US-12626613-B1 - Rotational device

US12626613B1US 12626613 B1US12626613 B1US 12626613B1US-12626613-B1

Abstract

A rotational device is provided that enables a user to tangibly experience movement of a three-dimensional object in a four dimensional space. The rotational device includes an inner cubic frame assembly rotatably supported within an outer frame. The outer frame is formed from a series of wires connected at hubs to enable the user to view the movement of the inner cubic frame. An internal cubic frame is non-movably or rotatably mounted within the outer frame to support the inner cubic frame assembly. The inner cubic frame assembly includes an inner cubic frame and a sphere. The sphere may be non-movably or rotatably supported within the inner cubic frame. Reference points or nodes are provided on the inner cubic frame to provide visually traceable reference points as the inner cubic frame rotates within the outer frame and fixed internal cubic frame.

Inventors

Omar Salla

Assignees

Omar Salla

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221227

Claims (20)

1 . A rotational device, comprising: an outer frame; a first internal cubic frame, attached to the outer frame and arranged within an interior of the outer frame; a second internal cubic frame, rotatably attached to the first internal cubic frame and arranged within an interior of the first internal cubic frame; and an inner sphere, attached to the second internal cubic frame and arranged within an interior of the second internal cubic frame.
2 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the first internal cubic frame is visible from outside the outer frame through the outer frame.
3 . The rotational device of claim 2 , wherein the second internal cubic frame is visible from outside the outer frame through the first internal cubic frame and outer frame.
4 . The rotational device of claim 3 , wherein the inner sphere is visible from outside the outer frame through the second internal cubic frame, first internal cubic frame and outer frame.
5 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the outer frame comprises a plurality of wires forming a three-dimensional structure defining the interior of the outer frame.
6 . The rotational device of claim 5 , wherein an outer side of the outer frame defined by outer sides of the plurality of wires is shaped as a sphere.
7 . The rotational device of claim 5 , wherein the interior of the outer frame, the first and second internal cubic frames, and the inner sphere are visible from outside the outer frame and between the plurality of wires.
8 . The rotational device of claim 7 , wherein the first and second internal cubic frames, and the inner sphere are visible from outside the outer frame through spaces defined between the plurality of wires.
9 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the first internal cubic frame is rigidly and non-movably connected to the outer frame.
10 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the first internal cubic frame is mounted to the outer frame such that the first internal cubic frame is rotatable relative to the outer frame.
11 . The rotational device of claim 10 , wherein the first internal cubic frame is rotatably supported by two points of the outer frame, the two points defining a rotation axis of the first internal cubic frame with respect to the outer frame.
12 . The rotational device of claim 11 , wherein the first internal cubic frame is rotatably coupled to, and carried by, the outer frame at the two points.
13 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the second internal cubic frame is rotatably supported by two points of the first internal cubic frame, the two points defining a rotation axis of the second internal cubic frame with respect to the first internal cubic frame.
14 . The rotational device of claim 13 , wherein the second internal cubic frame is rotatably coupled to, and carried by, the first internal cubic frame at the two points.
15 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the inner sphere is rigidly and non-movably connected to the second internal cubic frame.
16 . The rotational device of claim 1 , wherein the sphere is mounted to the second internal cubic frame such that the sphere is rotatable relative to the second internal cubic frame.
17 . The rotational device of claim 16 , wherein the inner sphere is rotatably supported by two points of the second internal cubic frame, the two points defining a rotation axis of the inner sphere with respect to the second internal cubic frame.
18 . The rotational device of claim 17 , wherein the inner sphere is rotatably coupled to, and carried by, the second internal cubic frame at the two points.
19 . A rotational device, comprising: an outer frame; a first internal cubic frame, rotatably attached to the outer frame and arranged within an interior of the outer frame, the first internal cubic frame visible from outside the outer frame through the outer frame, the first internal cubic frame rotatable with respect to the outer frame about a first rotation axis; a second internal cubic frame, rotatably attached to the first internal cubic frame and arranged within an interior of the first internal cubic frame, the second internal cubic frame visible from outside the outer frame through the first internal cubic frame and outer frame, the second internal cubic frame rotatable with respect to the first internal cubic frame about a second rotation axis; and an inner sphere, attached to the second internal cubic frame and arranged within an interior of the second internal cubic frame, the inner sphere visible from outside the outer frame through the second internal cubic frame, first internal cubic frame and outer frame, the inner sphere rotatable with respect to the second internal cubic frame about a third rotation axis; wherein the first, second and third rotation axes are arranged in different directions.
20 . A rotational device, comprising: an outer frame, comprising a plurality of wires forming a three-dimensional structure defining an interior of the outer frame; a first internal cubic frame, rotatably attached to the outer frame and arranged within the interior of the outer frame, the first internal cubic frame visible from outside the outer frame through the outer frame, the first internal cubic frame rotatable with respect to the outer frame about a first rotation axis; a second internal cubic frame, rotatably attached to the first internal cubic frame and arranged within an interior of the first internal cubic frame, the second internal cubic frame visible from outside the outer frame through the first internal cubic frame and outer frame, the second internal cubic frame rotatable with respect to the first internal cubic frame about a second rotation axis; and an inner sphere, attached to the second internal cubic frame and arranged within an interior of the second internal cubic frame, the inner sphere visible from outside the outer frame through the second internal cubic frame, first internal cubic frame and outer frame, the inner sphere rotatable with respect to the second internal cubic frame about a third rotation axis; wherein the first, second and third rotation axes are arranged in different directions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/787,590, filed on Feb. 11, 2020, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/803,904, filed on Feb. 11, 2019, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to educational and/or demonstration devices, and more particularly, to a device to allow a user to tangibly experience movement of a three-dimensional object in four dimensions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is important when teaching or demonstrating new material that the student or subject fully grasp and understand the details of the topic being demonstrated or taught. For example, while most people can understand the concept of three dimensions, the concept of four dimensions is often difficult to grasp. Three-dimensional objects are present everywhere in people's daily lives and the concepts pertaining to three dimensions are casily displayed and understood by the average person. However, when a fourth dimension is introduced, in the form of the relationship of two three-dimensional objects, and the varying shapes of the space(s) between them over time, people often have a difficult time understanding or visualizing the concept of this additional dimension as it relates to three-dimensional objects and how they interact in pairs. The tesseract is known, and consists in a four-dimensional analogue of the cube that attempts to depict the movement and change of the spaces between two three-dimensional objects over time. The concept of a cubic tesseract sphere is also known and is illustrated in books and in videos. Computer animations of the movements associated with cubic tesseract sphere are also available and attempt to provide visual depictions of the movement of a three-dimensional object in a four dimensional space. These depictions show how one three-dimensional object is positioned over time relative to another three-dimensional object or reference frame. However, these attempts to convey the concepts of one three-dimensional object moving relative to another three-dimensional object and, more particularly the movement of the shapes occupied in the spaces between them, are still only displayed in two dimensions on a page or on a screen. Accordingly, there is an established need for a practical device to physically and tangibly demonstrate the motion of three-dimensional objects relative to each other over time including the variations in the shapes and orientations of spaces defined between each of the three-dimensional objects. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel and useful rotational device similar to a cubic tesseract sphere that enables a user to tangibly experience movement of a three-dimensional object in a four dimensional space. The disclosed rotational device provides an actual three-dimensional experience in real time greatly increasing a user understanding of movement of a three-dimensional object relative to a fixed point or points of reference over a period of time than is possible with a simple visual depiction or animation. The rotational device may include an inner cubic frame assembly, which may be rotatably supported within an outer frame. The outer frame may be formed from a series of wires to enable the user to view the movement of the inner cubic frame. A rotation mechanism may be provided to allow a user to rotate the inner cubic frame within the outer frame. The disclosed rotational device can be used by people of all ages to better understand how time, space and matter work in pairs. This may find application by extension to the development of religions, the operation of plant and animal cells, atoms or molecules, male female interactions over time, etc. and may be provided as a science tool, a toy, etc. Introducing a first embodiment of the invention, the present invention consists of a rotational device for tangibly experiencing movement of a three-dimensional object in four dimensions, comprising: an outer frame comprising a plurality of wires forming a three-dimensional structure defining an interior of the outer frame, wherein the wires are arranged in spaced-apart configuration with one another enabling visibility of the interior of the outer frame from outside the outer frame; andan inner cubic frame assembly movably mounted for rotation within the interior of the outer frame, wherein the inner cubic frame assembly is visible from outside the outer frame. In a second aspect, the inner cubic frame assembly may be rotatably supported by two points of the outer frame, the two points defining a rotation axis of the inner cubic frame assembly. In another aspect, the inner cubic frame assembly may be rotatably coupled to, and carried by, the outer frame at the two points. In another aspect, the outer frame may further include a plurality of hubs. The wire