Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Vehicle body ornament
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-08-28
Copenheaver, Blaine (Department: 1775)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Vehicle body ornament
C428S542200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280804
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to windmills, and in particular to windmills which may be attached to vehicles in order to impart mechanical movement to a display item.
1. Field of the Invention
While the invention is subject to a wide range of applications, it is especially suitable for use on an apparatus where the display item is, for example, a mascot or insignia of a sport team, and will be particularly described in that context. The invention also relates to a method of supporting a team, entity, or organization by placing a windmill or similar wind driven device with a movable representation of a team mascot or team insignia on a vehicle and driving the vehicle so to impart movement to the team mascot or team insignia.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The general use of stationary windmills to impart mechanical movements is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,693,057 to Scoft; U.S. Design Patent No. 73,056 to Scoft; and U.S. Pat. No. 154,014 to Briedy all show windmills which use the force of wind to turn a propeller which imparts rotary force to a crank thus imparting reciprocating movement to the display item.
In such windmills, significant forces can be imparted on the display item if the wind becomes powerful. In such a scenario, the display item may be reciprocated at a very high speed, thus subjecting the display item and any linkages there between to large amounts of force and shock. This can lead to accelerated wear and tear on the apparatus, or to immediate breakage and failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a novelty windmill apparatus which may be attached to a vehicle, such as a car, truck, or bus, and used to display support for a sports team or organization. The apparatus includes a movable display item that is driven by the windmill as the vehicle is driven. The apparatus preferably includes a brake mechanism designed to control the speed of movement of the movable display item, particularly when the vehicle is moving at high speeds. This arrangement substantially obviates one or more of the limitations and disadvantages of the described prior art.
One object is to provide a novel system and method to display support for a sports team, or organization, or other entity or person such as a political candidate.
Another object is to provide a windmill novelty device that can safely and effectively be placed on a vehicle and operated with acceptable ranges of rotation and movement, regardless of the speed at which the vehicle is driven.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises a novelty windmill which includes a propeller, drive shaft which is driven by the propeller, a motion transmitter for transmitting motion to a display item, and a display item which is moved by the motion transmitter. The novelty windmill further includes a mechanical system for temporarily or permanently fixing the windmill to a vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment, the novelty windmill includes a brake mechanism which controls the speed of the windmill. The brake mechanism preferably will develop a force to offset the tendency of the windmill and display item to move more quickly, as the vehicle speed increases. The brake mechanism thereby keeps the speed of movement of the display item within a fairly close range throughout its use. The brake mechanism may be in the form of a friction member which causes frictional force on the drive shaft when an air brake lever is rotated or otherwise moved toward the drive shaft in response to the force of moving air on a brake paddle member.
The brake mechanism is designed to permit the windmill to rotate but prevents the windmill from moving too quickly, which can result in breakage and deterioration of the novelty windmill. This will allow the windmill to be placed in environments where the air speed striking the propeller can be very high, for example, on a moving vehicle driven at a high rate of speed.
The invention also includes a method of supporting a sports team or organization by placing the organization's name or mascot or insignia, or another identifying design or group of symbols or words, on a movable display item of a novelty windmill. The method can also be used to advertise a particular product or service. The method includes the steps of placing the identifying design or logo on a windmill device designed to impart movement to the identifying design or logo, placing the movable windmill on a vehicle, driving the vehicle, and controlling the degree of rotation of the windmill and the movement of the design or logo through a brake mechanism on the vehicle.
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Bahta Abraham
Copenheaver Blaine
McGlynn Joseph H.
Patent & Trademark Services
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