Patent US3215446A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4404240A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4404240A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-10-13
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Granted: 1983-09-13
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Expires: 2000-10-13
Abstract
Abstract The mobile has twelve elongated members positioned with respect to one another to create the appearance of a hexahedron. At each of the eight corners is a flexible joint means joining three rods together and permitting the rods to pivot relative to one another (but maintaining their attachment) so that exterior forces such as air currents or mechanical thrusts cause the mobile to move in an undulating fashion and thereby create changing hexahedron shapes or patterns. The mobile is suspended from a ceiling or from an arm on a stand. Suspension is attained by a pair of threads which are respectively attached to an opposite pair of top members.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Varela
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:52
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F19/00; G09F19/02; A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/40; G09B; G09B23/00; G09B23/02; G09B23/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/34; Y10T403/341; Y10T403/342; Y10T403/343; Y10T403/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
In a mobile: twelve elongated members positioned with respect to one another to create the appearance of at least one hexahedron shape; eight flexible joint means each respectively joining three members together to form four corners of said hexahedron shape and providing for the members to remain attached to one another and to pivot relative to each other; support means; connection means respectively connecting the support means to an opposite pair of members for suspending the mobile and providing for relative motion between the support means and the members connected thereto; and the elongated members, the flexible joint means, and the connection means providing for the mobile to assume a balanced, static condition whereby the members create the appearance of an hexahedron of one shape and also for the members to move relative to each other upon the application of forces thereto whereby to create the appearance of an hexahedron of a shape different from said one shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a mobile: twelve elongated members positioned with respect to one another to create the appearance of at least one hexahedron shape; eight flexible joint means each respectively joining three members together to form four corners of said hexahedron shape and providing for the members to remain attached to one another and to pivot relative to each other; support means; connection means respectively connecting the support means to an opposite pair of members for suspending the mobile and providing for relative motion between the support means and the members connected thereto; and the elongated members, the flexible joint means, and the connection means providing for the mobile to assume a balanced, static condition whereby the members create the appearance of an hexahedron of one shape and also for the members to move relative to each other upon the application of forces thereto whereby to create the appearance of an hexahedron of a shape different from said one shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a mobile: twelve elongated members positioned with respect to one another to create the appearance of at least one hexahedron shape; eight flexible joint means each respectively joining three members together to form four corners of said hexahedron shape and providing for the members to remain attached to one another and to pivot relative to each other; support means; connection means respectively connecting the support means to an opposite pair of members for suspending the mobile and providing for relative motion between the support means and the members connected thereto; and the elongated members, the flexible joint means, and the connection means providing for the mobile to assume a balanced, static condition whereby the members create the appearance of an hexahedron of one shape and also for the members to move relative to each other in an undulating fashion upon the application of forces thereto whereby to develop multiple changes from said one hexahedron shape and thereby create a plurality of appearances of hexahedron shapes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a mobile: twelve elongated members positioned with respect to one another to create the appearance of at least one hexahedron shape; eight flexible joint means each respectively joining three members together to form four corners of said hexahedron shape and providing for the members to remain attached to one another and to pivot relative to each other; support means; connection means respectively connecting the support means to an opposite pair of members for suspending the mobile and providing for relative motion between the support means and the members connected thereto; and the elongated members, the flexible joint means, and the connection means providing for the mobile to assume a balanced, static condition whereby the members create the appearance of an hexahedron of one shape and also for the members to move relative to each other in an undulating fashion upon the application of forces thereto whereby to develop multiple changes from said one hexahedron shape and thereby create a plurality of appearances of hexahedron shapes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The mobile of claim 1 wherein each elongated member is a tube and each flexible joint means comprises a thread extending from the end of a tube and means connecting the threads together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile of claim 3 wherein the means connecting the threads together is a knot formed by the threads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mobile of claim 3 wherein the means connecting the threads together is a deformed split shot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mobile of claim 3 wherein the thread in each tube is supported by plug means respectively disposed adjacent the ends of the tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
US4055690A
Cited
US4069832A
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US4295187A
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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) | 1986-09-12 | 1987-03-14 | 1987-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-12 | 1991-03-14 | 1991-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-12 | 1995-03-14 | 1995-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |