GB2230468A - Animated ornament - Google Patents

Abstract

An animated ornament, such as a butterfly, has oppositely disposed wings or wing-like members (e.g. elephant ears) alternately raised and lowered. A plunger 53 connected to proximal ends of the wings is drawn by a solenoid 52 during alternate portions of each cycle to raise the wings, while the unbalanced suspension of the wings' mass outwardly from the body of the replica or a spring causes the wings to drift downwardly during the remaining portion of each cycle. A bistable circuit module establishes the period of the cycle, thereby creating uniformity in the fluttering motion of the wings. Other embodiments (figures 12 and 13) include illuminated eyes and a sound emitting device. <IMAGE>

Description

ANIMATED ORNAMENTAL LEPIDOPTERA This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 07/340,825, filed April 20, 1989.

Field of the Invention This invention relates to animated ornamental replicas of fauna generally and, more particularly, to animated class aves and class insecta and, even more particularly, to animated lepidoptera.

Related Art Currently available ornamental replicas for fauna tend to be inert objects devoid of any presentation of movement exhibiting the gracefulness associated with the form of life represented. Attempts to endow ornamental fauna with movement have relied primarily upon spring and elastically driven escapements.

Consequently, replication of movement in such conventional ornaments is impaired by the dominance of spurious impulses resulting in excessive jerkiness and a lack of uniform replication of motion, as well as by a pronounced diminution in the extensive movement and a shortness in the period of movement due to the rapid unwinding of the escapement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved animation of fauna.

It is another object to provide an animated :Irged animal, such as, a lepidoptera.

It is still another object to provide a longer duration of animation for replica lepidoptera.

It is yet another object to endow an animated lepidoptera with an enhanced uniformity and gracefulness of movement.

It is still yet another object to provide an animated replica of a butterfly characterized by an enhanced gracefulness, duration and authenticity in the fluttering of its wings.

These and other objects are achieved with an ornamental animated lepidoptera having proximal end portions of a pair of wing members extending and oppositely disposed from a replica of a lepidoptera's body, and with distal end portions of the wing members mounted on the body. A plunger having one end disposed between and flexibly coupled to the proximal end pcrticns of the wing members is reciprocatingly driven along a second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis by a solenoid coil during alternate cycles by a bistable circuit, thereby causing the plunger to be drawn into the solenoid coil while current flows through the coil, thus pivoting the distal ends of the wing members against the lepidoptera body while the proximal end portions of the wing members rise in opposition.During the alternate periods of the cycle, their unbalanced mass enables the raised wing members to drift downwardly apart while drawing the plunger coaxially away from the solenoid, or, alternatively, to be restored to their initial positions by resilient means, such as a spring. he bistable circuit sets and maintains the period of the cycles, thus assuring a uniformity and gracefulness of the fluttering movement of the wing members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent and the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:: Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of one embodiment constructed according to the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II II' of Figure 1, showing the wing members in a down position; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line II II' of Figure 1, showing the wing members in a raised position; Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of an electrical system constructed to drive an embodiment according to the principles of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the angularly wound coil serially connected to a battery; Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views of an alternative embodiment using a single wing; Figure 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment according to the principles of the invention; Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate arrangement for wing flexing;; Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of an alternate electrical system, with an additional sound activated switch and LEDs; Figure 12 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an angel with flapping wings and eyes that light up; Figure 13 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a butterfly and a mammal with blinking eyes; and Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of a butterfly showing left and right wing lever arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment is shown. A butterfly assembly 1 is shown with oppositely extending right and left wings 2, 2a protruding radially outwardly from the body 8 of the butterfly.

Body 8 of the assembly includes an abdominal area 13, head 14, a pair of antenna 15 and a pair of legs 16 substantially symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the assembly.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 in conjunction with Figure 1, body 8 is perforated by a pair of elongate axially extending slots 9, 9a disposed on opposite sides of the vertical plane bisecting body 8. Proximal portions of wir.g members 2, 2a extend through slots 9, 9a interiorly into body 8 with distal portions of greater mass, extending somewhat radially outwardly through slots 9, 9a beyond body 8. Undersurfaces 3, 3a rest upon the lower longitudinal surfaces 10 of slots 9, 9a as fulcrums.

Body 8 is held aloft by attachment assembly 20 including a column 21 supporting the underside of body 8 at 22.

The opposite lower end of column 21 joins, at 23, a base to 24.

A connecting rod 25 extends vertically, coaxially through column 21. The upper end of rod 25 bifurcates or branches at hole 6 into a pair of levers 5 flexibly connected to the proximal ends of wing members 2, 2a, as, forzexample, via flexible hinges 4 shown.

An electronic assembly 30 is mounted beneath base unit 24. Assembly 30 includes a solenoid 51 with an angularly wound solenoid coil 52. A plunger 53 made of a magnetically susceptible material, such as iron or steel, is supported or carried by the lower end of connecting rod 25 and coaxially positioned with a central bore of coil 52.

In the alternate arrangements shown in Figures 9 and 10, connecting rod 25 bifurcates at hole 6a into a pair of levers 5a interconnected by string guide 17. The two ends of string guide 17 include strings 18 and 19 which are flexibly connected to the proximal ends of wing members 3, 3a.

Also contained within electronic assembly 30 is a circuit module 35, such as a printed circuit bear=.

Referring additionally now to Figure 4, assembly 30 including circuit module 35 is shown. Module 35 has positive and negative input terminals connectable across a battery 31 serially connected to a manually operable slide switch 33 punted upon the exterior of assembly 30 on base unit 24. In lieu of slide switch 33, a manually touch sensitive switch 34 mounted, for example, in the abdominal area 13, may serve to connect and disconnect the positive terminal of battery 31 to the positive terminal of circuit module 35 via leads (not shown) extending through hollow connecting rod 25 between switch 34, battery 31 and module 35.The output terminals of module 35, namely the emitter of transistor TR4 and the reference potential return lead coupled to the negative terminal of battery 31, are serially coupled across the single winding of annular coil 52.

Transistors TR1, TR2, together wit capacitors C1, C2 and resistors R1, R2, R3 and R4, form a bistable multivibrator with resistor R1 serially connected with the collector-emitter path of the transistor TR1 in parallel with resistor R4 serially connected with the collector-emitter path of transistor TR2, across battery 31 and switch 34 alternately driven into conduction and non-conducting states by the charging and discharging of the capacitors C1, C2 each having one electrode coupled to a corresponding base terminal of transistor TR1, TR2. The conducting and non-conducting states of transistors TR1, TR2 control the bias potential on the base of transistor TR3 via serially connected resistors R5, R6.In turn, the conducting and non-conducting states of transistor TR3 control bias potential applied to the base electrode of transistor TR4 through serially coupled resistors R7, R8. Consequently, circuit module 35 is bistable, alternately enabling and interrupting a current fro battery 31 unidirectionally flowing through the collector-emitter half of transistor TR4 and the serially coupled annular winding of solenoid 52.

As current flows through coil 52, plunger 53 is drawn into the central bore of coil 52, thereby drawing rod 25 vertically downwardly together with the interior proximal ends of wings 2, 2a. This in turn causes wings 2, 2a to pivot against fulcrums 10 and to rise, as shown in Figure 3. During the alternate period of a cycle, circuit module 35 drives the collector-emitter half of transistor TR4 into a non-conducting state, thereby interrupting current flow through coil 52.

Consequently, the unbalanced suspension of wings 2, 2a with their masses exterior of body 8 being substantially greater than their masses interior of body 8, causes the wings to travel downwardly, in directions opposite to the arrows shown in Figure 3, and thereby lift levers 5, rod 25 and plunger 53 upwardly. During the next period of the subsequent cycle, circuit module 35 again drives the collector-emitter path of transistor TR4 into a conducting state, thereby enabling the current to again flow through coil 52, thus drawing plunger 53, rod 25 and the proximal ends of wings 2, 2a vertically downwardly.

Solenoid 52 is an angularly wound coil as illustrated in Figure 5. When direct current electricity flows through this coil, the strength of a magnetic field formed inside solenoid can be described as follows: H = NI H = Strength of magnetic field (A/M) N = Number of revolution of coil per unit length (revolution/M) I = Electric current For example, if solenoid is of 7 mm inside diameter and 10 mm length with a coil of 36.4 M copper wire of 0.2 mm diameter, an electric resistance generated inside the coil would be approximately 20 ohms and the number of revolutions of the coil would be around 1,050. When a power source of 3 V direct current is connected with this solenoid, the electric current will be 150 MA = 0.15 amperes.In this case, the formula (N = NI) can be worked out as follows: N = 1,050 revolutions / 10 mm = 105 revolutions V 3V I = R = 20 = 0.15 ampere The strength of the magnetic field inside this solenoid can be computed as follows: H = 0.158 x 105 = 1.58 x 104 Ampere/M The strength that a magnet of 7 mm diameter end 1,600 gauss density can develop can be explained with the following formula:: F = BAH where F = Strength to effect stimulation (Newton) B = Magnetic density (Tesla) = 0.16T A = Space of stimulation (M2) = (2.5 x 103)2 x (M2) H = Strength of magnetic field = 1.58 x 104 AMP/M and, therefore, F = 0.16 x (2.5 x 103)2 x 3.14 x 1.58 x 104 0.0495 Newton This is the strength that can lift approximately 5 grams weight and can efficiently move the wings 2, 2a. Alternative embodiments are illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8.

Figures 6 and 7 show a flexible or resilient wing 3, 3a fixed at a midpoint to rod 25. When electricity is not flowing inside solenoid 52, the condition is as shown in Figure 6 and wing 3, 3a extends horizontally. When electricity flows inside solenoid 52 as is shown in Figure 7, the magnet 53 will pull into solenoid 52 and, consequently, the wing 3, 3a will change its position by flexing upwardly into the V form shown. When electrical conditions of "on" and "off" are repeated, the wing will automatically flex up and down producing the action of fluttering.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment that uses a restoring spring 60 connected to the interior surface of body 8 and the midpoint cf wing 3, 3a to pull wing 3, 3a back to its initial hcrizontal position when solenoid 52 turns off.

Embodiments similar to those described above will be evident to work according to various conditions required. By changing the directions of the magnet 53 and direct current power source, the pulling force of the solenoid 52 can be converted into pushing force.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 4 has been designed for repetition of the "on" and "off" conditions of the electricity that flows into solenoid 52. Also, transistors TR3 and TR4 are used for reduction of consumption of electricity.

Further, by changing the value of capacitors C1, C2 (or the RC constant), time and cycle of the flow of electricity (fluttering of wing) can be adjusted as illustrated in Figure 4.

In Figure 11, an alternate electrical system is shown. Reference number 30a refers to the electronic assembly whereas reference number 35a refers to the circuit module. As shown, a battery 31 has its negative terminal connected to ground.

Its positive terminal is connected to one pole of a switch 33 with the other pole (+) connected by lead 68 to the collector of transistor Tor6, the emitter of which connects to one side of the winding 52 via lead 64 and 66. The other side of winding 52 is connected via lead 70 to lead 72 and to ground. The base of TR6 is connected to the collector of transistor Th via resistor R13, and resistor R12 connects the collector to lead 72. Lead 64 is connected to a pair of series connected LEDs 38 and 37, which, in turn, are connected to lead 72 via resistor R14. Lead 74 connected lead 68 with the emitter of TR5 and its base is connected via resistor R11 to lead 68 and via resistor Rlo to the collector of transistor TR4.The emitter of TR4 is connected to lead 7s and its base is connected via resistor R8 to lead 68 and to capacitor C4 which, in turn, is connected to the collector of transistor TR3 with its emitter connected to lead 72. The base of transistor TR3 is connected to condenser C3 which is also connected to the collector of TR4. The base of TR3 is also connected to lead 68 via resistor R7. The collector of TR3 is connected to capacitor C4 and via resistor h to lead 68. Lead 76 connects the collector of TR to the collector of transistor TR2 and capacitor C2. The collector of TR4 is connected to lead 68 via resistor R5. The base of TR2 is connected to the collector of transistor TR1. The base of TRI connects to lead 68 via resistor R3, capacitor C2 and capacitor C1.

The emitters of TR2 and TR1 are connected to lead 72. Resistors R1 and R2 are connected across leads 68 and 72, and the junction point between them is connected to capacitor C1. A conventional sound emitting device 36 is connected across resistor R2 from lead 72 to the junction point between R1 and R2 to emit any desired sound continuously or intermittently. When switch 33 is closed, transistors TR3 and TR4 and associated circuit components form a bistable multivibrator, alternately enabling and interrupting the flow of current through TR4, TR5, Th and winding 52 in generally the same manner as described in conjunction with Figure 4 and Figure 5. Also current is intermittently supplied to LEDs 37 and 38 to cause them to blink.

As described above, a fluttering butterfly consists of an electrical control means, a solenoid means, and a bcy/wi means. Frequency of fluttering can be properly adjusted as one desires. It is apparent, therefore, that the alternate flow and interruption of unidirectional current through coil 52 by bistable circuit module 35 assures a uniformity in the period and extent of the fluttering motion replicated by wings 2, 2a (or mono-wing 3, 3a). The wings are alternately raised (as their proximal ends are drawn vertically downwardly when plunger 53 is drawn down into solenoid 52) and lowered (when the power to solenoid 52 is cut off and the unbalanced suspension of the wings with the majority of the mass of the wings being disposed outwardly of body 8 causes the proximal ends of the wings, levers 5 and rod 25 to be drawn vertically upwardly).The period of the fluttering may be controlled by varying the RC time constant by varying the values of one or more of capacitors C1, C2 and resistors R2, R3. The greater the value of the capacitors, the longer the duration of each cycle. Moreover, when the values of capacitor C1, C2 are not equal, one portion of a cycle may be made either longer, or shorter, than the other.

Although the embodiment of a lepidoptera is disclosed, a particular butterfly, the principles of the present invention may also be embodied in other replicas of fauna, including other insects, birds and even mammals, such as, for example, an elephant having fluttering ears.

Examples of alternate embodiments are shown in Figures 12 and 13. In Figure 12, an alternate embodiment of an angel-like figurine 43 is shown. An alternate circuit module 35a incorporating the electrical system shown in Figure 11 includes a sound activated switch 36. The eyes of the figurine include two LEDs 37 and 38. Additionally, a right wing 39 and a left wing 40 is caused to reciprocate by any one of the drive systems shown in Figures 2, 3, and 6 through 10.

In Figure 13, a base unit 24 includes a decorative arrangement 41 including a butterfly mounted on a column 21 so as to cause the wings 2 and 2a to reciprocate upon activation of switch 33. In addition, a decorative mammal!, such as the bear 42 shown, includes LEDs 37 and 38 for eyes.

In Figure 14, a specific arrangement for reciprocation of the wings 2, 2a with respect to a stationary body 8 is shown using the arrangement shown in Figure 9 where the strings 18, 19 are connected to terminal ends of levers 44, 45, connected respectively to the wings 2, 2a. By this arrangement, reciprocation of the wings is obtained.

Having described the invention, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (26)

1. An animated body, comprising: a replica of a winged body, wing-like means having a pair of oppositely disposed wing-like parts each having a distal portion extending outwardly from said body and a proximal portion supported by said body for providing an appearance of moving wings, moving means coupled to said proximal portions for moving said wing-like means, eye-like means for providing an appearance of illuminated eyes, and drive means coupled to said moving means for causing said wing-like members to move relative to said body and for illuminating said eye-like means.

2. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means is electromagnetically coupled to said moving means.

3. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moving means reciprocates to produce the movement.

4. An animate body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is elongate and said wing-like parts extend normal to the long axis of the body.

5. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wing-like means is pivotally supported by said body.

6. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein stop means are provided to limit the movement of said wing-like means.

7. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein resilient means are provided to bias said wing-like means when moved by said moving means.

8. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wing-like means is a unitary structure.

9. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wing-like means is composed of two separate wing-like parts each articulated to said moving means.

10. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is perforated by slots on opposite sides, with each of said slots defining a pivot and a spaced stop, said proximal portions engaging corresponding ones of said pivots as fulcrums and said stops limiting arcuate motion of said wing-like parts.

11. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises: an annular electromagnetic coil disposed coaxially with said moving means, and bistable circuit means for supplying electrical current to said coil during alternate cycles to cause said moving means to be attracted and released.

12. An animated body as claimed in claim 1, further comprising switch means for manually switching said drive means between an operative and an inoperative state.

13. An animated body as claimed in claim 11, wherein switch means are provided for manually switching said electromagnetic coil between an operative and an inoperative state.

14. An animated body as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprises: an annular electromagnetic coil disposed coaxially with said moving means, and bistable circuit means for supplying electrical current to said coil during alternate cycles to cause said moving means to be attracted and released.

15. An animated body as claimed in claim 12, wherein said switch means comprises a touch sensitive switch.

16. An animated body as claimed in claim 13, wherein said switch means comprises a touch sensitive switch.

17. An animated display, comprising: a base, a replica of a mammal mounted on said base, said mammal including eye-like means for providing an appearance of illuminated eyes, a replica of a lepidoptera body mounted on said base, wing means including a pair of wing parts each exhibiting substantial surface area disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of said body for providing an appearance of moving wings, each of said wing parts having a proximal portion extending into the interior of said body and a distal portion extending outwardly from said body, and moving means cooperating with said wing means for moving said wing parts to simulate fluttering, drive means coupled to said moving means to drive said moving means to cause said moving means to move said wing parts and for illuminating said eye-like means.

18. The animated display as claimed in claim 17, wherein said moving means is comprised of a rod having a magnetically sensitive material at one end with its other end articulately coupled to said proximal portions of said wing parts.

19. The animated display as claimed in claim 18, wherein said moving means at said other end is bifurcated with each bifurcation coupled to one wing part.

20. The animated display as claimed in claim 18, wherein said drive means includes: an annular coil disposed in coaxial alignment with said moving means in proximity with said one end, and further provided with electronic circuit means for circulating a unidirectional electrical current through said coil during alternate cycles, and manually operable means coupled to said electronic circuit means, for switching said electronic circuit means between an operative state permitting cyclical circulation of said electrical current through said coil and an inoperative state preventing circulation of said electrical current through said coil.

21. The animated display of claim 17, wherein said body is perforated by slots on opposite sides, each of said slots defining a pivot and a stop, said proximal portions engaging corresponding ones of said pivots as fulcrums and said stops limiting arcuate motion of corresponding ones of said wing parts.

22. The animated display of claim 21, wherein the mass of the distal portion of each said wing part is substantially greater than the mass of the associated proximal portion.

23. The animated display of claim 17, wherein said wing means comprise a member extending transversely to said body, and said moving means being coupled to a central portion of said member.

24. The animated display of claim 23, wherein said drive means urges said wing means into a first position, and resilient means are provided for biasing said wing, means to a second position.

25. An animated body constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

26. An animated display constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.