Abstract:
A turntable assembly displays an object such as an automobile by rotating 360 degrees continuously. The auto spin assembly includes a frame assembly, wheel cradles, a base assembly and a motor, all of which are detachably connected so that the auto spin assembly can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily. The assembly can be dissembled to be stored in a relatively small area. The frame and wheel cradle assembly can be modified so that differently sized automobiles can be displayed.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     In today&#39;s market place, there exists a need to display objects and see the entire object from one vantage point. One object that is always in need of display is the automobile. Today&#39;s auto showrooms are filled with automobiles that require display. Auto shows for antique, classic and muscle cars are another need to display automobiles. One persistent problem that arises with the display of these automobiles is providing a display that does not visually interfere with the display of the automobile. This problem is compounded with large weight and size of the automobile. If these were not enough problems, additional problems exist in that automobiles vary in size, weight and how that weight is distributed. Additionally, there is a need for a display that is portable so that the display can quickly move from location to location and stored with a small volume of space. As a consequence, there is a need for a display that can be stored in a small space.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An assembly to display an automobile and to continuously rotate it 360 degrees includes a frame assembly to support the automobile, a slider assembly to change the dimensions of the frame and to balance and to support the automobile, and a base assembly to support the frame assembly. The base assembly, the slider assembly and the frame assembly are detachably connected. These assemblies can be detached, transported readily and reattached quickly and easily stored.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a top view of the present invention.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates a side view of the present invention.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1   c  illustrates an end view of a main frame rail.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1   d  illustrates an end view of a wheel tube  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates top view of the wheel slider.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates a side view of the wheel slider.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3   b  illustrates an end view of the wheel slider.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a wheel tube and wheel cradle.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of the wheel cradle.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the main frame and drive assembly.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the motor and drive assembly.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows the support components of the auto spin assembly  90  for the display, 360 degree rotation, and for support of an object such as an automobile, tractor or the like. While the invention shall be described in terms of the automobile, one of skill in the art would understand that the principles described herein below are applicable to other types of objects to be displayed.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a frame assembly that includes a main frame rails  100 , 102 , main frame end  124  and main frame center rails  110 , 112  and main frame center plate  714 . The main frame rail  100  is positioned approximately parallel to main frame rail  102  for support of the automobile to be displayed. A main frame end  124  is secured to one end of the main frame rail  100  and the main frame rail  102  and provides support for the automobile.  FIG. 1  shows a slider frame assembly which provides for the dimensions of the frame assembly to easily change and which includes the slide frame rails  104 , 106 , slide frame end  160 , and slider tube  162 . The inboard ends of main frame rail  100  and main frame rail  102  are slidely mounted to slide frame rail  104  and slide frame rail  106  respectively. Main frame rail  100  may be formed around a hollowed rectangle  101  or a cylinder such as shown in  FIG. 1   c , and the slide frame rail  104  is shaped and dimensioned to slide within the hollowed rectangle  101 . Slide frame rail  104  and slide frame rail  106 , together may be extended from main frame rail  100  and main frame rail  102 , to accommodate longer automobiles or may be retracted into main frame rail  100  and main frame rail  102  to accommodate shorter automobiles. By extending or retracting, slide frame rail  104  and slide frame rail  106 , the length or dimension of the auto spin assembly can be changed to match the length and balance of the automobile and providing an automobile support that does not detract from appearance of the object. Once the slide frame rail  104  is positioned with respect to main frame rail  100 , set screw  126  is tightened to clamp slide frame rail  104  to main frame rail  100  to form a detachable connection between the slider frame rail  104  and the main frame rail  100 . The use of set screws  126 , 128 , 140 , 142 , 202 , 204 , 206  provides for quick assembly and disassembly. Main frame rail  102  and slide frame rail  106  and set screw  128  are similarly constructed. Slide frame end  160  is secured to the other end of slide frame rail  104  and slide frame rail  106  and support the automobile.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  as discussed above shows a slider assembly that includes slide frame rails  104 , 106 , slider frame end  160  and slider tube  132 . Slide frame rails  104 , 106  are detachably connected to main frame rails  100 , 102 . Slider frame  134  moves longitudinally along main frame rails  100 , 102 , and once the desired position of slider frame  134  is reached with respect to the main frame rails  100 , 102 , set screw  206  secures slider frame  134  to main frame rail  102  to change the dimensions of the auto spin assembly. While set screws have been disclosed, other type of fasteners are within the scope of the invention and other shaped elements are additionally within the scope of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3   a  shows slider frame  134  secured to slider tube  302 , and slider frame  134  includes slider frame opening  135  to accept main frame rails  100 , 102 .  FIG. 3   b  shows slider frame  134 . slider tube  302  and set screw  206 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows wheel cradles  120 , 122 , 136 , 138  which are detachably connected to the frame assembly. Wheel cradles  120 , 122  are positioned along and in spaced relationship to main frame rails  100 , 102 , and wheel cradles  136 , 138  are positioned at the end and in spaced relationship to slider frame rails  104 , 106 . Each of the wheel cradles is for placement of the wheels of the automobile. Ramps (not shown) can be provided for the wheels of the auto to place in the wheel cradles. Since wheels of different sized automobiles are positioned differently, for example longer autos have a longer wheel base; it is desirable to change the position of the wheel cradles. Since wheel cradles  136 ,  138  are connected to slider end frame  160 , wheel cradles  136 , 138  moves traverse with respect to slide frame rails  104 , 106 . This provides for changing the width of the auto spin assembly, allowing for a change in an additional dimension of the auto spin assembly. Wheel cradles  120 , 122  move independently and longitudinally along the main frame rails  100 , 102  by virtue of slider frame  134 .  
         [0019]     Wheel cradles  120 , 122  are secured to one end of wheel tubes  116  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  4 .The other ends of wheel tube  116  are positioned in slider tube  302 . This structure provides that wheel cradles  120 , 122  can be retracted or extended by retracting or extending wheel tube  116  along the slider tube  302 . This also provides for a change in the dimension of the auto spin assembly by changing the width. Once the desired position of wheel cradles  120 , 122  is reached, set screws  202 , 204  are tightened to secure wheel tube  116  in slider tube  302  to detachably connect wheel tube  116  to slider tube  302 .  
         [0020]     Each wheel cradle  120 , 122 , 136   138  can be independently positioned in their respective slider tube as described above.  
         [0021]     Ramps (not shown) are positioned along the main frame rails  100 , 102  for the automobile to be placed in the wheel cradles  120 , 122 , 136   138 . Dolly wheels are secured to an end of main frame rails  100 , 102  to provide for mobility of the auto spin assembly  90  when the main frame assembly is detached from the base assembly.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  additionally shows a base assembly which includes the base center  158 , the base ring  146 , the base strut  148  and a drive motor to provide for the auto spin assembly  90  to rotate the automobile, and the base assembly is detachable connected to the frame assembly by virtue of base bearing top  716  which is connected to main frame center plate  714  by frame to base attaching bolts  710 . The base assembly includes base ring  146  to support the auto spin assembly  90  and mounted on the base ring  146  are dolly wheels  150 , 152 . These dolly wheels  150 . 152  provide for mobility of the base assembly when disassembled from the frame assembly and slider assembly. Lifting up an end of the base assembly puts the wheels in contact with the ground thereby allowing ‘wheel barrow’ type mobility.  
         [0023]     The base center  158  is connected to the base ring  146  by a series of eight base struts  148  (other number of base struts could be used). The weight of the auto spin assembly is transferred from the base center  158  to the base ring  146  by the base struts  148 . The base struts  148  provides for a lighter design. Secured to the base struts  148  are lift handles  144 . These lift handles  144  allow the base assembly to be easily moved after auto spin assembly  90  has been disassembled.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the details of the wheel tube  118  and wheel cradle  122 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows main frame center rail  110  in a spaced relationship and approximately parallel relationship with the main frame center rail  112 . Both the main frame center rails  110 ,  112  are secured between the main frame rail  100  and main frame rail  102  and main frame center rails  110 ,  112  are secured to the main frame center plate  714 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a motor drive assembly  701  to turn the auto spin assembly . . . The motor drive assembly  701  can turn the auto at constant speeds or at variable speeds which can be programmed by a user. The motor drive assembly  701  includes drive sprocket  708 , a driven sprocket  704 , and a drive chain  702  which connects the drive sprocket  708  with the driven sprocket  704 . The driven sprocket  704  is secured to the free end of center bearing  706 . The drive sprocket  708  is rotated by the gearbox  604  which is driven by the motor  602 ; the gearbox  604  can drive the drive sprocket  708  at a variable speed by changing the speed of the motor  602 . Speed control  720  controls the speed of the motor  602  and is programmed by the user. The motor rotates the automobile a continuously  360  degrees and will stop the rotation if an obstacle is hit or otherwise detected. An overload clutch  718  protects the gearbox from damage.  
         [0027]     The motor drive assembly  701  is not necessarily detached from the base assembly for disassembly of the auto spin assembly. This avoids the alignment problem of the motor with the driven sprocket  704  which allows for faster set up times.