Electromechanical chime

• US 5,831,516 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jennings, David
• Original Assignee: Jennings, David
• Inventors: Jennings, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US08/909,612
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 340/392.4, 340/392.1, 340/393.2, 340/393.4, 340/392.5, 340/395.1, 340/392.2, 340/693, 340/384.1, 340/407.1, 116/141, 84/404
• US Class Current: 340/392.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/00 Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 1/067 Operating or striking mechanisms therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electromechanical wind chime. The chime includes a disk from which a hammer assembly is suspended. Additionally, a plurality of tubular chimes are suspended from the disk and surround the hammer assembly. The hammer assembly houses an internal electric motor, and an associated eccentric rotor. The motor serves to move the assembly about a central axis. In this manner, the hammer assembly comes into contact with the chimes to produce a pleasing sound. A control unit is coupled to the hammer assembly by way of an electric cord. The control unit includes means to control the current being delivered to the electric motor. Through the control unit the current can be shut off after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. Additionally, the unit can alternate the frequency with which the current is delivered to produce a more random motion. An embodiment employing a solenoid in place of an electric motor is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electromechanical wind chime comprising in combination:

a suspension disk having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral area, a length of cord secured to the upper surface of the disk, the cord adapted to suspend the suspension disk from a ceiling;

a plurality of elongated tubular chimes, each of the chimes being suspended from the peripheral lower surface of the disk by way of a chord;

a hammer assembly having an outer circular housing, an electric motor position within the outer circular housing, an asymmetrical rotor forms a part of the electric motor, a magnet secured to an outer surface of the asymmetrical rotor, a hammer weight secured within the outer circular housing, a magnet secured to an internal surface of the hammer weight, rotation of the asymmetrical rotor resulting in the circular movement of the hammer assembly;

a second length of cord interconnecting the lower surface of the suspension disk to the hammer assembly;

a control unit having a direct current supply positioned therein and adapted to supply current to the electric motor, a current control means for alternating the supply of current to the electric motor, a timing control means for disengaging the supply of current to the electric motor after a set amount of time;

an electric cord interconnecting the control unit and the hammer assembly, the electric cord functioning to deliver current to the electric motor.

2. An electromechanical wind chime comprising in combination:

a suspension disk having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral area, a length of cord secured to the upper surface of the disk, the cord adapted to suspend the suspension disk from a ceiling;

a plurality of elongated chimes, each of the chimes being suspended from the peripheral lower surface of the disk by way of a chord;

a hammer assembly having an outer circular housing, an electric motor and associated rotor positioned within the outer circular housing and adapted for rotation therein, rotation of the rotor resulting in the movement of the hammer assembly;

a second length of cord interconnecting the lower surface of the suspension disk to the hammer assembly;

a control unit adapted to control the operation of the electric motor;

an electric cord interconnecting the control unit and the hammer assembly, the electric cord functioning to deliver current to the electric motor.

3. The electromechanical wind chime as described in claim 2 wherein:

the control unit has a direct current supply positioned therein and is adapted to supply current to the electric motor, the control unit further including a current control means for alternating the supply of current to the electric motor, and a timing control means for disengaging the supply of current to the electric motor after a set amount of time.

4. The electromechanical wind chime assembly as described in claim 2 further comprising:

an asymmetrical rotor interconnected to and adapted for rotation with the electric motor, a hammer weight secured within the outer circular housing, rotation of the electric motor and asymmetrical rotor resulting in the circular movement of the hammer assembly.

5. The electromechanical wind chime as described in claim 3 further comprising:

a magnet secured to an outer surface of the asymmetrical rotor; and

a magnet secured to an internal surface of the hammer weight, the magnet of the rotor being effected by the magnet of the hammer weight to enable a more linear movement of the entire hammer assembly.

6. An electromechanical wind chime comprising in combination:

a suspension disk having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral area, a length of cord secured to the upper surface of the disk, the cord adapted to suspend the suspension disk from a ceiling;

a plurality of elongated chimes, each of the chimes being suspended from the peripheral lower surface of the disk by way of a chord;

a hammer assembly having an outer circular housing, an electric solenoid positioned within the outer circular housing and adapted for linear movement therein, the movement of the solenoid resulting in the movement of the hammer assembly;

a second length of cord interconnecting the lower surface of the suspension disk to the hammer assembly;

a control unit adapted to control the operation of the electric solenoid;

an electric cord interconnecting the control unit and the hammer assembly, the electric cord functioning to deliver current to the electric solenoid.

7. The electromechanical wind chime as described in claim 6 wherein:

the control unit has a direct current supply positioned therein and is adapted to supply current to the solenoid, the control unit further including a current control means for alternating the supply of current to the solenoid, and a timing control means for disengaging the supply of current to the solenoid after a set amount of time.