WO2001037957A1

WO2001037957A1 - Growing amusement device

Info

Publication number: WO2001037957A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000749
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sivan Asayag
Original assignee: Sivan Asayag
Priority date: 1999-11-29
Filing date: 2000-11-15
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: AU1298301A

Abstract

An amusement device which contains an object that appears to emerge, evolve, grow or change shape or appearance at a controllable rate. The device has an object (48), a container having a perforated float assembly which includes a perforated float (38), a spring (70) interposed between the float and a horizontal partition above the float (not shown), a tube (52), a connector (46). The device also has a restriction mechanism (72), which includes a rod (74) and a clipping device (76).

Description

GROWING AMUSEMENT DEVICE

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an amusement device having one or more objects that appear to emerge or evolve in an ongoing process as a result of water being introduced into the device. Specifically, the present invention describes in various preferred embodiments, amusement devices in which an object such as a Christmas tree emerges, evolves, or grows from a container or box (hereinafter "container") at a controllable rate, the emerging action initiated by pouring water into the container. More specifically, the present invention describes a float and a float assembly that facilitate this controllable rate evolution. The device of the present invention may also undergo appearance or shape changes as a result of water being introduced into it. The present invention also describes objects that change shape or appearance, and objects that dispense items as a result of water action. The use of amusement devices activated by water is known in prior art. In particular, an amusement device presenting a simulated flower is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,835 and the references therein, and uses one or more floating elements to simulate the action of "growth" upon watering. These floating elements are conventional in the sense that they rely on the natural buoyancy of the float material, and the rise of the float, which is the basis of the action effected by the object, is conventional in that it follows the rise of the water level under the float. Prior art water-activated devices similar to those of the present invention have very limited control of the rate of evolution that they undergo. When available, such control is normally imparted externally, by controlling the rate of water introduction. In most prior art devices, a controllable rate of the evolution undergone by the normally fixed and external object, for example the blooming rate of the simulated blooming flower in U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,835, is unimportant or marginal to the objects of the invention. In this invention, this controllable rate is central.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide novel amusement devices activated by water in which one or more objects appear to emerge, evolve, grow or change shape or appearance at a controllable rate. A typical example of such an object is a Christmas tree "growing" out of a pot upon watering. The Christmas tree may have candy hidden inside its trunk, in which case the candy is dispensed through holes in the trunk adjacent to the base of the tree branches. The dispensing action may be delayed and may come after the tree "grows" out of the pot. The two sequential "emergence" or "evolution" actions, that of the tree emerging from the pot and that of the candy being dispensed from its branches, are facilitated by novel perforated float assemblies described in greater detail below. As used hereinbelow, "evolve" and "evolution" are used to describe any action of emergence, growth, shape change and appearance change connected to a container, or an object in a container into which water is poured.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an amusement device which contains an object that appears to evolve in an ongoing process as a result of water being introduced into the device, comprising: a) a container having an internal peripheral envelope; b) a perforated float positioned inside the container, the float being conformal with the envelope, the float connected to the object; and c) means to introduce the water into the container, whereby the water flow through the perforated float determines the rate at which the object appears to evolve.

According to further features in the preferred embodiment described above, there is provided a spring contacted by the float, and a restriction mechanism that exerts a force upon the spring prior to the introduction of the water.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an amusement device which contains a plurality of objects that appear to evolve in an ongoing process as a result of water being introduced into the device, comprising: a) a container divided into a plurality of compartments, the compartments being in fluid communication with each other; b) a plurality of floats, each of the plurality of floats assigned to one of the plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of floats connected to one of the plurality of objects; and c) means to introduce the water into the container. According to further features in the preferred embodiment, described above, there is provided at least one spring contacted by at least one of the pair of floats, and at least one restriction mechanism associated with the at least one spring and which exerts a force upon the at least one spring prior to the introduction of the water. According to the present invention there is provided a floating device that allows an object connected to it to evolve at a controllable rate in an amusement device, comprising a perforated float.

According to the present invention there is provided a monster doll which stretches its neck and dispenses candy under the action of water introduced into it, comprising: a) a body section; b) a neck and head section aligned with the body section along a common axis; c) a central pipe concentric with the neck and head section and fixedly attached to the body section, the pipe in fluid communication with the body section, the pipe having an opening near the center of the body section; d) a float positioned inside the pipe; e) a rod connected at one of its ends to the float; f) a pad connected to another end of the rod; g) a dispensing mechanism connected to the rod, and h) means to introduce the water into the doll.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations, by providing an amusement device comprising one or more objects that appear to evolve at a controllable rate in an ongoing process, as a result of water being introduced into the device. Specifically, the present invention describes amusement devices in which an object such as a Christmas tree evolves from a container at a controllable rate, the evolving action initiated by pouring water into the container. More specifically, the present invention discloses an innovative float and float assembly that facilitate this controllable rate evolution. The present invention also discloses an innovative object that changes shape, and an innovative object that dispenses items when watered. The controlled rate evolution of a hidden object which emerges from a container, or the evolution of the container itself, under the action of water being poured into the container is novel and unexpected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of an amusement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a cup float according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of an amusement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an amusement device based on a perforated float assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an embodiment of a "two-float assembly" amusement device according to the present invention, based on the coordinated action of two float assemblies.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of another embodiment of a two-float assembly amusement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a double container amusement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of another embodiment of a double container amusement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of a magnetic amusement device according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an illustration of an amusement device in the shape of a monster doll according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of another amusement device in the shape of a monster doll according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an amusement device that changes its appearance as a result of the controlled flow of water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a growing amusement device comprising an object that appears to evolve at a controlled rate in an ongoing process, as a result of water being introduced into the device. Specifically, the present invention describes in various preferred embodiments amusement devices in which an object such as a

Christmas tree emerges at a controlled rate from a container, the emerging action initiated by pouring water into the container. The present invention also describes objects that change shape, and objects that dispense items as a result of water being poured into them. Thus "evolution" in the context of this specification also refers to a linear movement of an object, to dispensing of items from an object, to changes in shape or appearance of an object or its container, to remote action induced upon an object, or to any combination of these effects, the movement, change or remote action occurring as a result of water action.

The principles and operation of a growing amusement device according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings FIG. 1 illustrates an amusement device 10 that includes a container 30 having a base 32, a top 34 and a peripheral envelope 36. Container 30 is made of a water-resistant material, preferably plastic, Plexiglas, glass or a metal such as aluminum. Container 30 may assume externally any shape including common geometrical shapes such as cylindrical or cubical shapes, and non-geometrical shapes such as those of a bottle, a doll, an animal, etc. Regardless of the external shape, envelope 36 preferably has a simple cross section, either cylindrical or rectangular. Top 34 is normally a cover or lid, either fixed or removable, however it can also be open. If permanently covered, top 34 is referred to as cover 34. Cover 34 preferably has pre-prepared opening means, such as weak diagonal cuts meeting at a central hidden small perforation (not shown). This allows cover 34 to open or pop-up if pushed by an object emerging from inside container 30. Optionally and alternatively, cover 34 may be removable prior to using the container. A perforated float 38 with at least one vertical hole 40 is positioned inside container 30. Preferably, float 38 has a cup shape, with an envelope 42 that fits conformably inside envelope 36. Float 38 is referred to herein as a "cup float". In this specification, a "cup shape" is a geometrical shape that can contain a given amount of liquid. Preferably, as in FIG. 1 , the cup shape has a simple planar cross section, for example circular, rectangular, etc, i.e. the "cup" is cylindrical, cubical, etc. Float 38 is preferably made of a naturally buoyant material such as cork. In cup float 38, hole 40 is situated in a cup bottom 44. The fit between envelopes 36 and 42 is preferably close enough so that water poured into cup float 38 can exit the cup float only through hole 40, at a rate determined by the diameter of hole 40. Alternatively and optionally, float 38 can have a full shape, being herein referred to as a "full shape float", in which case hole 40 penetrates the entire height of the float. Any float with a hole, such as float 38 in either cup or full shape, is referred to herein as a "perforated float". Float 38 is connected by a rigid connector 46 to an object 48. Connector 46 is typically a rod or a tube, made of similar materials to those of the container. In FIG. 1, connector 46 is a tube. Optionally, float 38 and object 48 can be joined directly, without a connector between them. In yet another option, the object can be the float itself. If float 38 is a cup float, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, connector 46 or object 48 are preferably connected to the float by support members, for example members 50. Alternatively, cup float 38 may be a hollow cylinder provided with a full top surface (not shown) to which connector 46 is attached. A watering tube 52 is used to pour water into container 30. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, tube 52 is centered in the container and coaxial with object 48 and connector 46, passing through both to reach the internal space of cup float 38. Alternatively, tube 52 may be positioned off-center in container 30, in which case a hole (not shown) is provided in cover 34, to allow tube 52 to deliver water to the immediate vicinity of the float.

In use, water is poured into container 30 via tube 52, and accumulates inside cup float 38. The amount of water poured is adapted to the internal volume of cup float 38. The water flows from inside cup float 38 through hole 40 to underneath float 38 at a rate determined by the size of hole 40. Float 38 and object 48 then rise due to the natural buoyancy of float 38, at a rate connected to the flow rate of the water through hole 40. The extent of the rise may be controlled by shaping the cup float in a shape that provides a smaller diameter volume below the float than above (or inside) it. A schematic illustration of an example of such a cup float is shown in FIG. 2 (a-c). In "a" and "b", float 38 now has a wide cylindrical top section 38a and a narrow cylindrical bottom section 38b. Section 38b is contained in a restricted volume 56 provided by example by a tubular section 58 fixed to base 32. Hole 40 is positioned to allow water flow from inside section 38b to volume 56. A full shape float (FIG. 2c) may also be shaped with a narrower bottom section 38b vs. a wider top section 38a. An assembly of elements including a perforated float connected to an object, and means that insure their rise in a container upon water being introduced into the container (either a naturally buoyant material, or an added spring, as described below) is referred to herein as a "perforated float assembly".

Returning now to FIG. 1, optionally and alternatively, the controlled amount of water needed to operate the amusement device is assured by using an external reservoir 80 containing a given, known amount of water. In FIG. 1, reservoir 80 has a doll shape, but in general it may have any shape. Reservoir 80 has a bottom peg 82 with a hole 84. In this optional embodiment, cover 34 in container 30 (shown separately) is preferably fixed to the container and has an opening 86 fit to receive peg 82, and another larger opening 88, through which the object emerges from the container. Therefore, the water in reservoir 80 drips at a rate controlled by the size (diameter) of hole 84 into the vicinity of float 38. Float 38 may, in this embodiment, have any shape and size, and may in fact lack a hole for the controlled flow of water through it. The effect of controlled evolution of object 48 is obtained by the controlled drip of water through hole 84. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of an amusement device similar to the one shown in FIG. 1 , with the container having a perforated float assembly which includes in addition to a perforated float 38 of any of the shapes discussed above, a spring 70 interposed between float 38 and base 32. Alternatively, the spring may be interposed between the float and a horizontal partition above the float (not shown). A restriction mechanism 72, which includes a rod 74 and a clipping device 76, is used to compress spring 70 before water is introduced into the container. Preferably, the rod also serves as a watering tube, however the two may be also be separate. If cover 34 is removable, it can itself serve as the restriction mechanism, for example by exerting a compressive force on object 48, the force transferred through connector 46 and float 38 to spring 70.

In use, a given amount of water is poured into container 30 via tube 52 and accumulates inside float 38 if the float is a cup float, or above float 38 if the float is a full shape float. The weight of the accumulated water exerts an additional compressing force on spring 70, a force which keeps spring 70 in its originally compressed position even if restriction mechanism 72 is deactivated by removing clipping device 76, or in the alternative embodiment, cover 34. Mechanism 72 is deactivated immediately after water pouring is completed. As water flows through hole 40 to the space under float 38, the reduction of the water weight above spring 70 leads to a controlled release of the spring and therefore a controlled rise of float 38 and object 48. In this embodiment, float 38 need not have a natural buoyancy and may be made of any material, including plastic, Plexiglas, etc, FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of an amusement device 100 in which the emergence of an object from the container is based on a perforated float assembly. The object is a Christmas tree 102 connected by a rigid trunk 104, preferably cylindrical, to a float 106, which may be any the floats discussed above, with or without a spring. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, float 106 is shown as a full float. In use, tree 102 emerges from container 30 at a controlled rate upon pouring of a given amount of water into the container. Tree 102 has branches 103 connected to trunk 104. Optionally, container 30 may include an additional, substantially horizontal partition 108 positioned close to top 34, partition 108 provided with a sleeve 109 and a hole 110 through which tube 52 is introduced to the vicinity of float 106. The smooth rise of trunk 104 is assured by a cylindrical sleeve 112, which is connected to partition 108. Partition 108 and sleeve 112 may be made from any of the materials used to make the container, and may in fact be made as one piece. Sleeve 112 also prevents water and simulated earth from seeping into the lower part of container 30 near trunk 104. FIG. 5 (a-e) shows another embodiment of an amusement device based on the coordinated action of two float assemblies. In (a) a container 200 includes a vertical tube 202 connected to base 32. Tube 202 extends upwards towards cover 34, and divides container 200 into an external compartment 204 and an internal compartment 206. Water can flow between the two compartments via a base opening 205 in tube 202. Optionally, opening 205 may a small gap between the bottom end of tube 202 and bottom 32. More generally, the two compartments are said to be in "fluid communication", where the rate at which this communication (water flow) takes place is determined by the size of the opening connecting the two compartments. Compartment 204 contains a perforated float assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 4, for example tree 102 connected by trunk 104 to float 106 (shown in "b"). Here trunk 104 is a pipe, concentrically surrounding tube 202. Hole 40 in float 106 is larger than opening 205. Compartment 206 includes internally a second float 208 (shown in "c") connected by a full rod 210 to a second object 212. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, object 212 is a dispensing tray carrying dispensable items such as candy 214. Alternatively, rod 210 is tubular and internally hollow. Rod 210 is free to move inside tube 202. Trunk 104 (shown in "c") has one or more dispensing holes 216 close to the base of one or more branches 103. An assembled device is shown in "d".

Alternatively, as shown in "e", candy 214 may be pre-positioned in tubes 218, and an actuating mechanism 220, shown in "b", consisting of spring like actuators 222, may replace tray 212. When mechanism 222 rises inside trunk 104, actuators 222 continually scrape the inside of the trunk, expelling each piece of candy when such candy is touched.

In use, a given amount of water is poured into external compartment 204, causing float 106 to rise in the controlled manner described in previous embodiments. Because hole 40 is larger than opening 205, the water flowing into the space below float 106 accumulates therein, raising float 106 and tree 102 first. The smaller amount of water flowing from compartment 204 to compartment 206 results in a delayed rise of float 208 and tray 212. The relative extents of rise of tree 102 and tray 212 is determined by the geometry, relative opening sizes, and the various volumes, and can easily be calculated by those knowledgeable in the art. As tray 212 rises, tree 102 tends to descend, because the water in the two compartments settles at a common level. However, tree 102, once having risen to its maximum height, can be kept there by means such as a pair of small magnets, as described below in the embodiment of FIG. 7. For illustration and example only, the amusement device of Figure 5 can be designed to hold a total of 200cc in both compartments, and the internal volumes designed such that this amount of water causes a maximum 10cm rise of tree 102, and a maximum 9cm rise of tray 212. The calculation of compartment sizes, float diameters and heights, and water volumes needed to achieve a certain "height" to which tree 102 grows, and a certain height to which tray 212 rises inside trunk 104, can be performed by one knowledgeable in the art without difficulty. The sequential and coordinated rise of the tree and the tray with candy 214 results in the candy being "dispensed" out of holes 216. Optionally and alternatively, the two floats of FIG. 5 can function independently of each other, by having water introduced separately into the compartments containing these floats. In a particularly simple embodiment, the Christmas tree of FIGS. 4 and 5 is fixedly connected externally to the container, and only the internal dispensing mechanism connected to the float is activated by water. Thus, the effect of this embodiment of an amusement device according to the present invention is having candy dispensed out of the branches of the tree, when water is poured into the container, with the tree pre-positioned externally to the container.

The "two float assembly" embodiment of FIG. 5 can be implemented in yet another preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, in which the differential rate of rise the two floats is achieved by providing an additional perforated partition, like partition 108 in FIG. 4, above float 106. Float 106 is located within a compartment 56' similar to compartment 56 (FIG. 2). Float 106 carries trunk 104, and both are concentrically surrounding, and move along, tube 202. Inside tube 202 resides a float and dispensing mechanism carrying dispensable items such as candy, similar to that shown in FIG. 5c. Partition 108 has here a hole 250 that is larger than opening 205. In this case, it is not necessary for float 106 to fit conformably with envelope 58, since the rate at which water accumulates below it is dictated by the differential rate of flow between hole 250 and opening 205. Thus float 106 may be a non-perforated float.

Thus, the structure of FIG. 6 includes a combination of the elements of FIGS. 4 and 5.

The various floats mentioned above in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 are preferably made of a material that has a natural upward buoyancy, for example cork, in which case a spring may not be needed for implementation. However, as already mentioned, the incorporation of a spring in any perforated float assembly facilitates the use of non-buoyant floats, which can be made of any material, preferably a material similar to that used for the container and other parts in it. The aspect of one or more objects evolving in a container or emerging from it at a controlled rate under the action of water being poured into the container is innovative and non-obvious. The central element that facilitates this aspect according to the present invention is the perforated float assembly, with or without a spring. Two floats can be incorporated in the same container and each of the two floats can rise at a different rate, thus raising objects attached to them also at a different rate. A spring may be connected to each float, assisting in each object rising action. Another embodiment of a two-object, "double" amusement container, shown in FIG. 7, is based on such a "differential" rising rate.

In FIG. 7, a double container 300 contains a first object 302 connected through a vertical rod 304 to a float 306 and a second object 308 connected through a vertical rod 310 to a float 312. The use of sets of two objects, two rods and two floats is for example and illustration only, and it is clear that sets of three, four or even more objects, rods and floats can be incorporated in one amusement container and activated according to the description herein. Floats 306 and 312 are preferably perforated floats, however they can be regular floats of the type described in FIG. 6. At least one vertical partition 314 is positioned between two horizontal partitions, a first (top) partition 316 and a second partition 318. Partitions 314, 316 and 318 and container envelope 36 define two separate compartments, a first compartment 320 and a second compartment 322. Float 306 is contained in first compartment 320. Partition 318, base 32 and envelope 36 define a third compartment 325. Float 312 is contained in third compartment 325. Alternatively, compartment 325 can be removed, in which case float 312 is placed in second compartment 322. Each horizontal partition has at least one aperture in each separate compartment, the diameter of the aperture chosen to allow flow of water at a desired rate. In FIG. 7, partition 316 has an aperture 326 related to first compartment 320, and partition 318 has an aperture 328 related to third compartment 325, and an aperture 330 that enables the movement of rod 310 between compartments 320 and 325. Alternatively, when third compartment 325 is removed, aperture 328 is positioned at the bottom of vertical partition 314. Partition 316 also has two large openings 334 and 336 related to compartments 320 and 322 respectively which are connected to two sleeves 338 and 340. Each pair of opening and sleeve is matched in shape, and both sleeve and opening are preferably cylindrical. Each sleeve completely seals the edge of each opening, so that water cannot enter the opening from the sleeve side. Sleeves 338 and 340 contain objects 302 and 308 before these objects emerge from container 300, and their diameters are designed to allow an unimpeded vertical movement of objects 302 and 308. In one preferred mode of use, object 302 is planned to emerge first from container 300. Water is poured through the top of container 300 and flows into compartment 320 through aperture 326 at a rate determined by the diameter of aperture 326. Once in compartment 320, water flows through aperture 328 into compartment 325 at a rate determined by the diameter of aperture 328. If aperture 328 is smaller than aperture 326, the differential in the flow rates causes accumulation of water in compartment 320 which raises float 306 and with it rod 304 and object 302, which emerges from sleeve 338 and eventually from container 300. In the meantime, the water flowing into compartment 325 raises float 312 and with it rod 310 (which is guided and held vertically, by aperture 330) and object 308. The rate of rise of object 308 is typically slower than that of object 302, so there is a delay in between the emergence of the two objects from the container. Finally, since the amount of water supplied is fixed and predetermined, the amount of water introduced into compartment 320 starts to decrease as water continues to flow from compartment 320 into compartment 325. This causes float 306 to reverse its movement, and object 302 to descend back into container 300 in a "disappearing" act, which can be synchronized with the "emerging" act of object 308. Alternatively, the descent of object 302 can be prevented by catching means such as a pair of small magnets, a magnet 342 attached to the top of float 306 and a magnet 344 attached to the bottom of partition 316. The magnets exert a small force which "catches" float 306 as it gets close to partition 316, and keep float 306 in this position even as water is emptied from compartment 320. FIG. 8 shows an alternative double container 400 which includes, in addition to most of the elements of FIG. 7, a fourth partition 424 which defines a fourth compartment 450 with base 32 and envelope 36. Partition 424 has an aperture 432 which allows the eventual drainage of all the water accumulated above partition 424 (i.e. in compartment 325) at a rate controlled by the diameter of aperture 432. In this case, the sequences of steps described in FIG. 7 is followed by the descent and disappearance of object 308 back into container 400. The controlled rise of objects as water is poured, followed by their descent as water is drained from beneath floats to which they are connected, as detailed above, exemplifies a "cycling" action of an object evolving and devolving, emerging and disappearing, or rising and descending in an amusement container, and is applicable to any of the devices described in FIGS. 1-8. A cycling action as defined above may be applied to the container itself. This cycling action can be obtained by recycling the water in the container. As also shown in FIG. 8, a water recycling action may be achieved by a water recycling apparatus 450 including, for example, a small water pump 460, driven preferably by a small battery 462 attached to it, and connected in a closed system by small pipes 464 and 466 to, respectively, the top and bottom of container 400. Pump 460 drains water from the bottom of the container, and reintroduces it at the top of the container. The rate at which an object rises in the container is still controlled by the float, and not by the pumping rate. Apparatus 450 may be placed inside the container, and activated by an external switch 468 connected in an electrical circuit to battery 462 and pump 460. Apparatus 450 may also be external to the container, particularly with larger amusement containers used for example in shop displays, in which case the power to pump 460 may also come from the regular power grid.

FIG. 9 shows in "a" a cylindrical container 500 in which a float 502 is supporting an object 504 through a rod 506 in a manner similar to any of the configurations described previously. Float 502 is preferably a perforated float. Container 500 is made of any suitable non-magnetic and waterproof material, for example aluminum or plastic, and has a peripheral envelope 507, which is externally relatively smooth. A magnet 508 is fixedly attached to a sidewall 510 of float 502. Magnet 508 may be a flexible magnetic stripe, which can be glued for example to sidewall 510, thus assuming the wall shape, in this case cylindrical. Optionally, float 502 may be made magnetic by impregnating it with a magnetic material. Float 502 is therefore referred to herein as a "magnetic" float. The diameter of float 502 plus the thickness of magnet 508 are slightly smaller than the internal diameter of container 500 so that magnet 508, while close enough to envelope 507 to prevent significant water seepage, does not present a significant drag on the rise of float 502 due to a rising water level under the float. An external magnetic object 512 such as a heart (shown in "b"), flower, etc. is placed in a contacting position on the exterior of envelope 507 close to magnet 508 and is held in place at a height substantially parallel to the height of magnet 508 by the attractive magnetic force between the two magnets. Optionally, an object 512' may be positioned to slide on a thin support such as a rod 514 (shown in "c"), the rod connected in parallel with and slightly away from envelope 507. When water is introduced into container 500, float 502 rises, raising both object 504 and magnetic object 512. Optionally, object 504 may be removed, leaving container 500 as an embodiment of an amusement device in which an external magnetic object is raised by the action of water poured into the container. More than one object 512 can be attached to the outside of the container and can be influenced by magnet 508. Objects 512 can be implemented in external designs made of stretchable material and attached to container 500, for example to the two corners of a mouth in a face, causing distortion of the mouth due to the rise of the magnetic float.

FIG. 10 shows yet another embodiment of an amusement device in the shape of a monster doll 600. Doll 600 has a body section 602, and a neck and head section 604 that may be separate, or may be covered by a single flexible, elastic cover, made for example of fur, rubber or plastic. Body 602 preferably contains inside it an internal cylindrical enclosure 606 similar to any of containers of FIGS. 1-9, most preferably similar to the internal enclosure defined by envelope 38 of container 30 in FIG. 1. Body section 602 has a first opening 608, shown in FIG. 10 in the shape of a heart, but which could be of any shape, and a second opening 610 through which water can be introduced into doll 600. Opening 610 can be placed at any upper position on body section 602. Enclosure 606 contains a central pipe 612 fixedly attached to a horizontal top partition 614. Pipe 612 has a small dispensing tube 616 positioned to coincide with opening 608, and directed slightly downward, like a spigot. An assembly similar to the dispensing assembly of FIG. 5 and including a rod 620 carrying dispensable items 622 and rigidly connected at its bottom to a controlled rate float 618, is positioned concentrically with and inside pipe 612. Float 618 is located in a compartment 626 of enclosure 606. Rod 620 ends at its top in a pad 624. When doll 600 is assembled, neck and head section 604 encircles rod 620 and rests on pad 624. The length of rod 620 is chosen such that at least part of the neck in section 604 lies inside body section 602 when there is no water inside doll 600.

In use, water is poured into doll 600 through opening 610, causing float 618 to rise. Dispensable items 622, for example candy, rise also inside pipe 612 until they reach opening 608, at which point some or all of them pour out of doll 600 through opening 608. At the same time, pad 624 pushes neck and head section 604 upwards. Doll 600 thus appears to have a stretching neck and candy pouring out of its heart due to the action of water introduced into it. It is appreciated that the controlled rate rise of a float such as float 618 in FIG. 10 can be employed to activate additional elements connected mechanically to any part of rod 620. FIG. 11 shows yet another embodiment of an element connected to rod 620 and used to provide yet another amusement object activated by water action on a controlled rate float. A pusher mechanism 700 including a pusher element 702 is connected by a bendable connector 704, through a rigid attachment 706, to rod 620. Connector 704, which can be for example a flexible cable through which enough force can be applied to pusher element 702, exits from pipe 612 (FIG. 10) at an angle close to 90°, for example through a small tube similar to tube 616. The rise of rod 620 pushes pusher element 702 radially outwards. Mechanism 700 can be incorporated in a doll like doll 600 of FIG. 10 in the shape of a bear, a clown, monster, etc. and cause the expansion of the middle ("tummy") of body section 710 by the pushing action of element 702 when water is poured into the doll. In this embodiment, pipe 612 serves mainly as an enclosure and guide to rod 620. Float 618 is provided with a hole for water flow positioned in the float section that overlaps the cross section of pipe 612. Consequently, the introduction of water into doll 600 can alternatively be done directly via pipe 612, preferably through an opening 712 (FIG. 10) that is a "mouth" of doll 600. Thus, the effect obtained in this embodiment is one of an expanding "tummy" when the doll "drinks" water. FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of an amusement device 800 which changes its appearance as a result of the controlled flow of water. Device 800 has the shape of a rectangular box, divided into a front compartment 802 and a back compartment 804 by a vertical partition 806. Compartments 802 and 804 are in fluid communication through the bottom of partition 806. Compartment 804 is further divided into a top chamber 808 and a bottom chamber 810 by a horizontal partition 812 having at least one hole 814 of known diameter. Front compartment 802 has an external wall 816 with a transparent window 818, and contains a rectangular float 820 which has a design object 822 painted on a plane parallel to and visible through window 818. With no water in device 800, object 822 is positioned lower than window 818, and is therefore hidden. Upon introduction of water into chamber 808, the water flows through hole 814 into chamber 810, and seeps under partition 806 into compartment 802, lifting float 820 at a controlled rate, and resulting in the emergence of object 822 in window 818. In a particularly simple embodiment, device 800 has no internal partitions, i.e. is a simple rectangular box, and float 820 is a perforated cup float. In this embodiment, the controlled rate appearance of object 822 in window 818 is determined by the controlled rate of water flow through the cup float. In yet another embodiment, the entire container or parts of it can be transparent, and the window can be replaced by a one-way mirror.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. An amusement device which contains an object that appears to evolve in an ongoing process as a result of water being introduced into the device, comprising: i. a container having an internal peripheral envelope; ii. a perforated float positioned inside said container, said float being conformal with said envelope, said float connected to the object; and iii. means to introduce the water into said container, whereby the water flow through said perforated float determines the rate at which the object appears to evolve.

2. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein said perforated float includes a cup float.

3. The amusement device of claim 2, wherein said cup float includes a material having a natural buoyancy.

The amusement device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring contacted by said float, and a restriction mechanism that exerts a force upon said spring prior to the introduction of the water.

The amusement device of claim 4, wherein said float includes a non-buoyant material.

The amusement device of claim 2, wherein the object includes a Christmas tree.

7. The amusement device of claims 2 and 5, wherein said float includes a magnetic float, further comprising a magnetic object attached to said container, whereby the rise of said float upon the introduction of the water into said container causes the coordinated rise of said magnetic object.

8. An amusement device which contains a plurality of objects that appear to evolve in an ongoing process as a result of water being introduced into the device, comprising: i. a container divided into a plurality of compartments, said compartments being in fluid communication with each other; ii. a plurality of floats, each of said plurality of floats assigned to one of said plurality of compartments, each of said plurality of floats connected to one of said plurality of objects; and iii. means to introduce the water into said container.

9. The amusement device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of objects and said plurality of floats includes a pair of objects and a pair of floats.

10. The amusement device of claim 9, wherein at least one of said pair of floats includes a perforated float.

11. The amusement device of claim 10, wherein said at least one of said pair of floats includes a cup float.

12. The amusement device of claim 9, further comprising at least one spring contacted by at least one of said pair of floats, and at least one restriction mechanism associated with said at least one spring and which exerts a force upon said at least one spring prior to the introduction of the water.

13. The amusement device of claims 12, wherein said pair of objects include a Christmas tree and a dispensing mechanism, said dispensing mechanism further including dispensable items, said items being dispensed from inside said tree.

14. A floating device that allows an object connected to it to evolve at a controllable rate in an amusement device, comprising a perforated float.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said float includes a cup float.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said cup float includes a buoyant material.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a spring contacted by said float.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said float includes a non-buoyant material.

19. A monster doll which stretches its neck and dispenses candy under the action of water introduced into it, comprising:

i. a body section ii. a neck and head section, aligned with said body section along a common axis; iii. a central pipe concentric with said neck and head section and fixedly attached to said body section, said pipe in fluid communication with said body section, said pipe having an opening near the center of said body section; iv. a float positioned inside said pipe; v. a rod connected at one of its ends to said float; vi. a pad connected to another end of said rod; vii. a dispensing mechanism connected to said rod, and viii. means to introduce the water into the doll.

20. The doll of claim 19, further comprising a pusher mechanism connected to said rod, said mechanism pushing against said body section when the water is introduced into the doll.