Flying platform with visually transparent flexible support members

• US 9,109,741 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Davis, Adam, Kempf, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ken
• Application Number:
  US14/174,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20140224951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59, 472/68, 472 74- 81
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/12 Apparatus for raising or lowering persons
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/26 Revolving stages; Stages able to be lowered
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A suspended flying system having a load suspended by a plurality of flexible support members. The plurality of flexible support members are attached to a first rotational element attached to the load and a second rotational element attached to a support. The system also includes a motor operably connected to the first rotational element provides sufficient motion to the plurality of flexible support members to render the flexible support members visually transparent, the load being movable within a space. A method for suspending a load from visually transparent flexible support members is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A suspended flying system comprising:

a load suspended by a plurality of flexible support members, the plurality of flexible support members being attached to a first rotational element attached to the load and a second rotational element attached to a support; and

a motor operably connected to the first rotational element to provide sufficient motion to the plurality of flexible support members to render the flexible support members visually transparent;

wherein the load is movable within a space; and

wherein one or both of the first and second rotational elements include gimbal structures.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible support members are arranged into at least one suspension column.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible support members are selected from the group consisting of carbon steel wire, Aramid fibers, Vectran fibers, carbon fibers, UHMWPE fibers and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational elements provide rotational motion to the flexible support members.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational elements provide vibratory motion to the flexible support members.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational elements provide oscillatory motion to the flexible support members.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor arranged and disposed to measure the rotation of the first rotational element.

8. A method for suspending a load from visually transparent support members comprising:

suspending a load from a plurality of flexible support members;

the plurality of flexible support members being attached to a first rotational element attached to the load and a second rotational element attached to a support;

moving the plurality of flexible support members at a sufficient speed and over a sufficient distance to render the flexible support members visually transparent; and

moving the load within a space;

wherein one or both of the first and second rotational elements include gimbal structures.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of flexible support members are arranged into at least one suspension column.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of flexible support members are selected from the group consisting of carbon steel wire, Aramid fibers, Vectran fibers, carbon fibers, UHMWPE fibers and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the moving includes rotating the flexible support members.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the moving includes vibrating the flexible support members.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the moving includes moving the flexible support members in an oscillatory motion.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising measuring rotation at the first rotational element.

15. The method of claim 14, further comparing the rotation at the second rotational element to the rotation at the first rotational element and altering the motion in response thereto.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein altering the motion includes stopping the motion of the flexible support members.