FIBER OPTIC DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHODS OF OSILLATING ILLUMINATED OPTICAL FIBERS

• US 20140104869A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Mark Spangler
• Original Assignee: Thomas Mark Spangler
• Inventors: Spangler, Thomas Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,658,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/560
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs

Abstract

A fiber optic display device reciprocates fiber optics to create decorative optical fiber light displays. The device can include one or more optical fibers contained at one end by a holding member and left suspended freely at the other end. The holding member and optical fibers are functionally attached about a pivot point axis that is across the longitudinal axis of the fibers and the holding member, to a housing. A light source can be affixed to either the holding member or the housing, opposite the freely suspended optical fiber ends, and is oriented to expose and illuminate the optical fibers. A drive means causes the holding member and optical fibers to reciprocate back and forth about the pivot point axis of the holding member.

Claims

1. An optical fiber display apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a holding member moveable about a pivot point axis functionally connected to the housing;

(c) at least one fiber optic strand having a first end attached to the holding member and a second end unrestrained, the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the pivot point axis of the holding member is is substantially relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the holding member and the at least one fiber strand axis, whereby movement of the holding member about its pivot point axis causes the second unrestrained end of the fiber optic strand to move about through space; and

(d) a light source illuminating the first end of the fiber optic strand, whereby light emits from the second end of the fiber strand.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber optic strand comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands affixed to the holding member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the holding member extends through the holding member and is substantially parallel to the at least one fiber optic strand at a point of attachment of the fiber optic strand to the holding member, and is substantially relatively perpendicular to the pivot point axis of the holding member.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an incandescent bulb, light emitting diode, laser diode, mirror, prism, lens, and an array of individual lights.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light source is attached to the holding member, and is oriented so as to expose and illuminate the first end of the at least one fiber optic strand.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light source is attached to the housing, and is oriented so as to illuminate the first end of the at least one fiber optic strand continually as the holding member and the fiber optic strand travels throughout their entire range of motion.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising drive means for moving the holding member about the pivot point axis of the holding member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive means comprises a first magnetic member attached to the holding member and magnetically coupled to a second magnetic member attached to the housing, the first and second magnetic members selected from the group consisting of permanent magnets and electromagnetic coils of wire.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein magnetic coupling between the first and second magnetic member is created by an electric current signal applied to the first or second magnetic member, creating a magnetic field about the first and second magnetic members and causing magnetic attraction and repulsion forces between the first and second magnetic members, whereby the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand move about the pivot point axis, said movement proportional to polarity, frequency and strength of the electric current signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first or second magnetic member comprises an electromagnetic coil of wire, and an electric current input signal is applied to the electromagnetic coil of wire, and further wherein the source of said electric current input signal comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an amplifier, signal generator, radio, microphone, speaker output, AC line voltage, AC power supply, DC power supply.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive means is functionally attached to the housing and comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a rotatable cam wheel, actuator rod, gear, sprocket, pulley, hand crank, and electric motor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an actuator rod and a rotatable cam wheel, the actuator rod having a first end functionally connected to the holding member and a second end functionally and non-centrally connected to a rotatable cam wheel, the rotatable cam wheel axially affixed to a shaft operatively connected to the drive means, wherein rotation of the cam wheel causes the actuator rod, holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand to reciprocate back and forth about the pivot point axis of the holding member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the holding member defines a surface or channel oriented to come into contact with the drive means, wherein the drive means is oriented non-centrally about an axis of rotation, the rotation of the drive means in direct contact with the surface or channel of the holding member causing the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand affixed to the holding member to move back and forth about the pivot point axis of the holding member.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second housing and a base plate, the base plate attached to the holding member and functionally connected to the second housing, wherein the base plate and holding member are moveable about an axis extending through the base plate and the second housing.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the holding member is oriented so that the pivot point axis of the holding member is substantially relatively perpendicular to the axis extending through the base plate and the second housing.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising drive means for moving the base plate about the axis extending through the base plate and the second housing, wherein said drive means is functionally attached to the second housing and comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a rotatable cam wheel, gear, sprocket, pulley, hand crank, and electric motor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising drive means for moving the base plate about the axis extending through the base plate and second housing, wherein the drive means comprises a first magnetic member attached to the base plate and magnetically coupled to a second magnetic member attached to the second housing, the first and second magnetic members selected from the group consisting of permanent magnets and electromagnetic coils of wire.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic members comprises an electromagnetic coil of wire, and further wherein magnetic coupling between the first and second magnetic members is created by an electric current signal applied to the electromagnetic coil, creating a magnetic field about the electromagnetic coils and magnetic attraction and repulsion forces between the first and second magnetic members, whereby the base plate, the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand move about the axis extending through the base plate and the second housing, said movement directly proportional to polarity, frequency and strength of the electric current input signal.

19. An optical fiber display apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a holding member moveable about a pivot point axis functionally connected to the housing;

(c) at least one fiber optic strand having a first end attached to the holding member and a second end unrestrained, the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand defining a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the holding member and substantially relatively parallel to the at least one fiber optic strand at a point of attachment of the strand to the holding member, wherein the pivot point axis of the holding member is substantially relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand, whereby movement of the holding member about its pivot point axis causes the second unrestrained end of the at least one fiber optic strand to reciprocate back and forth through space;

(d) a light source functionally connected to the housing or holding member and illuminating the first end of the at least one fiber optic strand, whereby light emits from the second end of the at least one fiber optic strand; and

(e) means for moving the holding member about its pivot point axis comprised of a first magnetic member attached to the holding member and a corresponding second magnetic member attached to the housing, wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise at least one electromagnetic coil of wire and at least one permanent magnet, and further wherein an electric current signal conducting through the electromagnetic coil of wire causes movement of the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand about the pivot point axis of the holding member, in direct proportion to polarity, strength and frequency of the electric current signal, and wherein the electric current signal source is selected from the group consisting of an amplifier, radio, signal generator, microphone, speaker output, AC line voltage, AC power supply, DC power supply.

20. An optical fiber display apparatus comprising:

(a) a first housing;

(b) a holding member moveable about a pivot point axis functionally connected to the first housing;

(c) at least one fiber optic strand having a first end attached to the holding member and a second end unrestrained, the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand defining a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the holding member and substantially relatively parallel to the fiber optic strand at a point of attachment of the fiber strand to the holding member, wherein the pivot point axis of the holding member is substantially relatively perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand, whereby movement of the holding member about its pivot point axis causes the second unrestrained end of the at least one fiber optic strand to reciprocate back and forth through space;

(d) a light source functionally connected to the first housing or the holding member and illuminating the first end of the at least one fiber optic strand, whereby light emits from the second end of the at least one fiber optic strand;

(e) means for moving the holding member about its pivot point axis comprised of a first magnetic member attached to the holding member and a corresponding second magnetic member attached to the first housing, wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise at least one electromagnetic coil of wire and at least one permanent magnet, and further wherein an electric current signal conducting through the electromagnetic coil of wire causes movement of the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand about the pivot point axis of the holding member, in direct proportion to polarity, strength and frequency of the electric current signal, and wherein the electric current signal source is selected from the group consisting of an amplifier, radio, signal generator, microphone, speaker output, AC line voltage, AC power supply, DC power supply;

(f) a second housing containing a base plate, the base plate attached to the first housing and moveable about an axis extending through the second housing and the base plate that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holding member and the at least one fiber optic strand and relatively perpendicular to the pivot point axis of the holding member; and

(g) drive means for moving the base plate about the axis extending through the second housing and the base plate, wherein the drive means is functionally attached to the second housing and comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an actuator rod, cam wheel, gear, sprocket, pulley, electric motor, magnetic coupling, whereby movement of the base plate and the first housing create a second, simultaneous movement of the holding member, the light source and the at least one fiber optic strand about the axis extending through the second housing and the base plate and across the pivot point axis of the holding member.