Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Magnets and electromagnets – Work or object holding type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-17
2001-08-14
Barrera, Ramon M. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Magnets and electromagnets
Work or object holding type
C310S090500, C361S144000, C040S426000, C446S129000, C318S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275127
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to magnetically supported display devices, and more particularly to a body that is supported by magnetic forces, wherein electrical energy need to power electromagnets to stabilize the support mechanism is derived from ambient light.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Magnetic levitation and suspension have been key elements in many novel and educational objects. A levitated body is herein understood to be a body not substantially physically in contact with anything external to the body during levitation, and supported by magnetic interactions with external magnetic elements substantially below the body. A suspended body is herein understood to be a body not substantially physically in contact with anything external to the body during suspension, and supported by magnetic interactions with external magnetic elements substantially above the body. Levitated tops, as first described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,245 by Harrigan, and in many patents by Hones, et al such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,062 comprise a large base magnet for creating a cup shaped magnetic field for supporting and constraining a magnetic top, stabilized against flitting over by its spinning. Hones, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,454, and Favatella in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,034 describe methods of maintaining such a top at a constant spinning rate indefinitely. These top embodiments have several shortcomings. First, they are notoriously difficult to start spinning in a stable state. Second, they are very sensitive to ambient temperature and to the horizontal orientation of the magnetic field created by the base magnet. Third, they require a large, expensive base magnet even to levitate a small top. Fourth, they are inefficient and generally need a power cord to connect them to the mains for enough power to maintain rotation. Fifth, they generally must be launched manually. Sixth, they generally rotate too fast for any graphic elements on the top to be visible to an observer. Seventh, in the case of Favatella, the outside enclosure does not rotate at all, which reduces the effectiveness of the structure as a display device.
Numerous magnetic structures and electrical circuits have been described for suspending bodies magnetically by regulating the current in an electromagnet that is creating at least part of the magnetic field that is supporting the body. Some of these embodiments are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,963 by Wilk, U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,300 by Lyman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,772 by van der Heide, U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,282 by Bosley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,633 by Quinn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,754 by Kawashima, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,183 by Whitehead, U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,244 by Jayawan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,340 by Schiefele, U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,329 by Tang, U.S. Pat. No. 5.694,412 by Iannello, U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,636 by Wang, and Japanese patents JP 7-244457, JP 7-210081, and JP 7-239652 by Hiroshi. These embodiments generally suffer from two shortcomings. First, the active circuitry for stabilizing the levitation is within a non-levitated support structure which can make this structure somewhat bulky. Second, these embodiments generally derive the power to operate the circuitry and electromagnets from sources not integral to the levitated object. The embodiments of the prior art, particularly those intended to amuse and educate the observer, can be seen as simply objects on the end of a power cord that consume energy, something like a toaster.
The present invention results from an attempt to devise an intriguing and educational magnetically supported body that derives energy needed to power the support stabilization circuitry from an ambient field of light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The practical advantages are well known of using electrical power derived from photovoltaic cells to power devices such as remote radio telephones, and the instant invention enjoys all those advantages, such as having no batteries to wear out and not requiring an inconvenient power cord to connect the device to the mains. However, the instant invention recognizes further benefits of using solar power to support a body, particularly in the case of the preferred embodiment, which is a suspended globe modeled after a heavenly body such as the earth. In this case, an observer will be drawn to an understanding and appreciation of the earth floating in space, autonomous, but for its dependence on energy and force fields from the sun. Observers will further be intrigued by the idea that there is enough energy density in ambient light to actually suspend a rather heavy object. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a magnetically supported object, wherein the energy to stabilize the support is derived from ambient light.
To most effectively inspire an observer to appreciate the role of sunlight in energizing the earth, it is preferred that the light be incident on the surface of the model globe, and not on any artificial, un-natural looking contraptions on the outer surface of, or external to, the globe such as solar panels. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the photovoltaic cells are mounted within the globe, and the graphics on the globe surface obscure a direct view of the cells while allowing enough light through to power the circuitry.
It is understood that many sources of light such as the sun and man made lights do not provide power throughout the entire twenty-four hours of a day. Accordingly, it is a secondary object of the instant invention to provide a support mechanism that will mechanically support the object when insufficient light is available to power support mechanism, then will automatically initiate the magnetic support mechanism when ambient light is of sufficient brightness, and then will automatically return the object to the mechanically supported state when ambient light level again falls to low to power circuitry.
It is recognized that ambient light levels may never rise to a level sufficient to power the support stabilization circuitry continuously. Accordingly, it is a secondary object of the instant invention to provide a means to store electrical energy, in a capacitor or storage battery, for example, and means to apply the stored energy to initiate a launch sequence, support the body for a predetermined time or until a predetermined level of stored energy remains, and then to initiate a landing sequence of events to return the body to a mechanically supported state.
A substantially magnetically supported body will be exquisitely sensitive to forces such as air currents that would cause the body to rotate. Such rotation is particularly appropriate to a suspended model of the earth. Accordingly, it is also a secondary object of the instant invention to provide a supported body, preferably decorated with the graphic features of the earth, that can slowly rotate in response to air currents and other ambient forces.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3815963 (1974-06-01), Wilk
patent: 3860300 (1975-01-01), Lyman
patent: 4356772 (1982-11-01), Van Der Heide
patent: 4382245 (1983-05-01), Harrigan
patent: 4585282 (1986-04-01), Bosley
patent: 4642501 (1987-02-01), Kral
patent: 4643034 (1987-02-01), Favatella
patent: 4714352 (1987-12-01), Ganter
patent: 4874346 (1989-10-01), Wachspr
patent: 4910633 (1990-03-01), Quinn
patent: 4987833 (1991-01-01), Antosh
patent: 5003235 (1991-03-01), Groom
patent: 5043615 (1991-08-01), Oshima
patent: 5093754 (1992-03-01), Kawashima
patent: 5168183 (1992-12-01), Whitehead
patent: 5218257 (1993-06-01), Tozoni
patent: 5300842 (1994-04-01), Lyons et al.
patent: 5404062 (1995-04-01), Hones et al.
patent: 5467244 (1995-11-01), Jayawant et al.
patent: 5495221 (1996-02-01), Post
patent: 5638340 (1997-06-01), Schiefele
patent: 5692329 (1997-12-01), Tang
patent: 5696412 (1997-12-01), Iannello
patent: 5732636 (1998-03-01), Wang et al.
patent: 5883454 (1999-03-01), Hones et al.
patent: 7244457 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 7239652 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 7210081 (1995-10-01), None
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