Shimmer Disc Or Image Apparatus And A Method Of Use Thereof

Abstract

A shimmer disc or image apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a support member, at least one shimmer disc or member, and engagement means provided on or associated with the support member and/or shimmer disc or member for engaging the at least one shimmer disc or member to the support member in use to form an engaged position. The support member, engagement means and/or the at least one shimmer disc or member are arranged such that when engaged, at least part of the at least one shimmer disc or member is movable relative to the engagement means and/or support member in use. The at least one shimmer disc or member is arranged such that at least part of the same is able to flex in use and/or is resiliently biased to the engaged position in use.

Claims

1. Shimmer disc or image apparatus, said shimmer disc or image apparatus including a support member; at least one shimmer disc or member; engagement means provided on or associated with the support member and/or shimmer disc or member for engaging the at least one shimmer disc or member to the support member in use to form an engaged position; the support member, engagement means and/or the at least one shimmer disc or member arranged such that when engaged, at least part of the at least one shimmer disc or member is movable relative to the engagement means and/or support member in use, characterised in that said at least one shimmer disc or member is arranged such that at least part of the same is able to flex in use and/or is resiliently biased to the engaged position in use.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engagement means provided on or associated with the at least one shimmer disc or member is an aperture defined on or through said shimmer disc or member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the engagement aperture, or at least part of the engagement aperture, provided on or associated with the at least one shimmer disc or member is movable from a disengaged position, wherein the engagement aperture is a relatively small size, to an engaged or an engaging position, wherein the engagement aperture is a relatively large size.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the engagement means, resilient biasing means and/or flexing means provided on or associated with the at least one shimmer disc or member includes one or more cuts or cut out portions in communication with the engagement aperture.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the material of the shimmer disc or member between the cut or cut outs form one or more protrusion portions that are capable of flexing and/or moving in use.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein one or more of the protrusion portions acts as a rocker or pivot member when it engages with a surface of the engagement means on the support member in use to allow the shimmer disc or member to move.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the engagement means provided on or associated with the support member includes at least one body portion which is attached or integrally formed with the support member and protrudes outwardly therefrom, and a head or engagement end that protrudes outwardly from the body portion, wherein the head or engagement end of the body portion is locatable through the engagement means of the shimmer disc or member in use to form an engaged position.

8. (canceled)

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a rear surface of the head or engagement end creates a shoulder or stop portion to prevent accidental removal of the shimmer disc or member therefrom once located thereover in the engaged position in use.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one body portion has a narrowing taper from a first end attached to or integrally formed with the support member, towards a second free end, to allow the shimmer disc or member to move relative to the same when in the engaged position in use.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support member includes a plurality of engagement means arranged a spaced distance apart thereon.

14. (canceled)

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein attachment means are provided on or associated with the support member for allowing the support member to be attached to a surface in use.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support member is formed from an optically clear or transparent material, a substantially optically clear or transparent material and/or from a plastic material.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one shimmer disc or member is formed from or includes any or any combination of a sheet like material, a material made from or including a metallic material thereon, a metallic foil material, a material having a relatively high gloss surface finish on at least a front surface thereof so that light can be reflected from the same, a non-metallised material, a plastic material, a plastic film material, a transparent or substantially transparent material or is circular or substantially circular.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one shimmer disc or member is approximately 100 m thick and/or less than 30 mm in diameter or width.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a liquid and/or fluid, and/or a reservoir in which the liquid and/or fluid us located in use, in which at least part of the apparatus is located in use.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the liquid and/or fluid is water, air, gas, and/or silicone oil.

26. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein fluid flow means are provided to generate or aid movement of fluid and/or liquid relative to the at least one shimmer disc or member in use to generate movement of the at least one shimmer disc or member in use.

27. (canceled)

28. A method of using or assembling shimmer disc or image apparatus, said shimmer disc or image apparatus including a support member; at least one shimmer disc or member; engagement means provided on or associated with the support member and/or shimmer disc or member, said method including the steps of engaging the at least one shimmer disc or member to the support member in use via the engagement means to form an engaged position; the support member, engagement means and/or the at least one shimmer disc or member arranged such that when engaged, at least part of the at least one shimmer disc or member is movable relative to the engagement means and/or support member in use, characterised in that said at least one shimmer disc or member is arranged such that at least part of the same is able to flex in use and/or is resiliently biased to the engaged position in use.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein two or more shimmer discs or members engage with the engagement means of the support member simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

30. A shimmer disc or member according to claim 1.

Description

[0118] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0119] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shimmer disc according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0120] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a perspective front view and an enlarged perspective view of the support member according to an embodiment of the present invention respectively;

[0121] FIGS. 3a and 3b show an enlarged view of the shimmer disc in FIG. 1 engaged onto the support member in FIG. 2 in use, and a front view of the shimmer disc engaged to a head end of the engagement means in use;

[0122] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the support member in FIG. 2;

[0123] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the shimmer disc material which has been cut to shape prior to the support member being attached to the same;

[0124] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shimmer disc according to further embodiment of the present invention; and

[0125] FIG. 7 is an example of a jig that can be used with the support member to allow the shimmer discs to be engaged to the support member in use.

[0126] Referring to the figures, there is illustrated shimmer disc imagery apparatus 2 comprising a plurality of shimmer discs 4 (only one of which has been shown for the purposes of clarity in some of the figures) and a support member 6.

[0127] Each shimmer disc 4 is circular in shape and has an engagement aperture 8 located adjacent a top edge of the disc. A lower part or half of the aperture 8 is semi-circular in shape, such that the lower edge of the aperture is curved. An upper part or half of the aperture 8 has flexing means in the form of a plurality of spaced apart cut outs 10 extending radially outwardly from the aperture, creating flexible protrusions 12 therebetween. The protrusions 12 protrude inwardly of the aperture 8.

[0128] A top central protrusion 12 is V shaped in form and the lower point 13 of the V acts as a rocker or pivot on a top surface of a neck portion 34, as will be described in more detail below.

[0129] In this example, shimmer disc 4 is formed from a polyester sheet material that has a metallised surface provided on at least a front surface of the material. However, it will be appreciated that the material from which the shimmer disc is formed can be any material which allows light to be reflected from the same, such that it can create a shimmer effect on movement of the same in use. Each shimmer disc is approximately 13 mm in diameter in this example. It has a front surface 14 and a rear surface 16.

[0130] Each shimmer disc 4 is engaged to engagement means in the form of an engagement post 18 in use. A plurality of engagement posts 18 are integrally formed on a support member 20. The support member 20 is a board or plate like structure in the illustrated example.

[0131] Support member 20 has a front surface 22 and a rear surface 24. The engagement posts 18 are spaced apart in a uniform arrangement and protrude outwardly from the front face 22. All the posts 18 in a horizontal or width direction are aligned, and all the posts 18 in a vertical or length direction are aligned, thereby forming a grid like arrangement.

[0132] The posts 18 protrude perpendicularly to the front surface 22 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0133] Frangible means in the form of channels 26 can be defined both lengthwise L and widthwise W on support member 20, as shown in FIG. 2b. The channels 26 provide a weakened area of the support member 20 having less depth (distance between the front surface 22 and the rear surface 24), thereby allowing the support member to be easily cut or broken along the channels. This increases the ease with which the dimensions of the support member 20 can be altered according to the size of the imagery to be created using the shimmer discs 4 in use. The channels 26 define a relatively protruding tile member 28 between the channels 26 and each tile member 28 has an engagement post 18 located centrally thereof.

[0134] FIG. 3a shows an embodiment of the support member without frangible means.

[0135] Each engagement post 18 is typically identical in form on the support member 20. The post 18 comprises a body portion 30 having a first end 32 integrally formed with the support member 20 and protruding perpendicularly outwardly relative to the support member. A neck portion 34 protrudes outwardly from a second end 36 of body portion 30. Neck portion 34 is typically perpendicular to second end 36. A head portion 38 is provided at a free end of post 18 and is integral with neck portion 34.

[0136] The dimensions of head portion 38 are larger than the dimensions of neck portion 34. In use, head portion 38 is pushed through the aperture 8 of shimmer disc 4 and the disc locates on the neck portion 34. The flexible protrusions 12 adjacent aperture 8 on disc 4 flex outwardly from the front, planar surface 14 of disc 4 when the head portion 38 is located through aperture 8 from rear surface 16, thereby making aperture 8 larger during this process. Once the head portion 38 is located through the aperture, the protrusions 12, and particularly the V-shaped protrusion 12 acting as a rocker engage against the neck portion of post 18. The resilient biasing force of the protrusions 12, 12 force them into engagement with the neck portion 34. The rear surface 40 of head portion 38 creates a shoulder or stop portion relative to the neck portion, thereby preventing accidental removal of the shimmer disc from post 18 via the head portion 38 in use. The second end 36 of the body portion 30 limits movement of the disc 4 in a rearwardly direction towards the support member 20, due to its size being larger than that of the aperture 8 of the disc.

[0137] A front surface 42 of head portion 38 is typically convexed or curved in shape to increase the ease with which the same can be located through the disc aperture 8 in use.

[0138] A base surface 44 of body portion 30 is angled towards front surface 22 of the support member, thereby providing the body portion 30 with a narrowing taper from surface 22 towards the engagement post 18. This creates space to allow the shimmer disc 4 to move freely, such as rocking backwards and forwards relative to support member 20 and/or rocking from side to side relative to support member 20, when located in place on the neck portion 34 of post 18.

[0139] An aperture 46 is optionally defined between front and rear surfaces 22, 24 of support member 20 to allow the support member to be removed from the injection mould tooling in use. This aperture 46 does not typically perform any other function.

[0140] Attachment means in the form of apertures 48 are defined between front and rear surfaces 22, 24 of support member 20 to allow screws to be located through the same for attachment of the support member 20 to a suitable surface in use.

[0141] In order to produce the shimmer disc imagery, a plain foil sheet 50 is printed with a desired image on the same using UV curable printing. The printed sheet is then placed in a laser cutting machine with the foil placed such that the printed image faces downwardly in the machine (or away from the cutters). A plurality of shimmer discs 4 and apertures 8 are then cut into the foil, as shown by FIG. 5.

[0142] Without moving the discs 4 from their cut position, the front surface 22 of support member 20 is located onto the rear surface 16 of the discs 4, and a downward pressure is applied. This forces the head portion 38 of each engagement post 18 through aperture 8 of each disc 4 and locates the disc onto the neck portion 34 of the posts 18. All the discs are engaged simultaneously on the support member. The printed image on the foil is therefore visible on the front surfaces of the discs 4 when the front of the support member 20 is viewed by a user.

[0143] Since there are gaps 52 defined between the circular discs 4 on the sheet 50, approximately 80% of the printed image is not transferred onto the discs 4 when cut. With the waste foil material removed from around the cut discs 4, part of the printed image is therefore lost. However, in one embodiment, the same printed image that is printed onto foil 50 can also be printed onto the front or rear surfaces of the support member 20. Thus, a user can see the entire image when the support member 20 is viewed from the front of the apparatus as a result of the combination of the image parts on the disc and the image on the front/rear faces of the support member.

[0144] The size of the support member is typically the same as the size of the template 54 used for cutting the foil. This allows the foil and the support member to be aligned, such that every cut disc is able to located with an engagement post 18 on the support member 20.

[0145] In one example, up to 225 shimmer discs can be simultaneously or substantially simultaneously located onto the engagement posts of the support member in use. This process takes approximately 30 seconds to locate all the shimmer discs onto the support member, compared to approx. 2.5 hours if a user had to do the same manually.

[0146] With the shimmer discs 4 located on the engagement posts 18, air flow around the discs allows the discs to move. Light is reflected from the front surface 14 of the discs, thereby creating a shimmer effect when viewed by a user.

[0147] Since both the support member and the shimmer discs can be printed with an image thereon, the intricacy and detail of the image is significantly improved compared to prior art shimmer discs. This allows the detail and visual effect of the shimmer imagery to be appreciated by a user when standing closer to the imagery than with the prior art.

[0148] The image printed onto the discs can be any or any combination of one or more images, designs, text, photographs, numbers, colours, symbols and/or the like.

[0149] Since the discs can be produced much smaller than conventional shimmer discs, the resulting aesthetic effect is significantly magnified.

[0150] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a further example of a shimmer disc 104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The shimmer disc 104 has an engagement aperture 8 located adjacent a top edge of the disc. The lower part of the aperture 8 is semi-circular in shape. An upper part of the aperture has a single cut 106 extending radially from the aperture 8, creating flexible protrusion portions 108 either side of the same. The protrusion portions 108 act as pivot points on the top surface of the neck portion of the support member in use as previously described.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated an example of a jig 110 that can be used to apply the shimmer discs 4, 104 onto a support member 112. The jig 110 has a plurality of apertures 114 defined thereon which are arranged in the same grid like arrangement as the engagement posts 18 on support member 112. Positioning means in the form of upright posts 116 are arranged around the apertures 114 to allow the support member 112 to be located therebetween in use.

[0152] A sheet of shimmer disc material can be placed on jig 114. The position of the apertures 8 cut into the shimmer disc material are typically aligned with the apertures 114 defined on the jig 114. The front surface of the shimmer disc material is typically located in abutting relationship with the top surface of jig 114. The front surface of the support member 112 is then located on the jig 114, such that the support members 112 locate through the apertures 8 on the shimmer disc material and the free ends of the support members 112 locate at least partially in the apertures 114 on the jig. Pressure is applied on the rear surface of the support member in a direction towards the jig 114, thereby forcing the support members 112 through the apertures 8 and engaging the same together as previously described.