Abstract:
A Zen Stick manufactured from a wood selected from the group consisting of Black and White Ebony, Olivewood, Bocote, Cocobolo, Purpleheart, Zebrawood, Tulipwood, Kingwood and a blend of Ebony, Olivewood, Cocobolo and Bocote., having a length of approximately eleven inches and a cylindrical outer surface of approximately one and a quarter inches, the cylindrical surface being highly polished.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a non-provisional application based in part on the provisional application Ser. No. 60/922,363, filed Apr. 9, 2007 in the name of Laurie Susan Desjardins of Sperry, Okla. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus or device which can be referred to as a “Zen Stick” which is used by the owner or user to assist in various phases of relaxation and meditation. More particularly, the present invention relates to the method of making the “Zen Stick.” Applicant relies on all or any part of the disclosure of the above provisional application. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    The present inventor is the first to have created a “Zen Stick” for the purposes set forth herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The apparatus or device of the present invention is a “Zen Stick” which is preferably a cylindrical piece of wood, preferably of exotic material, having a diameter of approximately one and one quarter inches and a length of approximately eleven inches. The outer cylindrical surface of the “Zen Stick” is highly polished. The owner or user of the “Zen Stick” is encouraged to toss the stick in the air and to catch it with his eyes closed. Whereas, it may be difficult at first to catch the “Zen Stick” with ones eyes closed, nevertheless, repeated attempts will lead to success, particularly where the tosser blocks every thing else from his thoughts and shifts his focus to the catching of the stick. The successful catching of the “Zen Stick” is intended to provide a feeling or aura of peace by the very act of catching the stick. 
         [0007]    The “Zen Stick” can be made from Black and White Ebony, Olivewood, Bocote, Cocobolo, Purpleheart, Zebrawood, Tulipwood, Kingwood, and a blend of Ebony, Olivewood, Cocobolo and Bocote, and possibly other similar woods. 
         [0008]    The initial form of the wood piece from which the “Zen Stick” of the present invention is made is generally about one and one-half inches in diameter and approximately twelve inches long. The cross-sectional shape of the “Zen Stick” in this initial form is generally square or rectangular. 
         [0009]    For the blends, twelve inch long strips of the woods to be blended are selected and compressed together using “Elmer&#39;s”® Carpenters Wood Glue and very sturdy clamps to minimize voids that are present. After drying for several days or longer, the blended stick is milled first to a size of one and a half inches in diameter (circular or square) and a length of approximately twelve inches. 
         [0010]    The next step in the production of the “Zen Stick” involves placement of the one and one-half inch by twelve inch long stick in a lathe using conventional lathe techniques. The stick is turned in the lathe to an outer cylindrical dimension of one and one-quarter inches at which time the wood piece is removed from the lathe and the ends are lopped off to make the stick 11 inches long. Following the removal of the “Zen Stick” from the lathe, the stick undergoes a series of sanding and polishing operations. 
         [0011]    The wood piece removed from the lathe and hereinafter referred to as a “Zen Stick,” will be sanded first using 60 grit sandpaper to remove all unnatural marks, cuts, grooves and scratches. For the 60 grit sandpaper and some of the subsequent finer sandpapers, the operator will preferably use a “mouse” which is a small triangular motorized sanding device. It is necessary to change papers after every few sticks, in particular, the more oily woods as oil collects onto the sandpaper. Cocobolo is the oiliest, and usually after sanding two sticks, it is necessary to change the paper. 
         [0012]    After sanding for about ten to fifteen minutes with the 60 grit sandpaper, the Zen Stick is cured for twenty-four hours using Pentacryl, a wood stabilizing solution comprising siliconized polymers. Next, the Zen Stick is dried for at least twenty-four hours. The Zen Stick is next washed with mineral spirits to dissolve the Pentacryl. Next, the Zen Stick is washed with dish soap to dissolve the mineral spirits. 
         [0013]    Following the washing of the Zen Stick with dish soap, there are a series of operation involving sandpaper, first 120 grit sandpaper, 220 grit sandpaper, 320 grit sandpaper, 400 grit sandpaper and 600 grit sandpaper. The operator will know when he is ready for the next step, when there is no resistance against the sand paper and it moves smoothly and evenly across the surface. 
         [0014]    Following the treatment with the 600 grit sandpaper the Zen Stick will be sanded with 600 grit white aluminum oxide screen mesh then successively with 800 grit, 1,000 grit, 2,000 grit, 3,000 grit and 4,000 grit white aluminum oxide screen mesh. 
         [0015]    Following the treatment with various grades of white aluminum oxide screen mesh, the Zen Stick is buffed on a motorized buffer wheel with jeweler&#39;s rouge. 
         [0016]    Next, the Zen Stick is cleaned with “Pledge”® to remove rouge. Finally the Zen Stick is treated with “Renaissance”® microcrystalline wax polish. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wood piece which is used in the initial stages of the making of the Zen Stick; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wood piece of  FIG. 1  after it has been treated in the lathe to make a totally cylindrical object; and, 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a view of the Zen Stick of  FIG. 2  after the ends have been lopped off and the stick assumes the overall dimensions of an eleven inch cylindrical member having an outer cylindrical diameter of one and one-quarter inches. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  shows a square or rectangular block  12  of wood which is approximately twelve inches long by about one and a half inches along the sides of the square. As indicated previously, the wood can be Black and White Ebony, Olivewood, Bocote, Cocobolo, Purpleheart, Zebrawood, Tulipwood, Kingwood and a blend of Ebony, Olivewood, Cocobolo and Bocote. In the event that it is desired to make a piece of wood which is a “blend” the worker will select pieces at twelve inch lengths, file down the obvious edges, use glue to fill in the remaining gaps and then put the pieces in three hand vices as tight as they will go. Preferably, Elmer&#39;s Carpenters Wood Glue is used because it is sandable. 
         [0021]    The block  12  of  FIG. 1  is placed in a lathe so that the lathe pins thereof (not shown) engage the indents  14  at the ends of the block and the piece is turned until the block  12  becomes block  16  of  FIG. 3  which is twelve inches long and one and a quarter inches in diameter and, most importantly, completely cylindrical. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 3 , the cylinder  16  of  FIG. 2  has had the ends lopped off so that the cylinder is now eleven inches long. The cylinder of  FIG. 3  can now be subjected to the various sanding steps etc., referred to above. 
         [0023]    The wood piece removed from the lathe and hereinafter referred to as a “Zen Stick,” will be sanded first using 60 grit sandpaper to remove all unnatural marks, cuts, grooves and scratches. For the 60 grit sandpaper and some of the subsequent finer sandpapers, the operator will preferably use a “mouse” which is a small triangular motorized sanding device. It is necessary to change papers after every few sticks, in particular, the more oily woods as oil collects onto the sandpaper. Cocobolo is the oiliest, and usually after sanding two sticks, it is necessary to change the paper. 
         [0024]    After sanding for about ten to fifteen minutes with the 60 grit sandpaper, the Zen Stick is cured for twenty-four hours using Pentacryl, a wood stabilizing solution comprising siliconized polymers. Next, the Zen Stick is dried for at least twenty-four hours. The Zen Stick is next washed with mineral spirits to dissolve the Pentacryl. Next, the Zen Stick is washed with dish soap to dissolve the mineral spirits. 
         [0025]    Following the washing of the Zen Stick with dish soap, there are a series of operation involving sandpaper, first 120 grit sandpaper, 220 grit sandpaper, 320 grit sandpaper, 400 grit sandpaper and 600 grit sandpaper. The operator will know when he is ready for the next step, when there is no resistance against the sand paper and it moves smoothly and evenly across the surface. 
         [0026]    Following the treatment with the 600 grit sandpaper the Zen Stick will be sanded with 600 grit white aluminum oxide screen mesh then successively with 800 grit, 1,000 grit, 2,000 grit, 3,000 grit and 4,000 grit white aluminum oxide screen mesh. 
         [0027]    Following the treatment with various grades of white aluminum oxide screen mesh, the Zen Stick is buffed on a motorized buffer wheel with jeweler&#39;s rouge. 
         [0028]    Next, the Zen Stick is cleaned with “Pledge”® to remove rouge. Finally the Zen Stick is treated with “Renaissance”® microcrystalline wax polish. 
         [0029]    The Zen Stick of  FIG. 3 , after it has been subjected to the various sanding steps etc., referred to herein is now ready for use as a device that assists in meditation and relief of stress. The person who wishes to take advantage of the unique properties of the Zen Stick will stand, preferably away from others, and gently toss the stick in the air. After tossing the stick several times the person will then attempt to catch it with his eyes closed. Once the person successfully catches the Zen Stick with his eyes closed he will, as others have explained, feel some degree of serenity and peace. 
         [0030]    Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.