United States Patent [19] [li] Patent Number: 4,637,941
Rochte [45] Date of Patent: Jan. 20,1987
[54] SEGMENTED GEOMETRIC STRUCTURE 4,214,747 7/1980 Rebajes 428/7 X
[76] Inventor: Randall S. Rochte, 5925 Finecrest Dr., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. 90274
[21] Appl. No.: 693,104
[22] Filed: Jan. 22,1985
[51] Int. CI." A63H 33/40; B44C 3/08;
G09F 21/00
[52] U.S.C1 428/8; Dl 1/141;
29/456; 52/81; 52/646; 156/143; 156/196; 156/245; 264/318; 264/339; 362/806; 428/11;
428/371; 428/542.6
[58] Field of Search Dl 1/141; D20/16;
D21/94; 156/143, 156, 64, 196, 245, 242, 250; 264/319, 339, 318; 428/7, 8, 11, 542.2, 542.4, 542.6, 371; 261/DIG. 72; 52/646, 80-81;
29/456; 362/806; 267/92, 168
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
D. 63,118 10/1923 Costanz D20/16 X
D. 80,452 2/1930 Parchman D20/16
D. 116,815 9/1939 Darcey 428/7 X
D. 261,631 11/1981 Immel Dl 1/141 X
2,951,303 9/1960 Hovlid 428/8 X
3,054,209 9/1962 Wiley, Jr 428/7 X
3,546,049 12/1970 Kostich 428/11 X
3,549,465 12/1970 Skelley, Jr 428/11
4,062,543 12/1977 Loeffler D21/94 X
4,174,989 11/1979 Skakunov et al 428/542.2 X
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
842750 5/1970 Canada 428/371
1137031 1/1957 France 428/11
768252 2/1957 United Kingdom 428/12
827400 2/1960 United Kingdom 428/9
Primary Examiner—Henry F. Epstein
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Albert O. Cota
[57] ABSTRACT
A segmented geometric structure that when rotated serves as a functional mood-setting device or simply as a static or rotatable object d'art. The structure is comprised of a plurality of spirally formed curvilinear segments that are joined at their respective top and bottom to form a single rigid structure. The structure may take the form of a spheroid, ellipsoid or any other three-dimensional geometric form amenable to a segmented construction. The structure is suspended by means of a suspension line that is attached to an elevated support or a shaft may be attached to either the top or bottom end of the structure. The other end of the shaft is attached to a reversible electrical motor that is housed within a mounting base. When the structure is rotated, either manually or by the motor, in a clockwise direction the segments appear to move spirally upwards conversely when rotated in a counter clockwise direction the segments appear to move spirally downward.
15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures
