Tetherable wind indicator

Abstract

A tetherable wind indicator is disclosed. The wind indicator includes a hollow body with an inlet opening therethrough, the inlet opening defining an inlet area, the inlet area being smaller than the hollow body's greatest cross-sectional area, the inlet opening permitting wind to enter the hollow body. At least one tether extends from the hollow body. At least one vent is disposed through the hollow body. The vent is oriented to direct wind exiting from the hollow body such that the hollow body rotates when the wind passes therethrough.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . a tetherable wind indicator, comprising: 
 a hollow body with an inlet opening therethrough, the inlet opening defining an inlet area, the inlet area being smaller than the hollow body's greatest cross-sectional area, the inlet opening permitting wind to enter the hollow body;    at least one tether extending from the hollow body; and    at least one vent through the hollow body, the at least one vent being oriented to direct wind exiting from the hollow body such that the hollow body rotates when the wind passes therethrough.    
     
     
         2 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the hollow body has a shape selected from a group comprising spherical, ellipsoidal, polyhedral, and asymmetrical.    
     
     
         3 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the hollow body is shaped to appear as one selected from a group comprising a baseball, a soccer ball, a basketball, a golf ball, a tennis ball, a football, a volleyball, a beach ball, a pool ball, a bowling ball, a globe of the Earth, a planet, a celestial body, a light bulb, a bowling pin, and a hot air balloon.    
     
     
         4 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a swivel connected to the at least one tether to connect the tether to a support structure.    
     
     
         5 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one tether comprises a plurality of tethers extending from the hollow body at locations adjacent the inlet opening.    
     
     
         6 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one vent comprises a plurality of exit openings through the hollow body, and    the exit openings each are covered by a flap that directs the wind so that the hollow body rotates when the wind exits from the hollow body.    
     
     
         7 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a mesh extending over each of the exit openings.    
     
     
         8 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one vent comprises a plurality of jets extending outwardly from the hollow body, and    the jets direct the wind so that the hollow body rotates when the wind exits from the hollow body.    
     
     
         9 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the hollow body comprises a plurality of sections connected together to define a sphere, and    at least one of the sections covers the at least one vent to direct the wind exiting from the hollow body such that the hollow body rotates when the wind passes therethrough.    
     
     
         10 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the plurality of sections are one of at least hexagonally and pentagonally shaped.    
     
     
         11 . A wind indicator, comprising: 
 a support;    a pivotable connector mounted on the support;    a swivel connected to the pivotable connector;    a hollow body with an inlet opening therethrough, the inlet opening defining an inlet area, the inlet area being smaller than the hollow body's greatest cross-sectional area, the inlet opening permitting wind to enter the hollow body;    at least one tether extending from the hollow body to the swivel; and    at least one vent through the hollow body, the at least one vent being oriented to direct wind exiting from the hollow body such that the hollow body rotates when the wind passes therethrough.    
     
     
         12 . The wind indicator of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the hollow body has a shape selected from a group comprising spherical, ellipsoidal, polyhedral, and asymmetrical.    
     
     
         13 . The wind indicator of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the hollow body is shaped to appear as one selected from a group comprising a baseball, a soccer ball, a basketball, a golf ball, a tennis ball, a football, a volleyball, a beach ball, a pool ball, a bowling ball, a globe of the Earth, a planet, a celestial body, a light bulb, a bowling pin, and a hot air balloon.    
     
     
         14 . The wind indicator of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the at least one tether comprises a plurality of tethers extending from the hollow body at locations adjacent the inlet opening.    
     
     
         15 . The wind indicator of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the at least one vent comprises a plurality of exit openings through the hollow body, and    the exit openings each are covered by a flap that directs the wind so that the hollow body rotates when the wind exits from the hollow body.    
     
     
         16 . The tetherable wind indicator of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a mesh extending over each of the exit openings.    
     
     
         17 . The wind indicator of  claim 1   1 , wherein: 
 the at least one vent comprises a plurality of jets extending outwardly from the hollow body, and    the jets direct the wind so that the hollow body rotates when the wind exits from the hollow body.    
     
     
         18 . The wind indicator of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the hollow body comprises a plurality of sections connected together to define a sphere, and    at least one of the sections covers the at least one vent to direct the wind exiting from the hollow body such that the hollow body rotates when the wind passes therethrough.    
     
     
         19 . The wind indicator of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the plurality of sections are one of at least hexagonally and pentagonally shaped.    
     
     
         20 . The wind indicator of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the support is a telescoping pole.    
     
     
         21 . The wind indicator of  claim 20 , wherein the telescoping pole further comprises: 
 a hook extendable from the top of the telescoping pole, wherein the hook is adapted to connect to the swivel to retain the hollow body on the telescoping pole.    
     
     
         22 . The wind indicator of  claim 21 , wherein the hook comprises: 
 a bar pivotally extending at a transverse angle to the telescoping pole.