Patent Publication Number: US-2009221210-A1

Title: Amusing display ornament

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention provides an amusing display ornament, and more particularly provides a display ornament which enables toy figurine or model suspended ornaments to be driven by a drive module, and thereby cause the suspended ornaments to move in synchronization. Moreover, the display ornament can be connected to a computer and acquire a power supply and musical digital data therefrom, thereby enabling music to be broadcasted when the suspended ornaments are moving. Moreover, the present invention is especially suitable for placement on an office desk or computer table for increased amusement. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     Because office employees, including administrative personnel or writers, computer graphics personnel, network operators, and so on, spend over eight hours a day sitting in front of a desk or computer table handling work tasks, thus, they are often utterly mentally exhausted, and therefore occasional adjustments need to be made between work tasks in order to avoid problems of impaired concentration occurring due to prolonged work periods without rest and poor working efficiency. 
     Hence, many methods are used to make adjustments to the working environment by the aforementioned personnel who must sit in front of a desk or computer table handling work tasks for long periods of time, among which the majority involve placing a few ornaments, including photographs, toy figurines, models, and the like, on the desk or the computer table, or placing a few small plants on the desk, thereby preventing working time from becoming too monotonous. 
     In addition, because, apart from computer tables, nearly all desks within the modern office have a computer disposed thereon, and the computers are configured with USB (Universal Serial Bus) transmission interfaces, characteristics of which include utilizing the USB connector port to simultaneously transmit digital data and provide a direct current power supply. Hence, if a display ornament placed on the desk or the computer table is able to connect to the USB connector port, then the transmitted digital data and power supply provided by the USB connector port can be used to actuate the display ornament, thereby enabling providing the display ornament with increased amusement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Hence, an amusing display ornament provided by the present invention enables suspended ornaments to be driven and move in synchronization by a drive module. Moreover, the display ornament can be connected to a computer to acquire a power supply and musical digital data therefrom, thereby enabling music to be broadcasted when the suspended ornaments are moving. The present invention is especially suitable for placement on an office desk or computer table for increased amusement. 
     More specifically, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide the amusing display ornament of the present invention with at least one support rod disposed on a base, and toy figurine or model suspended ornaments are disposed on the support rods. A transmission module is configured at a bottom portion of each of the support rods within the base, and the transmission modules are driven by a drive module. When the drive module is operating, the transmission modules cause the support rods to rotate or move up and down, thereby causing the toy figurine or model suspended ornaments on the support rods to move in synchronization, and thus increase amusement. 
     An embodiment of the present invention comprises the aforementioned base further connected to a USB connector port of a computer, and disposed with a control unit, thereby enabling the control unit to acquire a power supply and musical digital data from the USB connector port and broadcast music when the suspended ornaments are moving. Moreover, the present invention is especially suitable for placement on an office desk or computer table. 
     To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, a brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational external schematic view of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a structural schematic view of the embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a structural schematic view depicting a second embodiment of a support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view depicting movement of the second embodiment of the support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a structural schematic view depicting a third embodiment of the support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view depicting movement of the third embodiment of the support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a structural schematic view depicting a fourth embodiment of the support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a structural schematic view depicting a fifth embodiment of the support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a structural schematic view depicting a sixth embodiment of the support rod according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a structural schematic view depicting a first embodiment of a transmission module according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a structural schematic view depicting a second embodiment of the transmission module according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a structural elevational view depicting the second embodiment of the transmission module according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a structural schematic view depicting a third embodiment of the transmission module according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a structural schematic view depicting a fourth embodiment of the transmission module according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view depicting movement of the fourth embodiment of the transmission module according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which show an amusing display ornament of the present invention, wherein at least one support rod  20  is disposed on a base  10 , and toy figurine or model suspended ornaments  21  are respectively disposed on the support rods  20 . A bottom portion of each of the support rods  20  penetrates and is positioned within the base  10 , and is further connected to a transmission module  30 , and the transmission modules are driven by a drive module  40 . When the drive module  40  is supplied with power through a power supply unit  50  and actuated, then the transmission modules  30  cause the support rods  20  to rotate or move up and down, thereby enabling the toy figurine or model suspended ornaments  21  on the support rods  20  to move in synchronization, thus achieving effectiveness of increased amusement. 
     In addition, the aforementioned base  10  can be further installed with a control unit  60 , and the control unit  60  comprises a control circuit  61 , a switch  62  and a speaker  63 . When the power supply unit  50  is supplied with power and the switch  62  is in an open state, then the control circuit  61  is able to cause the speaker  63  and the drive module  40  to operate. 
     Activation of the drive module  40  enables achieving effectiveness to cause the aforementioned toy figurine or model suspended ornaments  21  on the support rods  20  to move in synchronization, and for the speaker  63  to simultaneously broadcast music. 
     Configuration and feasible embodiments of each assembly member of the present invention are further described as follows: 
     Referring to all the drawings, an embodiment of the aforementioned base  10  adopts a hollow pipe body, interior of which is disposed with the transmission modules  30  and the drive module  40 . The top of the base  10  is used to dispose a plurality of the support rods  20  and the suspended ornaments  21 , and a bottom portion of each of the support rods  20  penetrates within the base  10 , thereby enabling the support rods  20  to respectively connect to a corresponding number of the transmission modules  30 . When the drive module  40  actuates and rotates the plurality of transmission modules  30 , then the plurality of support rods  20  and the suspended ornaments  21  simultaneous move in synchronization. 
     The aforementioned support rods  20  are rod shaped members, upper portions of which respectively penetrate within the toy figurine or model suspended ornaments  21 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , which show embodiments of the support rods  20 , wherein each of the support rods  20  is respectively appropriately bent to form a bent portion  22 . When the drive module  40  actuates the transmission modules  30 , thereby driving and rotating the supports rod  20 , then the bent portions  22  of the support rods  20  cause the suspended ornaments  21  to move in an eccentric swaying fashion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which show the bent portion  22  of the support rod  20  configured to correspond with the head of the toy figurine-shaped suspended ornament  21 . Accordingly, when the support rods  20  rotate, then the toy figurine-shaped suspended ornaments  21  rotate in synchronization, which, because of the eccentric rotation of the bent portions  22 , causes eccentric swaying of the heads of the suspended ornaments  21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which show the bent portion  22  of the support rod  20  configured to correspond with the waist portion of the toy figurine-shaped suspended ornament  21 . Accordingly, when the support rods  20  are rotating, then the toy figurine-shaped suspended ornaments  21  rotate in synchronization, which, because of the eccentric rotation of the bent portions  22 , causes rotational wriggling of the waist portion of the suspended ornaments  21 . 
     In addition, an elastic member  23  can be mounted on the exterior of each of the support rods  20  depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in which a bottom end of the elastic member  23  is fixed to the base  10 , and a top end is fixed to the body of the toy figurine-shaped suspended ornament  21 . Accordingly, when the support rod  20  are rotating, then the pulling force of the elastic member  23  fixes and disables the body of the suspended ornament  21  from rotating along with the support rod  20 , and only the bent portion  22  of the support rod  20  forms an eccentric swaying and wriggling motion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , wherein, apart from the two embodiments of the support rod  20 , including a single rod member and a rod configured with the bent portion  22 , in order to accommodate different suspended ornament shapes, the support rod  20  can also be configured to form a forked shape or other regular and irregular shapes, such as a form similar to a U-shape and a Y-shape as depicted in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , which shows a plurality of suspension arms  24  additionally pivotally disposed on the support rod  20  as a further configurational embodiment of the support rod  20 , and the suspended ornaments  21  are respectively disposed on the outer end of each of the suspension arms  24 , whereas the inner end of each of the suspension arms  24  is a pivot connecting end  25  that is pivot connected to the support rod  20 , thereby enabling the suspension arms  24  to swing up and down relative to the support rod  20  using the pivot connecting ends  25  as pivots. In addition, a guiding block  26  is disposed on the exterior of the support rod  20 , and a lower portion of the guiding block  26  is fixed to the base  10 , whereas the upper portion is configured with an undulating height guiding portion  27  that encircles the periphery of the support rod  20 , and which enables the lower portion of each of the suspension arms  24  to abut against the guiding portion  27 . 
     When the support rod  20  is rotating, the plurality of suspension arms  24  rotate along therewith, and because the guiding block  26  is fixedly secured, thus, each of the suspension arms  24  are made to follow the undulating form of the guiding portion  27 , thereby causing up and down eccentric swinging of the suspension arms  24  and simultaneous rising and falling of the suspended ornaments  21  respectively disposed on each of the suspension arms  24  as they rotate around the support rod  20 , thus creating the visual effectiveness similar to movement of a merry-go-round. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  in conjunction with  FIG. 10 , the aforementioned transmission modules  30  primarily transmit power outputted by the drive module  40  to the support rods  20 , accordingly, an embodiment of the transmission module  30  is structured from a first gear  31  connected to the drive module  40  and a second gear  32  connected to a bottom portion of the support rod  20 ; moreover, the first and second gears  31 ,  32  mutually mesh. Accordingly, when a power output shaft of the drive module  40  drives and rotates the first gear  31 , then the second gear  32  is simultaneously driven and rotated, which further causes the support rod  20  and the suspended ornament  21  thereon to simultaneous rotate. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 11 and 12 , apart from the aforementioned gears, the transmission module  30  can also comprise friction wheels, and the transmission module  30  is similarly, structured from a first friction wheel  33  connected to the drive module  40  and a second friction wheel  34  connected to the bottom portion of the support rod  20 , moreover, mutual contact friction is effected between the first and friction wheels  33 ,  34 , thereby driving the support rod  20  and causing simultaneous rotation of the suspended ornaments  21  thereon. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , apart from gears and friction wheels, the transmission module  30  can also be structured from a third friction wheel  35  connected to the drive module  40  and a fourth driving wheel  36  connected to the bottom portion of the support rod  20 , wherein the bottom portion of the fourth driving wheel  36  and contact surface of the third friction wheel  35  are provided with undulating forms, moreover, a spring  37  located on an upper portion downwardly supportably abuts against the fourth driving wheel  36 . Hence, when the third friction wheel  35  rotates, a high and low undulating rotating motion simultaneous occurs following the undulated form formed on the contact surface of the fourth friction wheel  36 , thereby causing the support rod  20  and the suspended ornament  21  thereon to simultaneously rotate in a high and low undulating fashion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the transmission module  30  can also be structured from a fifth driving wheel  38  connected to the drive module  40  and a sixth driving wheel  39  connected to the bottom portion of the support rod  20 . The fifth driving wheel  38  and the sixth driving wheel  39  are similarly both friction wheels, moreover, the fifth driving wheel  38  is an eccentric cam form, and a spring  37  similarly located on an upper portion of the sixth driving wheel  39  downwardly supportably abuts thereon. When the fifth driving wheel  38  is actuated by the drive module  40  and rotates, because the fifth driving wheel  38  is an eccentric cam form, thus, the sixth driving wheel  39  is caused to rotate and move up and down. It is understood that if the fifth and sixth driving wheels  38 ,  39  do not have frictional transmission functionality, when the fifth driving wheel  38  rotates, then the sixth driving wheel  39  can only be made to move up and down; moreover, the support rods  20  and the suspended ornaments  21  thereon (see  FIG. 13 ) are made to simultaneously move up and down. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the aforementioned drive module  40  of the present invention can be a motor, and a power supply unit  50  is a power line connected to the motor, and passes through a side of the base  10  and connected to a power supply. The power supply connected to the power supply unit  50  and connected to a direct current or alternating current source matches the power supply required by the motor. Of course, a storage battery can also be utilized. 
     Apart from the aforementioned, the control unit  60  depicted in the drawings is disposed within the base  10  at a position close above the drive module  40 ; the control circuit  61  and the speaker  63  are located within the base  10 , and a switch  62  is configured to the exterior atop the base  10  to facilitate operation. An embodiment of the switch  62  can be a manual switch or an automatic inductive switch. Moreover, a sound hole  11  is configured in the base  10  corresponding to the position of the speaker  63 , thereby enabling musical sounds emitted by the speaker  63  to be transmitted outside the base  10 . 
     Referring to all the drawings, functioning in coordination with the aforementioned control unit  60 , an embodiment of the power supply unit  50  can be a USB connecting line, which is connected to a USB connector port of a computer (not shown in the drawings), thereby enabling a power supply and musical digital data to be simultaneously acquired from the USB connector port and transmitted to the control circuit  61 , and the control circuit  61  provides the power supply to the drive module  40  for actuation thereof, and, moreover, decodes the musical digital data and transmits it to the speaker  63 , where the music is broadcasted, thereby enabling music within the computer to be broadcasted when the suspended ornaments  21  are moving. The present invention is especially suitable for placement on an office desk or a computer table; moreover, it can be further connected to various types of computer peripheral equipment (for example: a computer screen, a mouse, a battery charger, all types of storage media, player devices or transmission devices, and the like; not shown in the drawings), thereby achieving the effectiveness to provide ornamentation and increased amusement. 
     It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.