Abstract:
Apparatus and method for rotating an object using a music box mechanism having a spring motor. Apparatus includes a mechanical motor having a spring coupled between a body and a shaft of the music box where the shaft and the body are mounted for rotation relative to each other. The spring is windable by a user to store mechanical potential energy and when released, unwindable to release the stored energy and cause relative rotation between the body and the shaft. A base adapted for stationary placement against a surface such as a table or desktop or a wall or other stationary surface is fixedly coupled to or integrally formed with the shaft of the music box motor. An object such as a spherical planetary object or globe or any other object is connected to the body and includes an aperture or hole through which the base extends to the shaft. This aperture permits the object to rotate about the shaft without interference so that the body and the object rotate about the shaft as the spring unwinds. Connection of the winding mechanism shaft to the fixed base causes the body of the music box and attached object such as the globe to rotate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention pertains generally to structures and methods of mechanical music boxes which are powered by a mechanical spring motor mechanism, and more particularly to a music box in which the music box and an object fixedly attached to the music box, such as an Earth globe, are rotated about a predetermined axis by virtue of holding the spring unwinding mechanism stationary.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The field of mechanical music box art, as in many of the mechanical arts, is fairly well developed, having derived from the clockmakers&#39; art of earlier centuries. At the same time, however, little development has occurred to extend such arts to new technological areas or applications, or to combine such art with other elements in novel ways. Furthermore, the music box of such traditional devices is usually hidden and/or static, that is devoid of motion.  
           [0003]    In one traditional type of music box, the music generating mechanism (such as a spring-motor driven toothed cylinder and a plurality of tuned metal reeds which vibrate when struck by the teeth) is hidden in a lower portion of a jewelry box. Lifting of the jewelry box lid releases a mechanical latch, allowing the spring motor to rotate the toothed cylinder and actuate the music playing. In such traditional music boxes, potential energy is stored in the spring by manually winding the spring with a key, as is known in the art. The music box itself remains stationary while the toothed cylinder within the box rotates. Normally, the key that is used to wind the spring motor unwinds by rotating in the opposite direction from the winding direction during music playback.  
           [0004]    One use of the music box, and the rotating nature of the key or shaft during the unwinding, is to use the energy of the spring to supply motion to another object. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,429 accomplishes this by replacing the winding key with a longer rotating shaft and attaching an object (in this case an ornamental carousel horse) to be rotated with the shaft. A special start and stop mechanism is used in conjunction with the music box (both hidden in an drawer), having the music box play music and rotate the object when the drawer is open, and to stop playing and rotating when the drawer is closed. This however leaves the music box upside down, offering an unpleasant view. Therefore in this invention the music box is hidden and its orientation unimportant.  
           [0005]    Other methods of using the stored potential energy in a music box for rotation of another object may require specialized music boxes that allow for attachable shafts and/or gears, increasing cost and breakability. Other methods may also leave the winding key awkwardly placed, the music box being less ergonomic to use and more likely to break.  
           [0006]    While the generic use of some types of wound spring motors and music box mechanisms has been known for some time, the full potential of such mechanisms has not been fully appreciated, especially from an esthetic perspective. Increasingly, electronic and/or computer gadgets have supplanted elegant mechanical structures of earlier times. As a result, the contemporary home is awash with batteries, electronic beeps, tangles of power cords, and mantles and tabletops that begin to more resemble electronics workbenches than esthetic and contemplative focal points.  
           [0007]    Therefore, there remains a need for contemporary decorative and functional objects that are animated, yet electrical energy conservative. An Earth globe that rotates under its own mechanical power and optionally plays a musical tune is an example of one such decorative object.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The invention provides an apparatus and method for rotating an object using a spring motor such as the spring motor in a music box mechanism. The apparatus includes a mechanical motor having a spring coupled between a body and a shaft where the shaft and the body are mounted for relative rotation. The spring is windable to store mechanical potential energy and when released, unwinds to release the stored energy and cause relative rotation between the body and the shaft. A base adapted for stationary placement against a surface such as a table or desktop is fixedly coupled to, or integrally formed with, the shaft of the motor. An object such as a spherical planetary object or globe or any other object is connected to the body and includes an aperture or hole through which the base extends to the shaft. This aperture permits the object to rotate about the shaft without interference allowing the body and the object to rotate about the shaft as the spring unwinds.  
           [0009]    In one particular embodiment, the object is an Earth globe formed of a transparent or semitransparent material, so that the music box having a transparent housing is visible as the globe turns and the music plays.  
           [0010]    Method for operating the mechanism to rotate and object such as the Earth globe is provided, as is an article of manufacture. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with an Earth globe as the rotatable object. The Earth globe is sectioned open.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing an exploded detail view of the stem to music box connection, and the music box to Earth globe connection.  
         [0013]    Reference Numerals in Drawings  
         [0014]    [0014] 101 . Base  
         [0015]    [0015] 102 . Stem  
         [0016]    [0016] 103 . Standard spring wound music box  
         [0017]    [0017] 104 . Crank  
         [0018]    [0018] 105 . Northern hemisphere of globe  
         [0019]    [0019] 106 . Southern hemisphere of globe  
         [0020]    [0020] 107 . Winding key  
         [0021]    [0021] 108   a.  Flexible washer  
         [0022]    [0022] 108   b.  Flexible washer  
         [0023]    [0023] 109 . Winding axis/shaft of music box  
         [0024]    [0024] 110 . Standard screw hole in base of music box  
         [0025]    [0025] 111 . Aperture in northern hemisphere  
         [0026]    [0026] 112 . Aperture in southern hemisphere  
         [0027]    [0027] 113 . Globe  
         [0028]    [0028] 114 . Threaded nut  
         [0029]    [0029] 115 . Outer housing of music box 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    The invention provides a structure and method having many advantageous features. In one aspect, the invention uses the spring motor of a music box mechanism to provide rotation to an object such as an Earth globe in a very simple manner without the need for additional gears, transmission, complicated coupling or interface. This is realized in one embodiment by holding the standard music box winding/unwinding spring motor mechanism shaft stationary, and having instead the entire music box rotate about this shaft axis. Other embodiments hold the music box stationary and allow the winding shaft to rotate, but this is not preferred. In another aspect, the invention provides a music box which not only plays music, and functions as a needed source of rotational energy for an Earth globe, but also enhances the rotation of the globe or other decorative object by rotating with it (while housed internal to the decorative object) in an esthetically pleasing manner. In another aspect, the invention provides a music box that rotates any object such as the head of a popular cartoon character in a simple, cost effective manner requiring the addition of few extra components. Embodiments of the invention may utilize the spring motor of the music box alone without having the music box play sounds. However, in preferred embodiments, the music box incorporates a drum and vibrating reeds or strikers that play music as the spring motor unwinds. Where music or other sound is not to be played, any mechanical spring motor may be used and the invention is not limited to the specific types of spring motors used in music boxes.  
         [0031]    According to one embodiment of the invention, a standard spring wound music box is secured to a stationary base and/or stem at the axis of the unwinding mechanism (where the standard winding key usually is secured). In a conventional music box the spring is wound and unwound through this key. While this had no disadvantages for the functioning of the conventional stationary music box, in circumstances such as the rotation of a globe around its axis (according to the present invention), holding the unwinding mechanism stationary and allowing the entire music box to rotate is a much simpler mechanism requiring fewer parts. The music box is placed with an object such as the Earth globe with the stem protruding from an aperture in the object if the object encloses the music box. Optionally, but advantageously, a means of connecting the body of the music box to the object will allow the object to wind the music box and also rotate with the music box as it unwinds and plays music. Also this has esthetic advantages. In other arrangements in which the music box is used to rotate an object, the unwinding mechanism is used in an awkward geometry, leaving in many cases the music box upside down. This is disadvantageous, particularly when the music box has been designed to show its inner workings from the normally top surface, and this surface becomes hidden or otherwise unviewable. According to this invention, the music box can face upward, which is the superior side having a view of the cylinder, keys, gears and governor. The globe or other object can be made of clear materials, cut away or otherwise made to allow the view of the external and internal workings of the music box. A further visual advantage is the extra rotational motion of the entire music box rotating about the unwinding axis.  
         [0032]    In one aspect, the invention provides a novel combination of a spring motor driven music player (conventionally referred to as a music box) and a celestial body such as an Earth globe. Celestial bodies are particularly desirable for use in the present invention in that they naturally rotate and are best viewed and indeed contemplated in the geographic and/or cosmological sense when in motion. The Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Saturn. Jupiter and other objects of our solar system or of the universe are mere examples of the real world celestial objects that may be used. For those Star Trek™ fans, fictitious planets or worlds such as Romulus, the Klingon home world, may equally as well be used. While celestial bodies define one class of objects for use with the inventive structure and method, the invention is not limited to this class of rotatable objects. Rather, almost any object may be used. For example, model automobiles, model airplanes, cartoon character bodies and/or heads (such as the Walt Disney® character Mickey Mouse®, art sculptures, figurines, and a variety of other objects may be used.  
         [0033]    Selected embodiments of the invention are now described relative to drawings. With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive structure In operation, the inventive structure provides a stationary base  101  which allows the music box Earth globe (or other object) to be placed on or attached to a surface. Such surfaces may for example include a tabletop, dresser, counter, fireplace mantle or other horizontal surface. The base  101  may alternately provide means for mounting to a vertical or other arbitrarily angled surface, such as a vertical wall surface of angled surface on the dashboard or windshield of an automobile.  
         [0034]    Attached to stationary base  101  or formed integral therewith is a stem  102  which is itself connected to the motive spring winding (and unwinding) axis  109  of the music box  103  (a detail of this connection is shown in FIG. 2.) A portion of the object, such as an Earth globe, is fixedly connected to the outer housing portion  115  of the music box. As stem  102  is fixedly attached to a stationary base  101  and to the winding/unwinding axis  109  of the music box  103 , it will be clear that outer housing portion  115  of music box  103  (as well as internal components of the music box other than the winding/unwinding shaft and portions of the spring) and any object attached to it will rotate when the music box plays. This differs from traditional or standard music boxes used in a conventional manner in which the music box is stationary and the spring shaft and winding key rotate. It is also different from more contemporary devices in which the music box is stationary, but rotation of the winding/unwinding shaft rotates an object such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,429  
         [0035]    The manner in which the object (e.g. Earth Globe) is attached or connected to the outer housing  115  of the music box  103  may vary depending on the characteristic of the object (including for example its size, shape, symmetry or lack thereof) and the desired method of winding the music box spring motor. This attachment (though not all embodiments of the invention have an attachment that takes the form of a traditional mechanical crank) is conveniently referred to as crank  104 , as this attachment ultimately provides the functional mechanical interface between the music box spring motor and the exterior surfaces of the inventive structure. Many variations and alternative methods and mechanisms are possible. Where the object is somewhat transparent, such as an Earth globe formed of a plastic, acrylic, glass or other substantially clear material on which the opaque or partially opaque continents are overlaid, the esthetics of the crank attachment  104  may be as important as the particular crank attachment structure. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 a sectioned opened Earth globe  113  is shown.  
         [0036]    Important consideration in selecting a mechanically suitable and/or esthetically acceptable crank attachment structure may, for example, include: (i) whether it is desirable to touch and rotate the object itself or a separate handle, knob or key attached to the object; (ii) the absolute and/or relative physical location of the spring motor winding/unwinding axis and the location of the crank attachment to the outer housing portion  115  of the music box; (iii) any desire to maintain (or not maintain) the winding/unwinding shaft with the rotational axis of the object, so that the object may appear to rotate about the same axis or to have an offset and appear to orbit around the axis. This is best illustrated by way of two contrasting examples. It may be most desirable to align the winding/unwinding axis with the attachment of the crank to the North Pole of the Earth globe so that the Earth globe appears to rotate about the pole without wobbling. Yet, to offset the winding/unwinding axis from the attachment of a toy airplane object so that the airplane appears to circle a stationary point in space rather than merely rotate in space; and (iv) any mechanical constraints, efficiencies, or economies that may influence the location at which the crank attachment is mounted to the exterior music box housing. These factors are merely illustrative of some factors to be considered.  
         [0037]    As a mechanical spring motor is used to drive the music playing mechanism as well as to provide rotation of the Earth globe or other object, there is no need for an electrical power cord extending from the structure and no need for access to batteries or the like power supply. Therefore, cost of ownership including operating costs is reduced over the costs for an electrically powered globe having music playback. The size of the music box and globe or other object is also highly scalable. Structures varying from only a few inches tall to several feet high may be made, the strength and energy required to rotate a larger object being readily available from the larger and stronger spring that may be housed within the larger object.  
         [0038]    Having described the inventive structure and method in somewhat generic terms, attention is now directed to several illustrative embodiments. With reference to FIG. 1 a first embodiment, the invention provides an Earth globe music box in which features of the Earth (for example, physical features, geopolitical features, or the like) are applied to the surface (or integrally formed with the sphere) of a substantially transparent sphere. Conveniently, the sphere will be formed from a plastic or acrylic material, but may be formed of glass, crystal or other transparent or somewhat transparent material. (Recall that transparency is required only when it is desired to see the music box within the rotating object, and that embodiments of the invention need not be transparent, but rather my be translucent or opaque.) Areas of Earth corresponding to oceans and other bodies of water may be slightly tinted blue so that the internal music box remains visible, yet the Earth Globe has more of an esthetic natural appearance and coloration. An exemplary embodiment of an Earth globe music box apparatus having transparent and semitransparent regions is illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0039]    This embodiment of the inventive music globe includes a stationary base  101  a stem or pedestal  102  coupling the base  101  to the winding/unwinding shaft  109  of the music box  103 , and a globe  113  coupled to a music box outer housing  115  via a crank or other shaft attachment means  104 . More specifically, there is illustrated an embodiment of the structure having a somewhat circular base  101  that is appropriately sized and shaped for placement on the horizontal surface such as a tabletop or mantle. The base may be formed of any material and may be any shape as long as it supports the weight and placement of the elements attached to it, including the music box and globe. In the preferred embodiment, the base  101  is made of wood with optional inlaid metal piece such as copper or brass, which may match the other hardware pieces and provide weight. Where external inlay pieces are not desired, the base may be weighted with metal, ceramic, or other relatively heavy material interior the base  101 . However, the base and other hardware can be made of other materials including plastics, ceramics, composite materials and the like. In other embodiments the base is absent and instead the stem or winding axis shaft attaches to a preexisting base such as a tabletop or wall.  
         [0040]    With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, stem  102  extends from and is secured to stationary base  101 (stationary base viewed in FIG. 1. only) and protrudes through an aperture  112  in the Southern Hemisphere  106  of the globe and attaches to the music box winding/unwinding shaft  109 . The bottom of the stem  102  attaches to base plate  101  and is secured there by conventional fastening means, such as a threaded screw, by adhesive, by friction or press fit, and other fastening means as are known in the art.  
         [0041]    Stem  102  may alternatively be formed integral with the base plate  101 . In one instance, base plate and stem  102  are integrally formed from a reinforced plastic material and upper extremity of the stem portion  102  comprises a metal coupling for mating to or coupling with the winding/unwinding shaft of the music box. In one embodiment, this coupling may be eliminated entirely and the music box winding/unwinding shaft itself is integrally formed with the base/stem component. While the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 shows a substantially rod-like stem, it will be understood that any shape of stem that couples the music box with the any base may be used so long as it provides or couples to the spring motor winding/unwinding shaft of the music box. Desirably, the terminal portion proximate the music box will be formed of metal and be somewhat tubular or rod-like in shape so as to minimize the size of aperture  112  at the Southern Hemisphere of the globe through which the stem  102  will pass. In embodiments where the object does not completely surround the music box, this preference may be significantly relaxed.  
         [0042]    Stem  102  can vary in length and may or may not have bends, angles, or other ornamental curves along its length. In the preferred embodiment in which the Earth globe  113  is being rotated, the stem  102  includes a portion that mounts the globe at the Earth&#39;s tilt or inclination as it orbits the sun of about 23.5 degrees. Of course, this angle need not be precise, and any angle that suggests to the viewer that the Earth&#39;s rotational axis is tilted or inclined relative to its solar orbital motion is sufficient. For example, any angle between about 10 degrees and about 35 degrees would provide the desirable reality, depending somewhat upon the age, education and sophistication of the viewer.  
         [0043]    The top of stem or pedestal  102  may include a metal portion having a threaded or tapped end which screws into the mating threads for, or other means of connection to, the winding/unwinding axis shaft  109  of music box  103 . Other forms of coupling may alternately be used, such as for example, a keyed or shaped tubular collar. A collar having one or more setscrews, welding brazing, epoxy or other adhesive, molding, or other forms of attaching a shaft to another shaft or a pedestal as is known in the art. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the winding/unwinding shaft of the music box spring motor may effectively attach directly to the base so that stem  102  is either very short, or entirely absent.  
         [0044]    Crank attachment  104  connects to music box  103 . The crank attachment may take a variety of forms, the shape and geometry generally depending upon whether substantially pure rotation is desired or whether an offset orbital motion of the object is desired and the desired attachment point of the crank attachment  104  to the music box. For the Earth globe, where pure rotation along an axis extending between the north and south poles is most desirable, the point of attachment to the surface of the globe should desirably be substantially coaxial or aligned with the music box winding/unwinding shaft. Therefore, where it is possible to attach the crank attachment to the outer housing of the music box at the location and angle that the winding/unwinding shaft would extend through, the crank attachment shaft is a linear shaft that appears to extend from the stem  102  at (or near) the southern hemisphere  106 , through the winding/unwinding shaft, and out the surface of the music box housing (or near) the northern hemisphere  105  of the globe.  
         [0045]    In one embodiment of the invention, the structure is adapted to be used with the existing range of music box configurations in which mounting the crank attachment to be coincident and coaxial with the winding/unwinding shaft is difficult. In this embodiment, the crank attachment shaft includes an offset that compensates for the difference in position between the music box outer housing attachment location of the crank attachment shaft and the location of the winding/unwinding shaft. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the crank attachment shaft is attached at one of the available standard screw holes in the outer housing of the music box with threaded nut  114 . These available screw holes may have been provided for mounting the music box to another decorative case, another item, or for some other purpose. In some instances, rather than using available holes for attachment, it will still be necessary to provide a hole at an attachment location, but an offset will be required as the physical configuration may preclude attachment directly at the location of the winding/unwinding shaft.  
         [0046]    The top of crank  104 , whether having an offset or no offset, protrudes through aperture  111  in the northern hemisphere  105  of the globe. In one embodiment, the top of the crank attachment is attached to globe  113  by any available attachment means, such as by threaded fasteners, adhesive, molding, press fit, or the like methods and means as are known in the attachment and fastening arts. A standard screw hole  110  may be provided in the base of the music box  103 . When the globe  113  is directly mounted in this manner, the user will typically grasp or otherwise rotate the globe while maintaining the base stationary to wind the music box spring motor. A release mechanism may be used to start and stop the music and rotation of the globe. An additional control may optionally be provided to select only globe rotation using the music box motor without playing the music, playing music without globe rotation, or both rotating and playing music. In one embodiment, this control takes the form of a clutch that decouples the separate movements and operations.  
         [0047]    In an alternate embodiment, the top of the crank attachment shaft is threaded or otherwise shaped to mate with or match the end of a standard winding key  107 . The winding key may be permanently attached, or removable so that it provides a good grip for winding, but does not detract from the esthetics of the globe. In the preferred embodiment, globe  113  is made from a clear material such as plastic, acrylic, or glass or otherwise allowing a view of the workings of the music box  103 . Both sides of aperture  111  in Northern Hemisphere  105  can be fitted with flexible washers  108   a  and  108   b  or other cushioning means which will allow the winding key  107  to be tightened to crank  104  without deforming, cracking, or otherwise damaging the curved surface and/or fragile surface of globe  113 . The cushioning material may, for example, be selected from such known materials as rubber, cork, felt, or other polymeric materials, as are known in the art. Even where mechanical cushioning to prevent damage to the sphere is not required, it may be advantageous to incorporate such cushioning materials to enhance the sound of the music, such as to prolong the musical tone and to prevent unwanted vibrations.  
         [0048]    In an alternative embodiment, the head of a cartoon character replaces the globe. For an example, Donald Duck™, Mickey Mouse™, or similar cartoon or animation characters. Analogous structures and operation are involved as to the afore described Earth globe or other celestial bodies. Either of there embodiments may be combined with additional rotating, orbiting, and/or stationary components. For example, the Earth globe may be combined with a stationary moon object that is attached to the stem  102  or to the base  101  of the Earth globe, or the moon may attached to music box  103  or Earth globe  113  and rotate. These additional optional objects may incorporate similar mechanisms as already described. For example, a single base  101  may support multiple rotating cartoon beads or other objects.  
         [0049]    In still additional alternative embodiments, nested inner and outer stationary and/or moving (rotating or orbiting) objects may be provided. In one such embodiment, an inner object (of any symmetrical shape, such as an ellipse, cylinder, cone, frustum of a cone, sphere or globe) is held stationary and an outer object having rotates relative to the inner globe. (Alternatively, the inner sphere or globe rotates and the outer sphere or globe rotates.) These inner and outer objects may frequently be similarly shaped objects, such as inner and outer spheres, but need not have the same shape so long as they do not interfere with each other during rotation. Various special effects may be achieved by selecting the two or more objects appropriately. For example, in one embodiment, interference patterns are formed via the relative orientation of lines, curves, grips or other regions on one or more surfaces. In another embodiment, an outer sphere includes regions of translucency and/or opacity to simulate clouds traveling over the surface of an inner Earth globe. In yet another embodiment, multiple spheres each having a runner or racehorses rotate at different speeds simulating a race event. Those workers having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate in light of the description provided here that many more applications, configurations, and objects may be implemented and that intervention is not limited to specific exemplary embodiments mentioned or described in detail.  
         [0050]    Those workers having ordinary skill in the art in light of the description provided here will appreciate that the Earth globe music box (as well as the alternative embodiments) functions similarly to standard music boxes and has similar purposes of collection, gift-giving and ornamentation.  
         [0051]    The operator or viewer/listener would wind the spring of the music box from the key preferably placed at the top of the globe (or other object) or by using the globe (or other object) itself as the winding mechanism, as described. The spring would then turn the cylinder as is known and standard for a music box, and also turn the music box itself since the usual place of unwinding is being held fixed by the stem  102  to the base. The globe being connected to the music box rotates with it creating sound such as music and visually pleasing motion especially if the globe is clear or otherwise allows a view of the music box motion and rotations.  
         [0052]    Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather then by the illustrative exemplary embodiments specifically described herein. All references to patents or other publications made herein are incorporated by reference.