Abstract: A display device configured to display and/or playback information received from a remote computer over a network. The device includes a processor coupled to a visual display and a memory storing computer-executable instructions and a device identifier. The device is coupled to the network by a network interface configured to send a request including the device identifier periodically to the remote computer. The remote computer is configured to receive messages from other remote computers for display and/or playback by the display device. In response to each request, the remote computer uses the device identifier to identify messages for the display device stored in a device account, which are subsequently downloaded by the display device for display and/or playback thereby. The processor is operable to display and/or playback information in the downloaded message.

Abstract: A display device configured to use an array of discrete light sources to display information received from a remote computer over a network. The device includes a processor coupled to the light sources and a memory storing computer-executable instructions and a device identifier. The device is coupled to the network by a network interface configured to send a request including the device identifier periodically to the remote computer. The remote computer is configured to receive messages from other remote computers for display by the display device. In response to each request, the remote computer uses the device identifier to identify messages for the display device stored in a device account, which are subsequently downloaded by the display device for display thereby. The processor is operable to turn selected ones of the discrete light sources on and off to display information in the downloaded message.

Abstract: A trophy including a base having a support surface for supporting a support platform of a rotation mechanism configured to support and rotate a rotating article about a vertical axis of rotation. The rotation mechanism includes a motor concealed inside the rotating article and a support platform substantially concealed inside a recess formed in an outside surface of the rotating article. An output shaft aligned with the axis of rotation connects the motor inside the interior of the rotating article to the support platform. The motor includes a motor body nonrotatably coupled to the interior of the rotating article. Surface interaction forces between the support platform and the support surface are greater than or equal to a predetermined amount of rotational drive force generated by the motor and applied to the output shaft causing the motor body and the rotating article coupled thereto to rotate about the output shaft.

Abstract: An ant sculpture is formed by removing a block of nutritious gel having with a network of ant tunnels from a formicarium container; placing the block in an p.v.c bag that serves as a release liner; and stuffing the bag containing the gel block back into the container. The tunnel network is then filled with a transparent epoxy resin which is permitted to harden in the tunnel network; the bag containing the gel body with set epoxy removed from the container and, the gel is then separated so that the hardened epoxy forms an ant sculpture replicating the network of ant tunnels. The epoxy resin is Bisphenol A epoxy resin.

Abstract: An electric fan assembly has a rotating fan blade mounted with an array of light emitting devices; a thermistor mounted on the fan blade and providing an analog signal corresponding to a sensed temperature, a fan blade position synchronizing switch and a microcontroller and display driver having an analog to digital converter. The microcontroller and display driver is connected to receive the signals from the thermistor and synchronizing switch and programmed to selectively power the light emitting devices when the fan blade is in a synchronized position to provide an alpha numeric display of the ambient temperature by a persistence-of-vision effect.

Abstract: An improved magnetic levitation device has a first base magnet with a partially demagnetized central region over which a second dipole magnet is spun or rotated so as to levitate above the first magnet. The levitation device may be calibrated for stability and height of levitation of the second magnet by selected demagnetization of portions of the first magnet.

Abstract: A decorative and educational waterfall device has a substantially continuous film of a liquid, such as water, low viscosity oil or an aqueous solution, extending between spaced guide surfaces. The waterfall comprises a base reservoir in which is mounted an electrical pump. A liquid flow passage is mounted to the base and extends to a trough with a lip portion or a tank with a flow orifice from which water flows to form the waterfall between the spaced guide surfaces. The trough or flow orifice is configured to cause the flow of water to be directed outwardly toward the guide surfaces to improve the capability of the liquid to form a continuous film and the adherence of the liquid film to the guide surfaces.

Abstract: A decorative and educational waterfall device has a substantially continuous film of a liquid, such as water, low viscosity oil or an aqueous solution, extending between two vertically upstanding guides. The waterfall comprises a base reservoir in which is mounted an electrical pump. A tower containing a liquid flow passage is mounted to the base and a trough having two side walls and a bottom wall which terminates in a lip portion at the front edge of the trough is mounted to the tower so that liquid from the tower flows over the bottom wall and lip portion of the trough to form the waterfall between the two upstanding guides. The bottom wall of the trough is configured to cause the flow of water to be directed outwardly toward the guides to improve the adherence of the liquid film to the guides.

Abstract: A decorative and educational waterfall device has a substantially continuous film of a liquid, such as water, low viscosity oil or an aqueous solution, extending between two vertically upstanding guides. The waterfall comprises a base reservoir in which is mounted an electrical pump. A tower containing a liquid flow passage is mounted to the base and a trough having two side walls and a bottom wall which terminates in a lip portion at the front edge of the trough is mounted to the tower so that liquid from the tower flows over the bottom wall and lip portion of the trough to form the waterfall between the two upstanding guides. One or more flow restrictors are mounted transversely across the trough, substantially parallel to the lip portion to decrease the turbulence of the flowing liquid and improve the capability of the liquid to form a continuous film.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive apparatus and method are operative to rotate a magnetically levitated object for an indefinite period of time. The object, such as a spinning magnetic top with a spindle, is levitated over a base magnet and a horizontal component of a pulsed magnetic field is applied at the region of the spinning magnetic top to maintain the top spinning and levitating indefinitely. The pulsed magnetic field is generated by applying a pulsed dc voltage or an ac current to a coil situated in proximity to the top. The coil may have a cylindrical or oblong shape and a core may be provided in the coil. Levitation stability and duration are improved by positioning a loosely fitting washer on the spindle of the spinning magnet so as to permit relative rotation therebetween during application of the pulsed magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation device and method of levitating a magnet without mechanical restraining elements are disclosed. The levitation device comprises a first magnet with a polygonal, preferably square, periphery and a substantially planar upper surface magnetized normal thereto and a second magnet with an apparatus to rotate or spin the same. The second magnet is rotated or spun on a lifter plate disposed on the upper surface of the first magnet with like polar orientations of the magnets in confronting relation. When the lifter plate is raised above the first magnet the spinning second magnet levitates above the first magnet and the lifter plate and the lifter plate is removed from between the first and second magnets. The weight of the second magnet may be varied to change the height above the first magnet at which the second magnet levitates.

Abstract: A device comprising several highly elastic objects is presented whose purpose is to demonstrate an unobvious consequence of fundamental laws of physics--the acceleration of an object to high speed by multiple collisions among a series of heavier objects moving at slower speed. The objects, each of different mass, are arrayed in close proximity in order of decreasing mass with their centers lying along a straight line. This arrangement of the assembly of objects is maintained by a constraining element which permits the assembly axis to be oriented in any desired direction and permits the assembly to be moved or manipulated as a unit in any desired way without destroying the arrangement of objects. In the preferred embodiment the elastic objects are polybutadiene balls (12), the constraining element is an interior guide-pin (10) fastened in the largest ball and extending radially therefrom, on which the remaining balls can slide freely because of diametrical holes formed in them.

Abstract: A device comprising several highly elastic objects (for example, steel balls (14)) hanging from a support structure (12) is presented whose purpose is to demonstrate an unobvious consequence of fundamental laws of physics - the acceleration of an object to high speed by multiple collisions among a series of heavier objects moving at slower speed. The objects, each of different mass, are arrayed in close proximity in order of decreasing mass with their centers lying along a horizontal straight line. When the heaviest object, hanging at one end of the line, is pulled back a small distance, rising to some small height above its rest position, and released the resulting impact leads to a transfer of energy through the line of objects to the lightest one, at the other end of the line, which is accelerated to high velocity. When appropriately directed, this high velocity can cause the lightest object to rise to a much greater height than that from which the heaviest object was released.