GB2514754A - Snow machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An artificial show generating apparatus 1 has a housing 2, a motor (12 Fig 6), a pump (15 Fig 9), and a fluid supply tank 20 which surrounds a rebate 20g. At least the pump is located within the rebate, and the motor is capable of energising the pump to displace fluid from the tank and out of the housing. The apparatus may expel artificial snow in response to activation by a sensor, may include a speaker for sound such as music and may also include lights for illumination and which may be LED. The housing may include mounting brackets (10 Fig 3) for mounting to a vertical surface, and the housing may encapsulate the tank.

Description

Snow Machines This invention relates to snow machines, in particular to portable snow machines such as those which may be used at entertainment events to generate artificial snow'.

Snow machines are known in the art. However, typically they are bulky and difficult to transport. Where such snow machines have been made more compact, the tank of fluid to generate the artificial snow is exposed, which is to say that the tank is not protected by a cage, housing or other enclosure or provided with a robust wall structure. Indeed, in one example a container of snow-generating fluid is simply a plastic bottle which may or may not be secured to the snow machine. This is potentially problematic because if the device is dropped, or suffers a collision, there may be a potential for the tank to become punctured, with all the attendant problems that would ensue. Where the tank is simply a plastic bottle, these potential problems are exacerbated, especially where the plastic bottle is provided as a stand-alone unit which is connected to the snow machine by a pipe, say a pipe inserted into the top of the bottle to facilitate a supply of fluid to the machine.

Moreover, the design of such artificial machines has heretofore not been considered.

The utilitarian design of current devices has discouraged their use in and around the home such that they have not typically been used by individuals as household or novelty items. Nor have they been deployed domestically as embellishments to the home. Of course, a supply of fluid is essential to ensure continued operation. In the home (and at other locations) it would be desirable to limit the frequency of re-filling.

Therefore, providing a machine with satisfactory fluid volumes whilst making the device size-efficient is highly desirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a snow machine which obviates the problems of the prior art and which, potentially, has aesthetic appeal to allow and/or encourage installation in and around the home.

A first aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for the supply of fluid, the apparatus comprising a housing, a fluid supply tank surrounding a rebate, a motor and a pump, wherein the motor and/or pump is located within the rebate, the motor being capable of energising the pump to pump fluid from the tank.

The apparatus is preferably artificial snow generating apparatus. The apparatus is preferably portable, by which is meant it can be held and operated by a single operative.

In a preferred embodiment the motor is located within a housing. Preferably, the rebate is provided centrally within the tank. The tank may be wholly encased within the housing. The housing may provide the tank in which case the walls of the housing will be sufficiently resilient to provide protection against puncture, rupture or other leak-generating events. In one embodiment the walls of the housing are fabricated from plastics material, for example, plastics material with a thickness of greater than 2 mm, say greater than 3, 4, 5 or 6 mm.

A further aspect of the invention provides a portable snow generating apparatus, the apparatus comprising a housing, a tank for the supply of artificial snow generating fluid, wherein the ratio of housing volume to tank volume is from 0.25 to 0.85, say 0.3 to 0.8, for example 0.4 to 0.75.

The housing may be cuboid which preferably has a size of 20 x 20 x 20 cm (Le. 8000 cm3). Alternatively, the housing may be an oblate or frusto-spheroid or oblate or frusto-ovoid. The housing may have a maximum horizontal perimeter, e.g. circumference, of from 100 to 50 cm and may have a maximum perimetrical vertical, height of from 30 to 20 cm, for example with a maximum internal volume for snow generating fluid of from 2000 to 4000 cm3.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation from below of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are front and rear elevations of the tank of embodiment 1; Figure 6 is an elevation of a motor for embodiment 1; Figure 7 shows the interaction of the tank and motor; Figure 8 is an elevation of components of embodiment 1; Figure 9 is an elevation of components of embodiment 1; Figure 10 and 11 show cutaway views of the first embodiment; Figure 12 demonstrates the first embodiment in use; Figure 12A is a detail of Figure 12; Figure 13 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 is a side elevation of Figure 13.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a snow machine 1 comprising a housing 2, a snow delivery device 3, a removable (e.g. screw) cap 4 and an adjustable carry handle 5.

The housing 2, which is preferably formed from metal, e.g. steel or aluminium (although may be formed from relatively thick robust plastics material such as nylon, polyester, ABS and so on), is substantially cuboid in form, having a front face 2a on which the snow delivery device 3 is provided and on which other markings 6 may be provided (in the instant embodiment the markings 6 are intended to give the snow machine 1 the appearance of a snow man's face). The snow delivery device 3 comprises a frusto-conical section 3a which is integrally formed with the front face 2a (although it may be affixed thereto) and a closed sock of material 3b securely located over the snow delivery device 3. The material 3b has a fine porosity and may be formed from plastics, or natural material.

The handle 5 is mounted on side faces 2b,c of the housing 2 by screws 5a which extend through apertures (not shown) in the lower limbs 5b of the handle 5 and engage threaded apertures (not shown) in the housing 2. The handle 5 allows the snow machine 1 to be ported and may also allow the machine 1 to be mounted, for example, on a lighting or other rig.

Referring to Figure 2, a rear face 2d of the housing 2 has an on/off switch 7, a socket 8 for receiving a power cord (not shown) and a vent 9a.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, mounted on a lowermost face 2e of the housing 2 are a spaced pair of elongate brackets 10 extending in a direction from the rear face 2d to the front face 2a. The brackets 10 each receive a lower limb 11 a of an [-shaped mounting bracket 11 to enable the housing 2 to be mounted to a wall or other vertical structure, the upper limbs 11 b having apertures 11 c through which fixing means (not shown) can extend. Also provided towards one edge of the face 2e is a vent 9b.

The cap 4 is located on an uppermost face 2f of the housing. The cap 4 is removable to allow access to an internal tank. In the instant embodiment, the cap 4 is black and has a black area marked around it to give the whole the impression of a snow man's hat.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a tank 20 for holding fluid. The tank is a substantially rectangular cuboid having front 20a, side 20b, c, rear 20d, lower 20e and upper 20f faces. Extending into the tank 20 from the rear face 20d is a circular rebate 20g. As shown in Figure 5, the front face 20a having been removed for clarity, the rebate 20g terminates before the front face 20a, thereby providing a substantially peripheral volume 21 for holding fluid. As shown in Figure 9, the front face 20a has a funnel 22 open to the tank 20 through which fluid held within the tank 20 is deliverable.

The upper face 20f of the tank 20 has a central conduit 22 through which fluid can pass to fill the tank 20. The conduit 22 terminates in a threaded portion 23 for the receipt of the cap 4, in use.

Turning now to Figures 7 and 8, there is provided a motor 12 mounted within a motor housing 13. The motor housing 13 is shaped and sized so as to be received or receivable within the circular rebate 20g.

Figures 10 and 11 provide the detail of the rear section of the housing 2. Mounted adjacent the vertex adjoining rear face 2d and lowermost face 2e is a pump 15.

Extending from the pump iSis a fluid delivery conduit 16 for delivery of pumped fluid to the front of the housing 2. The fluid delivery conduit 16 runs under the tank 20 and, in that configuration, should be made from a material capable of withstanding the weight of the filled tank without distorting (e.g. being crushed) and which can withstand the pressures exerted thereon in use. A suitable conduit material is steel, although other rigid materials may be used. Alternatively, the tank 20 may be supported to provide a recess below its lowermost face 20e to accommodate the conduit 16 or there may be a shaped recess in the lowermost face 20e of the tank 20 through which the conduit 16 can extend.

The motor 12 and pump 15 are operably connected to the power supply on/off switch 7 and socket 8. As will be appreciated, as shown, the tank 20 does not extend to the uppermost face 2f of the housing 2 when installed. However, in other embodiments where greater tank volume is required, the tank 20 may extend from the lowermost 2e to the uppermost face 2f the housing 2. Indeed, the configuration of the tank 20 in the apparatus 1 is such that the tank 20 can hold a larger volume of fluid as a function of the volume of the housing 2 than snow machines of the prior ad. Indeed, for a housing 2 volume of 27000 cm3, a tank 20 of volume 20000 cm3 can be contained. The extra volume is highly advantageous when the snow machine 1 is located, for example, as a festive decoration outside a house because it will reduce the number of times that the machine 1 needs re-filling.

The fluid delivery conduit 16 runs to, and extends across, the front face 20a of the tank 20. The conduit 16 terminates to provide a Venturi across the delivery funnel 22. The venturi effect, in use, causes fluid held within the tank 20 to be drawn therefrom to mix with fluid pumped along the supply conduit 16 and become entrained in pumped fluid exiting the conduit 16.

In use, switching the on/off switch 7 to on causes the motor 12 to energise the pump 15 thereby causing fluid (e.g. air) to be pumped through the supply conduit 16 and causing fluid held within the tank 20 (e.g. detergent) to become entrained in the stream of fluid exiting the supply conduit. As the entrained fluid contacts the sock of material 3b, the fine pores cause the generation of artificial snow'.

The fluid held within the tank may comprise polymers. Some dry snow' formulations are commercially available, for example, from Snow Business International Ltd of Stroud Gloucester, UK.

In another embodiment, the snow machine 1 may be energised automatically, for example, by a person crossing an infrared beam, crossing a laser, depressing a (remote) switch or other means. Figures 12 and 12A demonstrate the activation of a snow machine 1 as a person P enters a room R by interrupting an IR beam located in, on or in proximity to a doorframe DF. In this case, the snow machine 1 is mounted to a wall W using brackets 11. Fixing means extend through apertures lic into the wall W to retain the snow machine 1 in an elevated condition, as shown (by which is meant that the machine 1 is mounted above the floor).

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, there is provided a further embodiment of snow machine 101 comprising a housing 102, a snow delivery device 103, a removable (e.g. screw) cap 104 and an adjustable, preferably fold-flat, carry handle 1055.

The housing 102, which is preferably formed from metal, e.g. steel or aluminium (although may be formed from relatively thick robust plastics material such as nylon, polyester, ABS and so on), is substantially frusto-spheroidal or oblate in form, having a portion 102a on which the snow delivery device 103 is provided and on which other markings 106 may be provided (in the instant embodiment the markings 106 are intended to give the snow machine 101 the appearance of a snow man's face). The snow delivery device 103 comprises a frusto-conical section 103a which is integrally formed with the housing 102 (although it may be affixed thereto) and a closed sock of material 103b securely located over the snow delivery device 103. The material 103b has a fine porosity and may be formed from plastics, or natural material.

In one embodiment the housing 102 may be frusto-spheroidal, with the radii of curvature in both the a and b directions being equal. In other embodiments, the radii of curvature in the a and b directions may not be the same, to generate a frusto-oblate shape. For example! the maximum perimeter in the b" direction may be from 100 cm to 50cm, say from 98 to 55cm, say 95 to 65cm, and the perimeter in the "a" direction may be from 100 cm to 40 cm, say from 95 to 45 cm. The tank may be capable of holding between, say 2 and 4 litres of snow-generating fluid. For example, in one embodiment with a maximum perimeter b of 95 cm and a curved length in the a' direction of 25cm, the tank can hold between 4 and 3 litres.

The snow machine 101 may have an on/off switch and may comprise a sensor. In embodiments the motor and/or pump may be provided in a compartment within the housing, the internal walls of the housing may provide the tank.

The snow machine 1, 101 may be arranged to activate periodically or according to a manually set or pre-arranged program. For example, a timing device may be deployed to periodically energise the machine 1, 101.

Whilst, the machine 1, 101 has been shown as requiring energisation via a power cord, it is of course possible to provide additional or alternate energisation means, for example, inboard or outboard fuel cell or battery power, solar power and so on.

Because of the small footprint of the snow machine 1, 101, it may be mounted on a wall or other site in a relatively unobtrusive manner. For example, it may be located near a person's front door to become energised, for example to spray a visitor with snow, as the visitor approaches the door or as they pass a certain point.

Further size savings may be made by reducing the size of the pump 15, 115 and/or reducing the size of the tank 20, 120.

In other embodiments, the machine 1, 101 may be configured to produce fake snow other than of the foam' type. For example, the machine 1, 101 may be provided with a nucleation site and means to produce ice and ice-like substances to give realistic, or at least more realistic snow-type effects. Alternatively, heat exchangers may be used to reduce the temperature of water pumped, thereby to generate snow-like particles.

The machine 1, 101 need not give the impression of a snowman. For example, other winter-themed characters may be used. The design need not be of a winter-themed or festive character at all. For example, the machine 1, 101 may have a smiley face on the front face 2a or portion 102a or may be designed to represent a pumpkin as a Halloween decoration. There need not be any characterisation. Lights (preferably LEDs) may be provided to illuminate or form at least part of one or more features of the face or other characterisations (6, 106). The machine 1, 101 may generate sounds or other noise, for example when it is energised to produce snow. For example, the snow machine 1, 101 may be configured to play a suitable piece of music.

Claims (14)

1. Claims 1. An artificial snow generating apparatus, the apparatus comprises a housing, a fluid supply tank surrounding a rebate, a motor and/or a pump located within the rebate, the motor being capable of energising the pump to displace fluid from the tank and out of the housing.
2. 2. Snow generating apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the motor is provided with a housing, the motor housing being located within the rebate.
3. 3. Snow generating apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump communicates with a fluid supply conduit to deliver fluid thereto.
4. 4. Snow generating apparatus according to any of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fluid supply conduit terminates at a face of the tank.
5. 5. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the tank has a fluid delivery port.
6. 6. Snow generating apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the fluid supply conduit comprises a portion to provide a venturi effect across the fluid delivery pod to cause, in use, fluid in the tank to be entrained with fluid pumped out of the fluid supply conduit.
7. 7. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the tank comprises a fill conduit.
8. 8. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the housing encapsulates the tank.
9. 9. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the ratio of housing volume to tank volume is from 0.3 to 0.75.
10. 10. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the housing comprises brackets for mounting the machine to a vertical surface.
11. 11. Snow generating machine according to any preceding Claim, wherein at least one of the faces of the housing comprises indicia or markings, for example markings to provide characterisation.
12. 12. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further comprising sensor means, arranged to activate the apparatus to expel artificial snow in response to a stimuli.
13. 13. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further comprising lights.
14. 14. Snow generating apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further comprising speaker means.