Solar powered rainbow maker
OwnerDavid I. Dearinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crystal display device is disclosed wherein a vertically arranged photovoltaic cell, main device housing—encasing an electric motor and transmission—, and a refractory crystal suspended below is rotated so as to provide multi-colored displays upon room walls and other surfaces when exposed to sunlight. A preferred embodiment of the device utilizes a suction cup to retain the device housing in the afore-mentioned vertical alignment against the inside of a selected window.
Claims31
A crystal display device comprised of:
- a main device housing having a front planar, rear planar, top and bottom surface, said housing including a photovoltaic panel mounting means extending proximal to the top surface thereof, a crystal drive shaft mounting means extending proximal to the bottom surface thereof, and a device mounting means extending from the front planar surface thereof;
- an electric motor positioned within the housing, said electric motor including an output shaft;
- a photovoltaic panel affixed to and mounted above the main device housing, said panel providing sufficient current and voltage, in the presence of sunlight, to power said electric motor;
- a transmission means positioned within the device housing especially configured and adapted so as to couple with and engage said motor output shaft and transfer rotational force provided thereby to rotate a refractory crystal suspended below the main housing, said transmission being comprised of a plurality of gears having planar surfaces, said gears being oriented and positioned with said planar surfaces substantially parallel relative to the front and rear planar surfaces of said main device housing;
- a crystal drive shaft, positioned and retained proximal to the bottom surface of said main housing within said crystal drive shaft mounting means, said shaft including a drive gear mounted upon a superior terminus thereof in functional engagement with said transmission;
- a crystal suspension means;
- and
- a multi-faceted, bilaterally symmetric crystal suspended below the main device housing, wherein, when said device is exposed to sunlight the crystal rotates and projects moving, multi-colored images upon walls and other surfaces.
The crystal display device of claim I wherein the device mounting means comprises hook and loop fabric fasteners affixed to the front surface of said main housing.
A crystal display device comprised of:
- a main device housing having a front planar, rear planar, top and bottom surface, said housing including a photovoltaic panel mounting means extending proximal to the top surface thereof, a crystal drive shaft mounting means extending proximal to the bottom surface thereof, and a device mounting means extending from the front planar surface thereof;
- an electric motor positioned within the housing, said electric motor including an output shaft;
- a photovoltaic panel mounted to and above the top surface of said main housing providing sufficient current and voltage, in the presence of sunlight, to power said electric motor;
- a transmission means positioned within the main device housing especially configured and adapted so as to couple with and engage said motor output shaft and transfer rotational force provided thereby to a refractory crystal suspended below said housing, said transmission being comprised of a plurality of gears having planar surfaces, said gears being oriented and positioned with said planar surfaces substantially parallel relative to the front and rear planar surfaces of said main device housing;
- a crystal drive shaft, positioned and retained within said crystal drive shaft mounting means, said shaft including a drive gear mounted upon a superior terminus thereof in functional engagement with said transmission;
- a crystal suspension means;
- and
- a multi-faceted, bilaterally symmetric refractory crystal having a maximum depth at least 25 percent less than maximum width suspended below said main device housing wherein when said device is exposed to sunlight, the crystal projects moving, multi-colored images generated by refraction of said light upon walls and other surfaces.
The crystal displace of claim 24 wherein said extended portions of the main device housing and photovoltaic panel are affixed to each other at a predetermined and fixed angular relation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.