US3757730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wind actuated devices
Assignee: NU PRO Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-21
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1992-09-21
Abstract
Abstract The wind actuated devices disclosed have a critical stationary wind shield which serves in combination with other features of the devices to promote desired wind actuated rotation of a rotatable part. The devices have at least one primary rotatable part, an axis means establishing a predetermined axis for rotation of the primary rotatable part, and holding means for the axis means. The primary rotatable part comprises a form-retaining base sheet material which is aligned with substantially all portions of it extending substantially parallel with the predetermined axis for its rotation. The axis for its rotation lies in the plane of the sheet and bisects the sheet into two wing parts. The wing parts are symmetrical and contoured in opposite directions to facilitate wind actuated rotation. Rotation causes each wing part to generate a solid of revolution having a curved surface extending about the axis of rotation. The wind shield is mounted in spaced proximate relationship to the rotation-generated curved surface at a radial location effective, under conditions of use in a wind environment, to interrupt external wind flow upon at least a portion of the sheet material at a wing part moving into the wind during rotation, but not to interrupt external wind flow upon the sheet material at a wing part moving with the wind during wind actuated rotation. Transparent wind shields are preferred, especially in combination with eye-catching attention-getting features including patterned areas of reflex reflecting and fluorescent materials on the base sheet material. Adjustable mounting bars are disclosed for fixing the devices to bicycles or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 D Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:41
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62J; B62J6/00; B62J6/20; F; F03; F03D; F03D3/00; F03D3/005; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/74; Y10; Y10S; Y10S415/00; Y10S415/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
In a wind actuated device comprising at least one primary rotatable part actuatable into rotation by wind acting thereupon, an axis means establishing a predetermined axis about which rotation of said primary rotatable part is adapted to take place, and holding means for said axis means to permit said rotation, with said primary rotatable part comprising a form-retaining base sheet material aligned with substantially all portions thereof extending substantially parallel with said predetermined axis, with said axis lying in the plane of said sheet material and substantially bisecting said sheet material into two wing parts, with the wing parts of said sheet material outwardly from said axis being substantially symmetrical in shape and contoured in opposite directions to facilitate wind actuated rotation of said sheet material in a rotary direction opposite that of the direction of said contour, and with said rotation of said sheet material causing said wing parts to generate substantially a single solid of revolution having a curved surface extending about said axis, the improvement characterized by the feature that a wind shield is structurally mounted in spaced proximate relationship to said rotation-generated curved surface at a radial location effective, under conditions of use of said device in a wind environment, to interrupt external wind flow upon at least a portion of said sheet material at a wing part thereof moving toward said wind during said wind actuated rotation, but not to interrupt external wind flow upon said sheet material at a wing part thereof moving with the wind during said wind actuated rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
In a wind actuated device comprising at least one primary rotatable part actuatable into rotation by wind acting thereupon, an axis means establishing a predetermined axis about which rotation of said primary rotatable part is adapted to take place, and holding means for said axis means to permit said rotation, with said primary rotatable part comprising a form-retaining base sheet material aligned with substantially all portions thereof extending substantially parallel with said predetermined axis, with said axis lying in the plane of said sheet material and substantially bisecting said sheet material into two wing parts, with the wing parts of said sheet material outwardly from said axis being substantially symmetrical in shape and contoured in opposite directions to facilitate wind actuated rotation of said sheet material in a rotary direction opposite that of the direction of said contour, and with said rotation of said sheet material causing said wing parts to generate substantially a single solid of revolution having a curved surface extending about said axis, the improvement characterized by the feature that a wind shield is structurally mounted in spaced proximate relationship to said rotation-generated curved surface at a radial location effective, under conditions of use of said device in a wind environment, to interrupt external wind flow upon at least a portion of said sheet material at a wing part thereof moving toward said wind during said wind actuated rotation, but not to interrupt external wind flow upon said sheet material at a wing part thereof moving with the wind during said wind actuated rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said wind shield is substantially transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said wind shield is substantially opaque.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said holding means for said axis means comprises a frame structure and said wind shield is fixed to said frame structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said wind shield is curved in a manner approximating the curvature of said rotation-generated curved surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the width of said wind shield in terms of the circumference of said rotation-generated curved surface is between approximately 1/20 and and 1/4 of said circumference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the length of said wind shield in terms of the height of said base sheet material along said predetermined axis is at least 1/20 the height of said base sheet material at said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said length of said wind shield is no greater than about 9/10 the height of said sheet material at said axis and said wind shield is medially located between the extremities of the height of said sheet material at said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a non-rotating frame member, said device additionally including a mounting bar having one end fixed to said frame member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the other end of said mounting bar is fixed to a bicycle, said mounting bar being non-resilient and deformable by hand bending into a variety of selected shapes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
The device of claim 1, additionally characterized by being an eye-catching attention-getting safety device having patterned areas of reflex-reflecting material and of non-reflex-reflecting material on opposite sides of saiD base sheet material, the patterned area of reflex-reflecting material on one side of said sheet material being relatively displaced in axial relationship from the patterned area of reflex-reflecting material on the other side thereof, at least 50% of the area coverage of each said reflex-reflecting pattern on opposite sides of said sheet material being in locations relative to said axis means which do not coincide as viewed during rotation of said rotatable part, the patterned areas of non-reflex-reflecting material on opposite sides of said sheet material also being relatively displaced in axial relationship to each other, whereby substantially all practical rotation speeds for said primary rotatable part about said predetermined axis provide a viewer under reflex-reflecting conditions with the impression of shifting flash patterns of light return suggestive of the patterns of said areas of reflex-reflecting material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said wind shield is substantially transparent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said wind shield is substantially opaque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said holding means for said axis means comprises a frame structure and said wind shield is fixed to said frame structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said wind shield is curved in a manner approximating the curvature of said rotation-generated curved surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the width of said wind shield in terms of the circumference of said rotation-generated curved surface is between approximately 1/20 and 1/4 of said circumference.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the length of said wind shield in terms of the height of said base sheet material along said predetermined axis is at least 1/20 the height of said base sheet material at said axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said length of said wind shield is no greater than about 9/10 the height of said sheet material at said axis and said wind shield is medially located between the extremities of the height of said sheet material at said axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said holding means comprises a non-rotating frame member, said device additionally including a mounting bar having one end fixed to said frame member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the other end of said mounting bar is fixed to a bicycle, said mounting bar being non-resilient and deformable by hand bending into a variety of selected shapes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |