Abstract:
An animated light sculpture framework is configured for enabling the framework to be quickly and easily unfolded and erected for use and to be quickly and easily folded together into a compact configuration for transport and/or storage. A head and neck portion of the light sculpture framework is movable from side-to-side in an oscillating manner to simulate natural movement by use of a motor connected to the framework.

Description:
This application claims benefits of U.S. Pat. No. 60/218,841 filed Jul. 18, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an animated light sculpture framework and more particularly to an animated, free-standing, collapsible, three-dimensional wire framework and light supporting display for use as a decorative light sculpture wherein the head and neck portions of the display are moved from side-to-side in an oscillating manner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,927 is incorporated by reference into this application, as provided by Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, Section 608.01(p). Particular attention is directed to the drawings and specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,927 where the subject matter being incorporated may be found. Further, the reference numerals used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,927 to identify various elements of the invention described therein are also used herein to identify identical elements found in this invention. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an animated, free-standing, three-dimensional, collapsible wire framework and light supporting display for use as a light sculpture wherein the head and neck portions of the display are moved from side-to-side in an oscillating manner. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides an animated, collapsible, three-dimensional wire frame-work and light supporting display comprising: a first wire frame assembly defining a first predetermined portion of a figure; a second wire frame assembly defining a second predetermined portion of the figure, the second frame assembly hingedly connected to the first frame assembly for movement between a first open position and a second closed position in relationship with the first frame assembly; a third wire frame assembly defining a third predetermined portion of the figure; at least one fourth wire frame support assembly defining a fourth predetermined portion of the figure, the fourth frame assembly connected to the first frame assembly; a motor connected to the first wire frame assembly; a first arm member connected to and extending from the motor for rotation in response to activation of the motor; a second arm member defining first and second ends, the first end rotatably attached to the first arm member; a first receptacle attached to the third wire frame assembly; the second end of the second arm member rotatably positioned within the first receptacle; second and third receptacles attached to the third wire frame assembly; a first wire element defining a distal end attached to and extending from the second wire frame assembly; a second wire element defining a distal end and attached to and extending from the first wire frame assembly; the distal end of first wire element positioned within the second receptacle; and the distal end of the second wire element positioned within the third receptacle, whereby activation of the motor causes substantially side-to-side oscillating movement of the third wire frame assembly. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention showing a detailed illustration of the motor and its connection to the head and neck portions of the display. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown animated wire framework and light supporting display assembly  20  in the shape of a deer, including the head and neck portions  28  of a deer. Assembly  20  includes first and second wire frame assemblies  22 ,  24  defining lower and upper body portions of the deer, respectively. Second frame assembly  24  is hingedly connected to first frame assembly  22  by hinges  26 ,  26 ′. 
     Animation of the wire frame assembly  20  in the shape of a deer (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,927), including the head and neck portions  28  of a deer, is provided by mounting a conventional electrically powered motor  100  to first wire frame assembly  22 , which is a lower body portion of a deer. Preferably, motor  100  is suspended beneath wire frame assembly  22  and is connected to assembly  22  by welding or other conventional means. A wire cage  102  preferably at least partially protectively surrounds motor  100 , and cage  102  is conventionally attached to frame assembly  22 , such as by welding or other similar conventional means. 
     Motor  100  includes an arm  104  which extends from the motor and which rotates or oscillates in response to activation of the motor by electricity. Motor  100  is connected to a conventional electrical source of power (not shown) by a conventional electrical cord  106 . 
     A second, L-shaped arm  108  is rotatably attached at a first end  110  thereof to motor arm  104  by a pin  112 . 
     Second end  114  of L-shaped arm  108  is rotatably positioned through cylindrical receptacle  116 , which is conventionally attached to the neck portion  28  of wire frame assembly  20 , such as by welding. Receptacle  116  is attached to portion  28  at a distance away or set off from a centerline axis (not shown) of portion  28  and of frame assembly  20  to facilitate side-to-side movement of portion  28 , as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. 
     End  114  of arm  108  defines an opening  118  therein, and a pin  120  is removably positioned through opening  118  to hold forward end  114  of arm member  108  within cylindrical receptacle  116 . 
     Wire element  122 , which is a part of upper body portion wire frame assembly  24 , extends forwardly from upper body portion  24  of the deer. Similarly, wire element  124 , which is a part of lower body portion wire frame assembly  22 , extends forwardly from lower body portion  22 . Wire element  122  defines a distal end portion  122 ′, and wire element  124  defines a distal end portion  124 ′. End portions  122 ′,  124 ′ are bent at substantially ninety degrees from wire element  122  and wire element  124 , respectively. End portion  122 ′ is bent downwardly, and end portion  124 ′ is bent upwardly. 
     A cylindrical receptacle  126  is connected in a conventional manner, such as by welding, to a rear portion of wire frame assembly  28 , which defines the head and neck portions of the deer. Similarly, cylindrical receptacle  128  is conventionally connected, such as by welding, to a lower rear portion of wire frame assembly  28 . 
     End portion  122 ′ defines an opening  130  therein, and end portion  124 ′ defines an opening  132  therein. A pin  134  is removably positioned through opening  130  to keep end portion  122 ′ within cylindrical receptacle  126 , and a pin  136  is positioned through opening  132  to keep end portion  124 ′ positioned within cylindrical receptacle  128 . 
     In operation and use, electrical cord  106  is connected to a conventional electrical outlet (not shown) to energize motor  100 . Energization of motor  100  causes motor arm  104  to rotate or oscillate, depending upon the conventional configuration of motor  100 . This, in turn, causes arm  108  to impart oscillatory motion to wire framework  28  as end  114  moves within cylindrical receptacle  116 . Because cylindrical receptacle  116  is offset from the center line of head and neck assembly  28 , movement of end portion  114  within cylindrical receptacle  116  results in side-to-side, oscillatory motion of head and neck portion  28 . 
     The oscillatory, side-to-side motion of head and neck portion  28  is possible because of the movement of cylindrical receptacles  126 ,  128  about end portions  122 ′,  124 ′, respectively. 
     When it is desired to collapse or fold framework  20  from its erected configuration, second wire frame assembly  24 , which is the upper body portion of the deer, is opened by rotating frame assembly  24  upwardly and backwardly about hinges  26 ,  26 ′. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,927). This allows access to the interior of display  20 . Before this can occur, however, pins  134 ,  136  are removed from openings  130 ,  132 , and cylindrical receptacles  126 ,  128  are removed from end portions  122 ′,  124 ′. Also, pin  120  is removed from opening  118  and end  114  of arm  108  is removed from cylindrical receptacle  116 . 
     Display  20  can then be collapsed or folded from its erected configuration into the compact folded configuration shown in FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,927 for storage or transport, and the removed head and neck portion  28  can be stored within the body portion of the deer as defined by body portions  22 ,  24  of the deer. 
     Electrical cord  106  is preferably electrically connected in a conventional manner to conventional string lights (not shown), such as Christmas lights, which can be quickly and easily removably attached to framework  20  in a conventional manner. 
     The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and described, and departures may be made from such details without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.