Wall-based Rolling Ball Sculpture

Abstract

A rolling ball sculpture is comprised of modular track parts, connected together to form a contiguous pathway for balls. Magnetic wall mount parts are assembled to a wall in an array with even spacing in order to hold magnetic support pieces that may be moved into various locations. Track pieces may be held by support pieces that mount onto the moveable supports that are magnetically mounted to permanent magnetic pieces. Track parts include straight parts, turns, and mechanisms such as chimes, switches for diverting balls along differing paths, funnels, and conveyor parts that lift balls to the top of the sculpture. Parts may be constructed of 2-dimensional parts that may be cut or stamped from flat materials, such as laser-cut plywood.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A kinetic sculpture of the rolling ball type comprising:
 a plurality of individual parts including:   a modular wall-mounted support structure composed of an evenly-spaced array of magnetic mounts, semi-permanently adhered to the wall;   support struts with magnets at either end which latch magnetically to said magnetic mount parts;   various track support parts which mount to said support struts via mechanical interlocking features and which support said track parts;   a plurality of modular interlocking track parts which mount to said support struts and which align to one another to form a contiguous track to accommodate rolling balls;   
     
     
         2 . The kinetic sculpture in  claim 1 , wherein said modular interlocking track parts are held together with u-shaped press-fit clips that hold parts together. 
     
     
         3 . The kinetic sculpture in  claim 1 , wherein all parts are comprised primarily of flat pieces that can be manufactured from laser-cut sheet materials such as wood, plastic, metal, etc. 
     
     
         4 . The kinetic sculpture in  claim 1 , wherein the modular parts are aligned to one another with interlocking features to ensure smooth transitions of the ball between parts.