Flying decoration

• US 9,437,124 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John T. Hrehoriak
• Original Assignee: John T. Hrehoriak
• Inventors: Hrehoriak, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Shin
• Application Number:
  US14/828,667
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 446/103, 446/433, 446/332, 446454-456, 446/463, 446465-467, 446/490, 406/17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/06 comprising flexible members, e.g. an endless flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2019/0686 the flexible member being directly driven by a pulley or chain wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/18 the display elements being carried by belts, chains, or the like other than endless
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/22 Electric control therefor

Abstract

A flying decoration includes a drive unit, at least one object mount, a transport line and an idler pulley device. The drive unit includes a drive motor, a system controller and a speed sensor. The drive unit is retained above the ground in one location and the idler pulley device is retained above the ground in another location. A drive pulley is mounted to a drive shaft of the drive motor. The system controller controls the rotation of the drive shaft. Both ends of the transport line are secured to the object mount to form a transport loop. The system controller includes an automatic travel distance calibration program. The object mount includes a line tensioning device for reducing slack in the transport loop. One end of the transport loop is retained on the drive pulley and the other end is retained on an idler pulley of the idler pulley device.

Claims

1. A flying decoration comprising:

a drive unit includes a drive motor, a drive pulley and a system controller, said drive pulley is secured to a drive shaft of said drive motor, said system controller controls a speed and rotational direction of said drive pulley, said system controller alternates the rotation of said drive shaft between a clockwise rotation and a counterclockwise rotation, a plurality of holes are formed through said drive pulley;

an idler pulley device includes an idler pulley;

an object mount includes means for retaining an object and means for stopping rotation of said drive motor at each end of said object mount;

a speed sensor for counting said plurality of holes during rotation of said drive pulley; and

a transport line having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends of said transport line are secured to said object mount to form a transport loop, said drive pulley is engaged with a first end of the transport loop and said idler pulley is engaged with a second end of the transport loop, wherein said drive unit and said idler pulley device are retained above the ground, operation of said drive unit causes said object mount to have a substantially linear back and forth movement.

2. The flying decoration of claim 1, further comprising:

said object mount includes a line mount and a line tensioning device, said line mount is retained on substantially one end of said object mount, said line tensioning device is retained on the substantially the other end of said object mount.

3. The flying decoration of claim 2, further comprising:

said line tensioning device includes a gear drive and a ratchet housing, said ratchet housing is formed in a top of said object mount, said gear drive is rotatably retained in said ratchet housing.

4. The flying decoration of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor controller is electrically connected to said drive motor, said system controller is electrically connected to said motor controller.

5. The flying decoration of claim 1 wherein:

a reflective disk is attached to said drive shaft, a plurality of holes are formed through a reflective disk for sensing by said speed sensor.

6. The flying decoration of claim 1, further comprising:

an object mount extension includes an L-bracket, a line support and a tie wrap, said line support extends from a top of said L-bracket, one end of said transport line is inserted through said line support, said tie wrap is looped around a top of said transport loop, said tie wrap is secured to said itself.

7. The flying decoration of claim 1 wherein:

a system RF receiver is connected to said system controller, a system RF transmitter sends wireless commands to said system controller through said system RF receiver.

8. The flying decoration of claim 1 wherein:

at least one power module includes a RF receiver, a power source and a control circuit, said control circuit receives signals from said RF receiver, said control circuit is connected to said power source, said control circuit powers at least one of a light emitting device and a sound emitting device; and

an RF transmitter is connected to said system controller, said system controller controls the operation of said at least one power module through said RF transmitter and said RF receiver.

9. The flying decoration of claim 1 wherein:

said means for stopping rotation is a calibration claw, said calibration claw includes a plurality of teeth.

10. The flying decoration of claim 1 wherein:

said drive pulley includes one of an inwardly angled groove and an inwardly curving groove, a portion of said groove is hidden from view.

11. The flying decoration of claim 4 wherein:

said system controller monitors power supply voltage, said system controller instructs said motor controller to adjust a PWM cycle to said motor to maintain constant speed.

12. A flying decoration comprising:

a drive unit includes a drive motor, a drive pulley and a system controller, said drive pulley is secured to a drive shaft of said drive motor, said system controller controls a speed and rotational direction of said drive pulley, said system controller alternates the rotation of said drive shaft between a clockwise rotation and a counterclockwise rotation, a plurality of holes are formed through said drive pulley;

an idler pulley device includes an idler pulley;

an object mount includes means for retaining an object and means for stopping rotation of said drive motor at each end of said object mount;

a speed sensor for counting said plurality of holes during rotation of said drive pulley, wherein when one end of said object mount comes near said drive pulley, said means for stopping rotation stops said motor, said speed sensor counts a number of holes of said plurality of holes, until said motor stops again at said idler pulley; and

a transport line having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends of said transport line is secured to said object mount to form a transport loop, said drive pulley is engaged with a first end of the transport loop and said idler pulley is engaged with a second end of the transport loop, wherein said system controller changes direction based on said number of holes.

13. The flying decoration of claim 12, further comprising:

said object mount includes a line mount and a line tensioning device, said line mount is retained on substantially one end of said object mount, said line tensioning device is retained on the substantially the other end of said object mount.

14. The flying decoration of claim 13, further comprising:

said line tensioning device includes a gear drive and a ratchet housing, said ratchet housing is formed in a top of said object mount, said gear drive is rotatably retained in said ratchet housing.

15. The flying decoration of claim 12, further comprising:

a motor controller is electrically connected to said drive motor, said system controller is electrically connected to said motor controller.

16. The flying decoration of claim 12 wherein:

a reflective disk is attached to said drive shaft, a plurality of holes are formed through a reflective disk for sensing by said speed sensor.

17. The flying decoration of claim 12, further comprising:

an object mount extension includes an L-bracket, a line support and a tie wrap, said line support extends from a top of said L-bracket, one end of said transport line is inserted through said line support, said tie wrap is looped around a top of said transport loop, said tie wrap is secured to said itself.

18. The flying decoration of claim 12 wherein:

a plurality of drainage holes are formed through at least one of a front of said drive pulley, said plurality of drainage holes are formed adjacent said transport line.

19. A flying decoration comprising:

a drive unit includes a drive motor, a drive pulley and a system controller, said drive pulley is secured to a drive shaft of said drive motor, said system controller controls a speed and rotational direction of said drive pulley, said system controller alternates the rotation of said drive shaft between a clockwise rotation and a counterclockwise rotation, a plurality of holes are formed through said drive pulley;

an idler pulley device includes an idler pulley;

an object mount includes a line tensioning device, means for retaining an object and means for stopping rotation of said drive motor at each end of said object mount;

a speed sensor for counting said plurality of holes during rotation of said drive pulley; and

a transport line having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends of said transport line is secured to said object mount to form a transport loop, said line tensioning device includes a ratchet mechanism for reducing slack in said transport loop, said drive pulley is engaged with a first end of the transport loop and said idler pulley is engaged with a second end of the transport loop, wherein said drive unit and said idler pulley device are retained above the ground, operation of said drive unit causes said object mount to have a substantially linear back and forth movement.

20. The flying decoration of claim 19, further comprising:

said object mount includes a line mount and said line tensioning device, said line mount is retained on substantially one end of said object mount, said line tensioning device is retained on the substantially the other end of said object mount.