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US 5,109,989 AGranted
Rotary display
AssigneeK-2 Industries, Inc.
InventorsKlaus Kremmin, Thomas R. F. Kremmin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar powered rotary display is assembled on a base having a stationary table mounted on a post fixed to the base, a rotary table mounted for rotation on the base about a main axis defined by the post, and a plurality of display disks mounted for rotation on the rotary table about respective planetary axes carried by the rotary table. A number of drive wheels are mounted on respective axles carried by the rotary table in positions about the main axis for supporting and balancing the rotary table on the base. Each of the drive wheels includes an annular friction surface in contact with both an upper surface of the base and a bottom surface of the display disks for rotating the disks in a fixed ratio with rotation of the rotary table.
Claims28
A rotary display comprising:
- a base having an upper support surface;
- a rotary table mounted for rotation on said base about a main axis of rotation;
- means for rotating said rotary table including a drive mechanism that projects through said support surface of the base into engagement with an annular portion of said rotary table;
- a plurality of display disks mounted for rotation about respective planetary axes of rotation carried by said rotary table;
- a plurality of drive wheels mounted for rotation about respective drive axes of rotation carried by said rotary table;
- each of said drive axes extends substantially perpendicular to said main and planetary axes and substantially intersects said main axis and one of said planetary axes;
- and
- each of said drive wheels includes an annular rim journaled about one of said drive axes;
- one diametral end of said annular rim is frictionally engaged with said upper support surface of the base, and the other diametral end of said annular rim is frictionally engaged with a bottom surface of said display disks whereby each of said display disks is rotated in response to rotation of said rotary table.
6 more elements
A rotary display comprising:
- a base having an upper support surface;
- a stationary display table mounted on a post projecting from said upper support surface of said base;
- a rotary table also having an upper support surface and being mounted for rotation about said post between said base and said stationary display table;
- drive wheels mounted on respective axles carried by said rotary table and arranged about a periphery of said base for supporting and balancing said rotary table for rotation on said upper support surface of the base;
- means for rotating said rotary table about said post on said upper support surface of the base;
- a plurality of display disks located about a periphery of said stationary display table and mounted for rotation about respective axes carried by said rotary table;
- a plurality of idler wheels mounted for rotation about axes also carried by said rotary table and arranged in pairs for partly supporting and balancing each of said display disks on said upper support surface of the rotary table;
- said drive wheels extend through said upper support surface of the rotary table for further supporting and balancing each of said display disks on said upper support surface of said base;
- and
- each of said drive wheels includes an annular friction surface in contact with both a bottom surface of one of said display disks and said upper support surface of the base for rotating said display disks about their respective axes in response to rotation of said rotary table about said post.
7 more elements
A solar powered rotary display comprising:
- a base having an upper support surface;
- a stationary display table mounted on a post projecting from said upper support surface of said base;
- a rotary table also having an upper support surface and being mounted for rotation about said post between said base and said stationary display table;
- drive wheels mounted on respective axles carried by said rotary table and arranged about a periphery of said base for supporting and balancing said rotary table for rotation on said upper support surface of the base;
- a solar power cell embedded in said stationary display table and covered by a glazing;
- a pair of leads from said solar power cell extending through said post into said base;
- an electric motor connected to said leads and sized to be powered by said solar power cell;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to said motor projecting through said upper support surface of the base into engagement with an annular portion of said rotary table for rotating said rotary table about said post on said upper support surface of the base;
- a plurality of display disks located about a periphery of said stationary display table and mounted for rotation about respective planetary axes carried by said rotary table;
- a plurality of idler wheels mounted for rotation about axes also carried by said rotary table and arranged in pairs for partly supporting and balancing each of said display disks on said upper support surface of the rotary table;
- said drive wheels extend through said upper support surface of the rotary table for further supporting and balancing each of said display disks on said upper support surface of said base;
- each of said drive axles extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said main and planetary axes and intersects said main axis and one of said planetary axes;
- and
- each of said drive wheels includes an annular friction surface in contact with both a bottom surface of one of said display disks and said upper support surface of the base for rotating said display disks about their respective axes in response to rotation of said rotary table about said post.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.