Motorized oscillating mobile apparatus

Abstract

A mobile apparatus including a motor and one or more mobile assemblies. Each mobile assembly includes a rotational coupling unit oscillating between winding to store energy and unwinding to supply energy with rotation alternately in a first direction and in a second direction. The mobile assembly includes a mobile connected to the coupling unit for rotation by the coupling unit alternately in the first direction and in the second direction. The motor is connected to and stores energy into a first one of the mobile assemblies. In one preferred embodiment, the motor is a low duty-cycle impulse motor that conserves energy. A typically mobile apparatus has an expected battery life of well beyond 12 months.

1 . A mobile apparatus comprising:
 a drive unit,   a plurality of mobile assemblies, each mobile assembly including,   a coupling unit for rotation in response to the drive unit to wind to store energy and to unwind to release energy thereby oscillating with rotation alternately in a first direction and in a second direction,   a mobile connected to the coupling unit for rotation alternately in the first direction and in the second direction.   
   
   
       2 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a first one of the mobile assemblies rotates in said first direction during certain times and wherein a second one of the mobile assemblies counter rotates in said second direction during said certain times. 
   
   
       3 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 2  wherein one of the mobile assemblies includes a helix-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       4 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first one of the mobile assemblies includes a first helix-shaped mobile and the second one of the mobile assemblies includes a second helix-shaped mobile where the second helix-shaped mobile is smaller than the first helix-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       5 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the second one of the mobile assemblies is nested in the first one of the mobile assemblies. 
   
   
       6 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 2  wherein one of the mobile assemblies includes a diamond-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       7 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 2  wherein one of the mobile assemblies includes a circular-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       8 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a first one of the mobile assemblies is series connected to and concentrically nested with a second one of the mobile assemblies. 
   
   
       9 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a first one of the mobile assemblies is series connected to and concentrically nested with a second one of the mobile assemblies and wherein a third one of the mobile assemblies is series connected to and vertically cascaded with the first one of the mobile assemblies and parallel connected to the second one of the mobile assemblies. 
   
   
       10 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said drive unit drives the mobiles assemblies with a low duty-cycle and wherein said drive unit is battery powered. 
   
   
       11 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said drive unit drives the mobiles assemblies with a low duty-cycle. 
   
   
       12 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said duty-cycle is less than 15%. 
   
   
       13 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said coupling unit is an elastomer. 
   
   
       14 . A mobile assembly comprising:
 a coupling unit for rotation to wind to store energy in response to being driven by a low duty-cycle drive unit and to unwind to release energy when not being driven whereby the coupling unit oscillates with rotation alternately in a first direction and in a second direction,   a mobile for connection to the coupling unit for rotation alternately in the first direction and in the second direction, and   wherein the coupling unit and the mobile are characterized by having a one-cycle impulse response of less than five minutes.   
   
   
       15 . The mobile assembly of  claim 14  wherein said mobile is a slow-wave discrete-element torsional transmission line. 
   
   
       16 . The mobile assembly of  claim 14  wherein the mobile assembly includes a helix-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       17 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the mobile assembly includes a diamond-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       18 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the mobile assembly includes a circular-shaped mobile. 
   
   
       19 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said coupling unit is an elastomer.