Spin art apparatus and method for producing and illuminating a decorative image

Abstract

An apparatus and a method of producing a decorative image are provided. The apparatus may include a rotatable platform, an upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the platform, and an illumination source configured to illuminate the platform. The platform may secure an activity surface, and a motor may be coupled to the platform to rotate the platform. The illumination source may be an ultraviolet illumination source, may emit intermittent illumination, and may be part of a stroboscopic illumination device. A controller may be operatively coupled to the illumination source, and may cause the illumination source to illuminate the rotatable platform at a first strobe rate and at a second strobe rate. The controller may also cause the motor to rotate the platform. The method may include rotating a surface, receiving decorations on the rotating surface, and illuminating the rotating surface with a stroboscopic illumination device.

1 . A game apparatus comprising: 
 a rotatable platform;    an upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the rotatable platform; and    an ultraviolet illumination source configured to illuminate the rotatable platform.    
   
   
       2 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a motor coupled to the rotatable platform and configured to rotate the rotatable platform;    a rotation input device; and    a controller operatively coupled to the motor and the rotation input device, 
 the controller being programmed to receive rotation control data from the rotation input device, and  
 the controller being programmed to change the speed of the motor rotating the rotatable platform in response to the rotation control data.  
   
   
   
       3 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable platform is configured to receive an activity surface.  
   
   
       4 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the rotatable platform is configured to receive one or more decorations on an activity surface, and    wherein the ultraviolet illumination source is configured to illuminate the one or more decorations.    
   
   
       5 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the one or more decorations comprise one or more decorations that phosphorescently react to the illumination of the ultraviolet illumination source.  
   
   
       6 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an illumination input device; and    a controller operatively coupled to illumination input device and operatively coupled to the ultraviolet illumination source, 
 the controller being programmed to receive illumination control data from the illumination input device, and  
 the controller being programmed to cause the ultraviolet illumination source to illuminate the rotatable platform at a strobe rate in response to the illumination control data.  
   
   
   
       7 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the controller is programmed to cause the ultraviolet illumination source to change the strobe rate at which the ultraviolet illumination source illuminates the rotatable platform in response to the illumination control data.  
   
   
       8 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an illumination input device; and    a controller operatively coupled to illumination input device and operatively coupled to the ultraviolet illumination source, 
 the controller being programmed to receive illumination control data from the illumination input device, and  
 the controller being programmed to change a duty cycle of the illumination source in response to the illumination control data.  
   
   
   
       9 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet illumination source comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       10 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a control device operatively coupled to the ultraviolet illumination source and configured to change the strobe rate of the ultraviolet illumination source.  
   
   
       11 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a control device operatively coupled to the ultraviolet illumination source and configured to change the duty cycle of the ultraviolet illumination source.  
   
   
       12 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a motor coupled to the rotatable platform and configured to rotate the rotatable platform; and    a control device operatively coupled to motor and configured to cause the motor to change the rate of rotation of the rotatable platform.    
   
   
       13 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an audible output device; and    a control device operatively coupled to the audible output device and configured to cause the audible output device to generate one or more sounds.    
   
   
       14 . A game apparatus comprising: 
 a rotatable platform;    an upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the rotatable platform; and    an illumination source disposed along the upstanding wall and configured to emit intermittent illumination on the rotatable platform.    
   
   
       15 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable platform is configured to receive an activity surface.  
   
   
       16 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the illumination source comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       17 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the illumination source comprises one of the following: an ultraviolet illumination source, a white light illumination source or a red light illumination source.  
   
   
       18 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an illumination input device;    a controller operatively coupled to the illumination input device and operatively coupled to the illumination source, 
 the controller being programmed to receive illumination control data from the illumination input device, and  
 the controller being programmed to change the strobe rate of the illumination source in response to the illumination control data.  
   
   
   
       19 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an illumination input device;    a controller operatively coupled to the illumination input device and operatively coupled to the illumination source, 
 the controller being programmed to receive illumination control data from the illumination input device, and  
 the controller being programmed to change a duty cycle of the illumination source in response to illumination control data.  
   
   
   
       20 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a motor coupled to the rotatable platform and configured to rotate the rotatable platform;    a rotation input device;    a controller operatively coupled to the rotation input device and operatively coupled to the motor; 
 the controller being programmed to receive rotation control data from the rotation input device, and  
 the controller being programmed to cause the motor to change the speed of the motor rotating the rotatable platform in response to the rotation control data.  
   
   
   
       21 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a control device operatively coupled to the illumination source and configured to change the strobe rate of the illumination source.  
   
   
       22 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a control device operatively coupled to the illumination source and configured to change the duty cycle of the illumination source.  
   
   
       23 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a motor coupled to the rotatable platform and configured to rotate the rotatable platform; and    a control device operatively coupled to motor and configured to cause the motor to change the rate of rotation of the rotatable platform.    
   
   
       24 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an audible output device; and    a control device operatively coupled to the audible output device and configured to cause the audible output device to generate one or more sounds.    
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for producing a decorative image comprising: 
 a platform configured to secure an activity surface;    a motor coupled to the platform and configured to rotate the platform;    an upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the platform;    at least one illumination source disposed along the upstanding wall and configured to emit intermittent illumination on the platform;    one or more controllers, at least one of the one or more controllers being operatively coupled to the motor and at least one of the one or more controllers being operatively coupled to the at least one illumination source, 
 at least one of the one or more controllers being programmed to cause the illumination source to illuminate the platform at a plurality of rates of intermittent illumination, and  
 at least one of the one or more controllers being programmed to cause the motor to rotate the platform.  
   
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is programmed to cause the motor to rotate the platform at a plurality of rates of rotation.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the at least one illumination source comprises one of the following: an ultraviolet illumination source, a white light illumination source or a red light illumination source.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising one or more input devices operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more controllers, 
 wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is programmed to receive illumination control data from the one or more input devices,    wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is programmed to cause the at least one illumination source to change the rate of intermittent illumination at which the at least one illumination source illuminates the platform in response to the illumination control data,    wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is programmed to cause the at least one illumination source to illuminate the platform at the second rate of intermittent illumination in response to the illumination control data.    
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising an audible output device operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more controllers, wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is programmed to cause the audible output device to generate one or more sounds.  
   
   
       30 . A method of producing a decorative image comprising: 
 rotating a surface;    receiving one or more decorations on the rotating surface;    illuminating the rotating surface with a stroboscopic illumination device.    
   
   
       31 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , further comprising changing the strobe rate of the stroboscopic illumination device to illuminate the rotating surface.  
   
   
       32 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , further comprising changing the rate of rotation of the rotating the surface.  
   
   
       33 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein illuminating the rotating surface with a stroboscopic illumination device comprises illuminating the rotating surface with an ultraviolet stroboscopic illumination device.  
   
   
       34 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein receiving one or more decorations on the rotating surface comprises receiving one or more decorations on the rotating surface while the rotating surface is illuminated with the stroboscopic illumination device.  
   
   
       35 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein receiving one or more decorations on the rotating surface comprises receiving one or more decorations on the rotating surface that phosphorescently react to the illumination of the stroboscopic illumination source.