Pendulum Operated Patents (Class 40/485)
  • Patent number: 11468803
    Abstract: A display arrangement includes a base, a decorative shell having a front cover and a back cover, an elongated central post that is rotatably coupled to the decorative shell and fixedly coupled to the base, a light source disposed on the elongated central post and within the shell, such that the light is visible though at least one opening in the shell, a stem coupled to the shell and coupled to the elongated central post, the stem having a magnet on one end, and a coil configured to receive energy from a power source to cause an arcing motion of the magnet, the stem, and thereby the decorative shell. The display arrangement can include a second shell disposed horizontally above the decorative shell and coupled to the decorative shell, and can also include a third shell disposed horizontally below the decorative shell, and that is coupled to the decorative shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Fourstar Group Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Chi Wu
  • Patent number: 11170674
    Abstract: A display arrangement includes a base, a decorative shell having a front cover and a back cover, an elongated central post that is rotatably coupled to the decorative shell and fixedly coupled to the base, a light source disposed on the elongated central post and within the shell, such that the light is visible though at least one opening in the shell, a stem coupled to the shell and coupled to the elongated central post, the stem having a magnet on one end, and a coil configured to receive energy from a power source to cause an arcing motion of the magnet, the stem, and thereby the decorative shell. The display arrangement can include a second shell disposed horizontally above the decorative shell and coupled to the decorative shell, and can also include a third shell disposed horizontally below the decorative shell, and that is coupled to the decorative shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Fourstar Group Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Chi Wu
  • Patent number: 7003907
    Abstract: A display panel includes a casing, a number of parallel display elements rotatably mounted within the casing, a mass that can move within the casing, and a mechanism with which the mass interacts to affect rotation of the display elements. A base attaches the display panel to a motor vehicle dashboard for observation by passengers, such that upon acceleration and deceleration of the motor vehicle, the mass moves to affect periodic display changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Hon Wang Leung
  • Patent number: 6511360
    Abstract: A pendulum and animated figurine having pivot links, some of which are counterbalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald Lee Lyman
  • Patent number: 5732493
    Abstract: A dual pendulum display apparatus comprising a housing, a motor which is fixed to the housing and which has an output shaft, an output gear which is driven by the output shaft, which is mounted on the housing for rotation relative thereto about an output gear axis, and which has thereon a projection spaced from the output gear axis, a pivot arm mounted on the housing for pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot arm axis spaced from the output gear axis, the pivot arm having therein a longitudinal slot receiving the projection for reciprocal sliding movement of the projection in the slot, such that rotation of the output gear and movement of the projection in the slot causes pendulum type motion of the pivot arm, the pivot arm having opposite first and second ends spaced from the pivot arm axis, first advertising material mounted on the first end of the pivotal arm, and second advertising material mounted on the second end of the pivot arm, such that the first advertising material and the second adverti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Hankscraft Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Luedtke, Gregory J. Adelman, Duane C. Gerke, David L. Vergara, Donald R. Fish, Steven J. Ellingson, Joseph W. Fish, Yi Yale Zhang
  • Patent number: 5638340
    Abstract: An analog or digital clock having a ferromagnetic pendulum that is magnetically levitated under feeedback-control and that, alternatively, may be (1) driven at a forced oscillation frequency which is decoupled from and asynchronous with the clock's time control element (e.g., a quartz crystal), (2) driven at a forced oscillation frequency which is coupled to and synchronous with the clock's time control element or (3) oscillated at the resonant frequency of the levitated pendulum and this resonant frequency is used as a time control for determining the clock's timing. Such a levitated pendulum clock is useful for both ornamental and educational purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Walter P. Schiefele
  • Patent number: 5377433
    Abstract: A dynamic artwork having a pendulum support and a plurality of pendulums positioned side-by-side on the pendulum support wherein each pendulum comprises a plurality of spaced apart end members and an interconnecting central structure which includes a hub. The hubs mount on the pendulum support such that the pendulums have pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The end members of each pendulum have sufficient mass to provide inertia power for a plurality of swings of each pendulum in response to a starting force applied to the pendulum. Each pendulum swings back and forth about its horizontal axes, within a vertical plane, adjacent each other pendulum until the motion is damped out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventor: Laurance N. Hazlehurst
  • Patent number: 5285429
    Abstract: A noise producing device that produces a tick-tock sound is provided for use on simulated pendulum clocks that otherwise produce no sound. The device is constructed of an elongated cage member having two extremities provided with hard abutment closures. The cage member is orthogonally associated with the pendulum. A metal ball is confined within the cage, and is adapted to roll back and forth with each swing of the pendulum mechanism. The impact of the ball with each closure produces the desired sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventors: Lloyd S. Shockley, Norman S. Shockley
  • Patent number: 4723232
    Abstract: A clock is provided with a pendulum suspended generally upwardly from the face of the clock and an electromagnet means is provided adjacent to the periphery of the face to catch and hold the pendulum bob momentarily to indicate at least one aspect of the time such as the minutes past the hour. Preferably the electromagnet is carried on a rotating support progressively around the peripheral portion of the clock face to alter the time indication. A lighted hand may be used to indicate the time in hours. In some embodiments the pendulum may swing outwardly beyond the face of the clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Inventor: William B. Beebe
  • Patent number: 4723233
    Abstract: A display or other type device having intrinsic attention attracting properties and eye appeal is provided in the form of a pendulum type device arranged so the pendulum has an arrhythmic movement in time and/or in space and time. The pendulum may be deviated to one side in its oscillations, and/or temporarily halted at the end of some or all of its oscillations, such unexpected deviations in space and/or in time serving to catch and hold the observer's attention or otherwise amuse onlookers. The arrhythmic movements of the pendulum are controlled by electromagnetic means positioned near the end of the oscillation trajectory of the pendulum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Inventor: William B. Beebe
  • Patent number: 4631847
    Abstract: An artistic display is formed of a first layer of a material between a base and a transparent cover layer. The cover layer and base may be of a flexible plastic material, or they may be of a rigid material, such as glass. The first layer has a putty like consistency, and is formed with different color pigments in different areas of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Laurence Colin
  • Patent number: 4426799
    Abstract: A display or indicator element has a set of movable and a set of fixed vanes of contrasting colors. Each set of vanes encompasses what is substantially a circle in the viewing direction. The sets of vanes are arranged so that the moving vanes move between a position where they are hidden (in the viewing direction) behind the stationary vanes and a position where the moving vanes occlude the stationary vanes. In such movements each moving vane passes between a pair of stationary vanes. Accordingly, contrasting effects are produced. Preferably the actuation for the movable vanes is electromagnetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Nei Canada Limited
    Inventor: Donald Winrow
  • Patent number: 4422530
    Abstract: This invention is a pendulum structure that operates as near as possible as a perpetual motion machine to provide activity and entertainment to one using same. The pendulum structure includes: (1) a housing assembly; (2) a pendulum assembly mounted within the housing assembly; and (3) an actuator assembly connected to the pendulum assembly. The housing assembly includes a bottom assembly connector by a wall assembly to a top assembly. The bottom assembly and the top assembly are substantially identical, each being of a tray shape, having a bottom wall section with integral side wall sections and end wall sections. The wall assembly is preferrably constructed of a transparent material having a front wall and a back wall interconnected by opposed side walls. The front wall has an arcuate slot therein to gain access to the interior of the housing assembly. The pendulum assembly includes a basic support member and a pendulum member attached by a connector assembly to the basic support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Inventor: Cleo E. Denton
  • Patent number: 4110926
    Abstract: A changeable exhibitor comprising a video or script tape movable on vertical guide rollers in a closed loop, a weighted roller freely movable along a substantially horizontal roller path within the interior space of said loop, a disc on one side of the roller, and projections on the side of the tape facing the roller path, said disc and projections cooperating to advance the tape in response to movement of the weighted roller in one direction along the roller path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Moviefig APS
    Inventor: Borge Andreas Ravn