Collapsible kinetic outdoor lawn ornament having vanes rotatable about a vertical axis

Abstract

A lawn ornament includes a support member configured to support one or more frame assemblies for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member. Each frame assembly includes a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member configured for selective, independent movement about the longitudinal axis between a first storage position that facilitates storage of the lawn ornament and a second operating position that facilitates rotation of the frame assembly about the longitudinal axis in response to contact of the rotatable members by fluid flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lawn ornament, comprising:
 a support member; and   a frame assembly supported by the support member and configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis defined by the support member, the frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members configured for selective, independent movement about the longitudinal axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates rotation of the frame assembly about the longitudinal axis in response to contact of the rotatable members by fluid flow.   
     
     
         2 . The lawn ornament of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable members comprise blades or vanes. 
     
     
         3 . The lawn ornament of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable members comprise a substantially concave cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The lawn ornament of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises a first central hub at an upper support region and a second central hub at a lower support region that respectively define an axis of rotation of the frame assembly when in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The lawn ornament of  claim 4 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises a bearing member arranged on the support member at the first central hub and the second central hub, to thereby facilitate rotation of the frame assembly about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The lawn ornament of  claim 4 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises:
 a first vane hub arm connected to and extending from the first central hub;   a second vane hub arm connected to and extending from the second central hub;   a first vane connector configured to extend between the first vane hub arm and a corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm; and   a second vane connector configured to extend between the second vane hub arm and the corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.   
     
     
         7 . A lawn ornament, comprising:
 a support member;   a pair of frame assemblies, concentrically arranged with respect to each other for support by the support member, each frame configured for selective, independent rotation about a longitudinal axis defined by the support member, each frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members configured for selective, independent movement about the longitudinal axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates rotation of the frame assembly about the longitudinal axis in response to contact of the rotatable members by fluid flow.   
     
     
         8 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein the rotatable members comprise blades or vanes. 
     
     
         9 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein the rotatable members comprise a substantially concave cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein each frame assembly further comprises a first central hub at an upper support region and a second central hub at a lower support region that respectively define an axis of rotation of the frame assembly when in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The lawn ornament of  claim 10 , wherein each frame assembly further comprises a bearing member arranged on the support member at the first central hub and the second central hub, to thereby facilitate rotation of the frame assembly about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein each frame assembly further comprises:
 a first vane hub arm connected to and extending from the first central hub;   a second vane hub arm connected to and extending from the second central hub;   a first vane connector configured to extend between the first vane hub arm and a corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm; and   a second vane connector configured to extend between the second vane hub arm and the corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.   
     
     
         13 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein the frame assemblies comprise:
 an outer frame assembly; and   an inner frame assembly arranged concentrically with respect to the outer frame assembly.   
     
     
         14 . A lawn ornament, comprising:
 a support member;   a first frame assembly configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis defined by the support member, the first frame assembly including a plurality of first rotatable members, each first rotatable member in the plurality of first rotatable members configured for selective, independent movement about the longitudinal axis between a storage position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and an operating position that facilitates rotation of the first frame assembly about the longitudinal axis in response to contact of the rotatable members by fluid flow; and   a second frame assembly concentrically arranged with respect to the second frame assembly, and configured for rotation about the longitudinal axis, the second frame assembly including a plurality of second rotatable members, each second rotatable member in the plurality of second rotatable members configured for selective, independent movement about the longitudinal axis between a storage position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and an operating position that facilitates rotation of the second frame assembly about the longitudinal axis in response to contact of the rotatable members by fluid flow.   
     
     
         15 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein the first rotatable members and the second rotatable members each comprise a substantially concave cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first frame assembly further comprises a first central hub at an upper support region and a second central hub at a lower support region that respectively define an axis of rotation of the first frame assembly when in the second position; and   the second frame assembly further comprises a second central hub at an upper support region and a third central hub at a lower support region that respectively define an axis of rotation of the second frame assembly when in the second position.   
     
     
         17 . The lawn ornament of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first frame assembly further comprises a first bearing member arranged on the support member at the first central hub and the second central hub, respectively, to thereby facilitate rotation of the first frame assembly about the longitudinal axis; and   the second frame assembly further comprises a second bearing member arranged on the support member at the third central hub and the fourth central hub, respectively, to thereby facilitate rotation of the second frame assembly about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         18 . The lawn ornament of  claim 17 , wherein the first frame assembly further comprises a first hub assembly that includes:
 a first vane hub arm connected to and extending from the first central hub;   a second vane hub arm connected to and extending from the second central hub;   a first vane connector configured to extend between the first vane hub arm and a corresponding first rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the first rotatable member to the vane hub arm; and   a second vane connector configured to extend between the second vane hub arm and the corresponding first rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.   
     
     
         19 . The lawn ornament of  claim 18 , wherein the second frame assembly further comprises a second hub assembly that includes:
 a third vane hub arm connected to and extending from the third central hub;   a fourth vane hub arm connected to and extending from the fourth central hub;   a third vane connector configured to extend between the third vane hub arm and a corresponding second rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the second rotatable member to the third vane hub arm; and   a fourth vane connector configured to extend between the fourth vane hub arm and the corresponding second rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the second rotatable member to the fourth vane hub arm.   
     
     
         20 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first frame assembly comprises an outer frame assembly; and   the second frame assembly comprises an inner frame assembly arranged concentrically with respect to the outer frame assembly.