U.S. patent application number 11/541349 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for motorized oscillating mobile apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dancing Helix LLC. Invention is credited to Bruce D. Lightner, Laurence Jeffrey Ostrow.
Application Number | 20080081538 11/541349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39261660 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080081538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ostrow; Laurence Jeffrey ;
et al. |
April 3, 2008 |
Motorized oscillating mobile apparatus
Abstract
A mobile apparatus including a motor and one or more mobile
assemblies. Each mobile assembly includes a rotational coupling
unit oscillating between winding to store energy and unwinding to
supply energy with rotation alternately in a first direction and in
a second direction. The mobile assembly includes a mobile connected
to the coupling unit for rotation by the coupling unit alternately
in the first direction and in the second direction. The motor is
connected to and stores energy into a first one of the mobile
assemblies. In one preferred embodiment, the motor is a low
duty-cycle impulse motor that conserves energy. A typically mobile
apparatus has an expected battery life of well beyond 12
months.
Inventors: |
Ostrow; Laurence Jeffrey;
(Tiburon, CA) ; Lightner; Bruce D.; (La Jolla,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID E. LOVEJOY, REG. NO. 22,748
102 REED RANCH ROAD
TIBURON
CA
94920-2025
US
|
Assignee: |
Dancing Helix LLC
|
Family ID: |
39261660 |
Appl. No.: |
11/541349 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/227 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00 |
Claims
1. A mobile apparatus comprising: a drive unit, a plurality of
mobile assemblies, each mobile assembly including, a coupling unit
for rotation in response to the drive unit to wind to store energy
and to unwind to release energy thereby oscillating with rotation
alternately in a first direction and in a second direction, a
mobile connected to the coupling unit for rotation alternately in
the first direction and in the second direction.
2. The mobile apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first one of the
mobile assemblies rotates in said first direction during certain
times and wherein a second one of the mobile assemblies counter
rotates in said second direction during said certain times.
3. The mobile apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of the mobile
assemblies includes a helix-shaped mobile.
4. The mobile apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first one of the
mobile assemblies includes a first helix-shaped mobile and the
second one of the mobile assemblies includes a second helix-shaped
mobile where the second helix-shaped mobile is smaller than the
first helix-shaped mobile.
5. The mobile apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second one of the
mobile assemblies is nested in the first one of the mobile
assemblies.
6. The mobile apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of the mobile
assemblies includes a diamond-shaped mobile.
7. The mobile apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of the mobile
assemblies includes a circular-shaped mobile.
8. The mobile apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first one of the
mobile assemblies is series connected to and concentrically nested
with a second one of the mobile assemblies.
9. The mobile apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first one of the
mobile assemblies is series connected to and concentrically nested
with a second one of the mobile assemblies and wherein a third one
of the mobile assemblies is series connected to and vertically
cascaded with the first one of the mobile assemblies and parallel
connected to the second one of the mobile assemblies.
10. The mobile apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive unit drives
the mobiles assemblies with a low duty-cycle and wherein said drive
unit is battery powered.
11. The mobile apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive unit drives
the mobiles assemblies with a low duty-cycle.
12. The mobile apparatus of claim 11 wherein said duty-cycle is
less than 15%.
13. The mobile apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coupling unit is
an elastomer.
14. A mobile assembly comprising: a coupling unit for rotation to
wind to store energy in response to being driven by a low
duty-cycle drive unit and to unwind to release energy when not
being driven whereby the coupling unit oscillates with rotation
alternately in a first direction and in a second direction, a
mobile for connection to the coupling unit for rotation alternately
in the first direction and in the second direction, and wherein the
coupling unit and the mobile are characterized by having a
one-cycle impulse response of less than five minutes.
15. The mobile assembly of claim 14 wherein said mobile is a
slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission line.
16. The mobile assembly of claim 14 wherein the mobile assembly
includes a helix-shaped mobile.
17. The mobile apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mobile assembly
includes a diamond-shaped mobile.
18. The mobile apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mobile assembly
includes a circular-shaped mobile.
19. The mobile apparatus of claim 14 wherein said coupling unit is
an elastomer.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to mobiles and particularly to
dynamic oscillating mobiles driven by a drive unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is popular these days for people to have many different
types of items in homes, offices and other places that, when
watched, bring a feeling of calmness and relaxation or which draw
attention and interest. These items include aquariums, computer
screen-savers with an aquarium or other pleasing image, fountains
and waterfalls and they all provide rhythmical wave patterns that
can lead to a state of greater relaxation, a sense of peace and
calmness. They produce an effect that is similar to the effect of
being out at the ocean and watching the waves.
[0003] Currently Feng Shui, the Chinese art of creating balanced
and healthy living environments, has found acceptance in modern
American interior design. They define rhythmically moving mobiles
as Chi or energy generating. There is a need for mobiles that
operate in pleasing rhythmical ways and that therefore align with
Feng Shui's ideas of rhythmical movement of objects and things
hanging to create healthier and happier living space.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,944, having the same inventor as the
present application, is for a motor driven helix-shaped mobile,
commonly marketed under the name Dancing Helix.RTM., having
parallel ribs aligned and clamped onto a vertical spine that
functions as a slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission
line. The spine is attached to a motor which turns ON and OFF at
variable intervals, causing the spine to twist, affecting an
apparent spiral motion through the length of spine as the ribs
rotate. The motor ON and OFF sequencing is set to coordinate with
the length and material of the spine and the attached ribs and
weights. In a typical operation for oscillatory motion, the motor
is set to a 3 minute ON and 3 minute OFF 50% duty-cycle. The mobile
for battery operation typically is powered by 2 D batteries that
have a one month battery life for typical operation.
[0005] Many other rotational mobiles are popular and have been
available for years. The helix-shaped mobile in U.S. Design Pat.
D505,639 entitled Kinetic Sculpture, the circular-shaped mobile in
U.S. design Pat. D500,964 entitled Circular Shaped Kinetic
Sculpture, the diamond-shaped mobile in U.S. Design Pat. D500,702
entitled Diamond Shaped Kinetic Sculpture, the helix-shaped mobile
in U.S. design Pat. D497,833 entitled Kinetic Sculpture and in the
helix-shaped mobile in U.S. design Pat. D487,034 entitled Kinetic
Sculpture are typical. These mobiles are kinetic when powered by
wind in a windy location. However, for still-air indoor use they
are static and do not move. The helix-shaped mobile of U.S. Design
Pat. No. D497,833 for example, operates in the wind with the inner
and outer mobiles rotating in opposite directions under wind power.
Such mobiles, however, are not designed to reverse direction and do
not oscillate when driven indoors by conventional rotary
motors.
[0006] While there have been many mobiles produced, there still is
a need for improved dynamic mobiles that are both pleasing and
interesting while preserving reducing power consumption when driven
by a motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is a motorized oscillating mobile
apparatus formed of a drive unit and one or more mobile assemblies.
Each mobile assembly includes an energy storing coupling unit
oscillating between winding to store energy and unwinding to supply
energy. The rotation alternates between a first direction (for
example clockwise) and a second direction (for example
counterclockwise). The mobile assembly includes a mobile connected
to the coupling unit for rotation by the coupling unit. The
coupling unit alternately rotates the mobile in the first direction
and in the second direction. The drive unit is connected to and
stores energy into the mobile assembly. In one preferred
embodiment, the drive unit includes a low duty-cycle impulse motor
that conserves energy. A typical drive unit in the mobile apparatus
has an expected battery life of well beyond 12 months.
[0008] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following detailed
description in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic block diagram of a mobile
apparatus including a drive unit for driving a mobile assembly
where the mobile assembly includes a dynamic coupling unit attached
to a mobile.
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a graph of one embodiment of the ON/OFF
timing of the drive unit of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a graph of the energy storage in one
embodiment of a dynamic coupling unit of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of a mobile apparatus
including two mobiles assemblies, each assembly having a coupling
unit and a mobile.
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts the mobile apparatus of FIG. 4 with one
mobile element rotating in one direction and the other mobile
element rotating in the opposite direction.
[0014] FIG. 6 depicts a mobile apparatus with a drive unit driving
two vertically cascaded mobile assemblies, each assembly having a
coupling unit and a mobile.
[0015] FIG. 7 depicts a mobile apparatus with a drive unit driving
three vertically cascaded mobile assemblies, each assembly having a
coupling unit a mobile.
[0016] FIG. 8 depicts a mobile apparatus with a drive unit driving
three internally nested mobile assemblies and one vertically
cascaded mobile assembly hanging below the nested mobile
assemblies, each assembly having a coupling unit and a mobile.
[0017] FIG. 9 depicts a mobile apparatus with a drive unit driving
two nested mobile assemblies, each assembly having a coupling unit
and a mobile.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a front view of a mobile apparatus with a 28-rib
slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission line mobile in a
stationary position with the drive unit OFF.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a front view of the mobile apparatus of FIG. 10
with the mobile in a moved position when the drive unit is ON.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of a series connection
of a plurality of cascaded mobile assemblies.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a series connection
of a plurality of nested mobile assemblies and cascaded mobile
assemblies.
[0022] FIG. 14 depicts a graph depicting the one cycle impulse
response of the outer assembly and of the inner assembly of FIG.
9.
[0023] FIG. 15 depicts a graph of the interactive response of the
outer assembly and the inner assembly of FIG. 9 for three
successive impulses from the motor.
[0024] FIG. 16 depicts an alternate impulse pattern for the drive
unit of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 17 depicts another alternate impulse pattern for the
drive unit of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In FIG. 1, a motorized oscillating mobile apparatus 33
includes a drive unit 2 that drives a mobile assembly 30 including
a dynamic coupling unit 31 and a mobile 10. The mobile 10 is
intended to be an artistic object that attracts attention and is
pleasing to watch, particularly when moving. In one preferred
embodiment, the drive unit 2 includes a low duty-cycle impulse
motor having a short ON drive period and a long OFF non-drive
period whereby the amount of energy utilized to drive the mobile 10
is conserved. Typically, the motor operates on conventional size
batteries such as two C batteries. During the ON period, an impulse
from the drive unit 2 rotationally drives the dynamic coupling unit
31 in one direction and causes the coupling unit 31 to wind and to
store energy from the impulse. The dynamic coupling unit 31
thereafter supplies energy by unwinding and rotationally driving
the mobile 10. The momentum of the mobile continues the rotation
until the dynamic coupling unit 31 becomes wound in the opposite
direction. When fully wound in the opposite direction until the
mobile stops, the dynamic coupling unit 31 reverses direction and
unwinds, again driving the rotation of the mobile. The oscillation
of the mobile and the coupling unit periodically continues back and
forth in a first direction and in then in a second direction. The
motor periodically impulses energy into the mobile assembly.
[0027] In one preferred embodiment, the dynamic coupling unit 31 is
a polyurethane or other elastomer cord, which "winds up" when
rotated in one direction by the drive unit 2 or the mobile 10 and
which "unwinds" when not driven to rotate the mobile 10. The
rotation of the mobile and the coupling unit 31 oscillates both in
a positive rotation (+R), for example clockwise, and in a negative
rotation (-R), for example counterclockwise. The motor impulse
period, the motor duty-cycle, the elasticity of the dynamic
coupling unit and the weight and dimensions of the mobile interact
to cause the mobile 10 to oscillate, rotating first in one
direction and then to rotate in the opposite direction. During the
operation, the mobile 10 repeatedly switches rotation direction
where the frequency of switching rotational direction is pleasing
to a viewer. Typically, the switching of direction occurs in less
than a minute or so for viewing pleasure. However, any dynamic
operation and any time period desired may be used.
[0028] In FIG. 2, a timing diagram for the drive unit 2 of FIG. 1
is shown. For the FIG. 2 timing diagram, drive unit 2 is an impulse
motor with a T.sub.ON period and a T.sub.OFF period forming a whole
period T. Typically, T.sub.ON is small compared with T.sub.OFF, for
example, 1 second and 60 second, respectively. With such timing,
the drive unit 2 has a small duty-cycle of 1/60 or about 1.67%.
Accordingly, with such a small duty-cycle, the battery life of
drive unit 2 is very high. For example, the battery life of the 50%
duty-cycle motor of U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,944 has been found to be
from 1 to 2 months and a battery life for a 1.67% duty-cycle motor
is approximately 30 times longer, that is, from 30 to 60 months.
While differences in power requirements may change the battery life
depending on the weight of the mobile and other parameters,
none-the-less the low duty-cycle motor has a much longer battery
life which, in general, is substantially longer than 12 months and
will often exceed 24 months depending on the mobile.
[0029] In FIG. 3, a graph is shown depicting the rotation of the
coupling element 31 in response to being driven by drive unit 2 of
FIG. 1 with the driving pulse of FIG. 2. The ON pulse starts at t0
and continues for 1 second until t1. The ON pulse between t0 and t1
winds the coupling element 31 by rotation of drive shaft 2-1 a
number of turns as a function of the speed of the drive unit 2 and
starts the mobile rotating in a first direction. For an 8
revolutions per second drive unit 2, a 1 second pulse winds the
coupling element approximately 8 turns. When the drive unit 2 is
OFF at t1 and drive shaft 2-1 is held stationary, the coupling
element begins to unwind and continues to drive the mobile in the
same first direction. At about t2, the coupling element is unwound
to its starting state and continues winding in the same first
direction as the result of the momentum force of the mobile 10
until fully counter-wound at t3. At t3, the coupling element begins
to unwind and drives the mobile in the opposite second direction.
At about t4, the coupling element is again unwound to its starting
state and continues winding in the same second direction until
fully wound at t5. At t5, the coupling element begins to unwind and
drives the mobile in the first direction. At about t6, the coupling
element is unwound to its starting state and continues winding in
the first direction until fully counter-wound at t7. At t7, the
coupling element begins to unwind and drives the mobile in the
second direction. At about t8, the coupling element is unwound to
its starting state and continues winding in the second direction
until fully wound at t9. At t9, the coupling element begins to
unwind in the first direction until at t10, a new impulse from the
motor fully winds the coupling element at t11 and the oscillating
process continues as before with added energy from the impulse
between t10 and t11.
[0030] The drive unit 2 and mobile assembly 30 of FIG. 1 operate
generally in the manner described in connection with FIG. 2 and
FIG. 3 for many different types of mobiles. For each mobile 10, the
motor parameters including duty cycle and torque, and the coupling
element 31 parameters, including elasticity, are tailored to
achieve a pleasant oscillating operation.
[0031] In the present application, the term "one-cycle impulse
response" for a mobile assembly means the response time for one
cycle of a mobile assembly after the mobile assembly has been
driven by a drive unit with a single drive impulse. Typically, the
drive impulse has a short duration of, for example, one second. The
"one-cycle impulse response" is the amount of time that elapses
until the mobile assembly, including the mobile and coupling unit,
has fully wound in a first direction to a momentary stop and then
has fully unwound and wound in the opposite direction to a
momentary stop. It has been observed that for small mobiles of less
than approximately 24 inches in radial diameter, the appearance of
the oscillations are pleasant when the "one-cycle impulse response"
is less than five minutes. Typically, the "one-cycle impulse
response" is less than one minute. When mobile assemblies are
series or parallel connected, both for cascaded connections and
nested connections, the mobile assemblies farther from the drive
unit have a pleasant appearance when the "one-cycle impulse
response" is different (typically greater) than for mobile
assemblies closer to the drive unit. If the "one-cycle impulse
responses" of connected mobile assemblies are substantially
different, then the combined response of the connected mobile
assemblies driven by a low duty-cycle drive unit tends to produce
pleasant counter revolutions.
[0032] In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a motorized oscillating mobile
apparatus 33 includes a first outer mobile assembly 30-1 and
includes a mobile 10-1 having a design of U.S. Pat. D487,034 and a
first coupling element 31-1. The coupling element 31-1 connects
between the drive shaft 2-1 of drive unit 2 and the mobile 10-1. A
second inner mobile assembly 30-2 is series connected to the first
outer mobile assembly 30-1 and includes a 7-point star mobile 10-2
having a second coupling element 31-2. The coupling element 31-2
connects between mobile 10-1 and the internal 7-point star mobile
10-2. The assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 are different in a number of
respects. Generally, the outer mobile 10-1 is heavier and larger
than the inner mobile 10-2. Also, the coupling unit 31-1 has a
greater turning resistance than the coupling unit 30-2 and requires
a greater force to wind then the force required for the coupling
unit 30-2.
[0033] The operation of the FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 motorized oscillating
mobile apparatus 33 and starts with the outer mobile assembly 30-1
operating as described in connection with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The
inner mobile assembly 30-2 initially follows the outer mobile
assembly 30-1. However, because the assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 are
different in weight, diameter and elasticity of the coupling
element and produce different amounts of momentum, the motorized
operation soon results in the mobile 10-1 having a rotation in the
opposite direction as the rotation for mobile 10-2. The mobiles
10-1 and 10-2 reverse direction of rotation at different times so
that at times the mobiles 10-1 and 10-2 are rotating in the same
direction and at other times in opposite directions with each
having periodic different times for switching direction.
[0034] In FIG. 6, a motorized oscillating mobile apparatus 33
includes a first top mobile assembly 30-1 connected in series and
cascaded with a second mobile assembly 30-2. The mobile assembly
30-1 includes a mobile 10-1 having a design of U.S. Pat. D497,833
and a first coupling element 31-1 like described in FIG. 4. The
coupling element 31-1 connects between the drive shaft 2-1 of drive
unit 2 and the mobile 10-1. The second cascaded lower mobile
assembly 30-2 includes a mobile 10-2 like mobile 10-1 and has a
second coupling element 31-2. The coupling element 31-2 connects in
series between mobile 10-1 and the mobile 10-2. The series
connected and cascaded assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 are different in a
number of respects. The coupling unit 31-1 is less elastic than the
coupling unit 30-2 and requires a greater force to wind then the
force required for the coupling unit 30-2.
[0035] The operation of the FIG. 6 motorized oscillating mobile
apparatus 33 starts with the upper mobile assembly 30-1 operating
as described in connection with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The lower mobile
assembly 30-2 initially follows the upper mobile assembly 30-1.
However, because the assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 are different with
different once-cycle impulse responses and are connected in series,
the motorized operation soon results in the mobile 10-1 having a
rotation in the opposite direction as the rotation for mobile 10-2.
The mobiles 10-1 and 10-2 reverse direction of rotation at
different times so that at times the mobiles 10-1 and 10-2 are
rotating in the same direction and at other times are rotating in
opposite directions with periodic different times for switching
direction of rotation.
[0036] In one specific implementation of the FIG. 6 motorized
mobile assembly 30-1, the mobile 10-1 is a 17 inch (43 cm) kinetic
helix-shaped sculpture of the U.S. Pat. D497,833 designs. Such
kinetic helix-shaped sculptures are available, for example, from
Twirly Things (www.twirlythings.com) under the name, Double
Cosmix.TM. Helix Copper 17''. The outer mobile 10-1 is made of
sheet copper and measures approximately 17 inches (43 cm) in height
and in diameter and weights approximately 300 grams. The inner
mobile 10-2 is another kinetic helix-shaped sculpture made of sheet
copper and measures approximately 14 inches (36 cm) in height and
in diameter and weights approximately 100 grams. The coupling
element 31-1 is a 1.5 mm stretchy polyurethane cord. The cord for
coupling element 31-1 is tied or otherwise fastened into an
elongated loop where each of the two sides of the loop has a 1.5 mm
diameter and has a length of approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm). The
polyurethane cord of coupling element 31-1 loops at one end around
a hook 5-1 of motor shaft 2-1 and loops at the other end around a
hook 5-2 rigidly affixed to mobile 10-1. The coupling element 31-2
is a 0.7 mm polyurethane cord. The cord for coupling element 31-2
is tied or otherwise fastened into an elongated loop where each of
the two sides of the loop has a 0.7 mm diameter and has a length of
approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm). The polyurethane cord of coupling
element 31-2 loops at one end around an inner hook (not shown) of
outer mobile 10-1 and loops at the other end around a hook 5-3
rigidly affixed to mobile 10-2.
[0037] The stretchy cord used for the coupling elements 31-1 and
31-2 and in other embodiments of coupling units 31 is available as
polyurethane elastic beading cord from numerous sources including
Pepperell Braiding Company, Inc. (www.pepperell.com) which
manufactures and sells polyurethane elastic cord in various
diameters. The cords are sold under the trade mark Stretch
Magic.RTM.,
[0038] In the FIG. 6 example described, an impulse of 2 seconds
from a 1.92 revolution/second motor, resulted in a 34 second
impulse response for the 17 inch kinetic helix-shaped mobile
assembly 30-1. An impulse of 2 seconds from a 1.92
revolution/second motor, resulted in a 46 second impulse response
for the 14 inch kinetic helix-shaped mobile assembly 30-2.
[0039] In FIG. 7, a motorized oscillating mobile apparatus 33
includes a first top mobile assembly 30-1, a second mobile assembly
30-2 and a third mobile assembly 30-3 connected in series with
drive unit 2. Each of the mobile assemblies 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3
includes a diamond-shaped mobile 10-1 having a design of U.S. Pat.
D500,702 and a respective coupling element 31-1, 30-2 and 30-3. The
coupling element 31-1 series connects between the drive shaft 2-1
of drive unit 2 and the mobile 10-1. A second cascaded lower mobile
assembly 30-2 includes a diamond-type mobile 10-2 like mobile 10-1
and has a second coupling element 31-2. The coupling element 31-2
is connected in series between diamond-type mobile 10-1 and the
diamond-type mobile 10-2. A third cascaded lower mobile assembly
30-3 includes diamond-type mobile 10-3 like mobile 10-1 and has a
third coupling element 31-3. The coupling element 31-2 connects in
series between diamond-type mobile 10-2 and the diamond-type mobile
10-3.
[0040] In one embodiment of FIG. 7, the series connected and
cascaded mobile assemblies 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3 are different in a
number of respects. The coupling unit 31-1 has a greater turning
resistance (less elasticity) than the coupling unit 30-2 and the
coupling unit 30-2 has a greater turning resistance than the
coupling unit 30-3. A greater force is required to wind coupling
unit 31-1 then the force required for the coupling unit 30-2 and a
greater force is required to wind coupling unit 31-2 then the force
required to wind the coupling unit 30-3. With this cascaded series
arrangement, mobile 30-3 rotates at a greater speed than mobile
10-2 and mobile 10-2 rotates at a greater speed than mobile 10-1.
However, the rotation of each is oscillatory, first in one
direction and then in the opposite direction. The direction
switching is different for each of the mobiles 10-1, 10-2 and
10-3.
[0041] The operation of the FIG. 7 motorized mobile assembly starts
generally with the upper mobile assembly 30-1 operating as
described in connection with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The lower mobile
assemblies 30-2 and 30-3 initially follow the upper mobile assembly
30-1. However, because the assemblies 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3 are
different and in series, the motorized operation soon results in
the mobile 10-1 having a rotation in the opposite direction as the
rotation for mobile 10-2 and the mobile 10-2 has a rotation in a
direction opposite to the rotation of mobile 10-3. The mobiles
10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 reverse direction of rotation at different
times so that at times the mobiles 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 are rotating
in the same direction and at other times in different directions
with periodic different times for switching directions.
[0042] In FIG. 8, a motorized oscillating mobile apparatus 33
includes a first outer mobile assembly 30-1 with a mobile 10-1
having a design of U.S. Pat. D 487,034 and a first coupling element
31-1. The coupling element 31-1 connects between the drive shaft
2-1 of drive unit 2 and the mobile 10-1. A second inner mobile
assembly 30-2 includes a mobile 10-2 having a design of U.S. Pat. D
487,034 and having a second coupling element 31-2. The coupling
element 31-2 connects between mobile 10-1 and the mobile 10-2. A
third inner mobile assembly 30-3 includes a star-type mobile 10-3
having a third coupling element 31-3. The coupling element 31-3
connects between mobile 10-2 and the star-type mobile 10-3. A
fourth cascaded mobile assembly 30-4 includes a circular mobile
10-4 having a design of U.S. Pat. D500,964 and having a fourth
coupling element 31-4. The coupling element 31-4 connects between
mobile 10-1 and the mobile assembly 30-4. The mobile assembly 30-4
is parallel connected with mobile assembly 30-2 and with mobile
assemblies, such as mobile assembly 30-3, series connected with
mobile 30-2.
[0043] In one embodiment, the assemblies 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3 of
FIG. 8 are different in a number of respects. The coupling unit
31-1 has a greater turning resistance than the coupling unit 30-2
and the coupling unit 30-2 has a greater turning resistance than
the coupling unit 30-3. A greater force is required to wind
coupling unit 31-1 then the force required for the coupling unit
30-2 and a greater force is required to wind coupling unit 31-2
then the force required to wind the coupling unit 30-3. With this
arrangement, mobile 30-3 rotates at a greater speed than mobile
10-2 and mobile 10-2 rotates at a greater speed than mobile
10-1.
[0044] In FIG. 9, a motorized oscillating mobile apparatus 33
includes a first outer mobile assembly 30-1 and a second inner
mobile assembly 30-2 series connected with assembly 30-2 nested
within mobile assembly 30-1. The first outer mobile assembly 30-1
includes a mobile 10-1 having a design of the outer mobile of U.S.
Pat. D497,833 and a first coupling element 31-1. The coupling
element 31-1 connects between the drive shaft 2-1 of drive unit 2
and the mobile 10-1. The second inner mobile assembly 30-2 includes
a mobile 10-2, like and smaller than mobile 10-1, having a second
coupling element 31-2. The coupling element 31-2 is series
connected between mobile 10-1 and the mobile 10-2. The assemblies
30-1 and 30-2 are series connected and different in a number of
respects. Generally, the outer mobile 10-1 is heavier and larger
than the inner mobile 10-2. Also, the coupling unit 31-1 has a
greater turning resistance than the coupling unit 30-2 and requires
a greater force to wind then the force required for winding the
coupling unit 30-2.
[0045] The operation of the FIG. 9 motorized oscillating mobile
apparatus 33 starts generally with the outer mobile assembly 30-1
operating as described in connection with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The
inner mobile assembly 30-2 initially follows the outer mobile
assembly 30-1. However, because the assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 are
different, the motorized operation soon results in the mobile 10-1
having a rotation in the opposite direction as the rotation
direction for mobile 10-2. The mobiles 10-1 and 10-2 reverse
direction of rotation at different times so that at times the
mobiles 10-1 and 10-2 are rotating in the same direction and at
other times in opposite directions with periodic different times
for switching direction.
[0046] In one specific implementation of the FIG. 9 motorized
oscillating mobile apparatus 33, the outer mobile 10-1 is a 17 inch
(43 cm) kinetic helix-shaped sculpture and the inner mobile is a 14
inch (36 cm) kinetic helix-shaped sculpture of the U.S. Pat.
D497,833 type. Each of the mobile assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 of FIG.
9 are the same as described in connection with FIG. 6 and have the
same impulse responses. The dynamic appearance of the mobile
apparatus 33 of FIG. 9 is the same as the dynamic appearance of the
mobile apparatus 33 of FIG. 6, except that FIG. 6 is cascaded and
FIG. 9 is nested.
[0047] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 depict a motorized oscillating mobile
apparatus 33 that includes a mobile assembly 30 where the
kinetic-helix mobile 10 is of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,832,944 and marketed under the name Dancing Helix.RTM.. The
kinetic-helix mobile 10 in operation forms a three-dimensional,
rotating and counter-rotating (clockwise and counter-clockwise)
helix formed by a slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission
line. The coupling unit 31 in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is combined with
the slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission line 3 of
U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,944 to form the mobile assembly 30. The number
of ribs attached to the spine 1 and the distance between ribs in
mobile 10 can vary and these variations will affect the over all
length of the mobile. Mobile lengths are typically from 3 to 15
feet, but mobiles of 30 feet or more are possible. One requirement
is that the spine 1 be strong enough to support the weight of the
ribs while being elastic enough to allow rotation of the spine by
the ribs. The rotational period of the mobile 10 is much longer
than the period of the coupling device 31 since the elasticity of
the coupling device 31 is much greater than the elasticity of the
spine of the mobile 10.
[0048] In the present application, the term "one-cycle impulse
response" for a kinetic-helix mobile 10 means the response time for
one cycle of the mobile (without coupling element) after the mobile
has been driven by a drive unit with a single drive impulse.
Typically, the drive impulse has a short duration of, for example,
one second. The "one-cycle impulse response" is the amount of time
that elapses until the mobile has fully wound in a first direction
to a momentary stop and then has fully unwound and wound in the
opposite direction to a momentary stop.
[0049] In one embodiment, the rotational speed of mobile 10 is
generally within a range of from 5 to 30 rpm with between 16 to 20
rpm being optimum for 11 inch ribs. For longer ribs, the speed
tends to be slower, for example, a 21 inch rib can use a speed of 8
rpm. The longer the rib, the faster the speed of a bead or other
rib weight at the end of a rib and hence the greater the momentum
and the torsion forces on the spine 1.
[0050] The speed of the drive unit 2 in one embodiment is 8
revolutions per second and hence is much faster than the targeted
speed of from 16 to 20 rpm for mobile 10. The drive unit 2 with its
higher speed stores energy into the coupling unit 31 of FIG. 10 and
FIG. 11 using a sufficient number of pulses to supply energy into
coupling unit 31 to achieve the desired rotational speed and
appearance of mobile 10.
[0051] In FIG. 11, a frontal view of the 28-rib embodiment of
mobile 10 in FIG. 10 is shown in a moving position with the drive
unit 2 having been ON to energize the coupling unit 31. The FIG. 11
view is a snapshot in an instant of time since the mobile 10 is in
continuous rotation. The ribs 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, . . . , 3.sub.28
and the rib weights 4.sub.1L, 4.sub.2L, . . . , 4.sub.28L and the
rib weights 4.sub.1R, 4.sub.2R, . . . , 4.sub.28R have been rotated
on spine 1. The shape formed for each of the rib weights 4.sub.1L,
4.sub.2L, . . . , 4.sub.28L is that of a helix and the shape formed
for each of the rib weights 4.sub.1R, 4.sub.2R, . . . , 4.sub.28R
so that together a dynamic three-dimensional helix is formed.
[0052] The impulse response of a typical 28 rib kinetic-helix
mobile 10 is approximately 24 seconds. In response to an impulse
from a motor (ON for about 1 second) a traveling wave propagates
down the spine rotating the ribs and winding the spine until the
ribs stop. Then, the traveling wave propagates up the spine
rotating the ribs in the opposite direction as the spine unwinds
until again the spine is stopped. The complete downward and upward
propagation is the impulse response of the mobile and, in the
example described, is approximately 24 seconds.
[0053] In one embodiment, the coupling unit 31 used with the
kinetic-helix mobile 10 is 5 inch (12.7 cm) 1.5 mm polyurethane
elastic cord. Together, the mobile assembly formed of the combined
coupling unit 31 and the kinetic-helix mobile 10 is 32 seconds for
downward propagation and 31 seconds for upward propagation for a
total impulse response of 63 seconds.
[0054] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of a motorized
oscillating mobile apparatus 33 including a series connection of a
plurality of cascaded mobile assemblies 30-1, . . . , 30-p
including the coupling units 31-1, . . . , 31-p, respectively, and
the mobiles 10-1, . . . 10-p, respectively. Additionally, in FIG.
12, any one or more of the mobile assemblies 30-1, . . . , 30-p may
include other nested mobile assemblies (not shown). In FIG. 12 all
of the mobile assemblies 30-1, . . . , 30-p are series connected
with the drive unit 2.
[0055] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a motorized
oscillating mobile apparatus 33 including a series connection of a
plurality of nested mobile assemblies 30-1, . . . , 30-n1, . . . ,
30-m1 and together with cascaded mobile assemblies 30-1, . . . ,
30-p. In FIG. 13 all of the mobile assemblies 30-1, . . . , 30-n1,
. . . , 30-m1 are series connected with the drive unit 2. However,
the mobile assembly 30-p is parallel connected with mobile 30-n1
and mobile assemblies such as mobile assembly 30-m1 series
connected with mobile 30-n1.
[0056] A number of different mobile assemblies have been described
in both series and parallel connected combinations in the present
specification. Of course, many different other series and parallel
combinations are possible and can be employed.
[0057] In FIG. 14, the single-cycle impulse response of the mobile
assemblies 30-1 and 30-2 of FIG. 9 is shown. In particular, when
the outer (O) mobile assembly 30-1, including coupling element 31-1
and mobile 10-1, without the mobile assembly 30-2 attached, is hung
from the drive unit 2 and receives a 1 second impulse at 8
revolutions per second, the coupling element 31-1 is completely
wound (8 turns) to a fully-wound, momentarily-stopped position. In
a response period of 30 seconds, the mobile assembly 30-1 unwinds
to its initial position and thereafter fully winds in the opposite
direction to a momentarily-stopped position at 60 seconds. The
impulse response, I.sub.1, of mobile assembly 30-1 is represented
by the broken line in FIG. 14. Similarly, the impulse response,
I.sub.2, of mobile assembly 30-2 is represented by the solid line
in FIG. 14. When the mobile assembly 30-2, including coupling
element 31-2 and mobile 10-2, without being attached to the mobile
assembly 30-1, is hung from the drive unit 2 and receives a 1
second impulse at 8 revolutions per second, the coupling element
31-2 completely winds from a rest position to a fully wound,
momentarily stopped position. In a response period of 25 seconds,
the mobile assembly 30-2 unwinds to its initial position and
thereafter fully winds in the opposite direction to a
momentarily-stopped position at 50 seconds.
[0058] For example, a first one of the mobile assemblies rotates in
a first direction during certain times and a second one of the
mobile assemblies counter rotates in a second (opposite) direction
during the same certain times. After a pleasant period, usually
less than five minutes and typically less than one minute, counter
oscillations occur with each of the mobile assemblies reversing
direction. The times of reversal of direction are typically not
synchronized so that the periods of counter revolution are of
variable duration.
[0059] If the "one-cycle impulse response" of series connected
mobile assemblies are substantially the same, then the combined
response of the series connected mobile assemblies frequently does
not produce pleasant counter oscillations, but rather, the series
connected mobile assemblies for long durations appear to be
synchronized and rotating in the same direction.
[0060] In FIG. 15, the combined responses of the mobile assemblies
30-1 and 30-2 of FIG. 9 are shown when driven by drive unit 2
having a 47 second period between 1 second impulses of 8
revolutions per second. With such drive unit 2 operations, note
that the outside mobile 10-1 reverses direction at about 25, 60 and
100 seconds. Similarly, the inside mobile reverses direction at 40,
90 and 120 seconds. Accordingly, the mobiles 10-1 and 10-2 are
rotating in the same direction from 0 to 25 seconds, from 40 to 60
seconds and from 90 to 100 seconds while rotating in opposite
directions from 25 to 40 seconds, from 60 to 90 seconds and so
on.
[0061] The appropriate dynamic properties of the coupling units 31
in the various embodiments of the invention are most easily
determined by experimentation although mathematical and engineering
specification using well understood principles of physics may also
be employed. The length of the cord, the diameter of the cord, the
number of stands (one or more and in the loop embodiment, two), the
elasticity of the polyurethane, the tensile strength of the cord
and other factors vary the dynamic properties of the coupling units
31. Each of these variables may be modified to achieve the desired
dynamic operation. Of course, elastomers other than polyurethane
may be employed. In general, for multiple coupling units connected
in series, the coupling units closest to the motor are stronger and
more firm requiring a greater force to turn and have a shorter
impulse response period than coupling units farthest from the
motor.
[0062] In FIG. 15, a timing diagram for the drive unit 2 of FIG. 1
is shown for operation with the mobile apparatus 33 of FIG. 9. For
the FIG. 15 timing diagram, drive unit 2 is an impulse motor with
T.sub.ON small compared with T.sub.OFF, for example, 1 second and
47 second, respectively. With such timing, the drive unit 2 has a
small duty-cycle of 1/47 or about 2.1%. Accordingly, with such a
small duty-cycle, the battery life of drive unit 2 is very high
which, in general, is substantially longer than 12 months.
[0063] FIG. 16 depicts an alternate impulse pattern for the motor
of FIG. 1. A sequence of five 1 second impulses is used over a 60
second period to deliver more power from a motor to a coupling
element.
[0064] FIG. 17 depicts another alternate impulse pattern for the
motor of FIG. 1 where different impulse widths are employed, where
both positive and negative pulses at near random intervals.
[0065] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
scope of the invention.
* * * * *