Liquid filled display stand

Abstract

In a liquid filled display stand, an upright transparent hollow member is mounted on a top end wall of a hollow base, and confines a water-tight inner space that is adapted to be filled with a liquid body. A nozzle set, which includes a plurality of tubular needles, is mounted on the top end wall of the hollow base. Each of the needles extends into the inner space, and has inlet and outlet ends. The outlet end is disposed above a bottom end of the hollow member. An air source is disposed in the hollow base, is coupled to the inlet ends of the needles, and is operable so as to supply air bubbles into the liquid body in the inner space via the outlet ends of the needles.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A liquid filled display stand comprising: 
 a hollow base having a top end wall;    an upright transparent hollow member mounted on said top end wall of said base and confining a water-tight inner space that is adapted to be filled with a liquid body, said hollow member having top and bottom ends and a surrounding wall that extends between said top and bottom ends;    a nozzle set including a plurality of tubular needles mounted on said top end wall of said hollow base, each of said needles extending into said inner space and having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being disposed above said bottom end of said hollow member; and    an air source disposed in said hollow base, coupled to said inlet ends of said needles, and operable so as to supply air bubbles into the liquid body in said inner space via said outlet ends of said needles.    
     
     
         2 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said needles extend transverse to said top end wall of said hollow base.  
     
     
         3 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shelf mounted on said hollow member.  
     
     
         4 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said air source includes a supply pipe having a plurality of branches, each of which is connected to said inlet end of a respective one of said needles.  
     
     
         5 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said air source includes a plurality of check valves, each of which is adapted to check flow of the liquid body into a respective one of said branches.  
     
     
         6 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said air source further includes an air flow regulator connected to said supply pipe so as to regulate air flow volume therethrough.  
     
     
         7 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said air source includes a plurality of control valves, each of which is operable so as to control air flow through a respective one of said branches.  
     
     
         8 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said air source further includes a plurality of air flow regulators, each of which is operable so as to control air flow volume through a respective one of said branches.  
     
     
         9 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said outlet ends of said needles are horizontally disposed in said inner space.  
     
     
         10 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said air source further includes a controller for controlling air flow through said branches.  
     
     
         11 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising sound generating means for generating an audible output upon detecting that an object is proximate to said display stand.  
     
     
         12 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said sound generating means comprises: 
 an infrared sensor mounted on said hollow base for generating a detector signal upon detecting that the object is proximate to said display stand;    an audio signal source connected electrically to said infrared sensor and activated by said detector signal so as to generate an audio signal output; and    a loudspeaker unit connected electrically to said audio signal source for audibly reproducing said audio signal output to result in said audible output.    
     
     
         13 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said air source is coupled electrically to said infrared sensor and is activated by said detector signal so as to supply the air bubbles.  
     
     
         14 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners for fastening a respective one of said needles on said top end wall of said hollow base, each of said fasteners including 
 an externally threaded sleeve having an upper sleeve portion threadedly engaging said top end wall, and a lower sleeve portion extending downwardly from said top end wall,    an internally threaded nut that threadedly engages said lower sleeve portion to anchor said sleeve on said top end wall, and    a seal ring fittingly disposed in said upper sleeve portion and formed with a needle hole for sealingly engaging said inlet end of the respective one of said needles.    
     
     
         15 . The liquid filled display stand as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said air source includes a supply pipe having a plurality of branches, each of which extends into said lower sleeve portion and abuts sealingly against said seal ring of a respective one of said fasteners to communicate fluidly with said inlet end of a respective one of said needles.