Abstract:
A bouncing ornament that includes housings a motor, a transmission mechanism and a transmission conduit The transmission mechanism transfers the motion of the motor to the ornament via a spring which causes the ornament to bounce up and down.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 61/853,623, Filing Date Apr. 9, 2013, Entitled Luminescent Ornament. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    An ornament that connects by a tether, spring, and bungee to a housing that rests, hangs, mounts, and sits at its desired display location. The housing holds a motor that provides the up and down motion to the tether, spring, and bungee causing the ornament to bounce up and down. This adds a unique motion to the ornament that current ornament designs don&#39;t have. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one preferred embodiment of the current invention, a bouncing ornament may comprise: at least one ornament but can be up ten ornaments that connects to an upper housing by a tether, spring and bungee. The upper housing can connect to a remote motor housing by a transmission conduit. By using a remote motor housing the weigh, size and bulk of the motor and other mechanisms are moved from the upper housing to the remote motor housing. In one preferred embodiment the desired location can be the tip of a Christmas tree branch which could bend due to the weight of the components. By using a remote motor housing the weight, size and bulk of the components can be moved further along the branch towards the trunk of the tree. In a second preferred embodiment of the current invention: the ornament itself can connect directly to the remote motor housing to eliminate the upper housing. 
         [0004]    The Bouncing Ornament  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 9  may be made with any material. The configuration needs to be such that the ornament hangs freely so it can bounce up and down when powered on. It can do this by taking advantage of the ornaments “natural frequency”. This can be explained by Hook&#39;s Law which will determine the period (the number of bounces per second) of the ornament on the tether, spring and bungee, from this point forward also know as the spring. Spring stiffness can be used to control the level of dampening by increasing the thickness or decreasing thickness of the spring. By adding a “Periodic Driving Force” (a motor or a solenoid) configured to generate a periodic push or pull depending on the application also know as the pulse of force (a device that gives a small push periodically like someone pushing a swing). This will cause the ornament to develop and maintain a periodic motion also known as a “Simple Harmonic Motion”. 
         [0005]    In order to keep the ornament moving requires the addition of more energy or force. This can be accomplished by pulling up and pushing down (releasing to gravity) the spring with the ornament attached. Please note the length of the throw can be very small at least 1 mm and up to approximately 50 mm but preferably between 10 mm and 25 mm and can vary according to the need of the design and to accommodate the weight of the ornament. A very small push can add energy efficiently if it happens at the instant when the ornament has moved to its highest position and begins to move back to the point of stable equilibrium. If the push occurs a little late then not all of the energy of the push is added (inefficient use of energy). Still worse is if the push occurs too soon, when this happens the result will be to counter act some or all of the momentum, slowing it down or stopping it altogether. The goal is to add a small amount of energy to the cycle to compensate for the energy lost due to friction. By adding energy correctly it will keep the ornament bouncing smoothly and at a uniform rate with very little input of power. This is know as resonance which occurs when the rhythm of the energy source matches the natural characteristic frequency of the oscillation, otherwise called the resonant frequency. Please note it is common to call the source of energy the driving force. 
         [0006]    Another issue is that the ornament can sometimes vary in weight due to the amount of moisture in the environment or other factors. Also the tension of the spring can change due to environmental temperature. This means that due to Hook&#39;s Law that the Natural Frequency will change. In order to maintain the bouncing uniformity the period of energy input will need to vary by adjusting the motor&#39;s speed. This can be accomplished by the use of a movement adjustment. A second way to maintain the bouncing uniformity is to adjust the ornament&#39;s weight by adding or subtracting supplementary weight. Energy input does not need to happen on every cycle and can happen on alternate cycles, such as but not limited to every 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th cycle and so on so that the driving force is applied at a rate equal to the loss due to friction. (Like pushing a swing sometimes you can skip a push and the swing still maintains its motion smoothly) 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  Shows a remote motor driven perspective view 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  Shows a remote solenoid driven perspective view 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  Shows a remote muscle wire driven perspective view 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  Shows a motor driven perspective view 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  Shows a solenoid driven perspective view 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  Shows a muscle wire driven perspective view 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  Shows a wreath 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  Shows a fireplace embodiment 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  Shows the transmission swivel and length adjustment mechanisms 
           [0016]      FIG. 9A  Shows a spring power extension 
           [0017]      FIG. 9B  Shows an alternate transmission length adjustment mechanism 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a remote motor driven bouncing ornament includes; an ornament  2 , an ornament upper housing  4 , in this embodiment it can be for a decorative purpose and also to hold any other miscellaneous lights  48 , photovoltaic sensor  44 , motion sensor  42 , motion device  46 . The ornament  2 , is attached to the spring  20 , with the ornament to spring connector  22 . The spring  20 , at the top connects to the a transmission mechanism  14 , in this case a line made of thread, by means of a spring to transmission connector  18 , that connector in this embodiment is a clip attached to the transmission mechanism  14 . The transmission mechanism  14 , is supported and rides in the transmission conduit  16 , that terminates in the upper housing  4 . The transmission conduit  16 , on the remote motor housing  74 , side terminates in front of the rotor  10 , where the transmission mechanism  14  connects to the transmission attachment swivel mechanism  12 , this is to allow the rotation of the motor to be converted into a pulling force and the swivel keeps the motion smooth and prevents the binding of the transmission mechanism  14 . This can also be configured like a “train wheel to the piston” type of gear to track mechanism which results in the same circular motion being converted to linear motion. The upper housing  4 , can connect to its display location by an attachment mechanism  6 , this holds the upper housing  4 , in place with the ornament suspended below connected by the spring  20 . The remote motor housing  74 , can also house an internal transformer  26 , that powers the motor  8 . The motor  8 , speed can be controlled by a movement adjustment  28 . The motor  8 , receives power by the power supply wire  24 , and the internal battery compartment  50 . The remote motor housing  74 , can also contain other devices such as but not limited to a motion sensor  42 , a photovoltaic sensor  44 , a motion device (additional)  46 , a light or lights  48 , an internal sound device  40 , and an internal sequencer  30 , to control the lights music and motion. The remote motor housing  74 , can have an internal clock/timer  38 , to turn the ornament on at certain times and for a certain amount of time. The remote motor housing can also have an internal switch  36 , to turn the device on and off. The remote motor housing  74 , can attach to its mounting point by use of an attachment mechanism  6 . The remote motor housing  74 , and the upper housing  4  can receive power by an external transformer  68 , wire  70 , that terminates in a plug  64 , and an external battery compartment  66 . The ornament  2 , can have a light or lights on the ornament  52 , an ornament motion device (additional)  54 , an ornament battery compartment  56 , an ornament switch  60 . All of the housings  4 ,  74 , and the ornament  2 , can have surface coatings  62 , This embodiment is meant to be displayed on but not limited to a Christmas tree, wreath, a mantle, a window, from a ceiling, from a computer, a car mirror, or any other display location that is desired. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a remote solenoid driven bouncing ornament comprising; This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except in the following instances. The motion device is a solenoid  96 , that connects to the transmission mechanism  14 . The solenoid  96 , is controlled by an internal timer circuit  34 , which determines the electricity pulse rate that powers the solenoid  96 . Please see the “FIG.  1 ” description for the detailed description of the remaining components. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a remote muscle wire driven bouncing ornament comprising; This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except in the following instances. The motion device is a muscle wire  98 , that connects directly to the transmission mechanism  14 . The motion is controlled by a muscle wire controller circuit  32 , which determines the electricity pulse rate that powers the muscle wire  98 . Please see the “FIG.  1 ” description for the detailed description of the remaining components. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4  a motor driven bouncing ornament comprising; an ornament  2 , which is attached to the spring  20 , with the ornament to spring connector  22 . The spring  20 , at the top connects to the a transmission mechanism  14 , in this case a line made of thread, by means of a spring to transmission connector  18 , that connector in this embodiment is a clip attached to the transmission mechanism  14 . The transmission mechanism  14 , is supported and rides in the transmission conduit  16 , which terminates in front of the rotor  10 , where the transmission mechanism  14  connects to the transmission attachment swivel mechanism  12 , this is to allow the rotation of the motor the be converted into a pulling force and the swivel keeps the motion smooth and prevents the binding of the transmission mechanism  14 . The upper housing  4 , can connect to its display location by an attachment mechanism  6 , this holds the upper housing  4 , in place with the ornament suspended below connected by the spring  20 . The upper housing  4 , can also house an internal transformer  26 , that powers the motor  8 . The motor  8 , speed can be controlled by a movement adjustment  28 . The motor  8 , receives power by the power supply wire  24 , and the internal battery compartment  50 . The upper housing  4 , can also contain other devices such as but not limited to a motion sensor  42 , a photovoltaic sensor  44 , a motion device (additional)  46 , a light or lights  48 , an internal sound device  40 , and an internal sequencer  30 , to control the lights music and motion. The upper housing  4 , can have an internal clock/timer  38 , to turn the ornament on at certain times and for a certain amount of time. The upper housing  4 , can also have an internal switch  36 , to turn the device on and off. The upper housing  4  can receive power by an external transformer  68 , wire  70 , that terminates in a plug  64 , and an external battery compartment  66 . The ornament  2 , can have a light or lights on the ornament  52 , an ornament motion device (additional)  54 , an ornament battery compartment  56 , an ornament switch  60 . The housing  4 , and the ornament  2 , can have surface coatings  62 , This embodiment is meant to be displayed on but not limited to a Christmas tree, wreath, a mantle, a window, from a ceiling, from a computer, a car mirror, or any other display location that is desired. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a solenoid driven bouncing ornament comprising; This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except in the following instances. The motion device is a solenoid  96 , that connects to the transmission mechanism  14 . The solenoid  96 , is controlled by an internal timer circuit  34 , which determines the electricity pulse rate that powers the solenoid  96 . Please see the “Figure  4 ” description for the detailed description of the remaining components. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a muscle wire driven bouncing ornament comprising; This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except in the following instances. The motion device is a muscle wire  98 , that connects directly to the transmission mechanism  14 . The motion is controlled by a muscle wire controller circuit  32 , which determines the electricity pulse rate that powers the muscle wire  98 . Please see the “FIG.  4 ” description for the detailed description of the remaining components. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , a wreath mounted bouncing ornament comprising; ornament  2 , an ornament upper housing  4 , a transmission conduit  16 , a spring  20 , a remote motor housing  74 , a wreath  80 . In this embodiment the upper motor housing  74 , can be attached to the wreath either hidden in the branches or behind the branches. In some designs the upper housing can be designed so that it would be desirable to attach the remote motor housing on the surface of the wreath. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , a fireplace mounted bouncing ornament comprising; ornament  2 , an ornament upper housing  4 , a spring  20 , a fireplace  82 . In this embodiment the upper housing can be constructed so that it is heavy enough that it remains in place due to its weight. This embodiment can also be used for any flat surface edge. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a transmission swivel and length adjustment mechanisms comprising; an ornament upper housing  4 , a transmission mechanism  14 , a transmission conduit  16 , a remote motor housing  74 , a guide pin  90 , a slot  92 , a transmission length adjustment connector  94 . This can be used in any of the embodiments so that the distance and angle between the upper motor housing  4 , and the remote motor housing  74 , can be adjustable. To adjust the length in this embodiment one would change the size of loop of the transmission mechanism  14 . The transmission length adjustment connector  94 , would pinch one side of the loop in the transmission  14 , and hold it in place where the user positions it. In this embodiment the swivel adjustment of the transmission conduit  16 , can have a pin  90 , in the smaller transmission conduit  16 , that rides in a slot  92 . The slot  92 , can have between a 90 and an 180 degree path for the pin  92 , to ride in.