The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 04, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2004
William W. French, Cardiff, CA (US);
William W. French, Cardiff, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An intriguing and educational display structure () appears to be spinning upon itself without any apparent drive mechanism, power supply or bearing. The structure comprises two concentric hollow spheres () spaced apart by a transparent fluid (). The outer sphere is totally transparent, immobile, and may rest on a tripod () or other type of support. The inner sphere may be partially transparent or translucent and carries over its surface, a design such as a map of the world (). The inner sphere rotates within, and independently from, the first outer one. The internal, that is self-contained, drive mechanism uses either a conventional electrical motor () with its own field winding and commutator, or one made of a rotor comprising a cross-array of electromagnets (AC, BD) that interact with an ambient magnetic field such as the earth magnetic field. The power supply comes preferably from a photovoltaic collector () mounted within the inner sphere or from a receiver () of RF waves or other EM radiation.