Rotating display apparatus
US6749394B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 15, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S415/907
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rotating display apparatus includes a support structure, a rotor mounted rotatably on the support structure for rotation about a vertically disposed rotational axis, and at least two (preferably more) wind-reactive elements on the rotor on which a user may display promotional, political, or other information, including using the shape of the wind-reactive elements as the displayed information. The wind-reactive elements (airfoil or non-airfoil) cause the rotor to rotate about the rotational axis in response to wind passing the rotating display apparatus. Each is free to pivot between a respective one of first and second pairs of stop positions as the rotor rotates about the rotational axis in order to self-align according to wind direction and impart rotational movement to the rotor, moving through five phases per revolution as they orbit the rotational axis. One embodiment includes a constricting dampener mechanism that includes a spring arranged to constrict radially against a cylindrical portion of a pivot tube in order to inhibit pivotal movement of the tube (and thereby the associated wind-reactive element of which the tube is apart) when the wind-reactive element reaches a …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.