Electric motor rotator for Christmas tree ornaments

• US 4,980,608 A
• Filed: 09/02/1988
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Morrison
• Original Assignee: David Morrison
• Inventors: Morrison, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/239,707
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185 R, 315/185 S, 315/361, 315/79, 315/360, 315/362, 315/186, 315/179, 362/806, 361/23, 307/38, 310/254, 310/40 R
• US Class Current: 315/185.00S
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0809 involving motion
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/125 having an annular armature coil H02K21/14 - H02K21/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/12 Transversal flux machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

This invention pertains to the an electric motor of very small size which is adapted to plug into a lamp socket of a string-set of series connected decorative incandescent lamps so as to utilize the output of the motor to rotate ornaments and like devices. A particular electrical motor of unique design and geared output is shown.

Claims

1. In a decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps having a plurality of lamp sockets connected to a power plug by an elongated flexible electrical conductor means interconnecting said lamp sockets in a string of series connected sockets, a predetermined number of incandescent lamps mounted in certain of said lamp sockets, the improvement comprising:

a predetermined number of miniature electrical motor means mounted in certain of said lamp sockets, said motor means comprising a synchronous inductor motor having a plug means adapted to interconnect the motor to a respective lamp socket and further having a motor hanger means, a power output means and an ornament hanger means geared to the power output means,

the motor plug means being formed to matingly engage with any one of said lamp sockets to energize said motor means,

the motor means further comprising an energizing coil, rotor means, stator means, the power output means being interconnected to the rotor means, the stator means comprising at least one stator assembly having multiple discrete poles,

the rotor means comprising a rotor cup having a planar top surface and depending sidewalls to form an internal cavity, a magnetic medium formed upon the depending sidewalls within the internal cavity and providing multiple discrete segments of alternating polarity,

wherein the sidewalls of the rotor cup are in juxtaposition with the stator means and are adapted to interact electrically with the stator means and a flux field produced by the motor coil to thereby produce rotational movement to the rotor means,

said motor means having a predetermined impedance equivalent to that of one of said incandescent lamps so as to be fully interchangeable therewith whereby when said decorative string-set is electrically energized the electric motor is concurrently energized and causes the ornament hanger means to rotate.

2. The decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor stator means comprises two stator assemblies each having multiple discrete poles, the two stator assemblies being assembled in concentric relation with one another defining a predetermined air gap therebetween, the side walls of the rotor cup being positioned within the air gap between the two stator assemblies.

3. The decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power output means includes a directional control mechanism to allow the ornament hanger means to rotate in a desired direction.

4. The decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps as claimed in claim 3, wherein the directional control mechanism comprises a reversing means in cooperation with the power output means to reverse the direction of rotation of the ornament hanger means at selected intervals.

5. The decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps as claimed in claim 4, wherein a mechanical tab mounted upon and rotating with a portion of the power output means impacts at said selected intervals with a stop member, thereby stopping rotation of the rotor means and causing the rotor means to reverse direction of rotation.

6. The decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps as claimed in claim 3, wherein the directional control mechanism comprises a means to limit the rotation of the ornament hanger mean in only one direction.

7. The decorative string-set of series connected incandescent lamps as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotational limiting means comprises a pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted in conjunction with the power output means to selectively allow a unidirectional rotation of the ornament hanger means.