Abstract: An illuminated balloon assembly. The assembly includes a balloon having a front wall and a transparent rear wall or a rear wall including a transparent area. A projector is mounted on an exterior surface of the rear wall. The projector has a housing with an outlet proximate to the transparent area of the rear wall and a light source directing light toward the housing outlet. A light filter element is positioned within the housing such that light is selectively filtered to cause a display image to project on the balloon front wall. The housing has upper and lower shells, with the upper shell rigidly attached to the rear wall and supporting the light source. The lower shell is pivotally mounted on the upper shell. The filter is a two piece construction with portions provided on the upper and lower shells to cause the display to animated by projector movement.

Abstract: A fountain system for creating unique water displays or water attractions. The fountain system includes a pump providing water at a flow rate and a plurality of fountain assemblies connected to the pimp outlet. Each of the fountain assemblies includes a nozzle such as a bell or dome nozzle that receives the water from the pump and discharges the water from its outlet in the form of an enclosed dome about the nozzle outlet. The fountain assembly includes a fog generator or fogger such as an ultrasonic transducer, positioned proximate to the nozzle discharging fog into the dome where it is trapped by the laminar flow water in the dome wall. Each fountain assembly includes a light source transmitting light into the dome to illuminate and color the captured fog. The flow rate may be changed to alter the shape and size of the domes.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating a flying effect. The apparatus includes a mounting assembly on a body and a wing assembly attached to the mounting assembly. The wing assembly includes right and left wings and a span member extending between the wings. A drive assembly is provided with a reciprocal drive shaft and a drive for reciprocating the shaft. A contact member extending from an end of the reciprocating shaft contacts the span member to apply a drive force at a drive frequency. The mounting assembly includes a recessed surface, and the span member is positioned over the recessed surface such that the span member is urged toward the recessed surface when the drive force is applied. The span member is formed of flexible material, and the wings move with the spring-like span member as it is urged toward the recessed surface and as it returns to its at-rest position.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying images from a video projector. The apparatus includes a virtual projector screen assembly with an elongate screen element, such as a rod, that is mounted at one end to a base. The base is adapted for pivoting about its axis, arid a driver mechanism pivots the, base at high frequencies. During operation, the screen element oscillates between two edge positions with images projected from the projector being displayed on a side of the screen element facing or proximate to the projector. The two edge positions can be thought of as intersecting at the base and define a sweep angle (e.g., the angular difference between the two outer travel points of the screen element that is typically less than about 90 degrees). The driver may include a motor with an oscillating output shaft that pivots the base such as with a belt attached to the base.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet illumination device, which includes at least one liquid droplet traveling on a first surface. The liquid droplet can be distilled water and the first surface can be a ribbon of translucent material. The liquid droplet illumination device further includes at least one light beam that is offset from the first surface. For example, the at least one light beam can be a coherent beam of light, such as a laser beam. The at least one light beam interacts with the at least one liquid droplet as it travels on the first surface, thereby illuminating the at least one liquid droplet.

Abstract: An illuminated balloon assembly. The assembly includes a balloon having a front wall and a transparent rear wall or a rear wall including a transparent area. A projector is mounted on an exterior surface of the rear wall. The projector has a housing with an outlet proximate to the transparent area of the rear wall and a light source directing light toward the housing outlet. A light filter element is positioned within the housing such that light is selectively filtered to cause a display image to project on the balloon front wall. The housing has upper and lower shells, with the upper shell rigidly attached to the rear wall and supporting the light source. The lower shell is pivotally mounted on the upper shell. The filter is a two piece construction with portions provided on the upper and lower shells to cause the display to animated by projector movement.