Optical illusion-producing rotating device

An illusionary device comprising:

• (a) an elongated body of predetermined outline having at least one portion thereof twisted about the longitudinal axis of said body, the twisted portion of the body including a surface which is modified and adapted so as to have an appearance of an axially moving, sinusoidal optical wave pattern if said body is rotated, said modification to said surface of the twisted portion including a plurality of axially repeating features, any one of said features at a given axial location appearing to the viewer, when said body is rotated, as varying periodically from a point to a maximum for that features back to a point, etc., the axially successive ones of said features, appearing to vary from a point to a maximum back to a point over the length of said twist, and wherein said elongated body includes a center strip extending the length thereof and a plurality of louvered fin members extending radially outward from either side of said center strip, and wherein one axially repeating feature is each of said fin members and wherein a second axially repeating feature comprises the spaces between axially successive ones of said fin members, said device being made of material that is sufficiently rigid such that said fin members retain their radially outward orientation and their respective axial relationship, whereby the combined visual effect is such that the axial movement of said wave pattern is enhanced when said body is rotated;
• (b) means for suspending said elongated body;
• and
• (c) means for rotating said body about its longitudinal axis.