( 1 2 ) United S ta tes Pa tent

King et a l .
US 00706682 0B1
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
J u n. 2 7, 2 006
( 1 0) Pa tent N 0. :
( 4 5 ) Da te o f Pa tent:
( 5 4 )
( 76)
( * )
( 2 1 )
( 2 2 )
( 60)
( 5 1 )
( 5 2 )
( 5 8)
ILLUS ION TOY
Inv ento r s : Wil l ia m L King, 2 05 37 Ol d To wn R d,
Teh a c h a p i, CA ( US ) 9 35 61 ; Ma r k
S ettedu c a ti, 2 1 8 E . 1 7 S t. , N ew Yo r k
City , N Y( US ) 1 0003; R o b er t
Ca r igna n, 7 Iv y H o l l o w Ct. , Cr a ns to n,
R I ( US ) 02 9 2 1 ; Ter r y Ch a n, Unit 9 05
9 F , G r een? el d To wer , 1 S c ienc e
Mu s eu m R d. , Ko wl o o n ( H K)
N o tic e: S u b j ec t to a ny dis c l a imer , th e ter m o f th is
p a tent is ex tended o r a dj u s ted u nder 35
US C 1 5 4 ( b ) b y 2 09 da y s .
Ap p 1 . N o . : 1 0/ 768, 9 82
F il ed: J a n. 30, 2 004
R el a ted US . Ap p l ic a tio n Da ta
Pr o v is io na l a p p l ic a tio n N o . 60/ 5 33, 9 00, ? l ed o n J a n.
2 , 2 004 .
Int. Cl .
A63] 2 1 / 00 ( 2 006. 01 )
US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 72 / 69 ; 4 72 / 70; 4 4 6/ 4 83;
4 4 6/ 4 75
F iel d o f Cl a s s i? c a tio n S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 72 / 5 1 ,
4 72 / 5 4 , 5 5 , 69 4 71 , 81 ; 4 4 6/ 2 68, 336, 4 83,
4 4 6/ 4 75 , 71
S ee a p p l ic a tio n ? l e f o r c o mp l ete s ea r c h h is to r y .
( 5 6) R ef er enc es Cited
U. S . PATE N T DOCUME N TS
1 , 9 1 4 , 9 38 A 6/ 1 9 33 Bo ninger
3, 1 38, 2 4 9 A * 6/ 1 9 64 Pa u l ini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 6/ 2
4 , 2 5 1 , 9 4 7 A 2 / 1 9 81 Kl a witter 4 6/ 1 R
5 , 4 4 9 , 32 4 A * 9 / 1 9 9 5 S u ga wa r a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 72 / 69
5 , 5 36, 2 09 A * 7/ 1 9 9 6 S u zu ki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 72 / 69
6, 2 67, 639 B1 * 7/ 2 001 Meno w et a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 6/ 81
* c ited b y ex a miner
Pr ima r y E x a miner iKien N gu y en
( 74 ) Atto r ney , Agent, o r F ir miR o b er t W. J . Us h er
( 5 7) ABS TR ACT
An il l u s io n to y h a s a h o u s ing in wh ic h a b l a de is r o ta ted in
o ne dir ec tio n to o r a p idl y to b e s een th r o u gh 2 70 degr ees
b etween r es t p o s itio ns o n r es p ec tiv e o p p o s ite s ides o f a n
a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, p r o v iding th e il l u s io n th a t th e
b l a de h a s r o ta ted in a n o p p o s ite dir ec tio n a c r o s s th e th r o u gh
h o l e, th r o u gh th e a r tic l e. An a c tu a ting l ev er f o r a b l a de
r o ta ting o v er c enter mec h a nis m h a s a l o o p a l igned with th e
th r o u gh h o l e s o th a t a tr igger end o f th e l ev er c a n b e v is ib l y
mo v ed b etween o p p o s ite s ides o f th e th r o u gh h o l e in th e
s a me dir ec tio n a s th e a p p a r ent mo v ement o f th e b l a de. A
h o l l o w h o u s ing h a ndl e f o r ms a c a ndy dis p ens ing s to r e a nd
c o nnec ts to a del iv er y c h u te ex tending a c r o s s th e h o u s ing
o b s c u r ing a r a dia l l y o u ter p o r tio n o f th e b l a de p a th p r o v id
ing a n imp r es s io n th a t r o ta tio n o f th e b l a de in th e o ne
dir ec tio n is b l o c ked b y c a ndy .
2 6 Cl a ims , 9 Dr a wing S h eets
U. S . Pa tent J u n. 2 7, 2 006 S h eet 1 6f 9 US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
U. S . Pa tent J u n. 2 7, 2 006 S h eet 2 6f 9 US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
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U. S . Pa tent J u n. 2 7, 2 006 S h eet 8 6f 9 US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
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US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
1
ILLUS ION TOY
R E LATE D APPLICATION
Th is a p p l ic a tio n c l a ims p r io r ity f r o m p r o v is io na l a p p l i
c a tio n 60/ 5 33, 9 00 ? l ed J a n. 2 , 2 004 , th e dis c l o s u r e o f Wh ic h
is inc o r p o r a ted h er ein b y r ef er enc e.
F IE LD OF TH E IN VE N TION
Th e inv entio n r el a tes to a n il l u s io n to y Wh ic h c r ea tes a n
o p tic a l il l u s io n th a t a b l a de p a s s es c o mp l etel y th r o u gh a n
a r tic l e With o u t a c tu a l l y s ev er ing th e a r tic l e.
BACKG R OUN D OF TH E IN VE N TION
U. S . Pa t. N o s . 1 , 9 1 4 , 9 38 a nd 4 , 2 5 1 , 9 4 7 is s u ed, r es p ec
tiv el y , in 1 9 32 to Bo ninger a nd in 1 9 81 to Kl a Witter , tea c h
ex a mp l es o f s u c h il l u s io n to y s . Th e dis c l o s u r es o f b o th
do c u ments a r e inc o r p o r a ted h er ein b y r ef er enc e,
E a c h p a tent tea c h es a p o c ket Wa tc h -s h a p e h o u s ing in
Wh ic h a b l a de in a f r o nt, Windo Wed c o mp a r tment is r o ta ted
r a p idl y in o ne dir ec tio n th r o u gh a n a r c o f mo r e th a n 2 70
degr ees b etWeen r es t p o s itio ns o n o p p o s ite s ides o f a
th r o u gh h o l e b y a s p r ing-b ia s ed o v er c enter mec h a nis m
h idden f r o m v ieW in a r ea r c o mp a r tment, th e b l a de mo v e
ment b eing tr igger ed b y a s h o r t a r c u a te mo v ement o f a
tr igger end o f a n a c tu a ting l ev er p r o tr u ding v is ib l y f r o m a
s ide Wa l l o f th e r ea r c o mp a r tment, a dj a c ent th e th r o u gh h o l e.
An a r tic l e mo del ed a s a p er s o n s h ea d ( o r a p in) is r emo v
a b l y mo u nted With a nec k th er eo f ex tending into th e th r o u gh
h o l e p r o tr u ding v is ib l y th r o u gh th e u p p er c o mp a r tment into
th e l o Wer c o mp a r tment tr a ns v er s el y th r o u gh a p l a ne o f
r o ta tio n o f th e b l a de.
As s ta r t a nd ? nis h p o s itio ns o f th e s h o r t a r c u a te mo v e
ment o f th e v is ib l e tr igger end p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er
a r e o n th e s a me o p p o s ite s ides o f th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd
h ea d/ p in a s th e s ta r t a nd ? nis h p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de a nd, a s
th e b l a de mo v es to o q u ic kl y to b e s een, th e il l u s io n is c r ea ted
th a t th e b l a de a l s o h a s mo v ed o nl y a s h o r t a r c u a te dis ta nc e
in th e s a me dir ec tio n a s th e tr igger end p o r tio n o f th e
a c tu a ting l ev er a nd, a s a r es u l t, a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd
th r o u gh th e a r tic l e b u t, a s to nis h ingl y , With o u t s ev er ing th e
a r tic l e. In f a c t, th e b l a de h a s no t r o ta ted th e s h o r t dis ta nc e
a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e b u t, in a n o p p o s ite dir ec tio n, th r o u gh
th e mu c h l o nger c o mp l ementa r y a r c o f a t l ea s t 2 70 degr ees .
Al th o u gh il l u s io n to y s o f th e ty p e ta u gh t b y th e p a tents
no ted a b o v e h a v e b een Widel y s o l d f o r ma ny y ea r s th ey
s u f f er f r o m s ev er a l dis a dv a nta ges .
F o r ex a mp l e, th e r ef er enc es tea c h l o c a tio n o f th e th r o u gh
h o l e r a dia l l y inWa r dl y o f th e p iv o ta l mo u nting o f th e a c tu
a ting l ev er o r , c o inc identl y With th e p iv o ta l mo u nting o f th e
a c tu a ting l ev er Wh ic h c a nno t c l ea r l y c r ea te a n imp r es s io n o f
th e a c tu a ting l ev er a c tu a l l y p a s s ing a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e
du r ing p iv o ta l mo v ement to tr igger th e o v er c enter mec h a
nis m to r o ta te th e b l a de.
An a dditio na l dis a dv a nta ge a r is es f r o m th e p a tent tea c h
ing th a t th e a r tic l e to b e s ev er ed s h o u l d no t ex tend c o m
p l etel y th r o u gh th e h o u s ing s o a s to v is ib l y p r o tr u de f r o m th e
r ea r f a c e a nd, th a t th e a r tic l e is s ma l l b o th a nd ina nima te,
r es u l ting in s o me s p ec ta to r s immedia tel y s u s p ec ting th a t th e
a r tic l e do es no t a c tu a l l y c r o s s th e p l a ne o f mo v ement o f th e
b l a de. A s igni? c a nt inc r ea s e in th e s iZe o f th e a r tic l e is
p r ec l u ded a s th e p a tents tea c h th a t th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th r o u gh h o l e a c tu a l l y p a s s es th r o u gh th e p a r t o f th e h o u s ing
c o nta ining th e mec h a nis m, ( th e th r o u gh h o l e a c tu a l l y p a s s
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
ing th r o u gh th e a p er tu r e in th e y o ke o r q u a dr a nt gea r ) ,
p r ec l u ding s igni? c a nt enl a r gement r el a tiv e to th e ex is ting
s iZe o f th e h o u s ing.
F u r th er mo r e, th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment in Wh ic h th e b l a de
r o ta tes is entir el y c ir c u l a r , v is ib l y p r o v iding th e s a me c l ea r
a nc e f o r r o ta tio n o f th e b l a de in a l l dir ec tio ns , ena b l ing a n
a na l y tic a l s p ec ta to r to r ec o gniZe th e p o s s ib il ity o f th e b l a de
mo v ing a Wa y f r o m th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e,
th r o u gh th e mu c h l o nger a r c , in a n o p p o s ite dir ec tio n to th e
v is ib l e tr igger end a nd, th er ef o r e, no t c r o s s ing th e a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e a t a l l .
A f u r th er dis a dv a nta ge o f th e entir el y c ir c u l a r s h a p e o f th e
h o u s ing is th a t it c a nno t b e f r ees ta nding in a s ta b l e u p r igh t
p o s itio n f o r dis p l a y ing th e il l u s io n.
In a dditio n, th e o v er c enter mec h a nis ms a r e r el a tiv el y
c o mp l ex a nd/ o r inv o l v e a h igh er th a n o p tima l iner tia Wh ic h
l imits th e p o Wer a v a il a b l e f o r b l a de r o ta tio n f o r a giv en
s p r ing s tr ength , imp o s ing a n u ndes ir a b l e l imita tio n o n b l a de
s iZe, r o ta tio na l s p eed a nd, a s a r es u l t, th e s iZe o f th e a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e.
S UMMAR YOF TH E IN VE N TION
It is a n o b j ec t o f th e inv entio n to o b v ia te o r a mel io r a te th e
a b o v e no ted dis a dv a nta ges th er eb y to p r o v ide a n il l u s io n to y
Wh ic h is p r o v ides a n ev en mo r e c o nv inc ing il l u s io n a nd
Wh ic h ea s ier to ma nu f a c tu r e in a ny s el ec ted s iZe a nd With
f eWer mo v ing p a r ts .
Ac c o r ding to th e inv entio n, th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh
h o l e is f o r med in a p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing r emo te f r o m th e
o v er c enter mec h a nis m, a nd th e a c tu a ting l ev er ex tends
a c r o s s th e h o u s ing f r o m th e l o c a tio n o f th e o v er c enter
mec h a nis m, p a s t th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd th r o u gh a s ide Wa l l o f
th e h o u s ing r emo te f r o m th e mec h a nis m a nd is f o r med With
a b igh t Wh ic h is a l igned With th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh
h o l e in a l l p o s itio ns o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er s o th a t th e
a c tu a ting l ev er nev er a c tu a l l y c r o s s es th e th r o u gh h o l e.
Th u s , a s a r es u l t o f its no nl inea r s h a p e, th e a c tu a ting l ev er
c a n ex tend f r o m th e v is ib l e tr igger p o r tio n o u ts ide th e
h o u s ing s ide a c r o s s a ma j o r ity o f th e h o u s ing f o r p iv o ta l
mo u nting a t a l o c a tio n o n a n o p p o s ite s ide o f th e th r o u gh
h o l e f r o m th e v is ib l e tr igger p o r tio n, th a t is b etWeen th e
th r o u gh h o l e a nd a n o p p o s ite s ide o f th e h o u s ing Wh il e a l s o
c l ea r o f th e th r o u gh h o l e.
Th is p r o v ides a n imp r es s io n th a t th e a c tu a ting l ev er
a c tu a l l y s Weep s a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e in c l o s e p r o x imity
to th e b l a de, c r ea ting a c o mp el l ing il l u s io n o f th e b l a de
mo v ing a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e Wh en th e o v er c enter mec h a
nis m is tr igger ed. F u r th er mo r e, s ep a r a ting th e a r tic l e r ec eiv
ing th r o u gh h o l e f r o m th e o v er c enter mec h a nis m ena b l es it
to b e ma de s u f ? c ientl y l a r ge to r ec eiv e a p er s o n s ? nger
ex tending c o mp l etel y th r o u gh th e h o u s ing s o a s to b e c l ea r l y
v is ib l e p r o tr u ding f r o m f r o nt a nd r ea r f a c es o f th e h o u s ing
Wh ic h o b v ia tes a ny s u s p ic io n a s to Wh eth er th e a r tic l e
a c tu a l l y c r o s s es th e p l a ne o f b l a de mo v ement.
Ac c o r ding to a no th er a s p ec t o f th e inv entio n, th e il l u s io n
th a t th e b l a de mo v es c o mp l etel y a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th r o u gh h o l e a p er tu r e is r einf o r c ed b y a p o r tio n o f th e
h o u s ing s ide Wa l l ex tending in th e q u a dr a nt c o nta ining th e
a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e a nd th e s ta r t a nd ? nis h p o s i
tio ns o f th e v is ib l e tr igger p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er a nd
th e b l a de b eing a r c u a te b u t o p p o s ed p o r tio ns o f th e h o u s ing
s ide Wa l l ex tending a Wa y f r o m s u c h q u a dr a nt b eing no n
a r c u a te a nd o f r edu c ed s ep a r a tio n f r o m ea c h o th er p r o v iding
th e o p tic a l il l u s io n to th e c a s u a l s p ec ta to r th a t th er e is
ins u ? ic ient c l ea r a nc e With th e s ide Wa l l f o r th e b l a de to
r o ta te b etWeen s ta r t a nd s to p ( r es t) p o s itio ns in th e o p p o s ite
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
3
dir ec tio n, th r o u gh 2 70 degr ees , a wa y f r o m th e a r tic l e r ec eiv
ing th r o u gh h o l e, Wh er e th e b l a de Wo u l d no t s Weep a c r o s s
th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e.
Th e Windo W ma y ex tend o nl y o v er a p o r tio n o f th e f r o nt
c o mp a r tment s u b tended b y th e a r c u a te edge p o r tio n to
r ev ea l th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd ? nger ex tending th er eth r o u gh
a nd th e r es t ( s to p a nd s ta r t) p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de, With a
ma j o r ity o f th e th e a c tu a l b l a de mo v ement b eing h idden b y
a r ema ining o p a q u e p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing c o v er .
Th e imp r es s io n th a t th er e is mu c h gr ea ter s p a c e f o r
mo v ement o f th e b l a de a c r o s s th e a r c u a te r egio n is inc r ea s ed
b y ma r king th e h o u s ing s u r f a c e in th e a r c u a te a r ea f o r med
With th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd b eh ind th e r es t p o s itio ns o f th e
b l a de With r a dia l l y ex tending, c o l o r ed b a nds Wh ic h ex p a nd
in Width a s th ey ex tend r a dia l l y o u tWa r d. Th e b a nds a p p ea r
to ema na te f r o m a n a p p a r ent p iv o t p o int f o r th e s Wo r d a s
r ep r es ented b y a c o l o r ed b l o b ma r ked o n a b o s s s h a p e
p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing a t a l o Wer p er ip h er a l edge o f th e
Windo W s o a s to c o nc ea l th e tr u e p iv o t p o int Wh ic h is in f a c t
s p a c ed f u r th er f r o m th e a r c u a te edge o f th e h o u s ing th a n th e
a c tu a l p iv o t p o int o f th e b l a de Wh ic h r es u l ts in a n, a t l ea s t
? eeting, imp r es s io n th a t th e s Wo r d is p iv o ted a t th e a p p a r ent
p iv o t p o int a nd is o f th er ef o r e o f gr ea ter l ength th a n th e
a c tu a l l ength , enh a nc ing th e imp r es s io n o f ins u f f ic ient c l ea r
a nc e f o r r o ta tio n in a dir ec tio n Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e.
Th e s Wo r d c a n a l s o h a v e a Zig-Za g ( o r o th er , no n l inea r )
s h a p e With a n inner mo s t v is ib l e p o r tio n s p a c ed a s ma l l
dis ta nc e f r o m th e p iv o t ex tending in th e dir ec t o f th e b l o b
Wh ic h a l s o enh a nc es th e imp r es s io n o f th e b l a de ex tending
f r o m a p iv o t Wh ic h is s p a c ed a p a r t f u r th er f r o m th e a r c u a te
edge o f th e h o u s ing a nd, th er ef o r e, o f th e s Wo r d b eing l o nger
th a n th e tr u e l ength .
Th e inv entio n p r o v ides a c o mp a c t a nd s imp l e o p er a ting
mec h a nis m. F o r ex a mp l e, th e gea r teeth a r e l o c a ted o n th e
o u ts ide s u r f a c e o f th e r a c k s egment r es u l ts in th e ma s s o f th e
ea r ma ter ia l b eing c l o s er to th e p iv o t p o int th a t Wh er e th e
gea r teeth a r e o n th e ins ide s u r f a c e o f th e r a c k s egment a s
ta u gh t b y Kl a Witter r es u l ting in a l o Wer mo ment o f iner tia
a nd c o mmens u r a tel y gr ea ter s p eed o f b l a de mo v ement f o r a
giv en s p r ing s tr ength ena b l ing a n inc r ea s e in b l a de s iZe
c o mmens u r a te With a l a r ger a r tic l e s u c h a s a ? nger to b e
ins er ted in th e th r o u gh h o l e.
Adv er tis ing mes s a ges ma y b e dis p l a y ed o n th e f r o nt
s u r f a c e o f th e p a r titio n, b eh ind th e b l a de f o r enh a nc ed
imp a c t a nd r etentio n b y a s s o c ia tio n With th e s p ec ta to r s
a s to nis h ment b y th e il l u s io n.
Ac c o r ding to a no th er a s p ec t o f th e inv entio n, th e h o u s ing
f u r th er c o mp r is es mea ns f o r dis p ens ing c a ndy . Pr ef er a b l y ,
th e mea ns f o r dis p ens ing c a ndy ex tends in f r o nt o f a nd
o b s c u r es a r a dia l l y o u ter p o r tio n o f a r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e
b l a de s o a s to p r o v ide a n imp r es s io n th a t r o ta tio na l mo v e
ment o f th e b l a de in a dir ec tio n a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e
Wo u l d b e b l o c ked b y th e p r es enc e o f th e c a ndy , th er eb y
enh a nc ing th e il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s r o ta ted a c r o s s th e
a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e. Th e mea ns f o r dis p ens ing
c a ndy ma y c o mp r is e a h o l l o W h a ndl e s to r ing c a ndy c o m
mu nic a ting With a c a ndy del iv er y c h u te ex tending in f r o nt o f
a nd o b s c u r ing a r a dia l l y o u ter p o r tio n o f a r o ta tio na l p a th o f
th e b l a de.
Ac c o r ding to a f u r th er a s p ec t o f th e inv entio n, th e tr igger
end p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er c o mp r is es a Wr iting
imp l ement.
Ac c o r ding to a no th er a s p ec t o f th e inv entio n, th e p a r titio n
h a s a f r o nt s u r f a c e c a r r y ing a gr a p h ic b eh ind th e b l a de
dep ic ting a ? gu r e in a b l a de h o l ding p o s itio n, th e ? gu r e
h a v ing a c enter o f f s et f u r th er a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e
th a n th e s h a f t o f r o ta tio n o f th e b l a de a nd th e s h a f t b eing
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
l o c a ted inter media te l o ngitu dina l ends o f th e b l a de s o a s to
p r o v ide a ? eeting il l u s io n th a t a p iv o ta l c enter o f th e b l a de
is l o c a ted a t th e c enter o f th e ? gu r e f u r th er a Wa y f r o m th e
th r o u gh h o l e. Pr ef er a b l y , th e b l a de c o mp r is es a s Wo r d With
a h a ndl e a nd p r o ? l es o f s Wo r d h o l ding h a nds a r e ma r ked o n
th e h a ndl e a t a l o c a tio n a l igned With to th e c enter o f th e
? gu r e th er eb y to enh a nc e th e il l u s io n th a t a p iv o ta l c enter o f
th e b l a de is l o c a ted a t th e c enter o f th e ? gu r e f u r th er a Wa y
f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e.
BR IE F DE S CR IPTION OF TH E DR AWIN G S
In o r der th a t th e inv entio n ma y b e r ea dil y u nder s to o d,
s p ec i? c emb o diments th er eo f Wil l no W b e des c r ib ed b y Wa y
o f ex a mp l e o nl y a nd With r ef er enc e to th e a c c o mp a ny
dr a Wings in Wh ic h :
F IG . 1 is a f r o nt v ieW o f a ? r s t emb o diment;
F IG . 2 is a s imil a r v ieW to F IG . 1 , p a r tl y c u t a Wa y to
r ev ea l th e o p er a ting mec h a nis m;
F IG S . 3a , 3b a nd 3c a r e s c h ema tic v ieWs o f th e o p er a ting
mec h a nis m in s u c c es s iv e s ta ges o f o p er a tio n;
F IG . 4 is a n ex p l o ded v ieW o f th e ? r s t emb o diment;
F IG . 5 is a f r o nt v ieW o f a h o u s ing o f a s ec o nd emb o di
ment;
F IG . 6 is a s ide v ieW o f th e h o u s ing s h o Wn in F IG . 5 ;
F IG S . 7a a nd 7b a r e, r es p ec tiv el y , a dia gr a mma tic to p
p l a n v ieW a nd a f r o nt v ieW o f a th ir d emb o diment, Wh ic h
dis p ens es c a ndy ;
F IG . 8 is a p h o to gr a p h o f a p r o to ty p e o f th e th ir d
emb o diment
F IG . 9 s h o Ws a f r o nt c o mp a r tment o f a p r o to ty p e mo l ded
p a r t f o r ming th e h o u s ing f r a me With th e a r t Wo r k th er eo n; a
b l a de a nd p inio n a s s emb l y , a nd a n ins ide o f a tr a ns p a r ent
f r o nt c o v er f o r th e h o u s ing f r a me;
F IG . 1 0 s h o Ws th e r ea r c o mp a r tment o f th e f r a me With th e
o p er a ting mec h a nis m a s s emb l ed th er ein. a nd,
F IG S . 1 1 a a nd 1 1 b a r e f r o nt v ieWs o f a f o u r th emb o diment
in Wh ic h th e ? nger p iec e o r tr igger o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er is
f o r med b y a p en.
DE S CR IPTION OF PAR TICULAR
E MBODIME N TS
As s h o Wn in F IG S . 1 * 4 , th e ? r s t emb o diment o f a mu s e
ment dev ic e inc l u des a h o u s ing 1 c o mp r is ing a c entr a l f r a me
o r c h a s s is 2 mo l ded in o ne p iec e o f o p a q u e p l a s tic With a
tu b u l a r s ide Wa l l 3 div ided inter na l l y b y a media l p a r titio n
4 into f r o nt a nd r ea r c o mp a r tments 5 a nd 6, r es p ec tiv el y ,
c l o s ed b y f r o nt a nd r ea r c o v er s 7 a nd 8, r es p ec tiv el y , th e
f r o nt c o v er 7 b eing tr a ns p a r ent s o a s to p r o v ide a Windo W f o r
th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment, a nd th e r ea r c o v er 8 b eing o p a q u e.
Th r o u gh h o l es 1 3, 1 4 a nd 1 5 a r e f o r med in a l ignment in th e
c o v er s a nd media l p a r titio n Wa l l 4 a l igned in th e a s s emb l ed
h o u s ing s o a s to p er mit a p er s o n s ? nger to b e ins er ted
th er eth r o u gh , p a s s ing c o mp l etel y th r o u gh th e h o u s ing.
Th r ee a dj a c ent s ide Wa l l p o r tio ns 1 6a , 1 6b a nd 1 60 a r e
es s entia l l y ? a t a nd th e f o u r th 1 6d is a r c u a te. E dge p o r tio ns
o f th e c o v er s a r e s imil a r l y s h a p ed to ? t th er eo n.
A p iv o t p o s t 1 8 a nd a s emi-c y l indr ic a l p iv o t p r o tu b er a nc e
1 9 ( F IG . 2 ) a r e mo l ded o n a r ea r s ide o f th e p a r titio n 4 a nd
o n a n ins ide s u r f a c e o f Wa l l p o r tio n 1 6b , r es p ec tiv el y . A r ea r
edge p o r tio n o f th e c u r v ed s ideWa l l 1 6d h a s a r eb a te 2 0
p r o v iding a n a c tu a ting l ev er a c c es s s l o t a nd a b u tments 2 1
( F IG . 2 ) a r e mo l ded a t o p p o s ite l o c a tio ns o n o p p o s ite
inter io r s u r f a c es s ides o f o p p o s ite s ide Wa l l p o r tio ns 1 6a a nd
1 60. A s tu b s h a f t r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e 2 3 is p r o v ided in th e
p a r titio n Wa l l 4 .
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
5
As s een mo s t c l ea r l y in F IG . 2 a nd F IG . 4 , th e o p er a ting
mec h a nis m c o mp r is es a b l a de o r Wa nd 2 5 h a v ing a
r a dia l l y ex tending s tu b s h a f t 2 6, a p inio n gea r 2 7 With a s tu b
s h a f t r ec eiv ing b o r e 30, a r a c k gea r s egment 2 8, a h a ir p in
s p r ing 2 9 a nd a n a c tu a ting l ev er 31 .
Th e gea r s egment 2 8 is p a r t o f a q u a dr a nt y o ke 33 Wh ic h
c o mp r is es a p a ir o f a r ms 34 ex tending f r o m a b a s e l a nd 35
to o p p o s ite ends o f a n a r c u a te, ex ter na l l y to o th ed, r a c k 36
f r o m o p p o s ite ends o f Wh ic h s to p memb er s 37 p r o j ec t. Th e
b a s e l a nd 35 h a s a no tc h b ea r ing 39 a nd a th r o u gh h o l e 4 1
s p a c ed inWa r dl y th er ef r o m a l o ng a media l a x is f o r p iv o ta l l y
a nc h o r ing a n u p tu r ned end o f o ne a r m o f th e h a ir p in s p r ing
2 9 .
Th e a c tu a ting l ev er 31 c o mp r is es a ? nger p iec e o r tr igger
p o r tio n 4 2 j o ining a l o o p ed p o r tio n o r b igh t 4 3, a p iv o t
a p er tu r e 4 4 a nd a n a nc h o r ing a p er tu r e 4 5 f o r p iv o ta l l y
a nc h o r ing th e o th er u p tu r ned end o f th e h a ir p in s p r ing 2 9 .
It Wil l b e no ted th a t, th e c entr a l f r a me o r c h a s s is to geth er
With th e o p er a ting mec h a nis m c o ns is t o f o nl y 6 s ep a r a te
p a r ts .
As s h o Wn in F IG . 2 , in th e a s s emb l ed s ta te, th e b l a de is
r o ta tiv el y mo u nted in th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment b y ins er tio n o f
th e s tu b s h a f t 2 6 th r o u gh th e h o l e 2 3 a nd th e l o Wer end ? x ed
in b o r e 30 o f th e p inio n gea r 2 7. Th e r a c k 36 o f gea r s egment
2 8 is mes h ed With th e p inio n gea r 2 7 With th e no tc h b ea r ing
39 r ec eiv ing, p iv o ta l l y , th e p r o tu b er a nc e 1 9 . Th e a c tu a ting
a r m is p iv o ta l l y mo u nted b eh ind th e r a c k a nd p inio n b y
r ec eip t o f th e p iv o t p o s t 1 8 in th e p iv o t a p er tu r e 4 4 a nd th e
u p tu r ned ends o n th e a r ms o f th e h a ir p in s p r ing 2 9 p iv o ta l l y
a nc h o r ed in a nc h o r ing h o l es 4 1 a nd 4 5 , r es p ec tiv el y , o f th e
b a s e l a nd 35 o f th e gea r s egment 2 8 a nd th e inner end o f th e
a c tu a ting l ev er 31 .
In o p er a tio n o f th e to y , a s mo s t c l ea r l y s een in F IG . 1 a nd
F IG S . 3a i3c , th e ma gic ia n ins er ts h is o Wn, ( o r a Wil l ing
s p ec ta to r s ) , ? nger into th r o u gh h o l es 1 3, 1 4 a nd 1 5 s o th a t
th e ? nge, ( no t s h o Wn) , ex tends c o mp l etel y th r o u gh th e
h o u s ing a nd c a n b e s een p r o tr u ding f r o m f r o nt a nd r ea r
f a c es . Th e mec h a nis m Wil l b e in th e p o s itio n s h o Wn in F IG .
1 a nd F IG . 3a . Th e ma gic ia n th en p u s h es th e ex p o s ed tr igger
4 1 a ntic l o c kwis e, ( in th e dir ec tio n o f th e a r r o W in F IG . 3a ) ,
Wh ic h p r o gr es s iv el y u r ges th e a r m o f th e h a ir p in s ec u r ed to
th e inner end o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er to Wa r d th e o th er a r m,
p r o gr es s iv el y tens io ning th e s p r ing Wh il e p iv o ting th e s p r ing
a ntic l o c kWis e. Th e gea r s egment 2 8 a nd p inio n gea r 2 7
r ema in s ta tio na r y th r o u gh o u t th e initia l s ta ges o f mo v ement
o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er With th e gea r s egment 2 8 r ema ining
b ia s ed b y th e inc r ea s ing s p r ing tens io n in th e mo s t c l o c k
Wis e ( u p p er mo s t) p o s itio n, a s th e l ine o f th r u s t F 1 is a b o v e
th e p iv o t p o int o f th e gea r s egment 3. H o Wev er , With f u r th er
p r o gr es s iv e c l o c kWis e mo v ement o f th e l ev er , th e l ine o f
th r u s t f r o m th e h a ir p in s p r ing Wil l mo v e c l o c kWis e to a n
o v er c enter p o s itio n j u s t b el o W ( a nd a ntic l o c kwis e) r el a tiv e
to th e f u l c r u m o r p iv o t p o int o f th e gea r s egment, a s s h o Wn
in F IG . 3b , Wh en th e inc r ea s ed s p r ing tens io n Wil l c a u s e th e
gea r s egment to s u ddenl y p iv o t c o u nter -c l o c kWis e v er y
r a p idl y , With a s na p a c tio n, to th e p o s itio n s h o Wn in F IG . 30,
th e r a c k teeth 36 r a p idl y r o ta ting th e p inio n gea r 2 7 a nd
b l a de 2 5 c l o c kWis e th r o u gh a p p r o x ima tel y 2 70 degr ees to
b r ing th e b l a de 2 5 a nd th e tr igger 4 2 to th e o p p o s ite s ide o f
th e th r o u gh h o l e 1 3, ( to Wh ic h p o s itio n th e tr igger Wil l h a v e
b een mo v ed) , f a s ter th a n th e ey e c a n s ee, a s s h o Wn in b r o ken
l ines in F IG . 1 . Mo v ement o f th e s egment gea r in eith er
dir ec tio n is a r r es ted b y imp a c t o f a s to p memb er 37 With th e
a b u tment 2 1 With th e p r o du c tio n o f a l o u d r a p , a s th e
a b u tments 2 1 a r e s o l id With th e Wa l l o f th e h o u s ing, Wh ic h
no is e a dds to th e s ta r tl ing ef f ec t o n th e s p ec ta to r .
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
6
S u b s eq u ent mo v ement o f th e tr igger 4 2 in th e o p p o s ite
dir ec tio n wil l ef f ec t c o r r es p o nding c o u nter c l o c kWis e r o ta
tio n o f th e b l a de.
Th e s p ec ta to r s p er c ep tio n is in? u enc ed b y th e a r c u a te
s h a p e o f th e a dj a c ent h o u s ing p o r tio n 1 6d, th e mo v ement o f
th e v is ib l e tr igger Wh ic h is a dj a c ent th e b l a de f r o m o ne s ide
o f th e th r o u gh h o l e ( a nd ? nger ) to th e o th er a nd th e a p p a r ent
mo v ement o f a n inner , h idden, ex tended p o r tio n o f th e
tr igger c o mp l etel y a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e, to ex p er ienc e th e
il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s p a s s ed th r o u gh th e ? nger With o u t
s ev er ing th e ? nger . Th e imp r es s io n th a t th e b l a de mo v es
a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd no t in th e o th er dir ec tio n is
enh a nc ed b y th e imp r es s io n o f r edu c ed o r ins u f ? c ient c l ea r
a nc e f o r r o ta tio n o f th e b l a de a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e
a r is ing f r o m th e c h a nge f r o m a c u r v ed to a s tr a igh t Wa l l a nd
mo r e c o n? ning Wa l l p o r tio n.
Th e ? a t f o r m o f th e Wa l l p o r tio ns 1 6a , 1 6b a nd 1 60
ena b l es th e h o u s ing to b e f r ees ta nding th er eo n f o r p r es enting
a tr ic k. Al ter na tiv el y , th e to y is s u f ? c ientl y s ma l l to b e h a nd
h el d.
Th e h o u s ing 4 9 o f th e s ec o nd emb o diment s h o Wn in
F IG S . 5 a nd 6 dif f er s f r o m th e h o u s ing o f th e ? r s t emb o di
ment in th a t th e o nl y th e u p p er p o r tio n 5 1 o f th e f r o nt
c o mp a r tment a dj a c ent th e a r c u a te Wa l l p o r tio n 5 2 is Win
do Wed, th e r ema inder 5 3 is h idden f r o m th e s p ec ta to r s v ieW
b y a n o p a q u e f r o nt c o v er p o r tio n 5 4 . F u r th er mo r e, ins tea d o f
s tr a igh t, p a r a l l el o p p o s ite s ide Wa l l p o r tio ns ex tending a Wa y
f r o m th e a r c u a te Wa l l p o r tio n th e h o u s ing is Wa is ted With
o p p o s ite s ide Wa l l p o r tio ns 5 5 Wh ic h ex tend inWa r d f r o m
o p p o s ite ends o f th e a r c u a te p o r tio n a nd th en o u tWa r d to
de? ne a p a r t 62 o f minimu m Width a t th e b o tto m o f th e
Windo Wed p o r tio n 5 1 , Wh ic h p r o v ides minimu m s u f ? c ient
c l ea r a nc e f o r b l a de r o ta tio n. Th e h o u s ing is a l s o Wa is ted in
th e tr a ns v er s e dir ec tio n to r einf o r c e a n imp r es s io n th a t th e
c entr a l p o r tio n is to o na r r o W to a dmit p a s s a ge o f th e b l a de
th er eth r o u gh . Th e s u r f a c e o f th e p o r tio n 5 6 o f th e p a r titio n
b eh ind th e Windo Wed p o r tio n 5 1 r ev ea l ing th e th r o u gh h o l e
a nd b l a de 2 5 ' is ma r ked With u p Wa r dl y / r a dia l l y o u tWa r dl y
div er gent c o ntr a s tingl y c o l o r ed b a nds 5 7 o f ex p a nding Width
Wh ic h a p p ea r to ema na te f r o m a s imil a r l y c o l o r ed b l o b 5 8
ma r ked c entr a l l y o n a b o s s s h a p ed p o r tio n 5 9 l o c a ted o n th e
f r o nt c o v er 60 a t th e a p p a r ent c enter o f th e a r c u a te Wa l l
p o r tio n.
Th e imp r es s io n th a t th er e is mu c h gr ea ter s p a c e f o r
mo v ement o f th e b l a de 2 5 ' a c r o s s th e a r c u a te r egio n is
inc r ea s ed b y th e ex p a nding b a nds . Th e b a nds a p p ea r to
ema na te f r o m a n a p p a r ent p iv o t p o int f o r th e s Wo r d a s
r ep r es ented b y th e c o l o r ed b l o b ma r ked o n a b o s s s h a p e
p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing a t a l o Wer p er ip h er a l edge o f th e
Windo W s o a s to c o nc ea l th e tr u e p iv o t p o int 60 Wh ic h is in
f a c t s p a c ed f u r th er f r o m th e a r c u a te edge o f th e h o u s ing th a n
th e a c tu a l p iv o t p o int o f th e b l a de Wh ic h r es u l ts in a n, a t l ea s t
? eeting, imp r es s io n th a t th e s Wo r d is p iv o ted a t th e a p p a r ent
p iv o t p o int a nd is o f th er ef o r e o f gr ea ter l ength th a n th e
a c tu a l l ength , enh a nc ing th e imp r es s io n o f ins u f ? c ient c l ea r
a nc e f o r r o ta tio n in a dir ec tio n a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e.
Th e s Wo r d h a s a Zig-Za g ( o r o th er , no n l inea r ) edge 61
With a n inner mo s t v is ib l e p o r tio n 63 s p a c ed a s ma l l dis ta nc e
f r o m th e p iv o t ex tending in th e dir ec t o f th e b l o b 5 8 Wh ic h
a l s o enh a nc es th e imp r es s io n o f th e b l a de ex tending f r o m a
p iv o t Wh ic h is s p a c ed a p a r t f u r th er f r o m th e a r c u a te edge o f
th e h o u s ing a nd, th er ef o r e, o f th e b l a de b eing l o nger th a n th e
tr u e l ength a nd u na b l e to r o ta te a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e
p a s t th e Wa is ted p o r tio n.
In th e th ir d, c a ndy dis p ens ing, emb o diment, s h o Wn in
F IG S . 71 1 -1 0, a s th e o p er a ting mec h a nis m is s imil a r to th e
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
7
p r io r emb o diments , c o r r es p o nding el ements a r e identi? ed
b y p r imed r ef er enc e nu mer a l s .
Th is emb o diment h a s a dep ending p is to l gr ip h a ndl e 70
p r o v iding a c a ndy s to r e/ r es er v o ir c o mmu nic a ting With a
c a ndy dis p ens ing c h u te 72 Wh ic h ex tends u p Wa r ds , in f r o nt
o f , th e o u ter p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a l r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e b l a de
2 5 ' , to a ( c a p p ed) dis p ens ing o p ening 78 a t a to p s ide r emo te
f r o m a ? nger r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e 1 3' .
Th e h o u s ing f r a me 2 ' a nd f r o nt, tr a ns p a r ent c o v er 7' a r e
mo di? ed in b eing integr a l l y mo l ded With h o l l o Wed, p is to l
gr ip h a ndl e h a l v es 71 , 71 ' , r es p ec tiv el y , th e h a l f 71 dep end
ing f r o m a f r o nt o f a l o Wer s ideWa l l 1 6d o f th e h o u s ing
f r a me 2 ' a nd th e h a l f 71 ' c o mmu nic a ting With a n u p Wa r dl y
ex tending c h a nnel 72 f o r med in th e f r o nt c o v er 7' As c a n b e
s een in F IG . 1 0, th e media l p a r titio n ex tends f r o m th e Wa l l
1 6d a c r o s s a ma j o r ity o f th e f r a me 2 ' b u t ter mina tes s h o r t o f
th e Wa l l 1 6b a nd s h o r t o f a ma j o r ity o f th e Wa l l 1 60' . As s een
in F IG . 9 , a no th er , Wa l l p o r tio n 73, s h o r ter th a n th e p a r titio n
4 ' , ex tends f r o m th e Wa l l 1 6b in a p l a ne f o r Wa r d o f a nd
p a r a l l el to th e p a r titio n 4 ' p r o v iding a ga p 80 th er eb etWeen
f o r a dmitting th e b l a de du r ing r o ta tio n.
Th e c o v er 7' h a s a c o mp l ementa r y p r o ? l e to th e f r a me 2 '
a nd is a s s emb l ed th er eto b y r ec eip t o f p egs 74 in f r a me
s o c kets 75 s o th a t th e h a ndl e h a l v es c o o p er a te to p r o v ide th e
c a ndy r ec eiv ing r es er v o ir 77 a nd th e o p a q u e Wa l l 73 o f th e
f r a me 2 ' enga ges o v er th e c h a nnel 72 o f th e f r o nt c o v er to
f o r m th e c a ndy dis p ens ing c h u te, a s s h o Wn in F IG . 8, ( Wh ic h
dif f er s f r o m th e s c h ema tic o f F IG . 7a Wh er e th e o p a q u e r ea r
Wa l l o f th e c h u te is s h o Wn a t 79 ) .
Wh en s o a s s emb l ed, th e c a ndy dis p ens ing c h u te c o nta in
ing ? o Wa b l e c a ndy 80 ex tends a c r o s s th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment
5 ' in f r o nt o f p a r t o f th e a c tu a l p a th o f r o ta tio n o f th e s Wo r d
s o th a t th e s Wo r d r o ta tes b eh ind th e c a ndy c h u te. Th is f u r th er
r einf o r c es th e imp r es s io n th a t th er e is ins u f f ic ient c l ea r a nc e
f o r th e s Wo r d to r o ta te in a c l o c kWis e dir ec tio n, a Wa y f r o m
th e ? nger r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, enh a nc ing th e il l u s io n.
Th e r ea r c o v er 8' is f o r med With a p r o tu b er a nc e 5 8' Wh ic h
is dis p l a c ed r ea r Wa r d a Wa y f r o m th e a c tu a l p iv o t p o int o f th e
s Wo r d Wh ic h c a nno t b e s een, p r o v iding th e imp r es s io n o n
c a s u a l ins p ec tio n th a t th e p r o tu b er a nc e c o inc ides With th e
a c tu a l p iv o t p o int a nd th a t th er e is ins u f f ic ient c l ea r a nc e f o r
th e s Wo r d to r o ta te c l o c kWis e.
Th e f r o nt s u r f a c e o f th e p a r titio n 4 ' is ma r ked With a
gr a p h ic 82 dep ic ting a ? gu r e p o s itio ned to h o l d th e s Wo r d
f o r m b l a de, ( enh a nc ed b y mo l ding h a nd p r o ? l es 83 o n th e
s Wo r d h a ndl e) , th e s Wo r d h o l ding p o s itio n/ c enter o f Wh ic h
? gu r e is o f f s et to th e r ea r ( r igh t) o f th e a c tu a l p iv o t h o l e 2 3'
f o r th e s Wo r d. As th er e is o f ten a tendenc y f o r a c a s u a l
o b s er v er to p r es u me th a t th e p iv o t p o int f o r th e s Wo r d Wil l
c o inc ide With th e p o s itio n a t Wh ic h th e s Wo r d is h el d, th e
imp r es s io n is giv en th a t th e p iv o ta l p o s itio n o f th e s Wo r d is
to o c l o s e to th e r igh t s ide o f th e h o u s ing to p er mit c l ea r a nc e
f o r c l o c kWis e s Wo r d r o ta tio n a nd th a t th e s Wo r d is o f gr ea ter
th a n a c tu a l l ength , enh a nc ing th e imp r es s io n o f ins u f f ic ient
c l ea r a nc e f o r c l o c kWis e r o ta tio n.
Al th o u gh , f o r s o me s p ec ta to r s , a ma c a b r e imp r es s io n is
mo s t s timu l a ting, f o r o th er s , th e p r o v is io n o f th e c a ndy
p r o v ides a s o f ter , mo r e to y l ike imp r es s io n.
In a mo di? c a tio n, s h o Wn p a r tl y in F IG . 1 1 , th e b l a de, s tu b
s h a f t a nd p inio n gea r a r e mo l ded in o ne p iec e a nd r eta ined
in a th r o u gh h o l e 2 3' , enl a r ged to p er mit ins er tio n o f th e
p inio n b y s l iding enga gement o f th e b l a de With th e f r o nt
c o v er , th er eb y r edu c ing th e nu mb er o f p a r ts f o r ec o no mic a l
ma s s p r o du c tio n a nd inc r ea s ing th e du r a b il ity a s o b v ia ting
a ny tendenc y f o r a s ep a r a tel y f o r med meta l p iv o t to s ep a r a te
f r o m th e p inio n.
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
8
A dis p ens ing mec h a nis m f o r a ny s u ita b l e item c a n r ep l a c e
th e c a ndy dis p ens ing r es er v o ir a nd c h u te s u c h a s a b u b b l e
ma ker / b l o Wer , a c iga r ette l igh ter etc . , o v er l y ing a n ex tr eme
p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a l r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e b l a de s o a s to
p r o v ide th e ? eeting imp r es s io n to a c a s u a l o b s er v er th a t th e
b l a de Wo u l d b e p r ev ented f r o m c l o c kWis e r o ta tio n b y
imp a c ting s u c h items o r f u nc tio na l mec h a nis m.
In th e f o u r th emb o diment, s h o Wn in F IG S . 1 2 a a nd 1 2 b ,
th e ? nger p iec e o r tr igger o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er is f o r med b y
a p en 9 1 . Pen mo v ement to a c tu a te th e o p er a ting mec h a nis m
to r o ta te th e b l a de 2 5 " a l s o c a u s es r ec ip r o c a tio n o f th e p en
nib b etWeen a dv a nc ed, Wr iting a nd With dr a Wn, s to r a ge p o s i
tio ns .
Th e inv entio n c l a imed is :
1 . An il l u s io n to y c o mp r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing a s ide Wa l l
de? ning a b o u nded a r ea , s a id s ide Wa l l h a v ing a n el o nga te
s l o t ex tending p er imetr ic a l l y , a Windo Wed f r o nt c o v er c o ex
tens iv e With s a id b o u nded a r ea , s a id c o v er b eing f o r med
With a n a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a p a r titio n s p a c ed
r ea r Wa r d o f s a id f r o nt c o v er de? ning th er eWith a nd With th e
s ide Wa l l , a f r o nt c o mp a r tment a nd, a r ea r c o v er de? ning
With s a id s ide Wa l l a nd p a r titio n a mec h a nis m c o mp a r tment
c o nc ea l ed b eh ind s a id p a r titio n, s a id p a r titio n a nd s a id r ea r
c o v er h a v ing r es p ec tiv e th r o u gh h o l es a l igned With th e
th o u gh h o l e o n s a id f r o nt c o v er , s a id p a r titio n h a v ing a s h a f t
o p ening in it, o f f s et f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l es , a nd a n il l u s io n
p r o du c ing mec h a nis m h a v ing a s h a f t ex tending p er p endic u
l a r l y to s a id p a r titio n th r o u gh s a id s h a f t o p ening into th e
f r o nt c o mp a r tment, s a id s h a f t c a r r y ing a t a f r o nt end a b l a de
ex tending p a r a l l el to s a id p a r titio n a nd ex tending r a dia l l y
f r o m s a id s h a f t a dis ta nc e gr ea ter th a n th e dis ta nc e b etWeen
th e s h a f t a nd s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a p inio n
c o nnec ted to a r ea r end o f s a id s h a f t a nd a x ia l l y a l igned
th er eWith , a n a r c u a te s egment r a c k enga ging s a id p inio n, a n
el o nga te a c tu a ting l ev er p iv o ta l l y mo u nted b etWeen its l o n
gitu dina l ends in th e r ea r c o mp a r tment a nd h a v ing a n o u ter
tr igger f o r ming end p r o j ec ting th r o u gh a nd b ey o nd s a id
s ideWa l l s l o t o u t f r o m th e h o u s ing a nd a n inner end With
mea ns f o r a nc h o r ing a s p r ing, a nd o v er c enter mea ns o p er a
tiv el y c o nnec ted to s a id l ev er a nd s a id s egment r a c k f o r
r a p idl y a nd s u ddenl y dis p l a c ing s a id r a c k in r es p o ns e to
mo v ement o f s a id l ev er th r o u gh a giv en a r c p a s t a n o v er
c enter ed p o s itio n, Wh er eb y s a id p inio n, s h a f t, a nd h enc e s a id
b l a de is r o ta ted to o r a p idl y to b e s een th r o u gh a t l ea s t 2 70
degr ees f r o m a r es t p o s itio n o n o ne s ide o f s a id a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e to a r es t p o s itio n to th e o th er s ide
th er eo f , s a id o v er c enter mea ns c o mp r is ing a q u a dr a nt y o ke
mo u nted o n a p iv o t With in s a id r ea r c o mp a r tment, s a id
q u a dr a nt y o ke h a v ing a r ms b etWeen o u ter ends o f Wh ic h th e
s egment r a c k ex tends a nd h a v ing mea ns f o r a nc h o r ing a
s p r ing a t a l o c a tio n s p a c ed a p a r t f r o m th e p iv o t, a nd a s p r ing
h a v ing o ne end mo u nted b y th e s p r ing a nc h o r ing mea ns o f
th e a c tu a ting l ev er a nd its o th er end b y th e s p r ing a nc h o r ing
mea ns o n s a id q u a dr a nt y o ke, th e imp r o v ement r es iding in
th a t:
th e a c tu a ting l ev er a r m is p iv o ta l l y mo u nted a t a l o c a tio n
f u r th er a Wa y f r o m th e tr igger f o r ming end th a n th e
a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e a nd is f o r med With a l o o p
a t a l o c a tio n a dj a c ent th e th r o u gh h o l e s o th a t th e
a c tu a ting l ev er ex tends a c r o s s th e r ea r c o mp a r tment
p a s t th e th r o u gh h o l e With o u t c r o s s ing th e th r o u gh h o l e
in a l l o p er a tiv e p o s itio ns b u t a p p ea r s to h a v e c r o s s ed
th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e to a s p ec ta to r v ieWing
th e tr igger f o r ming end du r ing mo v ement to o p p o s ite
s ides o f th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e to a c tu a te th e
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
9
o v er c enter mec h a nis m, enh a nc ing a n il l u s io n th a t th e
b l a de h a s a l s o mo v ed a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th o u gh h o l e.
2 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein th e s p r ing
is a h a ir p in s p r ing a nd h a s s p r ing a r ms With u p tu r ned f r ee
ends a nd th e a nc h o r ing mea ns o n th e a c tu a ting l ev er a nd
q u a dr a nt gea r c o mp r is e r es p ec tiv e a nc h o r ing h o l es r ec eiv ing
r es p ec tiv e u p tu r ned ends .
3. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein teeth o f
th e s egment r a c k a r e l o c a ted a l o ng a n o u ter c ir c u mf er enc e
th er eo f , r emo te f r o m th e p iv o t.
4 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein th e a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th o u gh h o l e is s iZed f o r r ec eiv ing a p er s o n s ? nger
ex tending c o mp l etel y th r o u gh th e h o u s ing s o a s to b e c l ea r l y
v is ib l e, p r o tr u ding f r o m f r o nt a nd r ea r f a c es o f th e h o u s ing.
5 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein a p o r tio n
o f th e h o u s ing s ide Wa l l ex tending in a q u a dr a nt c o nta ining
th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e a nd b etWeen r es t p o s itio ns
o f th e v is ib l e tr igger p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er a nd th e
b l a de o n o p p o s ite s ides o f th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e
is a r c u a te, b u t o p p o s ed p o r tio ns o f th e h o u s ing s ide Wa l l
ex tending a Wa y f r o m s u c h q u a dr a nt a r e no n a r c u a te a nd o f
r edu c ed s ep a r a tio n, p r o v iding a n o p tic a l il l u s io n to th e
c a s u a l s p ec ta to r th a t th er e is ins u f ? c ient c l ea r a nc e With th e
o p p o s ed p o r tio ns o f th e h o u s ing s ide Wa l l f o r th e b l a de to
r o ta te b etWeen r es t p o s itio ns , a Wa y f r o m th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th r o u gh h o l e, in Wh ic h th e b l a de Wo u l d no t s Weep a c r o s s th e
a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e.
6. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 5 Wh er ein th e
Windo Wed f r o nt c o v er is tr a ns p a r ent o v er o nl y a p o r tio n o f
th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment a dj a c ent th e a r c u a te p o r tio n o f th e
s ide Wa l l to r ev ea l o nl y th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd a n a r tic l e
ex tending th er eth r o u gh a nd r es t p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de o n
r es p ec tiv e o p p o s ite s ides o f th e th r o u gh h o l e s o th a t a
p o r tio n o f a c tu a l r o ta tio na l b l a de mo v ement r emo te f r o m th e
th r o u gh h o l e is h idden b eh ind a n o p a q u e p o r tio n o f th e
h o u s ing.
7. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 6 Wh er ein a s u r f a c e
p o r tio n o f th e p a r titio n v is ib l e th r o u gh th e Windo Wed f r o nt
c o v er in th e q u a dr a nt is f o r med With th e th r o u gh h o l e a nd
b eh ind th e r es t p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de is ma r ked With r a dia l l y
ex tending, c o l o r ed b a nds Wh ic h ex p a nd in Width a s th ey
ex tend r a dia l l y o u tWa r d to inc r ea s e th e a p p a r ent s iZe o f s u c h
s u r f a c e p o r tio n.
8. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 7 Wh er ein th e f r o nt
c o v er o f th e h o u s ing h a s a b o s s s h a p e p o r tio n a t a l o Wer
p er ip h er a l edge o f th e tr a ns p a r ent p o r tio n a nd a c o l o r ed b l o b
r ep r es enting a n a p p a r ent p iv o t p o int f o r th e s Wo r d is ma r ked
th er eo n a t a c entr a l l o c a tio n c o r r es p o nding to th e geo metr ic
c enter o f th e a r c u a te p o r tio n Wh er ea s th e b l a de is p iv o ta l l y
mo u nted a t a n a c tu a l p iv o t p o int l o c a ted c l o s er to th e a r c u a te
s ide Wa l l th a n th e b l o b a nd c o nc ea l ed b eh ind th e b o s s a nd
th e b a nds a p p ea r to ema na te f r o m th e b l o b th er eb y p r o v iding
a n, a t l ea s t ? eeting, imp r es s io n th a t th e p iv o t p o int o f th e
b l a de c o inc ides With th e b l o b a nd th a t th e b l a de is th er ef o r e
o f gr ea ter l ength th a n a n a c tu a l l ength o f th e b l a de, enh a nc
ing th e imp r es s io n o f ins u f ? c ient c l ea r a nc e f o r b l a de r o ta tio n
in a dir ec tio n Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e.
9 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 8 Wh er ein th e b l a de
h a s a l o ngitu dina l edge p r o tio n o ne o f a Zig-Za g a nd o th er ,
no n l inea r s h a p e, With a r a dia l l y inner mo s t v is ib l e p o r tio n
s p a c ed a s ma l l dis ta nc e f r o m th e p iv o t ex tending in th e
dir ec t o f th e b l o b Wh ic h enh a nc es th e imp r es s io n o f th e p iv o t
p o int o f th e b l a de b eing c o inc ident With th e b l o b a nd,
th er ef o r e, o f th e s Wo r d b eing l o nger th a n a n a c tu a l l ength .
1 0. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 6 Wh er ein s a id
o p a q u e p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing f o r ms a s a r ea r Wa l l o f o ne o f
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
1 0
a s to r e o f dis p ens a b l e items a nd a f u nc tio na l mec h a nis m
o v er l y ing a n ex tr emity o f th e r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e b l a de a nd
v is ib l e to a s p ec ta to r th r o u gh th e f r o nt c o v er .
1 1 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 0 Wh er ein s a id
dis p ens a b l e items c o mp r is e c a ndy .
1 2 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 1 Wh er ein s a id
s to r e is f o r med b y a h a ndl e a nd a n item dis p ens ing c h u te
f o r med b y s a id f r o nt c o v er .
1 3. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 5 Wh er ein a b u t
ments a r e mo l ded a t o p p o s ite l o c a tio ns o n inter io r s u r f a c es
s ides o f s a id h o u s ing a nd s to p memb er s p r o j ec t f r o m r es p ec
tiv e o p p o s ite ends o f th e r a c k Wh ic h s to p memb er s imp a c t
r es p ec tiv e a b u tments a t th e end o f b l a de r o ta tio n, p r o du c ing
a l o u d no is e.
1 4 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein gea r
teeth a r e l o c a ted o n a n o u ts ide s u r f a c e o f th e r a c k s egment
r emo te f r o m th e p iv o t p o int o f th e s egment gea r .
1 5 . An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein a s u r f a c e
o f th e p a r titio n b eh ind th e b l a de a nd a dj a c ent th e a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e p r o v ides a dis p l a y s u r f a c e f o r a dv er
tis ing mes s a ges f o r v ieWing th r o u gh th e Windo Wed c o v er ,
th er eb y to inc r ea s e th eir imp a c t b y a s s o c ia tio n With th e
il l u s io n.
1 6. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 Wh er ein th e
tr igger o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er c o mp r is es a Wr iting imp l ement.
1 7. A c o mb ined il l u s io n to y a nd c a ndy dis p ens er c o m
p r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing a s ide Wa l l de? ning a b o u nded a r ea ,
s a id s ide Wa l l h a v ing a n el o nga te s l o t ex tending p er imetr i
c a l l y , a Windo Wed f r o nt c o v er c o ex tens iv e With s a id
b o u nded a r ea , s a id c o v er b eing f o r med With a n a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a p a r titio n s p a c ed r ea r Wa r d o f s a id
f r o nt c o v er de? ning th er ewith a nd With th e s ide Wa l l , a f r o nt
c o mp a r tment a nd, a r ea r c o v er de? ning With s a id s ide Wa l l
a nd p a r titio n a mec h a nis m c o mp a r tment c o nc ea l ed b eh ind
s a id p a r titio n, s a id p a r titio n a nd s a id r ea r c o v er h a v ing
r es p ec tiv e th r o u gh h o l es a l igned With th e th r o u gh h o l e o n
s a id f r o nt c o v er , s a id p a r titio n h a v ing a s h a f t o p ening in it,
o f f s et f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l es , a nd a n il l u s io n p r o du c ing
mec h a nis m c o nc ea l ed in th e mec h a nis m c o mp a r tment h a v
ing a s h a f t ex tending p er p endic u l a r l y to s a id p a r titio n
th r o u gh s a id s h a f t o p ening into th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment, s a id
s h a f t c a r r y ing a t a f r o nt end a b l a de ex tending p a r a l l el to s a id
p a r titio n a nd ex tending r a dia l l y f r o m s a id s h a f t a dis ta nc e
gr ea ter th a n th e dis ta nc e b etWeen th e s h a f t a nd s a id a r tic l e
r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a n el o nga te a c tu a ting l ev er p iv o ta l l y
mo u nted in th e r ea r c o mp a r tment a nd h a v ing a n o u ter ,
tr igger f o r ming end p r o j ec ting th r o u gh a nd b ey o nd s a id
s ideWa l l s l o t o u t f r o m th e h o u s ing a nd a n inner end o p er a
tiv el y enga ging th e mec h a nis m Wh er eb y ma nu a l l y mo v ing
th e tr igger c a u s es s a id mec h a nis m to r o ta te s a id s h a f t, a nd
h enc e s a id b l a de r a p idl y th r o u gh a t l ea s t 2 70 degr ees f r o m
a p o s itio n o n o ne s ide o f s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e,
a Wa y f r o m s a id th r o u gh h o l e, to a p o s itio n to th e o th er s ide
th er eo f , Wh il e p r o v iding a n il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s r o ta ted
in a n o p p o s ite r o ta tio na l dir ec tio n a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv
ing th o u gh h o l e, th e h o u s ing f u r th er c o mp r is ing mea ns f o r
dis p ens ing c a ndy .
1 8. A c o mb ined il l u s io n to y a nd c a ndy dis p ens er a c c o r d
ing to c l a im 1 7 Wh er ein th e mea ns f o r dis p ens ing c a ndy
ex tends in f r o nt o f a nd o b s c u r es a r a dia l l y o u ter p o r tio n o f
a r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e b l a de s o a s to p r o v ide a n imp r es s io n
th a t r o ta tio na l mo v ement o f th e b l a de in a dir ec tio n a Wa y
f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e Wo u l d b e b l o c ked b y th e p r es enc e o f
th e c a ndy , th er eb y enh a nc ing th e il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s
r o ta ted a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e.
1 9 . A c o mb ined il l u s io n to y a nd c a ndy dis p ens er a c c o r d
ing to c l a im 1 8 Wh er ein th e mea ns f o r dis p ens ing c a ndy
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
1 1
c o mp r is es a h o l l o w h a ndl e s to r ing c a ndy c o mmu nic a ting
With a c a ndy del iv er y c h u te ex tending in f r o nt o f a nd
o b s c u r ing a r a dia l l y o u ter p o r tio n o f a r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e
b l a de.
2 0. A c o mb ined il l u s io n to y a nd c a ndy dis p ens er c o m
p r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing a f r o nt, Windo Wed c o mp a r tment in
Wh ic h a b l a de is r o ta ted to o r a p idl y to b e s een in o ne
dir ec tio n th r o u gh a n a r c o f mo r e th a n 2 70 degr ees b etWeen
r es t p o s itio ns o n o p p o s ite s ides o f a n a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th r o u gh h o l e b y a mec h a nis m c o nc ea l ed in a r ea r c o mp a r t
ment o f th e h o u s ing, b l a de r o ta tio n b eing tr igger ed b y
a r c u a te mo v ement o f a tr igger end p o r tio n o f a n a c tu a ting
l ev er Wh ic h p r o tr u des v is ib l y f r o m th e r ea r c o mp a r tment
a dj a c ent th e th r o u gh h o l e, With s ta r t a nd ? nis h p o s itio ns o f
th e mo v ement o f th e v is ib l e tr igger end p o r tio n o f th e
a c tu a ting l ev er b eing o n s a me o p p o s ite s ides o f th e th r o u gh
h o l e a s s ta r t a nd ? nis h p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de, c r ea ting a n
il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de a l s o h a s mo v ed With th e tr igger end
p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er in a n o p p o s ite dir ec tio n a c r o s s
th e th r o u gh h o l e, th e h o u s ing f u r th er c o mp r is ing c a ndy
dis p ens ing mea ns f o r h o l ding c a ndy ex tending a c r o s s th e
h o u s ing in f r o nt o f a nd o b s c u r ing a r a dia l l y o u ter p o r tio n o f
a r o ta tio na l p a th o f th e b l a de s o a s to p r o v ide a n imp r es s io n
th a t r o ta tio na l mo v ement o f th e b l a de in a dir ec tio n a Wa y
f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e Wo u l d b e b l o c ked b y th e p r es enc e o f
th e c a ndy , th er eb y enh a nc ing th e il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s
r o ta ted a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e.
2 1 . A c o mb ined il l u s io n to y a nd c a ndy dis p ens er a c c o r d
ing to c l a im 2 0 Wh er ein Wh er ein s a id c a ndy dis p ens ing
mea ns c o mp r is es a h a ndl e c o nta ining c a ndy c o mmu nic a ting
With a c a ndy dis p ens ing c h u te.
2 2 . An il l u s io n to y o f a ty p e c o mp r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing
a f r o nt, Windo Wed c o mp a r tment in Wh ic h a b l a de is r o ta ted
to o r a p idl y to b e s een in o ne dir ec tio n th r o u gh a n a r c o f mo r e
th a n 2 70 degr ees b etWeen r es t p o s itio ns o n o p p o s ite s ides o f
a n a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e b y a mec h a nis m c o nc ea l ed
in a r ea r c o mp a r tment o f th e h o u s ing, b l a de r o ta tio n b eing
tr igger ed b y a r c u a te mo v ement o f a tr igger end p o r tio n o f a n
a c tu a ting l ev er Wh ic h p r o tr u des v is ib l y f r o m th e r ea r c o m
p a r tment a dj a c ent th e th r o u gh h o l e, With s ta r t a nd ? nis h
p o s itio ns o f th e mo v ement o f th e v is ib l e tr igger end p o r tio n
o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er b eing o n s a me o p p o s ite s ides o f th e
th r o u gh h o l e a s s ta r t a nd ? nis h p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de,
c r ea ting a n il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de a l s o h a s mo v ed With th e
tr igger end p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er in a n o p p o s ite
dir ec tio n a c r o s s th e th r o u gh h o l e, th e imp r o v ement r es iding
in th a t th e tr igger end p o r tio n o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er c o m
p r is es a Wr iting imp l ement.
2 3. An il l u s io n to y c o mp r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing a s ide
Wa l l de? ning a b o u nded a r ea , s a id s ide Wa l l h a v ing a n
el o nga te s l o t ex tending p er imetr ic a l l y , a Windo Wed f r o nt
c o v er c o ex tens iv e With s a id b o u nded a r ea , s a id c o v er b eing
f o r med With a n a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a p a r titio n
s p a c ed r ea r Wa r d o f s a id f r o nt c o v er de? ning th er eWith a nd
With th e s ide Wa l l , a f r o nt c o mp a r tment a nd, a r ea r c o v er
de? ning With s a id s ide Wa l l a nd p a r titio n a mec h a nis m
c o mp a r tment c o nc ea l ed b eh ind s a id p a r titio n, s a id p a r titio n
a nd s a id r ea r c o v er h a v ing r es p ec tiv e th r o u gh h o l es a l igned
With th e th r o u gh h o l e o n s a id f r o nt c o v er , s a id p a r titio n
h a v ing a s h a f t o p ening in it, o f f s et f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l es ,
a nd a n il l u s io n p r o du c ing mec h a nis m c o nc ea l ed in th e
mec h a nis m c o mp a r tment h a v ing a s h a f t ex tending p er p en
dic u l a r l y to s a id p a r titio n th r o u gh s a id s h a f t o p ening into th e
f r o nt c o mp a r tment, s a id s h a f t c a r r y ing a t a f r o nt end a b l a de
ex tending p a r a l l el to s a id p a r titio n a nd ex tending r a dia l l y
f r o m s a id s h a f t a dis ta nc e gr ea ter th a n th e dis ta nc e b etWeen
th e s h a f t a nd s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a n el o nga te
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
1 2
a c tu a ting l ev er p iv o ta l l y mo u nted in th e r ea r c o mp a r tment
a nd h a v ing a n o u ter , tr igger f o r ming end p r o j ec ting th r o u gh
a nd b ey o nd s a id s ideWa l l s l o t o u t f r o m th e h o u s ing a nd a n
inner end o p er a tiv el y enga ging th e mec h a nis m, Wh er eb y
ma nu a l l y mo v ing th e tr igger c a u s es s a id mec h a nis m to
r o ta te s a id s h a f t, a nd h enc e s a id b l a de to o r a p idl y to b e s een
th r o u gh a t l ea s t 2 70 degr ees f r o m a r es t p o s itio n o n o ne s ide
o f s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a Wa y f r o m s a id
th r o u gh h o l e, to a r es t p o s itio n to th e o th er s ide th er eo f ,
Wh il e p r o v iding a n il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s r o ta ted in a n
o p p o s ite r o ta tio na l dir ec tio n a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th o u gh h o l e;
Wh er ein a p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing s ide Wa l l ex tending in a
q u a dr a nt c o nta ining th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e
a nd b etWeen r es t p o s itio ns o f th e v is ib l e tr igger p o r tio n
o f th e a c tu a ting l ev er a nd th e b l a de o n o p p o s ite s ides o f
th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e is a r c u a te, b u t
o p p o s ed p o r tio ns o f th e h o u s ing s ide Wa l l ex tending
a Wa y f r o m s u c h q u a dr a nt a r e no n a r c u a te a nd o f
r edu c ed s ep a r a tio n, p r o v iding a n o p tic a l il l u s io n to th e
c a s u a l s p ec ta to r th a t th er e is ins u ? ic ient c l ea r a nc e With
th e o p p o s ed p o r tio ns o f th e h o u s ing s ide Wa l l f o r th e
b l a de to r o ta te b etWeen r es t p o s itio ns , a Wa y f r o m th e
a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, in Wh ic h th e b l a de
Wo u l d no t s Weep a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh
h o l e.
2 4 . An il l u s io n to y c o mp r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing a s ide
Wa l l de? ning a b o u nded a r ea , s a id s ide Wa l l h a v ing a n
el o nga te s l o t ex tending p er imetr ic a l l y , a Windo Wed f r o nt
c o v er c o ex tens iv e With s a id b o u nded a r ea , s a id c o v er b eing
f o r med With a n a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a p a r titio n
s p a c ed r ea r Wa r d o f s a id f r o nt c o v er de? ning th er ewith a nd
With th e s ide Wa l l , a f r o nt c o mp a r tment a nd, a r ea r c o v er
de? ning With s a id s ide Wa l l a nd p a r titio n a mec h a nis m
c o mp a r tment c o nc ea l ed b eh ind s a id p a r titio n, s a id p a r titio n
a nd s a id r ea r c o v er h a v ing r es p ec tiv e th r o u gh h o l es a l igned
With th e th r o u gh h o l e o n s a id f r o nt c o v er , s a id p a r titio n
h a v ing a s h a f t o p ening in it, o f f s et f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l es ,
a nd a n il l u s io n p r o du c ing mec h a nis m c o nc ea l ed in th e
mec h a nis m c o mp a r tment h a v ing a s h a f t ex tending p er p en
dic u l a r l y to s a id p a r titio n th r o u gh s a id s h a f t o p ening into th e
f r o nt c o mp a r tment, s a id s h a f t c a r r y ing a t a f r o nt end a b l a de
ex tending p a r a l l el to s a id p a r titio n a nd ex tending r a dia l l y
f r o m s a id s h a f t a dis ta nc e gr ea ter th a n th e dis ta nc e b etWeen
th e s h a f t a nd s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a n el o nga te
a c tu a ting l ev er p iv o ta l l y mo u nted in th e r ea r c o mp a r tment
a nd h a v ing a n o u ter , tr igger f o r ming end p r o j ec ting th r o u gh
a nd b ey o nd s a id s ideWa l l s l o t o u t f r o m th e h o u s ing a nd a n
inner end o p er a tiv el y enga ging th e mec h a nis m, Wh er eb y
ma nu a l l y mo v ing th e tr igger c a u s es s a id mec h a nis m to
r o ta te s a id s h a f t, a nd h enc e s a id b l a de to o r a p idl y to b e s een
th r o u gh a t l ea s t 2 70 degr ees f r o m a r es t p o s itio n o n o ne s ide
o f s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a Wa y f r o m s a id
th r o u gh h o l e, to a r es t p o s itio n to th e o th er s ide th er eo f ,
Wh il e p r o v iding a n il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s r o ta ted in a n
o p p o s ite r o ta tio na l dir ec tio n a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th o u gh h o l e;
Wh er ein th e Windo Wed f r o nt c o v er is tr a ns p a r ent o v er
o nl y a p o r tio n o f th e f r o nt c o mp a r tment a dj a c ent th e
a r c u a te p o r tio n o f th e s ide Wa l l to r ev ea l o nl y th e
th r o u gh h o l e a nd a n a r tic l e ex tending th er eth r o u gh a nd
r es t p o s itio ns o f th e b l a de o n r es p ec tiv e o p p o s ite s ides
o f th e th r o u gh h o l e s o th a t a p o r tio n o f a c tu a l r o ta tio na l
b l a de mo v ement r emo te f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e is
h idden b eh ind a n o p a q u e p o r tio n o f th e h o u s ing.
2 5 . An il l u s io n to y c o mp r is ing a h o u s ing h a v ing a s ide
Wa l l de? ning a b o u nded a r ea , s a id s ide Wa l l h a v ing a n
US 7, 066, 82 0 B1
1 3
el o nga te s l o t ex tending p er imetr ic a l l y , a Windo Wed f r o nt
c o v er c o ex tens iv e With s a id b o u nded a r ea , s a id c o v er b eing
f o r med With a n a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a p a r titio n
s p a c ed r ea r Wa r d o f s a id f r o nt c o v er de? ning th er ewith a nd
With th e s ide Wa l l , a f r o nt c o mp a r tment a nd, a r ea r c o v er
de? ning With s a id s ide Wa l l a nd p a r titio n a mec h a nis m
c o mp a r tment c o nc ea l ed b eh ind s a id p a r titio n, s a id p a r titio n
a nd s a id r ea r c o v er h a v ing r es p ec tiv e th r o u gh h o l es a l igned
With th e th r o u gh h o l e o n s a id f r o nt c o v er , s a id p a r titio n
h a v ing a s h a f t o p ening in it, o f f s et f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l es ,
a nd a n il l u s io n p r o du c ing mec h a nis m c o nc ea l ed in th e
mec h a nis m c o mp a r tment h a v ing a s h a f t ex tending p er p en
dic u l a r l y to s a id p a r titio n th r o u gh s a id s h a f t o p ening into th e
f r o nt c o mp a r tment, s a id s h a f t c a r r y ing a t a f r o nt end a b l a de
ex tending p a r a l l el to s a id p a r titio n a nd ex tending r a dia l l y
f r o m s a id s h a f t a dis ta nc e gr ea ter th a n th e dis ta nc e b etWeen
th e s h a f t a nd s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a n el o nga te
a c tu a ting l ev er p iv o ta l l y mo u nted in th e r ea r c o mp a r tment
a nd h a v ing a n o u ter , tr igger f o r ming end p r o j ec ting th r o u gh
a nd b ey o nd s a id s ideWa l l s l o t o u t f r o m th e h o u s ing a nd a n
inner end o p er a tiv el y enga ging th e mec h a nis m, Wh er eb y
ma nu a l l y mo v ing th e tr igger c a u s es s a id mec h a nis m to
r o ta te s a id s h a f t, a nd h enc e s a id b l a de to o r a p idl y to b e s een
2 0
1 4
th r o u gh a t l ea s t 2 70 degr ees f r o m a r es t p o s itio n o n o ne s ide
o f s a id a r tic l e r ec eiv ing th r o u gh h o l e, a Wa y f r o m s a id
th r o u gh h o l e, to a r es t p o s itio n to th e o th er s ide th er eo f ,
Wh il e p r o v iding a n il l u s io n th a t th e b l a de h a s r o ta ted in a n
o p p o s ite r o ta tio na l dir ec tio n a c r o s s th e a r tic l e r ec eiv ing
th o u gh h o l e;
Wh er ein th e p a r titio n h a s a f r o nt s u r f a c e c a r r y ing a
gr a p h ic b eh ind th e b l a de dep ic ting a ? gu r e in a b l a de
h o l ding p o s itio n, th e ? gu r e h a v ing a c enter o f f s et
f u r th er a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e th a n th e s h a f t o f
r o ta tio n o f th e b l a de a nd th e s h a f t b eing l o c a ted inter
media te l o ngitu dina l ends o f th e b l a de s o a s to p r o v ide
a ? eeting il l u s io n th a t a p iv o ta l c enter o f th e b l a de is
l o c a ted a t th e c enter o f th e ? gu r e f u r th er a Wa y f r o m th e
th r o u gh h o l e.
2 6. An il l u s io n to y a c c o r ding to c l a im 2 5 Wh er ein th e
b l a de c o mp r is es a s Wo r d With a h a ndl e a nd p r o ? l es o f s Wo r d
h o l ding h a nds a r e ma r ked o n th e h a ndl e a t a l o c a tio n a l igned
With to th e c enter o f th e ? gu r e th er eb y to enh a nc e th e
il l u s io n th a t a p iv o ta l c enter o f th e b l a de is l o c a ted a t th e
c enter o f th e ? gu r e f u r th er a Wa y f r o m th e th r o u gh h o l e.
* * * * *