Kinetic sculpture and method of assembling same

Abstract

A kinetic sculpture comprises an axis of rotation, a plurality of spiral vanes, and a first assembly member. Each of the vanes has a longitudinal length that spirals about and along the axis of rotation and opposite first and second longitudinal end margins. The first assembly member connects the first end margin of each of the vanes to each other in a manner such that the first end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of rotation.

1 . A kinetic sculpture comprising: 
 an axis of rotation;    a plurality of spiral vanes, each of the vanes having a longitudinal length that spirals about and along the axis of rotation and opposite first and second longitudinal end margins, the first end margin of each of the vanes having a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, the width of the first end margin of each of the vanes being larger than the thickness of said first end margin, the first end margin of each of the vanes having an orientation plane that is defined as being tangential to the width and the length of said first end margin; and    a first assembly member, the first assembly member connecting the first end margin of each of the vanes to each other in a manner such that the first end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of rotation and such that the orientation plane of the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented at most five degrees from parallel to the axis of rotation.    
   
   
       2 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented in a manner such that the width of said first end margin extends along an axis that is at most five degrees from parallel to a line that intersects the axis of rotation and also bisects the width of said first end margin.  
   
   
       3 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a second assembly member, and wherein the second assembly member connects the second end margin of each of the vanes to each other in a manner such that the second end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of rotation.  
   
   
       4 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the second end margin of each of the vanes has a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, the width of each of the second end margins is larger than the thickness of said second end margin, the second end margin of each of the vanes has an orientation plane that is defined as being tangential to the width and the length of said second end margin, and the orientation plane of the second end margin of each of the vanes is oriented at most five degrees from parallel to the axis of rotation.  
   
   
       5 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first assembly member comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes is at least partially positioned within one of the slots.  
   
   
       6 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each of the vanes has a center portion that is symmetrically located between the first and second end margins of said vane, the first end margin of said vane is positioned a first distance radially from axis of rotation, the center portion of said vane is positioned a second distance from the axis of rotation, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.  
   
   
       7 . A kinetic sculpture comprising: 
 an axis of rotation;    a plurality of spiral vanes, each of the vanes having a longitudinal length that spirals about and along the axis of rotation and opposite first and second longitudinal end margins; and    first and second assembly members, each of the first and second assembly members comprising a plurality of slots, the first assembly member connecting the first end margin of each of the vanes to each other in a manner such that the first end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of rotation, the first end margin of each of the vanes being at least partially positioned within one of the slots of the first assembly member, the second assembly member connecting the second end margin of each of the vanes to each other in a manner such that the second end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of rotation, the second end margin of each of the vanes being at least partially positioned within one of the slots of the second assembly member.    
   
   
       8 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes has a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, the width of the first end margin of each of the vanes is larger than the thickness of said first end margin, the first end margin of each of the vanes has an orientation plane that is defined as being tangential to the width and the length of said first end margin, the orientation plane of the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented at most five degrees from parallel to the axis of rotation.  
   
   
       9 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented in a manner such that the width of said first end margin extends along an axis that is at most five degrees from parallel to a line that intersects the axis of rotation and also bisects the width of said first end margin.  
   
   
       10 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes has a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, the width of the first end margin of each of the vanes is larger than the thickness of said first end margin, and wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented in a manner such that the width of said first end margin extends along an axis that is at most five degrees from parallel to a line that intersects the axis of rotation and also bisects the width of said first end margin.  
   
   
       11 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the first end margin of each of the vanes is in a resiliently deflected condition within the respective slot of the first assembly member in a manner such that the resiliently deflected condition at least partially restrains said first end margin from being removed from said slot.  
   
   
       12 . A kinetic sculpture in accordance with  claim 7  wherein each of the vanes has a center portion that is symmetrically located between the first and second end margins of said vane, the first end margin of said vane is positioned a first distance radially from axis of rotation, the center portion of said vane is positioned a second distance from the axis of rotation, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.  
   
   
       13 . A method of assembling a kinetic sculpture, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of spiral vanes, each of the vanes having a longitudinal length that spirals and opposite first and second longitudinal end margins;    providing a first assembly member, the assembly member having an axis; and    attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member in a manner such that the first end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of the first assembly member.    
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the step of providing the assembly member occurs in a manner such that the assembly member comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein the step of attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member comprises at least partially inserting the first end margin of each of the vanes is at least into one of the slots.  
   
   
       15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the step of attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member comprises resiliently deflecting the first end margin of each of the vanes.  
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the step of providing the plurality of spiral vanes occurs in a manner such that the first end margin of each of the vanes has a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, such that the width of the first end margin of each of the vanes is larger than the thickness of said first end margin, and such that the first end margin of each of the vanes has an orientation plane that is defined as being tangential to the width and the length of said first end margin, and wherein the step of attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member occurs in a manner such that the orientation plane of the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented at most five degrees from parallel to the axis of the first assembly member when the vanes are attached to the first assembly member.  
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the step of attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member occurs in a manner such that the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented in a manner such that the width of said first end margin extends along an axis that is at most five degrees from parallel to a line that intersects the axis of the first assembly member and also bisects the width of said first end margin.  
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising a step of providing a second assembly member, the assembly member having an axis, and a step of attaching the second end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the second assembly member in a manner such that the second end margins of the vanes are circumferentially spaced from each other about the axis of the second assembly member.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the step of providing the plurality of spiral vanes occurs in a manner such that the first end margin of each of the vanes has a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, such that the width of the first end margin of each of the vanes is larger than the thickness of said first end margin, such that the first end margin of each of the vanes has an orientation plane that is defined as being tangential to the width and the length of said first end margin, such that the second end margin of each of the vanes has a width and a thickness that are each transverse to each other and to the longitudinal length of said vane, such that the width of the second end margin of each of the vanes is larger than the thickness of said second end margin, and such that the second end margin of each of the vanes has an orientation plane that is defined as being tangential to the width and the length of said second end margin, and wherein the step of attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member occurs in a manner such that the orientation plane of the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented at most five degrees from parallel to the axis of the first assembly member when the vanes are attached to the first assembly member and the step of attaching the second end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the second assembly member occurs in a manner such that the orientation plane of the second end margin of each of the vanes is oriented at most five degrees from parallel to the axis of the second assembly member when the vanes are attached to the second assembly member.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the step of attaching the first end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the first assembly member occurs in a manner such that the first end margin of each of the vanes is oriented in a manner such that the width of said first end margin extends along an axis that is at most five degrees from parallel to a line that intersects the axis of the first assembly member and also bisects the width of said first end margin, and wherein the step of attaching the second end margin of each the plurality of vanes to the second assembly member occurs in a manner such that the second end margin of each of the vanes is oriented in a manner such that the width of said second end margin extends along an axis that is at most five degrees from parallel to a line that intersects the axis of the second assembly member and also bisects the width of said second end margin.