Centripetal wand scanner

Abstract

The present invention provides the advantage of allowing a user to actively participate in the creation of a sound and light show by utilizing a radial element placed around a central shaft, which defines the axis of rotation for said radial element, and having such radial element connected to light and sound systems. The present embodiment of the invention, which is a handheld spinning toy, relies on the user setting the toy in motion (e.g., rotating the handle in a circular fashion, which causes the radial element to spin around the central shaft) in order to activate the lighting and sound systems contained within the present invention.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A handheld spinning device comprising of at least one of the following:
 a handle;   a central shaft that defines an axis of rotation;   a bushing;   a radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation comprising at least one of the following:
 at least one battery; 
 at least one light; 
 circuitry; 
 at least one means to switch power. 
   
     
     
         2 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 1  wherein said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation is made to rotate about said central shaft that defines an axis of rotation by applying motion to said handle while said handle is being held. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one light is at least one light-emitting diode(s) (LEDs) located along and/or within the length of said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 3  wherein said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation has an exterior that is in whole or in part at least one of the following: frosted, clear, colored, transparent, and/or translucent. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 3  wherein said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation has at least one of a logo, design, and/or image located on and/or along its surface and/or printed on a film and/or paper located within and/or on the surface of said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 3  wherein an adhesive layer and/or attached layer is externally applied to said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 1  wherein said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation has a light emitting element located at the most distant location from said central shaft that defines an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 7  wherein said light emitting element is illuminated by at least one light. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 7  wherein said light emitting element has an exterior that is at least one of the following: frosted, clear, colored, transparent, and/or translucent. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 7  wherein said light emitting element has at least one of a logo, design, and/or image located on and/or along its surface. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 1  further comprising of at least one of the following:
 a rotation sensing switch and/or sensor; 
 a means to mechanically make noise when said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation is spinning about said handle; 
 radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology and/or proximity sensing devices that will produce a proximity signal to indicate proximity to at least one object and/or location; 
 an illuminated object which is at least one of, but not limited to, a logo, image, geometric shape, three-dimensional object; 
 a speaker, piezo element and/or means to product sound electronically; 
 foam and/or soft material; and/or 
 at least one acoustic whistle on the end of and/or at one or more positions along said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
         12 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 11  wherein said rotation sensing switch and/or sensor provides a signal with each rotation or part thereof of spinning said radial element that is free to spin about the axis of rotation when said spinning relative to said handle. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 1  wherein said circuitry produces at least one power pulse of varying time and/or intensity. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 12  wherein said at least one light produces at least one pattern of lighting that is synchronized to rotation and/or rotation rate when spinning relative to said handle using said signal and circuitry. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 13  wherein said at least one light produces a random and/or programmed pattern of lighting. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one means to switch power is disconnected after a period of time and/or after a period of time of inactivity. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 11  wherein custom lighting patterns and/or sound indicate proximity to at least one object and/or location. 
     
     
         18 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 14  wherein said at least one pattern of lighting is at least one of letters, words, numbers, symbols, shapes, images, logos. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld spinning device of  claim 11  wherein said sound and/or lighting patterns change as a function of rotation rate.