There is something very pleasant about light reflected from a pool of water, where ripples and eddies produce swirls of brightness. However, having a pond indoors is often inconvenient.
MaxCo. has therefore developed its Ripply Light Device. It consists of a short, wide cylinder of glass, sealed at its top and bottom ends. The top surface is slightly concave. The RLD is partially filled with a viscous solution of glycerine, and is intended to be rested on top of the shade of a regular lamp.
The heat from the bulb will cause water from the glycerine solution to evaporate and condense on the concave upper surface, from where it will periodically drip back into the glycerine, producing langourously slow ripples. The light, shining upwards through the RLD, will therefore be refracted onto the ceiling in a satisfyingly ripply manner.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 10 2019 Prior art: existing ripple projectors https://www.youtube...ry=ripple+projectorThis appears to be an improvement at least in that there is no noisy motor. [notexactly, Jul 10 2019] hb prior art Water_20Reflection_20Nightlight [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jul 11 2019] A Stereotypical example https://stock-clip....ground-ripple-waterIs this the pattern wanted? [wjt, Jul 11 2019] We would favour a device employing liquid mercury, electromagnets, and a vapour -discharge arc as the light source ...-- 8th of 7, Jul 10 2019 Yes, we thought you would. Now, if I can just ask you hold these two wires here - I think it's switched off at the.... oh dear whatapity nevermind.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 10 2019 Ooooh, tingly ... mmmmmm .....-- 8th of 7, Jul 10 2019 It's been quite a struggle preventing 8th from randomly throwing a brick into that water. You owe me now! [+]-- xenzag, Jul 10 2019 [AfroAssault] posted something similar in '01. [link]-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jul 11 2019 Wow - so he/she did. Ah well.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 11 2019 Now's your chance to include the new "brick in the water" variation as an added feature.-- xenzag, Jul 11 2019 I am not imagining the stereotypical light ripple. Merging droplet waves aren't visually the same as a complex background oscillating surface.-- wjt, Jul 11 2019 random, halfbakery