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

Abstract

A lawn ornament includes at least one frame assembly configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for non-independent rotation about a first axis and independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The at least one frame assembly includes a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members being configured for selective, independent movement about the second axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates the operation of the outdoor lawn ornament.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lawn ornament, comprising:
 at least one frame assembly configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for non-independent rotation about a first axis and independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the at least one frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members being configured for selective, independent movement about the second axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates the operation of the outdoor lawn ornament.   
     
     
         2 . The lawn ornament of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support member configured to support the at least one frame assembly on a support surface, and which is to extend vertically from the support surface; and   an axle to configured to rotatably support the at least one frame assembly on the support member, the axle configured to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support member.   
     
     
         3 . The lawn ornament of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis defined by the support member; and   the second axis comprises a horizontal axis defined by the axle.   
     
     
         4 . The lawn ornament of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub assembly operatively connected to the at least one frame assembly to facilitate rotation of the at least one frame assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The lawn ornament of  claim 4 , wherein the hub assembly comprises:
 a central hub;   a vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the central hub; and   a vane connector configured to extend between the vane hub arm and a corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.   
     
     
         6 . The lawn ornament of  claim 1 , wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the vane hub arm at a first connection region, and the corresponding rotatable member between at a second region that includes a partial outermost peripheral edge of corresponding rotatable member. 
     
     
         7 . A lawn ornament, comprising:
 a pair of frame assemblies, arranged spaced laterally apart from each other, each frame assembly configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for independent rotation about a first axis and non-independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, each frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members, each rotatable member in the plurality of rotatable members configured for independent movement about the second axis between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates the operation of the outdoor lawn ornament.   
     
     
         8 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a support member configured to support the frame assemblies on a support surface, and which is to extend vertically from the support surface; and   an axle to configured to rotatably support the frame assemblies on the support member, the axle configured to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support member.   
     
     
         9 . The lawn ornament of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis defined by the support member; and   the second axis comprises a horizontal axis defined by the axle.   
     
     
         10 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , further comprising a hub assembly operatively connected to a corresponding frame assembly in the frame assemblies, to facilitate rotation of the corresponding frame assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The lawn ornament of  claim 10 , wherein the hub assembly comprises:
 a central hub;   a vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the central hub; and   a vane connector configured to extend between the vane hub arm and a corresponding rotatable member to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the vane hub arm.   
     
     
         12 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the vane hub arm at a first connection region, and the corresponding rotatable member at a second region that comprises a partial outermost peripheral edge of corresponding rotatable member. 
     
     
         13 . The lawn ornament of  claim 7 , wherein the frame assemblies comprise:
 a first frame assembly; and   a second frame assembly spaced laterally from the first frame assembly.   
     
     
         14 . A lawn ornament, comprising:
 at least one frame assembly including a plurality of rotatable members configured for selective, independent movement between a first position that facilitates storage of the outdoor lawn ornament and a second position that facilitates operation of the outdoor lawn ornament; and   a hub assembly operatively connected to the at least one frame assembly, and to facilitate rotation of the at least frame assembly, the hub assembly including:
 an outer central hub and an inner central hub; 
 an outer vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the outer central hub, and an inner vane hub arm operatively connected to and extending from the inner central hub, and 
 a vane connector configured to extend from the outer vane hub arm, a corresponding rotatable member, and the inner vane hub arm to thereby operatively connect the rotatable member to the outer vane hub arm and the inner vane hub arm. 
   
     
     
         15 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one frame assembly is configured, during operation of the lawn ornament, for non-independent rotation about a first axis and independent rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The lawn ornament of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a support member configured to support the at least one frame assembly on a support surface, and which is to extend vertically from the support surface; and   an axle to configured to rotatably support the at least one frame assembly on the support member, the axle configured to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support member.   
     
     
         17 . The lawn ornament of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis defined by the support member; and   the second axis comprises a horizontal axis defined by the axle.   
     
     
         18 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the outer vane hub arm and the inner vane hub arm to facilitate the selective, independent movement of the rotatable members between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein the vane connector is configured for connection to the outer vane hub arm at a first connection region, the inner vane hub arm at a second connection region, and the corresponding rotatable member at a third region. 
     
     
         20 . The lawn ornament of  claim 14 , wherein the third connection region comprises the outermost peripheral edge of the corresponding rotatable member.