CONTAINED ERUPTING POWDER STRESS RELIEF TOY

Abstract

The present invention provides a desktop toy, educational device, or stress relief device that provides visualization of the settling of dry fluidized powder and gas within a transparent container, where dynamic gas and powder streams may be seen flowing along the upper inclined side wall of the toy leading to a surface spout or eruption of gas and powder at the upper surface of the powder bed.

Claims

1. An enclosed transparent or partially transparent air-tight container having a first wall, the container filled with gas and partially filled with low true density powder having an upper surface, the container configured such that agitation causes fluidization of the powder which, upon allowing the container to stand still with the first wall at a slope from vertical, the settling powder and rising gas visibly moves along inside surface of the first wall (e.g., a transparent wall) of the container, thereby creating moving channels of gas and powder, with or without sprays of powder and gas at the upper powder surface.

2. An enclosed container device as described in claim 1, where the container and contents is in aggregate lighter than 2 pounds.

3. An enclosed container device as described in claim 1, where the container and contents are in aggregate lighter than 0.5 pounds.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the container is a round or rectangular cylinder or bottle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the container has one or more sloped transparent sides with or without ripples, such that when set at rest on a flat surface after agitation of the internal contents, the sloped sides or ripples allow rising gas to hit the sloped side and channel the gas into streams of moving gas and powder toward a surface eruption without need to tilt the container.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a stand is provided that holds the container at an angle, for which the angle may be static or dynamically adjustable, so as to provide an appropriately sloped surface for the internal powder and gas to form visible channels of gas and powder as the agitated fluidized powder settles.

7. The device of claim 1, where the primary low density powder or powders have a mean true density of <0.8 g/cm.sup.3.

8. The device of claim 1, where the primary low density powder or powders have a mean bulk density of <0.3 g/cm.sup.3.

9. The device of claim 1, where one or more additional powders is present in minority volume %, and that have a mean bulk density less than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3.

10. The device of claim 1, where one or more additional powders is present in minority volume %, and that have a mean bulk density less than 0.3 g/cm.sup.3.

11. The device of claim 1, where one or more of the powders is composed of glass or ceramic and may or may not be hollow or porous.

12. The device of claim 1, where one or more additional powders is composed of hollow silica-based microspheres.

13. The device of claim 1, where one or more additional powders is present in minority volume %, and that have a mean bulk density greater than that of the powder vehicle and that has a similar or different color or shade of gray than the powder vehicle.

14. The device of claim 1, where an anti-caking agent, such as fumed silica, calcium silicate, titanium oxide, is inside the container to prevent clumping of the primary or secondary powders.

15. The device of claim 1, where the container contains one or more dessicants that include but are not limited to: Silica, Activated charcoal, Calcium chloride, Charcoal sulfate, Activated alumina, Montmorillonite clay, Molecular sieve.

16. The device of claim 1, where the container is composed of a strong shatterproof material including but not limited to Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polyethylene terephthalate glycol, Acrylic, Amorphous Copolyester, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cyclic Olefin Copolymers, Ionomer Resin, Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene, Styrene Methyl Methacrylate, Styrene Acrylonitrile Resin, Methyl Methacrylate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.

17. The device of claim 1, where the container holds fixed or freely mobile objects of interest, including but not limited to glitter, colored paper, beads, foam objects, figurines, toys, statuettes, models, rods, spheres, or balls.

18. The device of claim 1, where the container holds ferromagnetic freely mobile objects of interest that can be temporarily held against the side of the container by a magnet during the agitation of the container contents, and then let go once the contents are fluidized. The ferromagnetic freely mobile object may include but are not limited to beads, figurines, toys, statuettes, models, rods, spheres, or balls.

19. The device of claim 1, where the container incorporates or is associated with one or more lighting device, including but not limited to glow in the dark plastic, electric light, motion activated light.

20. The device of claim 1, where the container incorporates or is associated with one or more sound generating devices including but not limited to a whistle, rattle, squeeze device, or electronic device.

21. The device of claim 1, where the container incorporates or is associated with an imaging device, including but not limited to a camera or a video camera.

22. The device of claim 1, where the container incorporates or is associated with a mechanical device that moves gas or powder inside the container, said mechanical device including but not limited to an internal fan or pump.

23. An enclosed transparent or partially transparent air-tight container having a first transparent wall, the container filled with gas and partially filled with a first volume of a first fine hollow powder vehicle having bulk density between 0.05 to 0.4 g/cm.sup.3, and further comprising one or more second volume of particles with bulk density between 0.5 to 2.0 g/cm.sup.3 with or without low true density, wherein the one or more second volume is less than the first volume, the device configured that upon agitation the first hollow powder is fluidized; upon allowing the container to rest with the first wall at a slope from vertical, the first hollow powder settles, and the settling powder and rising gas visibly move along an inside surface of the first transparent wall of the container, thereby creating moving channels of gas and the first hollow powder, with or without sprays of the first hollow powder and gas at the upper powder surface.

24. The device of claim 23 weighing less than 2 pounds.

25. The device according to claim 23, further comprising within the container one or more objects of interest.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1A-FIG. 1D Shows diagram of a closed tubular transparent container with low true density powder. (A) Shows the container at rest with the powder settled in a solid state in the bottom of the container. (B) Shows the container after vigorous shaking with gas, represented diagrammatically as white dots, interspersed in the now fluidized powder and the apparent volume of the powder substantially expanded compared to when the container is at rest. In various embodiments of the invention, the interspersed gas may not be visible as distinct dots, and may be only be seen as streams of gas or dynamic pockets of gas that may move upwards through the powder. If the container is left in this upright position, some plumes might be seen at the surface of the powder, but many times there are not visible plumes and the fluidized powder will settle gradually and shrink in apparent volume as the powder settles until it resembles (A) again. (C) Shows the container, with the powder still fluidized, now inclined away from the observer with the top portion farther away and the lower portion closer to us. In this position, gas rising through the fluidized powder hits the upper sidewall of the transparent container and forms streams of visible gas (small arrows) that then rise up along the upper sidewall of the container, like streams merging into a larger river of gas, up to the surface of the powder. At the top surface of the powder, a plume of gas and powder is consistently seen (large arrow) that may last for many seconds, sometimes over a minute, depending on many factors, including the size of the container and depth of the fluidized powder and type of powder. Depending on how large or free flowing the powder is, the gas streams may be smoother or coarser in appearance, and the powder may be more granular and chunky or fine in appearance as it is moved around by the streams of gas. (D) Shows the side view of the container, tilted so that streams of gas (small arrows) rising through the fluidized powder hits the upper sidewall of the container and then travels as streams of gas up along that upper wall until it gets to the surface of the powder, at which point the stream forms a visible plume or volcano-like spout of gas and powder (large arrow). After a period of seconds to minutes, the powder is largely settled in a non-fluidized state again.

[0032] FIG. 2A-FIG. 2D A transparent cylinder container partly filled with low true density powder vehicle and a minority of different colored powder that has higher true density than the powder vehicle. In this diagram, the higher true density powder is colored red and shown as schematically as red dots. In various embodiments of the invention, the vehicle powder and the higher true density powder may be similar in size and either powder may be very fine or coarse. (A) Shows the container at rest with some colored powder visible mixed with the vehicle powder. (B) shows the container after vigorous shaking to cause fluidization of the powder with apparent expansion of the powder volume by interspersed gas. (C) Shows the container with the top inclined away from us and the bottom closer to us. Streams of rising gas along the top wall of the container form and rise to the top surface of the powder. As these streams carry gas upwards, they also carry the lower true density vehicle powder upwards and out of the spout. The higher true density powder is left behind and become concentrated along the gas stream, and thereby create interesting ghosts of the paths of the gas streams. These gas streams may change as the rushing gas changes paths through the powder as it rises through the powder. (D) Shows a diagram of a possible pattern of higher true density powder along the wall of the container that remains static once the dynamic fluidized powder has come to rest. Repeated shaking of the container and dynamic varying of the inclination of the container with the fluidized powder will result in an infinite range of patterns of the different density powder along the wall of the container.

[0033] FIG. 3A-FIG. 3B shows a container with a relatively narrow neck that has sloped vertical indentations along the neck, and a fatter base. (A) the container is in repose and the vehicle low density and different-color higher true density powder has settled. (B) after agitation, the powder is fluidized and expanded in apparent volume. In this case, the sloped walls of the container are sufficient to allow multiple streams of gas from the fat bottom of the container to hit the sloped walls of the base of the neck of the container, resulting in multiple streams of gas and powder to form at multiple points around the neck of the container, between the indentations. There is no need to tilt the container away from the observer since the walls of the container along the neck of the container are closer together than the walls at the bottom of the container. This set up allows observers from all sides of the bottle to see dynamic spouts and patterns along the walls of the container.

II. DEFINITIONS

[0034] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein generally have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Generally, the nomenclature used herein and the laboratory procedures in organic chemistry, pharmaceutically acceptable formulation, and medical imaging are those well-known and commonly employed in the art.

[0035] The articles a and an are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, an element means one element or more than one element.

[0036] Toy as herein used means, unless otherwise stated, a play thing used by children or adults for amusement or stress relief or learning.

[0037] The terms particle and particles, used herein refers to small discrete objects larger than about 1 nm and smaller than 1 cm, such as powders, crystals, beads, beans, grains, pellets, spheres, and granules. A particle may be solid or may be hollow or porous or contain multiple internal cavities. A particle may be irregular in shape or smooth and spherical. A particle may contain gas or partial vacuum.

[0038] The term granule, used herein refers to a small discrete dry object larger than about 0.2 mm diameter and smaller than about 5 mm. A granule may be solid or may be hollow or porous or contain multiple internal cavities. A granule may be irregular in shape or smooth and spherical. A granule may contain gas or partial vacuum. A granule may be porous.

[0039] The term powder, used herein refers to a mass of small discrete dry objects with mean diameter larger than about 1 nm diameter and smaller than about 1 mm. The particles of a powder may be solid or may be hollow or porous or contain multiple internal cavities. The particles of a powder may be irregular in shape or smooth and spherical. The particles of a powder may contain gas or partial vacuum.

[0040] The term powder vehicle as used herein refers to a powder that is used as the majority volume component of a mixture of powders, meaning that more than 50% of the volume of the mixture of powders is composed of the powder vehicle. Exemplary specific sizes for the particle vehicles include mean diameter from about 1 nm to about 5 millimeters, e.g., 1 micron to about 500 microns encompassing each single mean diameter value and each mean diameter range within the larger range across all endpoints; in various embodiments, the particle vehicle has a mean diameter larger than about 5 microns. Further useful particle mean diameters include, for example, from about 5 microns to about 100 microns, e.g., from about 20 microns to about 300 microns.

[0041] True Density, as this term is used herein, refers to the mass of the material per volume that it occupies, excluding surrounding gas that is in free communication with the atmosphere, such as may be measured using a gas pycnometer. Mean true density, as this term is used herein, refers to the mass of a given sample of material per the volume that it occupies, excluding surrounding gas and gas between particles of the material that is in free communication with the atmosphere. Mean true density may be measured using a gas pycnometer.

[0042] Bulk Density, as this term is used herein, refers to the mass of the material per volume that it occupies after it has settled. Bulk density includes the gas between particles that is in free communication with the atmosphere in the volume measurement.

[0043] The term hollow as used herein refers to having a cavity of gas or partial vacuum within a particle of a powder or granule. The gas within the cavity may or may not be restricted from communication with the external environment, and gas may or may not be confined within the cavity.

[0044] Fluidized as used herein in regard to powder or particles is a state where the powder or particles is agitated and in a dynamic state of mixture with surrounding gas such that there is upward force of the gas on the powder or particles sufficient to visibly displace the powder or particles.

[0045] Fluidization as used herein in regard to particles and powder is a process by which the powder or particles is converted from a static solid-like state to a dynamic fluid-like state by mixing with a gas or fluid such as may be obtained with agitation or other process of introducing gas or fluid between the particles that were in a static solid-like state.

[0046] Gas as used herein refers to any substance in gaseous state at a given temperature or environment. Gas may include room air or any other mixtures of gas-state material, including single substance gas-state material. Generally, these temperatures and environments in which the gas needs to be in a gaseous state are those in which humans find habitable, and temperatures may range from 20 degrees to 45 degrees Celsius, and ambient pressures are that of 2.0 to 0.25 standard atmosphere of pressure.

[0047] Fluidization as used herein in regard to particles and powder is a process by which the powder or particles is converted from a static solid-like state to a dynamic fluid-like state by mixing with a gas or fluid such as may be obtained with agitation or other process of introducing gas or fluid between the particles that were in a static solid-like state.

III. EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A. Compositions

[0048] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a device whereby powders or particles and gas are enclosed within a transparent or partially transparent container, and where the container may be agitated to cause fluidization of the powders within.

[0049] In various embodiments of the invention, the majority of the powder (the powder vehicle) in the container has a low bulk density of less than 0.6 g/cm.sup.3. In various embodiments of the invention, the powder vehicle has a bulk density between about 0.07 and 0.5 g/cm.sup.3. In various embodiments of the invention, the powder vehicle has a bulk density between about 0.10 and 0.25 g/cm.sup.3.

[0050] In various embodiments of the invention, the powder vehicle in the container has a low true density of between 0.05 and 0.8 g/cm.sup.3. In various embodiments of the invention, the bulk density of the powder vehicle is between 0.10 and 0.50 g/cm.sup.3. In various embodiments of the invention, the bulk density of the powder vehicle is between 0.17 and 0.50 g/cm.sup.3.

[0051] In various embodiments of the invention, the powder vehicle is composed of fine particles with mean particle size diameter of about 1 to 500 microns. In various embodiments of the invention, the mean particle size diameter of the powder is between about 5 to 100 microns

[0052] In various embodiments of the invention, the powder vehicle is composed of fine hollow particles which may have predominantly single cavities within each particle, or may have multiple cavities within each particle. In various embodiments of the invention, the powder is composed of highly porous material. In various embodiments of the invention, the mean particle size diameter of the powder is between about 1 to 300 microns. In various embodiments of the invention, the mean particle size diameter of the powder is between about 5 to 100 microns

[0053] In various embodiments of the invention, an anti-caking agent, such as fumed silica, calcium silicate, titanium oxide, is inside the container to prevent clumping of the powder vehicle or secondary powders. In various embodiments of the invention, the anti-caking agent may have a visibly different color and true density than the powder vehicle and contribute the formation of patterns related to the settling of the overall powder after fluidization.

[0054] In various embodiments of the invention, the container contains one or more dessicants that include, but are not limited to: Silica, Activated charcoal, Calcium chloride, Charcoal sulfate, Activated alumina, Montmorillonite clay, Molecular sieve. In various embodiments of the invention, the volume of dessicant may be up to 49% of the volume of the total powder. In various embodiments of the invention, the volume of dessicant is 2 to 10% of the volume of the total powder.

[0055] In various embodiments of the invention, the container is composed partially or entirely of a strong shatterproof material including but not limited to Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polyethylene terephthalate glycol, Acrylic, Amorphous Copolyester, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cyclic Olefin Copolymers, Ionomer Resin, Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene, Styrene Methyl Methacrylate, Styrene Acrylonitrile Resin, Methyl Methacrylate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.

[0056] In various embodiments of the invention, there is one or more openings in the container that may be permanently or temporarily sealed. In various embodiments of the invention, the seal may be a weld, bonded part, glued on part, heat seal, or other permanent seal. In various embodiments of the invention, the seal may be a screw on cap, a push on cap, a plug, a slide on cap, a tied opening, a screw, a diaphragm, or other temporary seal.

[0057] In various embodiments of the invention, a portion of the entirety of the container is composed of glass, and may be any form of semi-transparent or transparent, colorless or colored, patterned or solid color glass.

[0058] In various embodiments of the invention, the container holds fixed or freely mobile objects of interest, including but not limited to glitter, colored paper, beads, foam objects, figurines, toys, statuettes, models, rods, spheres, or balls. The objects may be permanently sealed within the container, or may be removeable or addable.

[0059] In various embodiments of the invention, the container holds freely mobile objects of interest that can be temporarily held against the side of the container by a magnet during the agitation of the container contents, and then let go once the contents are fluidized. In various embodiments of the invention, mobile object inside the container may incorporate a small ferromagnetic component or be entirely ferromagnetic, and may include but are not limited to beads, figurines, toys, statuettes, models, rods, spheres, or balls. In various embodiments of the invention, the objects with ferromagnetic component inside the container have a higher true density than that of the powder vehicle such that they would sink in the fluidized powder. In various embodiments of the invention, the objects with ferromagnetic component inside the container have a lower true density than that of the powder vehicle such that they would float in the fluidized powder.

[0060] In various embodiments of the invention, the container incorporates or is associated with one or more lighting device, including but not limited to glow-in-the-dark material, electric light, or motion activated light. In various embodiments of the invention, the lighting device is inside the container and may be fixed or mobile. In various embodiments of the invention, the lighting device may be rechargeable or may be powered by an external source.

[0061] In various embodiments of the invention, the container incorporates or is associated with one or more sound generating devices including but not limited to a whistle, rattle, squeeze device, or electronic device. In various embodiments of the invention, the sound generating device may be activated such as by agitation of the container or by placement of the container on a stand.

[0062] In various embodiments of the invention, material or objects may be within or attached to the container to produce tactile sensations when agitating the container. In various embodiments of the invention, granules or beads or other objects with high true density of >1.5 g/cm.sup.3 are inside the container to produce tactile vibration or knocking or swishing sensations when the container is agitated or shaken. In various embodiments, the granules or beads or other objects have a true density between about 1.5 to 2.5 g/cm.sup.3.

[0063] In various embodiments of the invention, material or objects may be within or attached to the container to produce audible sensations when agitating the container. In various embodiments of the invention, granules or beads or other objects with high true density of >1.3 g/cm.sup.3 are inside the container to produce audible swishing, knocking, or clicking noises when the container is agitated or shaken. In various embodiments, the granules or beads or other objects have a true density between about 1.6 to 2.6 g/cm.sup.3

[0064] In various embodiments of the invention, the container incorporates or is associated with an imaging device, including but not limited to a camera or a video camera. In various embodiments of the invention, the camera allows for better visualization of the moving powder or streams of gas or other objects in the container

[0065] In various embodiments of the invention, the container incorporates or is associated with a mechanical device that moves gas or powder inside the container, said mechanical device including but not limited to an internal fan or pump to move gas through the powder, or a mechanical paddle or other device to agitate the powder.

B. Methods

[0066] The invention provides for simple method of creating miniature spouts or eruptions of gas streams and powder at the top surface of a bed of powder inside of a closed container without need to replenish materials or chemicals, such as is needed with typical erupting fluid and chemical volcano toys.

[0067] The invention provides for a simple method of repeatedly creating dynamic visible streams of gas within a bed of powder inside of a closed container by simple agitation of the container.

[0068] The invention provides methods for shaking, tapping, rocking, inverting, applying magnets to, and otherwise physically interacting with a sealed container containing low density powder, gas, and other objects of interest to create interesting fluidized flow effects.

[0069] The invention provides methods for shaking, tapping, rocking, inverting, applying magnets to, and otherwise physically interacting with a sealed container containing low density powder vehicle, one or more other powders with slightly different physical properties, gas, and other objects of interest to create interesting patterns in static powder caused by settling of the powder during or as a result of settling of a fluidized state.

[0070] The invention provides methods for shaking, tapping, rocking, inverting, applying magnets to, and otherwise physically interacting with a sealed container containing low density powder vehicle to erase patterns of differently colored powder that were previously present in the container.

[0071] Exemplary embodiments of the invention provides methods for use of higher bulk density granules or objects within low bulk density powder vehicle to promote fluidization of the powder vehicle on agitation.

[0072] Exemplary embodiments of the invention provides methods for projecting or magnifying the dynamic gas and powder flow channels and surface eruptions, including by digital display, magnifying glass, or lighting.

[0073] The following Examples are offered to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and do not define or limit its scope.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0074] A clear acrylic tube 0.5 cm thick, and 45 cm long, and with inner diameter of 7.5 cm, was half filled with fine white hollow glass powder particles with bulk density 0.1 g/cm having mean diameter <0.05 mm. An additional 10 cm.sup.3 of fine black carbon powder with bulk density 0.15 g/cm with mean diameter <0.2 mm was introduced. This tube was then sealed and upon mild agitation and tapping of the sides of the container, some mixing of the black and white powder at the surface of the powder was seen but with only some migration of the black powder downward in the column of lower bulk density white powder. After inversion of the tube and loosening of the powder with vigorous shaking, the apparent volume of the powder increased to nearly fill the tube, at which point the powder was fluidized. At this point, the black powder seemed fairly well dispersed in the white powder, and the now greyish powder gradually settled back to its original volume. Further tapping on the sides of the container did not result in substantial black powder settling down to the bottom of the tube as the powder remained fairly static except for some motion at the top few centimeters of the powder column. After vigorous agitation of the tube to again fluidize the powder, the tube was then held at a slight angle and a jet of gas and powder could be seen intermittently at the top surface of the powder as the powder settled back to its original volume. Repeated agitation of the tube to re-fluidize the powder and careful angulation of the tube slightly away from the observer allowed visualization of interesting dynamic streams of gas and powder forming and shifting along the upper sidewall of the transparent tube, leading up to plumes of gas and powder at the top surface of the powder. The powder remained greyish in color without substantial separation of the black and white powders (FIG. 1). The fluidization of the powder with jets of gas and powder could be re-created over and over. After a few months, the powder became slightly damp and less free flowing, but with sufficient shaking, some streams of gas and geysers could still be generated, though not with as fine and dynamic a pattern as originally seen. The weight of this container and contents was 420 grams (<1 pound).

Example 2

[0075] A clear acrylic tube 24 inch long and 2.5 inch diameter was half filled with fine white hollow glass powder particles with bulk density 0.17 g/cm.sup.3 having mean diameter <0.04 mm. An additional 2 teaspoons of red colored sand with granule size 0.3 mm and bulk density 1.6 g/cm3 was added and the tube was sealed. The red powder initially largely sank to the bottom of the tube. After vigorous agitation of the tube to fluidize the powder, the apparent volume of the powder expanded to fill about of the tube and the powder was overall a pinkish hue with some irregularity in the dispersion of the red sand in the tube. The tube was then immediately held at a slight angle and jets of gas and powder could be seen at the top surface of the powder as the powder settled back to its original volume. During this process, interesting dynamic streams of gas and powder formed and coalesced along the upper sidewall of the transparent tube, leading up to the plumes of gas and powder at the top surface of the powder. The paths of the channels of gas gradually became redder as the white hollow glass powder was carried with the channels of gas to the surface of the powder. As the strength of the gas channels diminished, the tube could be brought slowly to a more vertical position to increase temporarily the strength of the gas channels. The dynamic gas channels lasted up to 40 seconds before petering out. At that point, interesting red streaks along the paths of the prior gas channels remained along the upper sidewall of the transparent tube. This imprint of the prior gas channels was easily erased by mild shaking of the tube. The process of fluidization of the powder could be repeated indefinitely and produced many different dynamic patterns of red streaks along the gas channels in fluidized powder. Sometimes the channels were stronger, sometimes weaker. Sometimes the red streaks were more dramatic, other times less so, depending on random factors of the shaking of the tube, the contents, and the way the container was held during the settling process. (FIG. 2). The weight of this tube and contents was 1 pound.

Example 3

[0076] Two 500 mL clear PET bottles were half filled with white hollow glass particles, one with true density 0.45 g/cm3 and one with true density 0.6 g/cm3, then sealed. Some moisture was present resulting in caking of the powder, which limited the amount of fluidization which could be achieved with manual agitation of the bottle. Although channels of gas could be seen after powder fluidization, the channels were not well formed and were of short duration. Then 5 mL of a dessicant flow agent fumed silica was added to each bottle then the bottles were re-sealed. The fluidization of the powders in each bottle were then improved and distinct channels of gas could be seen after fluidization and tilting of the bottles.

Example 4

[0077] Twelve 20 oz wide mouth clear PET bottles were partially filled with different powders, two with true density 0.6 g/cm3, four with true density 0.45 g/cm3, four with true density 0.28 g/cm3, two with true density 0.11 g/cm3 white hollow glass particles. All were temporarily sealed. After powder fluidization and tilting the container, the 0.6 g/cm3 bottles showed only brief channels of gas rising through the powder, lasting less than 15 seconds, while the 0.28 g/cm3 and 0.45 g/cm3 bottles showed longer duration gas channels after fluidization, up to 40 seconds or more. The 0.11 g/cm3 bottle showed longer duration of gas channels, though the channels were harder to see.

[0078] In each bottle, 5 mL of colored sand was added. After fluidization of the powder and tilting the container, the 0.6 g/cm3 showed only faint colored trails of sand along the gas channels while the 0.45 g/cm3 powder bottles showed distinct colored trails. The 0.27 g/cm3 powder showed similar colored trails but the trails were more diffuse. The 0.11 g/cm3 powder did not show vivid colored trails since the colored sand ended up falling mostly into the bottom of the bottles rather than being suspended in the powder.

[0079] In one bottle of each true density powder described above, 5 mL of large granule sand (about 1 to 2 mm granule diameter) was added to the bottle. The density and large size granules of the sand caused the majority to sink to the bottom of all bottles. The sand caused a swishing sound on shaking the bottle, and added noticeable heft to the bottle.

Example 5

[0080] Four 500 mL clear PET bottles were half filled with white hollow glass particles having true density 0.45 g/cm3. Two bottles were 6 inches tall, and two were 8 inches tall. On fluidization, the gas streams were of longer duration in the 8 inch tall bottles.

[0081] Styrofoam triangles and spheres, about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, were added to the bottles and the bottles were sealed. The Styrofoam pieces could be submerged in the powder when at rest. On fluidization, the styrofoam floated to the top of the powder while allowing visible channels of gas and powder to readily form in the containers and erupt from the top surface of the powder.

[0082] A metallic ferromagnetic fastener with bent arms was added to the bottles containing Styrofoam and the containers were sealed. The fastener sank to the bottom of the container, but could easily be moved about the container by use of a magnet outside the container. The fastener could be manipulated using a magnet to push Styrofoam down below the powder surface. The fastener, being manipulated by an external magnet, could also be used to alter the patterns of colored sand and dynamic streams of gas while the powder was fluidized or to alter the patterns of sand after the powder had settled.

[0083] About 5 mL of glitter was placed in one of the 8 inch tall bottles and the glitter behaved similar to the colored sand, and outlined the dynamic streams of gas. The glitter could also be manipulated by the metallic fastener and the magnet.

REFERENCES

[0084] 1. Zur M. Rainmaker. Published online Jun. 24, 1997. [0085] 2. Meyer CF. Rainstick Toy. Published online Sep. 18, 1995. [0086] 3. , , , . Rain stick and interactive system. Published online Oct. 29, 2021. [0087] 4. Amazon oil and water toys. https://www.amazon.com/oil-water-toys/s?k=oil+and+water+toys. [0088] 5. Moving sand art toys. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=moving+sand+art&crid=3OH8KXE96X489& sprefix=moving+sand+art%2Caps%2C132&ref=nb_sb_noss_1.