sales.

The device consists essentially of a first vessel 10 which in the example illustrated is shaped to depict a champagne goblet. The vessel 10 may be of spun aluminium and include an integral stand 11 by which the device may stand upon the floor. The vessel 10 is typically in the order of one metre in diameter and in height. Resting on the rim of vessel 10 is a second vessel 12 in the form of a shallow dish having a central bucket-shaped third vessel 13 upstanding in the centre. The bottom of vessel 13 is open and is fixed to or integral with the vessel 12 so that vessels 12 and 13 may be lifted as a single unit away from vessel 10 for access thereto and for cleaning.

It will be seen that vessel 13 depicts a champagne bucket, and vessel 12 includes a circular array of drain apertures 14 which communicate with the interior of vessel 10.

Fixed or loosely mounted on the bottom of vessel 10 is a stand 15 upon which is mounted an electrically driven submersible pump 16. The supply lead for pump 16 passes through base Il and is shown at 17.

A trestle stand 18 is mounted upon stand 15 and includes a support platform 19 upon which is mounted a further annular platform 20 which forms the base of a bottle-shaped housing 21 configured to depict a champagne bottle. The top of the bottle is provided by a foaming head 22 connected by a pipe 23 to the outlet of pump 16.

A drain valve 24 is provided near the bottom of vessel 10.

In use, the vessel 10 is filled with water to the level indicated at 25 and vessel 12 may contain a bed of crushed ice in which bottles of wine may be displayed for sale. Operation df pump 16 causes foamed liquid to issue from the foaming head 22 at the top of the bottle-shaped housing 21. This creates the effect of an opened champagne bottle, the "champagne" falling back into vessel 13 which drains at its base into vessel 10.

Additionally, if required, lighting may be provided to illuminate the foaming liquid or the crushed ice in vessel 12.

The whole device provides an attractive and eyecatching display with the intention of encouraging sales of bottles of wine or any other products displayed in vessel 12.

If crushed ice is used then this drains gradually through apertures 14 into vessel 10.

Removal of vessels 12 and 13 from the top of vessel 10 provides access to the latter and to the pump 16 and the rest of the assembly which remain in place.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only. For example, the vessel 10 may be other than goblet-shaped, whilst vessel 13 may be formed differently or omitted altogether in cases when it is acceptable for the foaming liquid to fall back directly into vessel 12 for draining through apertures 14.

Conveniently, vessels 12 and 13 are produced from spun aluminium as an integral unit and stands 15 and 18 together with platforms 19 and 20 and bottle-shaped housing 21 may be of plastics.

Claims

1. A display device comprising a first vessel for containing a liquid, a second vessel mounted on the first vessel for containing ice, a drain passage connecting the two vessels, an upstanding housing within the second vessel, a foaming head at the top of the upstanding housing, and a pump connected to draw liquid from the first vessel and to direct it into the foaming head, whereby in use, foamed liquid issues from the top of the upstanding housing as a fountain and is returned to the first vessel for recirculation.

2. A display device according to Claim 1, including a third vessel in the shape of a bucket disposed centrally within the second vessel to receive the upstanding housing.

3. A display device according to Claim 2, wherein said third vessel depicts an ice bucket and the upstanding housing is shaped to represent a bottle.

4. A display device according to Claim 2 to or Claim 3, wherein said second and third vessels are attached together and loosely mounted on the first vessel for removal therefrom.

5. A display device according to Claim 2, wherein the third vessel is open at its base and communicates with the interior of the first vessel.

6. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the pump is housed within the first vessel beneath the second vessel and is connected via a pipe to the foaming head at the top of the upstanding housing.

7. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the pump is submersible and mounted so as to be positioned beneath the surface of the liquid in said first vessel.

8. A display device accoraing to any preceding claim, including a drain valve near the bottom of the first vessel.

9. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first vessel is mounted on a stand and is shaped to depict a champagne goblet.

10. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second vessel is of shallow dished formation such that its base is adapted to lie above the surface of liquid contained in the first vessel.

11. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the drain passage includes a plurality of apertures in a base region of the second vessel and communicating with the interior of the first vessel.

12. A display device according to Claim 2, wherein the first, second and third vessels are made from spun aluminium.

13. A display device according to Claim 2, wherein the second and third vessels are produced integrally from spun aluminium.

14. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.