Patent Application
20070293372
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
One or more fiber-optic cables 14 are coupled to the center spine unit 12. The fiber-optic cables 14 are used to illuminate the dancing pole 10. As shown in
Referring back to
A fiber-optic support sleeve 19 may be coupled to an interior section of the center spine unit 12. The fiber-optic support is sleeve 19 is an anti-burr device. The fiber-optic support sleeve 19 is used to ensure that the fiber-optic cables 14 do not rub against any rough sections of the center spine unit 12 there by preventing damage to the fiber-optic cables 14.
A plurality of holding devices 20 are used in order to secure the fiber-optic cables 14 to the exterior surface of the center spine unit 12. In the above embodiment where each of the fiber-optic cables 14 are placed in the hollow interior of the center spine unit 12 and exit through one plurality of openings 18, the holding device 20 are positioned around each opening 18. The holding device 20 will secure the end of the fiber-optic cable 14 around the opening 18 so that the fiber-optic cable 14 will illuminate the dancing pole 10. In this embodiment, the holding device 20 may be a ring member which will hold the end of each of the fiber-optic cable 14 through each of the plurality of openings 18. In order to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the dancing pole 10, the holding devices 20 should be relatively small and made of a transparent material. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the holding devices 20 may be a cast polyurethane or epoxy ring. An aluminum foil tape may be also be used as the holding device 20.
Where the fiber-optic cable 14 is wrapped around the center spine unit 12 and along the length of the center spine unit 12, an adhesive may be used as the holding device 20 to secure the fiber-optic cable 14 around the center spine unit 12. Alternatively, hooks or other types of connecters may be used to secure the fiber-optic cable 14 around the center spine unit 12. The holding devices 20 may be spaced in any desired pattern. The spacing of the holding devices 20 will determine the light pattern for the dancing pole 10.
An outer sleeve 22 may placed over the center spine unit 12 and fiber-optic cable 14. The outer sleeve 22 is generally transparent to allow the light from the fiber-optic cable 14 to illuminate the dancing pole 10. The outer sleeve 22 can be made out of any opaque/transparent material. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an opaque/transparent tubing is used. However, other types of opaque/transparent covers may be used.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a protective substrate 24 is placed over the exposed portions of the fiber-optic cable 14. The protective substrate 24 is positioned between the outer sleeve 22 and the center spine unit 12. The protective substrate 24 provides structural support between the outer sleeve 22 and the center spine unit 12 so that the outer sleeve 22 snuggly fits around the center spine unit 12. The protective substrate 24 further protects the fiber-optic cables 14 from damage. The protective substrate 24 is generally a transparent resin that is placed over the exposed portions of the fiber-optic cable 14. The transparent resin may be dyed a specific color to meet specific application requirements. In general, a cast polyurethane or epoxy resin material is used as the protective substrate 24. However, the above are given as examples. Other materials may be used for the protective substrate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In order to install the dancing pole 10, the dancing pole 10 will have an upper mounting ring 26 and a lower mounting ring 28 coupled to the center spine unit 12. The upper and lower mounting rings 26 and 28 provide mounting and structural support for the dancing pole 10. In general, the upper and lower mounting rings 26 and 28 will help to mount the dancing pole 10 in a proper vertical position in a room, stage, or the like. The upper and lower mounting rings 26 and 28 are generally made from the same material as the center spine unit 12. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower mounting rings 26 and 28 are welded to the center spine unit 12.
A covering 30 may be coupled to the upper mounting ring 26 and the lower mounting ring 28. The covering 30 is a ring member which is placed around the outer sleeve 22 and coupled to the upper mounting ring 26 and a lower mounting ring 28. The covering 30 is used to conceal the top and bottom areas of the dancing pole to hide the mounting plates used to install the dancing pole 10.
Referring to
The dancing pole 10′ is comprised of a center spine unit 12. The center spine unit 12 is an elongated pole having a hollow interior. The center spine unit 12 provides the structural support for the dancing pole 10′. The center spine unit 12 is made of a lightweight but sturdy material. In general, the center spine unit 12 is comprised of a metal such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, brass, or the like. The listing of the above is given as an example and should not be seen as to limit the scope of the present invention.
One or more fiber-optic cables 14 are coupled to the center spine unit 12. The fiber-optic cables 14 are used to illuminate the dancing pole 10′. As shown in
Referring back to
A fiber-optic support sleeve 19 may be coupled to an interior section of the center spine unit 12. The fiber-optic support sleeve 19 is an anti-burr device. The fiber-optic support sleeve 19 is used to ensure that the fiber-optic cables 14 do not rub against any rough sections of the center spine unit 12 there by preventing damage to the fiber-optic cables 14.
A plurality of holding devices 20 are used in order to secure the fiber-optic cables 14 to the exterior surface of the center spine unit 12. In the above embodiment where each of the fiber-optic cables 14 are placed in the hollow interior of the center spine unit 12 and exit through one plurality of openings 18, the holding device 20 are positioned around each opening 18. The holding device 20 will secure the end of the fiber-optic cable 14 around the opening 18 so that the fiber-optic cable 14 will illuminate the dancing pole 10′. In this embodiment, the holding device 20 may be a ring member which will hold the end of each of the fiber-optic cable 14 through each of the plurality of openings 18. In order to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the dancing pole 10′, the holding devices 20 should be relatively small and made of a transparent material. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the holding devices 20 may be a cast polyurethane or epoxy ring. An aluminum foil tape may be also be used as the holding device 20.
Where the fiber-optic cable 14 is wrapped around the center spine unit 12 and along the length of the center spine unit 12, an adhesive may be used as the holding device 20 to secure the fiber-optic cable 14 around the center spine unit 12. Alternatively, hooks or other types of connecters may be used to secure the fiber-optic cable 14 around the center spine unit 12. The holding devices 20 may be spaced in any desired pattern. The spacing of the holding devices 20 will determine the light pattern for the dancing pole 10′.
An outer sleeve 22 is placed over the center spine unit 12 and fiber-optic cable 14. The outer sleeve 22 is generally transparent to allow the light from the fiber-optic cable 14 to illuminate the dancing pole 10′. The outer sleeve 22 can be made out of any opaque/transparent material. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an opaque/transparent tubing is used. However, other types of opaque/transparent covers may be used.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a protective substrate 24 is placed over the exposed portions of the fiber-optic cable 14. The protective substrate 24 is positioned between the outer sleeve 22 and the center spine unit 12. The protective substrate 24 provides structural support between the outer sleeve 22 and the center spine unit 12 so that the outer sleeve 22 snuggly fits around the center spine unit 12. The protective substrate 24 further protects the fiber-optic cables 14 from damage. The protective substrate 24 is generally a transparent resin that is placed over the exposed portions of the fiber-optic cable 14. The transparent resin may be dyed a specific color to meet specific application requirements. In general, a cast polyurethane or epoxy resin material is used as the protective substrate 24. However, the above are given as examples. Other materials may be used for the protective substrate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In order to install the dancing pole 10′, the dancing pole 10′ will have an upper ring bearing 32 and a lower ring bearing 34 coupled to the center spine unit 12. The upper and lower ring bearings 32 and 34 provide mounting and structural support for the dancing pole 10′. In general, the upper and lower ring bearings 32 and 34 will help to mount the dancing pole 10′ in a proper vertical position in a room, stage, or the like. The upper and lower ring bearings 32 and 34 further allow the dancing pole 10′ to spin in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction. The upper and lower ring bearings 32 and 34 are design to have minimal friction to allow the dancing pole 10′ to spin freely.
A covering 30 may be coupled to an upper mounting bearing 32 and a lower mounting bearing 34. The covering 30 is a ring member which is placed around the outer sleeve 22 and coupled to the upper mounting bearing 32 and the lower mounting bearing 34. The covering 30 is used to conceal the top and bottom areas of the dancing pole 10′ to hide the mounting plates used to install the dancing pole 10′.
This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
