US2884200A - Animated display - Google Patents

Description

l NVENTOR ERNEST R. KONIKSDN United States Patent 2,884,200 ANIMATED DISPLAY Ernest R. Konikson, Erskine, Minn.

Application October 24, 1957, Serial No. 692,171

2 Claims. (Cl. 239-19) This invention relates to moving displays and more particularly to such apparatus of the type which is operated by hydraulic power.

An object of my invention is to provide an animated display of simple and inexpensive construction and operation for use in the garden or lawn.

Another object of my invention is the provision, in apparatus of the class described, of a mechanism wherein flowing water serves the dual purpose of causing the display to operate, that is, causing the figure to appear as though he is pumping water, and of causing the water to be distributed for application to vegetation in the vicinity of the display.

-A further object of my invention is to provide a wateroperated animated display wherein the water produces a spray which is collected and caused to drive a pumping apparatus in such a manner as to make it appear that the figure of the man is pumping and to further make it appear that water is actually being pumped.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view, partly broken away to show the working mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail section view taken on a horizontal plane, substantially at 22 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail section view taken on a substantially vertical plane as indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 1, and showing the rotating mechanism in a different position than that shown in Fig. 1.

One form of the present invention is shown in the drawings and is described herein.

The display device, which is indicated in general by numeral has a rigid base 11 to which the upstanding framework is attached. As a portion of the framework, I provide a housing 12 which has a substantially continuous upright sidewall 13 therearound having the lower edge portion thereof secured to the base 11 as by angle brackets 14 which are respectively secured to the base and the wall as by screws 15. The bottom edge of the wall 13 is spaced upwardly from the base 11 to define a water discharging slot or area 16 therebetween. A deck 17 is secured to the upper edge portion of the wall 13 and is provided with a continuous upstanding waterretaining wall portion 18 around the periphery thereof and crimped to the upper edge of the wall 13. The deck 17 has a water-discharging aperture or drain hole 19 therein.

A pump structure 20 is afiixed on the deck 17 as by screws and the pump structure is provided with the conventional spout 21 and handle 22. It will be noted that the pump structure 20 is hollow at 23, and a suitable fulcrum 24 is provided for mounting the handle 22.

A short length of conduit, consisting in a rigid pipe 25 is affixed in the wall 13 as by nuts 26 for mounting a female hose coupling 27 on the display. A conduit I Patented Apr. 28,1959

or hose 28 extends upwardly from the pipe 25 and along the inside of wall 13 and communicates with a length of tubing 29 which extends through and is afiixed to the deck 17. The tubing 29 is connected to a second length of hose 30 which lies on the deck 17 and extends around the periphery thereof. The discharge end 30a of hose 30 is coupled with a length of tubing 31 which is embedded in the sidewall of the pump structure 20 and extends upwardly therethrough into the spout 21 to deliver a small stream of water outwardly from the spout. The hose 30 is preforated along its length as at 32 and 33 for spraying water around the periphery of the display. It will be noted that the perforations 32 direct the water outwardly from the display and the perforation 33 directs water inwardly onto a portion of the deck 17. The water supplied onto the deck in this manner will drain ofi through the hole 19.

The stream of water which emits from the spout 21, or actually the end of tubing 31, is discharged into an ornamental watering can 34 which hangs by its hail from the spout 21. The can 34 has an apertured bottom 35 to discharge the water therefrom onto the deck 17.

Means are provided for confining the water applied to the deck in the area of the drain 19 and in the form shown, such means comprise a retaining wall 36 which is afiixed as by soldering to the deck and which extends across the deck between the hose 30 and the pump structure 20.

An ornamental figure of a person 37 is secured at its feet by screws or the like to the deck 17, and the hands 38 of the figure are afiixed as by gluing or the like to thepump handle 22. The figure is jointed, as at the elbows, shoulders, and hips, by suitable pins 39 so as to permit the figure to bend in the manner of a person pumping water.

Means are provided for producing, in response to the flow of water, movement of the pump handle and of the figure of the person. Such means include a water wheel indicated in general by numeral 40 which has a plurality of cups 41 carried on a wheel 42 which is affixed to a shaft 43 as by set screw 44 and is supported from the standards 45 and 46 in alignment with and below the drain 19. Shaft 43 extends through a bearing aperture in the standard 46 and through a slot 45a in the standard 45 and is retained against longitudinal movement by a plurality of washers 47 and keys 48. The standards 45 and 46 are affixed as by bolts 49 to the base 11. A pitman oscillator is provided between the shaft 43 and the pump handle for producing oscillatory movement of the pump handle. An eccentric 50 is afiixed on the shaft 43 and is rotatably connected to a link 51, the upper end of which is swingably connected to the inner end of the pump handle.

It will therefore be seen that when water is supplied into the hose 31, a portion of the water is sprayed outwardly, and the remainder of the water is applied onto the deck 17, partly through the perforation 33 and partly through the tubing 31 and the pump spout. The water will drain downwardly through the opening 19 into the cups 41 for rotating the water wheel and driving the eccentric for producing reciprocating movement of the link 51 and oscillatory swinging movement of the pump handle 22. The water supplied serves a multiplicity of purposes in operating the pump handle and causing the figure of the person to move as though he were pumping water, and to apply water to the vegetation around thebase 11 and to spray the remainder of the vegetation from the apertures 32 in the hose.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope oiimy. invention which consists of the matter described hereinaand. set. forthin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An animated display to be operated from a supply of running water, comprising aframework having a deck with a water-retaining Wall extending therearound and adrain hole therein, a simulated hand pump structure on the deck having a spout spaced above the deck and adjacent the. drain therein, and also having a pump handle, a figure of a person secured on the deckv in spaced relation from the drain, and. having his hands secured to the pump handle, a perforated conduit lying. on the deck in a loop around. the deck periphery and connected with the supply of running water, the perforations in the conduit directing jets of water both outwardly from and onto. the deck, the conduit also extending through the pump structure and discharging water through the spout onto the deck, a water wheel below the deck and in alignment with the drain therein and journalled on the framework for movement about a horizontal axis to be driven by the water draining downwardly from the deck, a connecting link eccentrically connected with the water wheel and also connected with the pump handle for swingably oscillating the same as the water wheel is driven, whereby the water supplied is discharged through the pump spout and onto the deck to drive the water wheel which produces oscillation of the pump handle and moves the figure of the person so as to simulate a pumping action.

2. An animated display to be operated from a supply of runing water, comprising a rigid base, a housing having an open bottom spaced from the base to permit water flow. therebetween, .means securing the. housing to the base, the. housing having a horizontal deck at the top thereof with an upright water-retaining wall extending around the periphery therein and. deck alsov having a drainhole therein, a simulated hand pump structure on .hands. secured to .the pump handle, a perforated conduit lying on the deck and having the inlet end extending downwardly through the deck and secured to the housing sidewall with a hose fitting thereon, the other end of the conduit extending through the pump structure and discharging water through the pump spout onto the deck, a pair of upright standards afiixed to the base in spaced relation with each other, one standard having a bearing aperture therein, the other standard having a slot therein opening upwardly through the top of the. standard, a shaft extending through said bearing aperture and lying in said slot to be rotatable on the standards, means on the shaft restricting endwise movement thereof and being constructed to permit removal of the shaft from the bearing aperture when the shaft is lifted out of the slot, 2, water wheel below the deck and in alignment with the drain therein, and affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and means drivably connecting the shaft withthe pump handle for oscillating the handle when the shaft is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,689 Hoak Nov. 21, 1882 1,282,212 Fulton Oct. 22, 19.18 1,289,928 Schlattau Dec. 31, 1918 1,488,405 Moon Mar. 25, 1924 1,499,223 Kleber June 24, 1924 1,635,978 Ross July 12, 1927 1,701,974 Gunderman Feb. 12, 1929 1,880,604 Vandergon Oct. 4, 1932 2,670,992 Long Mar...2,v 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 403,803 Great Britain Jan.- 4, 1934

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