System for animating decorative elements

Abstract

A system for animating decorative elements or products moved by means of strings connecting the decorative elements to an animating mechanism includes a closed animating device ( 2 ) in which the animating mechanism is arranged and enclosed, decorative elements or products ( 4 ) animated by animating strings ( 5 ), the decorative elements ( 4 ) and their animating strings ( 5 ) being arranged outside the animating device ( 2 ) and distributed in a space to be decorated, control wires ( 6 ) being provided to connect the animating strings ( 5 ) of the decorative elements ( 4 ) to the animating mechanism, and elements ( 7 ) for transmitting movements to the decorative elements ( 4 ). The transmitting elements are distributed in the space to be decorated depending on the location of the decorative elements ( 4 ) relative to the animating device ( 2 ).

1 . System ( 1 ) for animating decorative elements or products moved by means of strings connecting said decorative elements to an animating mechanism making it possible to automatically reproduce the same predetermined cycle of movements of said decorative elements, characterised in that it comprises:
 a closed animating device ( 2 ) wherein the animating mechanism is arranged and enclosed,   at least one decorative element or one product ( 4 ) animated by at least one animating string ( 5 ), said decorative element ( 4 ) and the animating string ( 5 ) thereof being arranged outside the animating device ( 2 ) and distributed in a space to be decorated,   at least one control wire ( 6 ), provided to connect said animating string ( 5 ) of the decorative element ( 4 ) to the animating mechanism,   means for transmitting ( 7 ) movements from the animating mechanism to the decorative element ( 4 ) by the intermediary of the control wire ( 6 ) and of the animating string ( 5 ), said means of transmitting ( 7 ) being distributed in the space to be decorated according to the location of the decorative element ( 4 ) in relation to the animating device ( 2 ).   
   
   
       2 . System ( 1 ) set forth in  claim 1 , characterised in that the animating mechanism comprises a motor ( 8 ), a shaft ( 10 ) driven in rotation by said motor and comprising an axis of rotation ( 11 ) and at least one eccentric ( 12 ) which defined an axis parallel and offset in relation to said axis of rotation ( 11 ), eccentric ( 12 ) whereon the control wire ( 6 ) is pivotally mounted. 
   
   
       3 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) comprises at least one outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control, wire ( 6 ) and in that the control wire ( 6 ) comprises, on the outside side of the animating device ( 2 ), a stop member ( 16 ) against said outlet orifice ( 13 ) preventing the control wire ( 6 ) from fully entering the animating device ( 2 ). 
   
   
       4 . System ( 1 ) set forth in  claim 3 , characterised in that the control wire ( 6 ) is a flexible wire of which the length is such that the control wire ( 6 ) hangs freely inside said animating device ( 2 ) between the outlet orifice ( 13 ) and the eccentric ( 12 ) when said control wire ( 6 ) is not used. 
   
   
       5 . System ( 1 ) set forth in  claim 4 , characterised in that the control wire ( 6 ) comprises a ballasting and guiding device ( 18 ) mounted in the vicinity of the eccentric ( 12 ). 
   
   
       6 . System ( 1 ) set forth in  claim 5 , characterised in that the ballasting and guiding device ( 18 ) has the form of a tube made from heavy material crimped on the control wire ( 6 ) in the vicinity of the eccentric ( 12 ) and having a length that is sufficient to maintain straight and directed downwards the end of the control wire ( 6 ) which is connected to the eccentric ( 12 ). 
   
   
       7 . System ( 1 ) set forth in  claim 5 , characterised in that the ballasting and guiding device has the form of a T-tube ( 18 ), made from heavy material, crimped on the end of the control wire ( 6 ) which is connected to the eccentric ( 12 ), said tube ( 18 ) being pivotally mounted on the axis of the eccentric ( 12 ), and having a length that is sufficient to maintain straight and directed downwards said end of the control wire ( 6 ). 
   
   
       8 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 3 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) has the form of a case of which one of the upper ( 14 ) or longitudinal ( 15 ) sides comprises said outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control wire ( 6 ). 
   
   
       9 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1 , characterised in that the means of transmitting movements from the animating mechanism to the decorative element include at least one pulley ( 7 ) receiving the animating string ( 5 ). 
   
   
       10 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a safety device arranged to automatically disconnect the animating mechanism in the event too much force is detected on the animating strings ( 5 ) and/or the control wires ( 6 ). 
   
   
       11 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 2 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) comprises at least one outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control wire ( 6 ) and in that the control wire ( 6 ) comprises, on the outside side of the animating device ( 2 ), a stop member ( 16 ) against said outlet orifice ( 13 ) preventing the control wire ( 6 ) from fully entering the animating device ( 2 ). 
   
   
       12 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 4 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) has the form of a case of which one of the upper ( 14 ) or longitudinal ( 15 ) sides comprises said outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control wire ( 6 ). 
   
   
       13 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 5 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) has the form of a case of which one of the upper ( 14 ) or longitudinal ( 15 ) sides comprises said outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control wire ( 6 ). 
   
   
       14 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 6 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) has the form of a case of which one of the upper ( 14 ) or longitudinal ( 15 ) sides comprises said outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control wire ( 6 ). 
   
   
       15 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 7 , characterised in that the animating device ( 2 ) has the form of a case of which one of the upper ( 14 ) or longitudinal ( 15 ) sides comprises said outlet orifice ( 13 ) of the control wire ( 6 ). 
   
   
       16 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 2 , characterised in that the means of transmitting movements from the animating mechanism to the decorative element include at least one pulley ( 7 ) receiving the animating string ( 5 ). 
   
   
       17 . System ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 2 , characterised in that it comprises a safety device arranged to automatically disconnect the animating mechanism in the event too much force is detected on the animating strings ( 5 ) and/or the control wires ( 6 ).