Levitated finned ball device

Abstract

A levitated finned ball device includes a ball made of a lightweight material and a base that generates laminar air flow to levitate the ball in mid-air. The ball has at least one generally semi-circular shaped fin extending therefrom. When the laminar air flow strikes the fin, it imparts motion to the ball.

1 . A device comprising: 
 a ball made of a lightweight material, said ball having an outer surface, at least one generally semi-circular shaped fin extending from said outer surface; and    a base comprising means for generating laminar air flow to levitate said ball in mid-air, which imparts motion to said ball as air strikes said fin.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said base further comprising means for supporting said ball when said ball is not levitated.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said base further comprising means for varying the direction of the laminar air flow.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said generating means comprising a blower, an air laminating means directing the air perpendicularly away from said blower.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said blower having an impeller that runs at a speed of 600 to 900 rpm.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said supporting means comprising a basket formed of a basket ring supported by a plurality of struts extending from said base.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 3  further comprising a housing, said base is contained within said housing and said varying means comprising a pivotable housing.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said air laminating means comprising a laminar flow duct and at least one laminar flow baffle.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball is made of waxed paper.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball is an inflated balloon.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball is hollow.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball is fluorescent.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball is phosphorescent.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball is colored.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said outer surface of said ball has at least one pattern thereon.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball having top and bottom portions, a hole at the top portion and a hole at the bottom portion.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said top and portion portions are indented.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said ball comprising a plurality of wedges, top and bottom annular disks for interconnecting said plurality of wedges at said top and bottom portions, respectively.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16  further comprising a stabilization mast for maintaining said ball within the laminar air flow of said generating means, wherein said mast is insertable through said holes at said top and bottom portions.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said stabilization mast having an upper end a lower end, said lower end is attachable to said base, a cap for attaching to said upper end to prevent said ball from levitating beyond the length of said mast.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball having an equator and a plurality of said fins extending from said outer surface of said ball spaced apart and at an angle to said equator around said equator.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ball having an equator and two rows of a plurality of said fins extending from said outer surface of said ball spaced apart and at an angle to said equator, each row of said plurality of said fins being equidistant from and around said equator.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said fins extending randomly from said outer surface of said ball.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising means for illuminating said ball.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising means for illuminating said ball, said illuminating means being imbedded in said basket ring.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one light source.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 24  wherein said illuminating means comprising at least one LED.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein said LED is a UV LED.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said illuminating means comprise at least one red, one green and one blue light.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each of said fins comprising a generally rectangular tab portion and a generally semi-circular fin portion, further comprising means for attaching said tab portion of said fin to said outer surface of said ball.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fin is fluorescent.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fin is phosphorescent.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fin is colored.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a power and control box for supplying power to and controlling said generating means.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 4  further comprising a power and control box for supplying power to and controlling the sequence and/or speed of said blower.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising a power and control box for supplying power to and controlling said illuminating means.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising a power and control box for supplying power to and controlling the on/off, sequence, phase and/or intensity of said at least one light source.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising a power and control box within said housing for supplying power to and controlling said generating means.  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising a power and control box within said housing for supplying power to and controlling said illuminating means.