Patent Publication Number: US-2018043129-A1

Title: Meditation Aid

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to meditation aids. In particular, it relates to a meditation aid showing differing configurations when viewed from a variety of different viewpoints. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Meditation is a form of concentration where an individual induces a mode of consciousness. The object is for the individual to either realize some benefit or for the mind to simply acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content. Meditation takes the form of a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force, and with a goal of developing emotions such as compassion, love, patience, generosity, or forgiveness. A particularly ambitious form of meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single-pointed concentration meant to enable its practitioner to enjoy an indestructible sense of well-being while engaging in any life activity. 
     Meditation has been practiced since antiquity as a component of numerous religious traditions and beliefs. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is also used to clear the mind and ease health concerns, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. Meditation aids, such as Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of, or remind, the practitioner about some aspect of that training. 
     What is needed, however, is a novel meditation aid which is useful to generate an infinite number of observable ritual objects, when observed from an infinite number of viewpoints, in order to remind the practitioner about one aspect of that meditation training, when observed from one viewpoint, but which reminds the practitioner of yet another aspect of the practitioners meditation training when viewed from yet another viewpoint. The present invention satisfies these needs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel meditation aid which is useful to generate an infinite number of observable ritual objects, when observed from an infinite number of viewpoints, in order to remind the practitioner about one aspect of that meditation training, when observed from one viewpoint, but which reminds the practitioner of yet another aspect of the practitioners meditation training when viewed from yet another viewpoint 
     To overcome the problems associated with the prior art and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, briefly, a meditation aid is provided. The meditation aid is three ritual objects. The object maybe used separately or and constructed together as a single built-up member. The first object is a pyramid formation having a first outer set of six bar members. The pyramid formation has four corner portions defining six medial connecting points. A second object has an inner set of bar members being connected in a tetrahedron formation. The tetrahedron formation is suspended within the pyramid formation by at least one strut member. The third object is an innermost set of three medially connected bar members being configured in a jacks like star formation. The opposite ends, of the star formation, bar members are evenly disposed in spaced relationship for connection to a respective one of each of the six medial connecting points. 
     Additional advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be obvious from that description or can be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by the method particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of the specification, illustrate at least one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is left hand perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the three ritual objects assembled together. 
         FIG. 2  is right hand perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the three ritual objects assembled together. 
         FIG. 3  is a left hand exploded perspective view showing each of the respective ritual objects in a preferred relative position for construction of the presently preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Unless specifically defined otherwise, all technical or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. 
     Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. Reference now will be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals represent like features. 
     The present invention provides a meditation aid. The meditation aid includes three ritual object which may be a separate set of objects or, with the presently preferred embodiment, constructed together as a single built-up member. With the preferred embodiment, the meditation aid has a first ritual object being an outer pyramid formation, a second object being a central or middle penta-tetrahedron, and a third object being an inner multi-axis star formation. The middle penta-tetrahedron and inner star formations, may be separate, but are desirably suspended within an interior or central portion, of the pyramid. 
     The meditation aid  10  is desirably constructed as a built-up formation with a plurality of rigid bar members  22 ,  32 ,  42  but may be formed as a molded or blown glass construction. The bar members  22 ,  32 ,  42  are desirably formed of wood, a brass, copper, aluminum, gold, silver, platinum, or titanium metal wire, but may also be a polymer or blown glass, or any combination thereof. The bar members  22 ,  32 ,  42  are preferably a round wire, but may also be four sided, or elliptical in cross-section. Thus, for example, the pyramid formation  20  may be formed of a polished metal wire, with the middle penta-tetrahedron formation  30  being formed of a blown glass assembly and being adhered to the pyramid formation  20  bar members  22  using an adhesive. 
     The bar members  22 ,  32 ,  42  are desirably connected using a joint construction formed with a solder, weld, adhesive, or a mold process, in any manner which is well known in the art of constructing built-up members. Where it is desirable to build the present invention, or a portion thereof, with a glass construction, the present invention is desirably formed using any blown glass material, such as Pyrex  TM , and any blown glass method which is well known in the art. The bar members  22 ,  32 ,  42 , for use with the present invention, are desirably stock rod or tubular members having a diameter in range of between 1.59-4.76 millimeters, depending upon the intended material used in the overall construction of the meditation aid  10 . 
     The outer pyramid is desirably constructed to include a first outer set of six bar members  22  being connected in a pyramid formation  20 . The pyramid formation  20  has four corner portions  24  defining six medial connecting points. In this manner, a monumental pyramid structure is formed with a triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top. Rotation of the pyramid enables a wide variety of different view-points. 
     A second inner set of twelve bar members  32  are desirably connected in a penta-tetrahedron formation  30 . The penta-tetrahedron formation  30  is suspended within the pyramid formation  20  by a set of four strut members  34 . The four strut members  34  are evenly disposed in connection with each of a respective one of each of the four corner portions  24 . 
     A third innermost set of three medially connected  41  bar members  42  is configured in a jacks-like star formation  40 . The opposite ends, of the star formation  40 , bar members  42  are evenly disposed in spaced relationship for connection to a respective one of each of the six medial connecting points. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with the illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated and understood that certain modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.