Back to results
US 8,544,199 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for producing kinetic imagery
OwnerJoseph C. Pentlandinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns having a plurality of units each with a motor, a rotary member, a cord attached at its distal end to the circumferential edge of the rotary member, an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord, and an object removably connected to the attaching mechanism. A computer or microprocessor is provided and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the objects between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
Claims31
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism comprising a magnet affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a ferromagnetic repetitive element removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- and
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
2 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- blocking means for detaching the repetitive units from the attaching mechanisms;
- a repetitive element removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- and
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
3 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism comprising a suction cup affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a repetitive element having a surface that is suction cup attachable removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- and
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
2 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism comprising hook and loop attachment means affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a repetitive element that is hook and loop attachable removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- and
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
2 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a repetitive element removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- blocking means for detaching the repetitive units from the attaching mechanisms where the blocking means is a funnel having a smaller opening at one end and a larger opening at the other end is positioned below the rotary member with the funnel's smaller opening pointing toward the rotary member and the cord passing through the openings in the funnel, the smaller opening being large enough to permit the attaching mechanism to pass therethrough and the larger opening being large enough to receive the repetitive elements but small enough to block its upward movement beyond the funnel;
- and
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
3 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a ferromagnetic repetitive element removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms with a pivot point below the rotary member and an electromagnet attached to a linear actuator oriented generally perpendicularly to the cord whereby the linear actuator when turned on will cause the cord and attached repetitive element to pivot about the pivot point;
- and
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
2 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a repetitive element removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements;
- and
- means for supplying music and means for moving the repetitive elements in synchronicity with the music, the music being chosen from the group consisting of an audible frequency range assigned to each unit where pitch is controlled with the height of the repetitive element, an individual frequency assigned to each unit and each repetitive element assigned a volume control for that frequency so that as the repetitive element goes up, so does the volume and visa versa, and a prescribed frequency range of an external song or melody assigned to each repetitive element and each repetitive element moves up and down according to the input from the song.
3 more elements
An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit having a motor with a shaft, a rotary member with an outer circumferential edge disposed generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft affixed to the shaft, and a cord attached at its distal end to a circumferential edge of the rotary member;
- an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord of each unit;
- a repetitive element removably connected to each of the attaching mechanisms;
- a computer or microprocessor associated with the motor and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the repetitive elements between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements;
- and
- receptacles for receiving the repetitive element that are filled with liquid to produce a sound when the element strikes the liquid.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.