Patent Application
20180339240
Embodiments relate to a collapsible (or “knock-down”) kinetic outdoor lawn ornament for placement, for example, in an outdoor setting. Each collapsible kinetic outdoor lawn ornament permits shipping/delivery nearly fully assembled. Specifically, the design includes one or more frame assemblies having a plurality of vanes that are moveable between an operating position and a collapsible/storage position for compact shipping. In the operating position, each frame assembly is rotatable about a horizontal axis with respect to a support member.
Outdoor lawn ornaments may be designed to spin/rotate under force of wind. Due to the overall size of the parts (e.g., large), the ornaments must be shipped/delivered fully disassembled to consumers, who then are required to assemble the product. Assembly time by customers is very high, and also lends itself to an increased opportunity for incorrect assembly. This may result in poor product function. Further, after assembly, such outdoor lawn ornaments are very bulky, thereby making it difficult for storage.
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The support member 328 is configured to support the collapsible first frame assembly 301 and the collapsible second frame assembly 302 for rotation about the longitudinal axis via a support hub 334 and a support bearing 336. The central hub 334 is connected to the support member 328 via retention nut 338. At a distal end thereof, the support member 328 has a base or anchor 330 that is configured for insertion into a support surface which is to support kinetic outdoor lawn ornament 300. The support surface may be a natural one that includes the ground of the lawn, garden or the like, or an artificial one that is to be placed on and/or over the lawn, garden or the like. Although the illustrated example provides for a ground spike as the anchor 330, embodiments are not limited thereto, and may encompass other anchoring devices. Examples of such alternative anchoring devices, include, but are not limited to, a weighted base, anchor, four-point spike, and any other device that permits practice of the embodiments.
The collapsible first frame assembly 301 and the collapsible second frame assembly 302 each include a plurality of blades or vanes 310. In the illustrated embodiment, each vane 310 has a substantially concave cross-section to facilitate enhanced air flow for rotation of the frame assembly. The vanes 310 may be composed of a metal, polymer (e.g., fiberglass), fabric, composites thereof. Embodiments are not limited thereto, however, and may encompass materials that permit practice of embodiments as described herein. Moreover, although the members are illustrated as blades or vanes, embodiments are not limited thereto, and may encompass other structural configurations (e.g., decorative and/or non-decorative) that permit practice of the embodiment.
The vanes 310 are configured for movement (e.g., wirelessly and/or manually) between an operating position (See,
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Each vane hub arm 314 may be substantially identical in structural design and shape. The illustrated embodiment includes six vane hub arms 314 for each frame assembly 301, 302. This advantageously facilitates ease in manufacturing, low capital expense, and ease of assembly. Embodiments, however, are not limited to six vane hub arms 314, and thus, may encompass any overall number that permits practice of embodiments as described herein.
A single vane connector 312 is configured to connect a vane 310 to a corresponding vane hub arm 314. Particularly, each vane connector 312 is configured for connection and for extension between a corresponding vane hub arm 314 and the outermost peripheral edge of a corresponding vane 310, thereby operatively connecting the vane 310 to the vane hub arm 314. The vane connector 314 does not extend completely around the entire outermost peripheral edge of the vane 310, but rather partially (See,
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The support member 428 is configured to support the collapsible first frame assembly 401 and the collapsible second frame assembly 402 for rotation about the longitudinal axis via a support hub 434 and a support bearing 436. The support hub 434 is connected to the support member 428 via retention nut 438. At a distal end thereof, the support member 428 has a base or anchor 430 that is configured for insertion into a support surface which is to support kinetic outdoor lawn ornament 400. The support surface may be a natural one that includes the ground of the lawn, garden or the like, or an artificial one that is to be placed on and/or over the lawn, garden or the like. Although the illustrated example provides for a ground spike as the anchor 430, embodiments are not limited thereto, and may encompass other anchoring devices. Examples of such alternative anchoring devices, include, but are not limited to, a weighted base, anchor, four-point spike, and any other device that permits practice of the embodiments.
The collapsible first frame assembly 401 and the collapsible second frame assembly 402 each include a plurality blades or vanes 410. In the illustrated embodiment, each vane 410 has a substantially concave cross-section to facilitate enhanced air flow for rotation of the frame assembly. The vanes 410 may be composed of a metal, polymer (e.g., fiberglass), fabric, composites thereof. Embodiments are not limited thereto, however, and may encompass materials that permit practice of embodiments as described herein. Moreover, although the members are illustrated as blades or vanes, embodiments are not limited thereto, and may encompass other structural configurations (e.g., decorative and/or non-decorative) that permit practice of the embodiment.
The vanes 410 are configured for movement (e.g., wirelessly and/or manually) between an operating position (See,
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The central outer hub 416 and the central inner hub 446 thereby facilitate selective, independent rotation of the collapsible first frame assembly 401 and the collapsible second frame assembly 402. The central outer hub 416 and the central inner hub 446 may be connected to the axle 432 via retention nut 422. A bearing 424, arranged on the axle 432 at a corresponding central hub 416, 446, is configured to facilitate rotation of the collapsible first frame assembly 401 and the collapsible second frame assembly 402 about the horizontal axis defined by the axle 432 when the vanes 410 are in an operating position and contacted by a fluid (e.g., wind, water, and the like).
Each outer vane hub arm 414 and each inner vane hub arm 444 may be substantially identical in structural design and shape. The illustrated embodiment includes six outer vane hub arms 414 and six inner vane hub arms 444 for each frame assembly 401, 402, for a total of twelve vane arms 414, 444 per frame assembly 401, 402. This advantageously facilitates ease in manufacturing, low capital expense, and ease of assembly. Embodiments, however, are not limited to twelve vane hub arms 414, 444, and thus, may encompass any overall number that permits practice of embodiments as described herein.
A single vane connector 412 is configured to connect a corresponding vane 410 to a corresponding outer vane hub arm 414 and a corresponding inner vane hub arm 444. Particularly, each vane connector 412 is configured for connection and for extension between a corresponding outer vane hub arm 414, the outermost peripheral edge of a corresponding vane 410 and a corresponding inner vane hub arm 444, thereby operatively connecting the vane 410 to the outer vane hub arm 414 and the inner vane hub arm 444. In the illustrated embodiment, the vane connector 414 completely extends around the entire outermost peripheral edge of the vane 410 (See,
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Example One may include a lawn ornament comprising: at least one frame assembly configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for non-independent rotation about a first axis and independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the at least one frame assembly including: a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members being configured for selective, independent movement about the second axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates the operation of the outdoor lawn ornament.
Example Two may include the lawn ornament of Example One, further comprising: a support member configured to support the at least one frame assembly on a support surface, and which is to extend vertically from the support surface; and an axle to configured to rotatably support the at least one frame assembly on the support member, the axle configured to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support member.
Example Three may include the lawn ornament of Example Two, wherein the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis defined by the support member; and the second axis comprises a horizontal axis defined by the axle.
Example Four may include the lawn ornament of Example One, further comprising a hub assembly operatively connected to the at least one frame assembly to facilitate rotation of the at least one frame assembly.
Example Five may include the lawn ornament of Example Four, wherein the hub assembly comprises: a central hub; a vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the central hub; and a vane connector configured to extend between the vane hub arm and a corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.
Example Six may include the lawn ornament of Example One, wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the vane hub arm at a first connection region, and the corresponding rotatable member between at a second region that includes a partial outermost peripheral edge of corresponding rotatable member
Example Seven may include a lawn ornament, comprising: a pair of frame assemblies, arranged spaced laterally apart from each other, each frame assembly configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for independent rotation about a first axis and non-independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, each frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members configured for independent movement about the second axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates the operation of the outdoor lawn ornament.
Example Eight may include the lawn ornament of Example Seven, further comprising: a support member configured to support the frame assemblies on a support surface, and which is to extend vertically from the support surface; and an axle to configured to rotatably support the frame assemblies on the support member, the axle configured to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support member.
Example Nine may include the lawn ornament of Example Eight, wherein: the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis defined by the support member; and the second axis comprises a horizontal axis defined by the axle.
Example Ten may include the lawn ornament of Example Seven: further comprising a hub assembly operatively connected to a corresponding frame assembly in the frame assemblies, to facilitate rotation of the corresponding frame assembly.
Example Eleven may include the lawn ornament of Example Ten, wherein the hub assembly comprises: a central hub; a vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the central hub; and a vane connector configured to extend between the vane hub arm and a corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.
Example Twelve may include the lawn ornament of Example Seven, wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the vane hub arm at a first connection region, and the corresponding rotatable member at a second region that comprises a partial outermost peripheral edge of corresponding rotatable member.
Example Thirteen may include the lawn ornament of Example Seven, wherein the frame assemblies comprise: a first frame assembly; and a second frame assembly spaced laterally from the first frame assembly.
Example Fourteen may include a lawn ornament, comprising: at least one frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members configured for selective, independent movement between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates operation of the outdoor lawn ornament; and a hub assembly operatively connected to the at least one frame assembly, and to facilitate rotation of the at least frame assembly, the hub assembly including: an outer central hub and an inner central hub; an outer vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the outer central hub, and an inner vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the inner central hub, and a vane connector configured to extend from the outer vane hub arm, a corresponding rotatable member, and the inner vane hub arm to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the outer vane hub arm and the inner vane hub arm.
Example Fifteen may include the lawn ornament of Example Fourteen, wherein the at least one frame assembly is configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for non-independent rotation about a first axis and independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
Example Sixteen may include the lawn ornament of Example Fifteen, further comprising: a support member configured to support the at least one frame assembly on a support surface, and which is to extend vertically from the support surface; and an axle to configured to rotatably support the at least one frame assembly on the support member, the axle configured to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support member.
Example Seventeen may include the lawn ornament of Example Sixteen, wherein: the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis defined by the support member; and the second axis comprises a horizontal axis defined by the axle.
Example Eighteen may include the lawn ornament of Example Fourteen, wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the outer vane hub arm and the inner vane hub arm to facilitate the selective, independent movement of the rotatable members between the first position and the second position.
Example Nineteen may include the lawn ornament of Example Fourteen, wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the outer vane hub arm at a first connection region, the inner vane hub arm at a second connection region, and the corresponding rotatable member at a third region.
Example Twenty may include the lawn ornament of Example Fourteen, wherein the third connection region comprises the outermost peripheral edge of the corresponding rotatable member.
The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Publication No. 62/510,543 (filed on May 24, 2017), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62510543 | May 2017 | US |
