IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0254204
(2002-09-25)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A rotating display apparatus includes a support structure, a rotor mounted rotatably on the support structure for rotation about a vertically disposed rotational axis, and at least two (preferably more) wind-reactive elements on the rotor on which a user may display promotional, political, or other
A rotating display apparatus includes a support structure, a rotor mounted rotatably on the support structure for rotation about a vertically disposed rotational axis, and at least two (preferably more) wind-reactive elements on the rotor on which a user may display promotional, political, or other information, including using the shape of the wind-reactive elements as the displayed information. The wind-reactive elements (airfoil or non-airfoil) cause the rotor to rotate about the rotational axis in response to wind passing the rotating display apparatus. Each is free to pivot between a respective one of first and second pairs of stop positions as the rotor rotates about the rotational axis in order to self-align according to wind direction and impart rotational movement to the rotor, moving through five phases per revolution as they orbit the rotational axis. One embodiment includes a constricting dampener mechanism that includes a spring arranged to constrict radially against a cylindrical portion of a pivot tube in order to inhibit pivotal movement of the tube (and thereby the associated wind-reactive element of which the tube is apart) when the wind-reactive element reaches a predetermined stop position. Another embodiment includes a moveable stop that restricts the free movement of the wind-reactive element in relation to the rotational speed of the rotor by means of centrifugal force. Yet another embodiment includes a dampener mechanism that disengages in heavy wind conditions.
대표청구항
▼
1. A rotating display apparatus, comprising: a support structure, a rotor mounted rotatably on the support structure for rotation about a vertically disposed rotational axis, and at least two wind-reactive elements on the rotor that a user may use for display purposes, which wind-reactive elements
1. A rotating display apparatus, comprising: a support structure, a rotor mounted rotatably on the support structure for rotation about a vertically disposed rotational axis, and at least two wind-reactive elements on the rotor that a user may use for display purposes, which wind-reactive elements function as means for causing the rotor to rotate about the rotational axis in response to wind passing the rotating display apparatus; wherein the two wind-reactive elements include a first wind-reactive element that has a first leading edge and a first trailing edge, a first central axis extending horizontally through the first leading edge and the first trailing edge, and a pivotal axis extending vertically intermediate the first leading edge and the first trailing edges, which first wind-reactive element is mounted on the rotor for pivotal movement about the first pivotal axis between a first pair of stop positions, without the first wind-reactive element including a counterbalancing structure extending ahead of the first leading edge and so that the first leading edge is located opposite the first trailing edge relative to the first pivotal axis and; wherein the two wind-reactive elements include a second wind-reactive element that has a second leading edge and a second trailing edge, a second central axis extending horizontally through the second leading edge and the second trailing edge, and a pivotal axis extending vertically intermediate the second leading edge and the second trailing edge, which second wind-reactive element is mounted on the rotor for pivotal movement about the second pivotal axis between a second pair of stop positions, without the second wind-reactive element including a counterbalancing structure extending ahead of the second leading edge and so that the second leading edge is located opposite the second trailing edge relative to the second Pivotal axis and; and wherein each of the first and second wind-reactive elements is mounted on the rotor so that each of the first and second wind-reactive elements is free to pivot between a respective one of the first and second pairs of stop positions as the rotor rotates about the rotational axis in order to align according to wind direction and impart rotational movement to the rotor; wherein the rotor includes first stop means for the first wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the first wind-reactive element to a first stop position of the first pair of stop positions in which the first axis extends radially relative to the rotational axis; wherein the rotor includes first stop means for the second wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the second wind-reactive element to a first stop position of the second pair of stop positions in which the second central axis extends radially relative to the rotational axis; wherein the rotor includes second stop means for the first wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the first wind-reactive element to a second stop position of the first pair of stop positions in which the first central axis extends tangentially relative to the rotational axis; and wherein the rotor includes second stop means for the second wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the second wind-reactive element to a second stop position of the second pair of stop positions in which the second central axis extends tangentially relative to the rotational axis. 2. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the wind-reactive elements is a non-airfoil.3. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the wind-reactive elements is an airfoil.4. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the first stop position of the first pair of stop positions is such that the first central axis intersects the rotational axis when the first wind-reactive element is in the first stop position of the first pair of stop positions, and the first stop position of the second pair of stop positions is such that the second central axis intersects the rotational axis when the second wind-reactive element is in the first stop position of the second pair of stop positions.5. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the second stop position of the first pair of stop positions is such that the first central axis is perpendicular to a first radial extending between the rotational axis and the first pivotal axis when the first wind-reactive element is in the second stop position of the first pair of stop positions, and the second stop position of the second pair of stop positions is such that the second central axis is perpendicular to a second radial extending between the rotational axis and the second pivotal axis when the second wind-reactive element is in the second stop position of the second pair of stop positions.6. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising more than two wind-reactive elements mounted pivotally on the rotor.7. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of stop positions is adjustable.8. A rotating display apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotor includes a lower armature in a position beneath the first and second wind-reactive elements, which lower armature has first and second lower arms extending radially from the rotational axis that function as means for providing lower support for the first and second wind-reactive elements.9. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the rotor includes an upper armature in a position above the first and second wind-reactive elements, which upper armature has at least first and second upper arms extending radially from the rotational axis that function as means for providing upper support for the first and second wind-reactive elements.10. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the first and second wind-reactive elements are mounted removably in order to facilitate replacement with other wind-reactive elements.11. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the rotor includes means for dampening movement of at least the first wind-reactive element.12. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: the first wind-reactive element includes a main portion and a vertically disposed tube connected fixedly to the main portion, said tube including a cylindrical portion and said tube extending along the pivotal axis from the main portion to the rotor such that the main portion and the tube pivot about the first pivotal axis together; and the rotor includes a dampening spring disposed coaxially over the cylindrical portion of the tube, which dampening spring is arranged to cooperate with the main portion and the rotor in order to constrict against the cylindrical portion of the tube and thereby inhibit pivotal movement of the tube and the main portion of the first wind-reactive element when the main portion reaches a stop position. 13. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 1, that includes a dampening mechanism adapted to adjust at least one of the first and second stop positions in operation according to rotational speed of the rotor.14. A rotating display apparatus, comprising: a support structure, a rotor mounted rotatably on the support structure for rotation about a vertically disposed rotational axis, and at least two wind-reactive elements on the rotor that a user may use for display purposes, which wind-reactive elements function as means for causing the rotor to rotate about the rotational axis in response to wind passing the rotating display apparatus; wherein the two wind-reactive elements include a first wind-reactive element that has a first leading edge and a first trailing edge, a first central axis extending horizontally through the first leading edge and the first trailing edge, and a pivotal axis extending vertically intermediate the first leading edge and the first trailing edges, which first wind-reactive element is mounted on the rotor for pivotal movement about the first pivotal axis between a first pair of stop positions; wherein the two wind-reactive elements include a second wind-reactive element that has a second leading edge and a second trailing edge, a second central axis extending horizontally through the second leading edge and the second trailing edge, and a pivotal axis extending vertically intermediate the second leading edge and the second trailing edge, which second wind-reactive element is mounted on the rotor for pivotal movement about the second pivotal axis between a second pair of stop positions; wherein each of the first and second wind-reactive elements is mounted on the rotor so that each of the first and second wind-reactive elements is free to pivot between a respective one of the first and second pairs of stop positions as the rotor rotates about the rotational axis in order to align according to wind direction and impart rotational movement to the rotor; and wherein the rotating display apparatus includes a dampening mechanism adapted to disengage in heavy wind conditions. 15. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein at least one of the wind-reactive elements is a non-airfoil.16. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein at least one of the wind-reactive elements is an airfoil.17. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, further comprising more than two wind-reactive elements mounted pivotally on the rotor.18. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of stop positions is adjustable.19. A rotating display apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the rotor includes a lower armature in a position beneath the first and second wind-reactive elements, which lower armature has first and second lower arms extending radially from the rotational axis that function as means for providing lower support for the first and second wind-reactive elements.20. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the rotor includes an upper armature in a position above the first and second wind-reactive elements, which upper armature has at least first and second upper arms extending radially from the rotational axis that function as means for providing upper support for the first and second wind-reactive elements.21. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the first and second wind-reactive elements are mounted removably in order to facilitate replacement with other wind-reactive elements.22. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the rotor includes means for dampening movement of at least the first wind-reactive element.23. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein: the first wind-reactive element includes a main portion and a vertically disposed tube connected fixedly to the main portion, said tube including a cylindrical portion and said tube extending along the pivotal axis from the main portion to the rotor such that the main portion and the tube pivot about the first pivotal axis together; and the rotor includes a dampening spring disposed coaxially over the cylindrical portion of the tube, which dampening spring is arranged to cooperate with the main portion and the rotor in order to constrict against the cylindrical portion of the tube and thereby inhibit pivotal movement of the tube and the main portion of the first wind-reactive element when the main portion reaches a stop position. 24. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, that includes a dampening mechanism adapted to adjust at least one of the first and second stop positions in operation according to rotational speed of the rotor.25. A rotating display apparatus as desc ribed in claim 14, wherein the rotor includes: first stop means for the first wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the first wind-reactive element to a first stop position of the first pair of stop positions in which the first axis extends radially relative to the rotational axis; and first stop means for the second wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the second wind-reactive element to a first stop position of the second pair of stop positions in which the second central axis extends radially relative to the rotational axis. 26. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 25, wherein the first stop position of the first pair of stop positions is such that the first central axis intersects the rotational axis when the first wind-reactive element is in the first stop position of the first pair of stop positions, and the first stop position of the second pair of stop positions is such that the second central axis intersects the rotational axis when the second wind-reactive element is in the first stop position of the second pair of stop positions.27. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the rotor includes: second stop means for the first wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the first wind-reactive element to a second stop position of the first pair of stop positions in which the first central axis extends tangentially relative to the rotational axis; and second stop means for the second wind-reactive element for limiting pivotal movement of the second wind-reactive element to a second stop position of the second pair of stop positions in which the second central axis extends tangentially relative to the rotational axis. 28. A rotating display apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein the second stop position of the first pair of stop positions is such that the first central axis is perpendicular to a first radial extending between the rotational axis and the first pivotal axis when the first wind-reactive element is in the second stop position of the first pair of stop positions, and the second stop position of the second pair of stop positions is such that the second central axis is perpendicular to a second radial extending between the rotational axis and the second pivotal axis when the second wind-reactive element is in the second stop position of the second pair of stop positions.
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