Virtual color generating windmills, spinners, and ornamental devices powered by solar or wind energy

• US 20040105256A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy R. Jones
• Original Assignee: Timothy R. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Timothy R.
• Application Number:
  US10/720,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/159
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/40 Windmills; Other toys actuated by air currents driving mechanisms for toy figures or vehicles A63H29/16
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/00 Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/25 as advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/04 the power supply being a generator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A device powered by solar or wind energy that produces multicolored lighting effects by virtue rotation or movement caused by air currents or the wind. Solar cells or a electromechanical generator produce electrical energy that stored through a control circuit for use at nighttime to power a number of light emitters. Air currents induce movement of the light emitters, or movement of the entire energy storage system, with the resulting visual effect of intermixing and changing colors as the rotation or movement varies in response to the force of the air currents.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

A solar energy capture system incorporating a control system to power multicolored light emitters that is rotatable by air currents about one or more axis of the device.

A windmill, spinner, or mobile-like device containing a solar energy capture system to supply nighttime power to multicolored light emitters that are dynamically moved by air currents.

2. A Wind electric generator connected to a control and energy storage system to power multicolored light emitters that undergo movement with air currents or the wind.