Haze or fog machine with reciprocating nozzle

Abstract

A fog or haze machine having a reciprocating emission nozzle is provided. More particularly, a fog generating mechanism is provided that includes a heater for heating a fluid provided by a pump and to emit a fog or haze vapor from the heater to outside of the machine. The nozzle is cyclically moved back and forth along an arcuate path and a wave of fog/haze is continuously emitted from the nozzle in an arc outside the machine, via an elongated slot in which a distal end of the nozzle travels.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A machine for emitting fog or haze as part of a stage effect, comprising:
 a housing including an elongated slot through one face;   an emission nozzle contained in said housing, one end of said emission nozzle extending up to or into said slot;   a source of fog or haze disposed inside said housing in fluid communication with said emission nozzle; and   a mechanism for moving said emission nozzle back and forth along at least a portion of said slot while emitting fog or haze from said emission nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said source of fog or haze includes a heater connected to a second end of said nozzle, said heater configured to receive a fog or haze producing fluid and produce the fog or haze from said fluid, said mechanism for moving configured to move said nozzle by cyclically rock said heater back and forth in said housing. 
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said mechanism for moving includes a carriage to which the heater is mounted, said mechanism for moving configured to rock said carriage about a pivot point. 
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 3 , wherein said mechanism for moving further includes a motor connected to said carriage such that said carriage is pivoted in a first direction when said motor is driven forward and said carriage is pivoted in a second direction opposite said first direction when said motor is driven in a reverse direction. 
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising a pump configured to supply the fog or haze producing fluid from a tank to said heater. 
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lights arranged around said slot. 
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one light of said plurality of lights is arranged to emit light at an angle relative to said one face. 
     
     
         8 . The machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising a processor configured to coordinate a timing of the moving of said emission nozzle with a lighting effect produced by said plurality of lights. 
     
     
         9 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for moving is configured to move said emission nozzle along an arcuate path about a pivot point. 
     
     
         10 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for moving repetitively, cyclically moves said emission nozzle between a first position in said slot and a second position in said slot. 
     
     
         11 . A fog or haze producing machine for providing at least one stage effect, the machine comprising:
 a fluid tank;   a pump in fluid communication with said fluid tank;   a heater in fluid communication with an outlet of said pump, said heater configured to heat fluid provided by said pump to produce fog or haze;   an emission nozzle connected to said heater at a first end, said emission nozzle configured to emit the fog or haze generated by said heater from a second end of said emission nozzle distal from said first end; and   a mechanism for repetitively cyclically rocking the second end of said emission nozzle between a first position and a second position while continuously emitting fog or haze from said first position to said second position.   
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the fog or haze is continuously emitted from a distal end of said emission nozzle along a reciprocating, arcuate path. 
     
     
         13 . The machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising a housing including at least said heater, the fog or haze emitted from the second end of said emission nozzle being emitted from an elongated slot through a portion of said housing. 
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 11 , wherein said mechanism includes a pivoting carriage, and said mechanism rocks said carriage back and forth about a pivot point. 
     
     
         15 . The machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said mechanism includes a motor that drives said pivoting carriage back and forth. 
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 15 , wherein rotation of said motor is translated into rotational motion of said carriage via a drive belt. 
     
     
         17 . The machine according to  claim 15 , wherein rotation of said motor is translated into rotational motion of said carriage via a gear mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The machine according to  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of lights arranged around said slot. 
     
     
         19 . The machine according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one light of said plurality of lights is arranged to emit light at an angle relative to said one face towards a front of the machine. 
     
     
         20 . The machine according to  claim 18 , further comprising a processor configured to coordinate a timing of the moving of said emission nozzle with a lighting effect produced by said plurality of lights.