Patent Publication Number: US-6219306-B1

Title: Device for projecting a dynamic spectral display

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application relates to Disclosure Document No. 411798 received by Patent Office on Jan. 24, 1997 and filed by Applicant. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to spectral light projecting devices onto a viewing surface, and more specifically, to devices for projecting a spectral display, that is in a motion to create or form a dynamic spectral display or an image of it, on the viewing surface. 
     The device is made up of spectral light projecting segments attached to rotatable hollow shafts, which are mounted and rotating on coaxial based shaft, and thus composing rotating spectral projecting segments. Each rotating segment provides built in electrical wiring and a connection to energize a light emitting source, and also mechanical power to effect a rotating motion of the projecting segment. The projecting part of the rotating segment includes the light emitting source for projecting the light rays onto diffraction means such as a prism or diffraction gratings to cause a spectral dispersion of the light rays for projecting the same onto the viewing surface to create spectral display in the motion or the dynamic spectral display. 
     There are devices for projecting the spectral display, but they do not provide a novel improvement of the invention herein introduced. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,491 issued on Sep. 21, 1993 disclosed the spectral display, which is based on a static arrangement of the projecting segments, and the presently proposed modification is quite different or unique, and was not indicated in the former patents at all. 
     Essentially, none of the prior art discloses proposed herein a new design of the projecting spectral display, wherein the spectral projecting segments are connected or integrated with the rotating motion means. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for projecting spectral display, that is in a motion or a dynamic spectral display onto a viewing surface, which is not accomplished by the prior art devices. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for projecting spectral display, having at least three coaxially rotating projecting segments, this is able to create a spectral image of a clock&#39;s dial on a viewing surface. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a spectral display in the motion as indicated above, wherein the device has a number of spectral projecting segments accommodated on coaxial rotating shafts to create an artistic or abstract dynamic spectral display. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device as described above, wherein a number of coaxially combined projecting segments with different spatial orientation are projecting a dynamic spectral display onto the viewing surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device, which is simple to manufacture and is economically affordable. 
     And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for projecting dynamic spectral display, which is embodying a practical, useful function with esthetic merits. 
     Accordingly to the present invention, the device for projecting the spectral display in the motion or the dynamic spectral display, is comprising of many spectral projecting segments each attached to a rotating hollow shaft mounted together and rotating in a coaxial manner. 
     Each projecting segment of the device includes, a light emitting source to produce light rays, light convergent means such as a condensing lens, and diffraction means such as a prism or diffraction gratings to effect spectral dispersion or diffraction of the light rays for projecting same onto a surface exposed to viewing or simply, a viewing surface. 
     The rotating hollow shafts provide built-in electrical wiring tracks and electricity conductive rings connected to electrical brushes to enable to energize the light source while it is in the rotating motion. The rotating shafts are powered and driven by the device&#39;s controlling mechanism through a geared wheel. An outside electrical power is supplied through an electrical socket accommodated in the a casing or housing of the device. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the device in a clock, with the projecting segments arranged in relative and corresponding order to each other and rotating in coaxial manner to project a desired time display onto the viewing surface. The clock&#39;s like spectral display, has a particular structure of three coaxially rotating spectral projecting segments, so that energizing their respective light sources provides a second indicating hand, a minute indicating hand and an hour indicating hand of the spectral time display. 
     In another embodiment, the device having many projecting segments arranged as described above, combined and acting together with projecting segments of different spatial orientation in relationship to each other, is projecting the dynamic spectral display or the variety of it. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above stated and extra objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of components hereinafter described by the way of example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a rotating projecting segment of a device for projecting a spectral display in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmented cross sectional view showing the projecting segment of FIG. 1, in a device to provide a motion for the spectral display; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view showing the projecting segments of FIG. 1, combined and coacting with similar segments in a device to provide a projecting for spectral time indicating display; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a rotating projecting segment of a device with the same structure as in FIG. 1, but a variation of it with different spatial orientation of the projecting segment. 
    
    
     In the various FIGURES of the drawings, like reference characters designate like components. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an entire rotating spectral projecting segment  40 , that is composed of a rotating hollow shaft  14  and a spectral projecting segment  41 , which are mounted in a device for projecting a spectral dynamic display  19  onto an exposed surface to viewing  22 , according to the present invention. The spectral projecting segment  41 , as well as the components of it mentioned below, include a light emitting source  12 , such as a light bulb, which is connected by electrical wires  24  to electricity conducting rings  17  then connecting through the electrical brushes  18  to electrical energy supply terminals (A) in a manner well known in the art. A light convergent means such as lens  11  is disposed in a predetermined distance between light source  12  and diffracting means such as a prism  10 , a diffraction gradings and the like. The convergent light incidents onto the diffraction means  10 , thus effecting a spectral dispersion or diffraction of the light for projecting same onto the viewing surface  22  to create the spectral display  19 . 
     The projecting segment  41  is mounted inside of an opaque housing or box  13 , with an opening, and attached to a rotating hollow shaft  14 , by help of the attachment means  15 , such as screws, glue and the like. The hollow shaft  14  provides built-in electrical wiring tracks  24  and connection to energy for the light emitting source  12 , as well mechanical energy for a rotating motion through a geared wheel  20  powered by geared wheel  21  of the device&#39;s controlling mechanism. The segment  40  is one of the coaxial members of the device for projecting the dynamic spectral display and rotates with synchronized or various speeds of the motion with another similar segments for projecting a desired dynamic display. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates cross sectional elements of FIG. 1 showing the technical details of the rotating projecting segment  40  of the device for projecting the dynamic spectral display. The opaque box or housing  13  of the projecting segment  41 , is specially molded to accommodate the light source  12 , the convergent lens  11  and the prism  10  of the device. The hollow shaft  14 , has the built-in electrical wiring tracks  24  connected to the conductive rings  17  and electrical brushes  18 , to enable energizing the light source  12  while it is in the rotating motion. The electrical brushes  18  are placed in a base  23  to keep them in a fixed position to enable to supply electrical energy through terminals (A). This type of an electrical connection is well known in the art. The hollow shaft  14  is powered and driven through the geared wheel  20  by the device&#39;s controlling mechanism, such as the geared wheel  21 . The rotating hollow shaft  14  is equipped with friction ease means  16 , such as bearings to facilitate sliding of the shafts in coaxial manner. 
     FIG. 3 shows perspective exploded view of three combined and coacting rotating projecting segments  40 ,  40 A,  40 B in the coaxial manner of a clock device mounted in a housing or casing  30 , for projecting clock&#39;s-like spectral display. The rotating shaft  14  of the projecting segment  40 , has the same, but elongated hollow shaft like in FIG. 1, and is composing a common axis for two other remaining segments of the device. The projecting segment  40 , attached to the shaft  14  illustrates the projecting of an hour hand spectral marker  19  of the time display onto viewable surface  22 , from the light source  12  of the rotating projecting segment  40 . The hollow shaft  14  is driven through the geared wheel  20  by the clock&#39;s hour controlling geared wheel  21 . 
     The electrical power is supplied from socket  28 , through electrical wiring and terminals (A) to the brushes  18  and wiring tracks built-in the shaft (not shown in this FIG. for the sake of clarity) to energize the light emitting source  12  of all rotating projecting segments  40 ,  40 A,  40 B. The projecting segment attached respectively to the shaft  14 A, for projecting the minute hand spectral marker  33  of the time spectral display, is mounted coaxially on shaft  14  and is driven by the clock&#39;s minute controlling geared wheel  21 A through a geared wheel  20 A of the shaft  14 A. The electrical energy supply for the light source  12  of the rotating projecting segment  40 A is arranged in the same or similar way as at the segment  40 . The projecting segment integrated with shaft  14 B, for projecting a second hand spectral maker  32  of the spectral time display, is mounted coaxially on the shaft  14 A, and is powered by the clock&#39;s second controlling geared wheel  21 B through a geared wheel  20 B of the hollow shaft  14 B. The electrical energy supply (A) for the light source of the above segment is done as described above by the hour and minute projecting segments. Between the hollow shafts  14 ,  14 A, and  14 B, there are placed preferably the bearings or some other means to ease the friction between them, (not shown for the sake of clarity). 
     The same projecting segments  41 , are accommodated and mounted stationary inside of a molded chamber  29 , and are independent from the rotating shafts. The segments  41  are projecting an hour reference or designation  31  and  34 ,  35 ,  36  of the spectral time display and are energized by the electrical power (not shown for the sake of clarity) in a way well known in the art. There can be four or twelve of the segments  41  installed in each device for projecting an hour designation of the spectral time display. 
     The drawing of FIG. 3 indicates displayed time is 9:05:30. The various clock&#39;s controlling mechanisms are well known in the art therefore not shown on this drawings. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rotating projecting segments  40  for the dynamic spectral display, which is structurally and materially the same as shown in FIG. 1, but represents a possible variation of it. 
     FIG. 4 introduces the projecting part  41  of the rotating segment  40  oriented spatially in order to project a spectral marker  19 , which is perpendicular to the radius of the viewing surface, as it is different in FIG. 1, wherein the projecting part of the segment is oriented parallelly to project a parallel spectral marker  19  to the radius of the viewing surface. 
     In the further embodiment, the device for projecting spectral display in the motion may have numerous projecting segments, contained in covered box  13 , spaced from the shaft  14 , through elongated means  37 , such as beams or small bridges like structures for a desired distance, or specially adjusted at angle in relationship to the main axis of the device, to enable creating more variety of the dynamic spectral displays. 
     Considering the above description as a sufficient disclosure of the specifications, these should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but rather numerous changes of the structures above disclosed and described will inspire those skilled in the art. And of course, it is understood that the present disclosure relates to preferred embodiments of the invention which are for purposes of illustration only.