US-20260123773-A1 - Display Unit with Intermittently Rotating Drive Mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is a drive mechanism. The motor unit generates a rotational force to rotate the motor shaft. The primary shaft is adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the motor shaft. The plurality of partially toothed gears are adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the primary shaft. The plurality of fully-toothed gears rotates upon rotation of the plurality of partially toothed gears, and the plurality of secondary shafts rotate upon rotation of the plurality of fully toothed gears. The plurality of plates includes an engaging surface and a plurality of grooves, such that each groove of the plurality of grooves is adapted to engage with a ball portion of each spring loaded ball plunger of the plurality of spring loaded ball plungers during the rotation of the each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears to intermittently rotate each secondary shaft.

Inventors

• NICOLAS MORIELLO
• TYLER FEDORKO
• REID CARRICO
• Bijan Sepahpour

Assignees

• NICOLAS MORIELLO
• TYLER FEDORKO
• REID CARRICO
• Bijan Sepahpour

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241106

Claims (20)

1. 2 . The drive mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a holding plate that is coupled to the primary shaft and adapted to be coupled to the plurality of partially toothed gears.
2. 3 . The drive mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the holding plate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface such that the upper surface and the lower surface are adapted to couple to the plurality of partially toothed gears.
3. 4 . The drive mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plunger holding plates that are coupled to the plurality of secondary shafts and adapted to be coupled to the plurality of fully teethed gears.
4. 5 . The drive mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of plunger holding plates comprising a plurality of holes that are adapted to hold the plurality of spring-loaded ball plungers.
5. 6 . The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the motor unit further comprising at least one input drive gear coupled to the motor shaft such that the at least one input drive gear rotates upon rotation of the motor shaft.
6. 7 . The drive mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising at least one driven output gear that is in mesh engagement with the least one input drive gear and adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the at least one input drive gear.
7. 8 . The drive mechanism of claims 1 and 7 , wherein the primary shaft is coupled to the at least one driven output gear and adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the at least one driven output gear.
8. 9 . The drive mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the at least one input drive gear comprising one of a worm gear or a pinion bevel gear.
9. 10 . The drive mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the at least one driven output gear comprising one of a worm wheel gear or a driven bevel gear.
10. 11 . A display unit comprising; a drive mechanism comprising: a motor unit comprising a motor shaft such that the motor unit generates a rotational force to rotate the motor shaft; a primary shaft that is adapted to be coupled to the motor unit such that the primary shaft is adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the motor shaft; a plurality of partially toothed gears that are adapted to be coupled to the primary shaft such that the plurality of partially toothed gears are adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the primary shaft; a plurality of secondary shafts that are disposed around the primary shaft; a plurality of fully toothed gears that are coupled to the plurality of secondary shafts wherein each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears is in mesh engagement with each partially toothed gear of the plurality of partially toothed gears such that the plurality of fully toothed gears rotate upon rotation of the plurality of partially toothed gears, and the plurality of secondary shafts rotate upon rotation of the plurality of fully toothed gears; a plurality of spring loaded ball plungers that are adapted to be disposed around the plurality of fully toothed gears; and a plurality of plates coupled to the plurality of secondary shafts wherein each plate of the plurality of plates comprising an engaging surface and a plurality of grooves that are disposed on the engaging surface, wherein the engaging surface is adapted to be in constant contact with each spring loaded ball plunger of the plurality of spring loaded ball plungers during rotation of each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears, and each groove of the plurality of grooves is adapted to engage with a ball portion of each spring loaded ball plunger of the plurality of spring loaded ball plungers during the rotation of the each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears to intermittently rotate each secondary shaft of the plurality of secondary shafts.
11. 12 . The display unit of claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprising a holding plate that is coupled to the primary shaft and adapted to be coupled to the plurality of partially toothed gears.
12. 13 . The display unit of claim 12 , wherein the holding plate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface such that the upper surface and the lower surface are adapted to couple to the plurality of partially toothed gears.
13. 14 . The display unit of claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprising a plurality of plunger holding plates that are coupled to the plurality of secondary shafts and adapted to be coupled to the plurality of fully teethed gears.
14. 15 . The display unit of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of plunger holding plates comprising a plurality of holes that are adapted to hold the plurality of spring-loaded ball plungers.
15. 16 . The display unit of claim 11 , wherein the motor unit further comprising at least one input drive gear coupled to the motor shaft such that the at least one input drive gear rotates upon rotation of the motor shaft.
16. 17 . The display unit of claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprising at least one driven output gear that is in mesh engagement with the at least one input drive gear and adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the at least one input drive gear.
17. 18 . The display unit of claims 11 and 17 , wherein the primary shaft is coupled to the at least one driven output gear and adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the at least one driven output gear.
18. 19 . The display unit of claim 16 , wherein the at least one input drive gear comprising one of a worm gear or a pinion bevel gear.
19. 20 . The display unit of claim 17 , wherein the at least one driven output gear comprising one of a worm wheel gear or a driven bevel gear.
20. 19 . The display unit of claim 16 , wherein the at least one input drive gear comprising one of a worm gear or a pinion bevel gear.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to the field of showcases and display devices to showcase or display various articles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a display unit with an intermittently rotating drive mechanism. BACKGROUND In the realm of displaying valuable items through display cases, traditional methods of displaying the valuable items such as merchandise, trophies, awards, memorabilia, or artwork etc. faced notable challenges. Display cases have traditionally been used to showcase valuables, but they have limitations. They're often static and inflexible, making it difficult to change or rotate items. The static nature of conventional display cases, which limited the ability to rotate or reposition items dynamically. This static presentation inhibited the comprehensive exhibition of three-dimensional objects, intricate artworks, and diverse collections. The viewers are confined to a single perspective, impeding their ability to engage fully with the showcased items and appreciate their intricate details from different angles. This is a problem for 3D objects, artwork, and collections that need to be displayed dynamically. Visitors can only see these items from one angle, which limits their understanding and enjoyment of the details and depth. Moreover, the traditional display cases displayed less than ideal spatial efficiency due to their fixed-shelf structure. The incapacity to rearrange items led to inefficiencies, resulting in unutilized space and a decrease in the overall aesthetic appeal of the exhibit. The inflexibility in shelf arrangements posed challenges for curators, limiting their ability to fully utilize the display area and exhibit a greater number of items within the same space. The fixed shelf structure also causes inability to rearrange items within these cases that results in operational inefficiencies, manifesting as notable underutilized space and a palpable decline in the overall aesthetic allure of the exhibit. As a consequence, the potential to showcase a more extensive array of items within the same space was curtailed, impacting the overall richness and diversity of the exhibited collection. Hence, there may be a need to develop an efficient display device that is capable of solving aforementioned problems. SUMMARY In view of the foregoing, a drive mechanism is disclosed. The drive mechanism includes a motor unit having a motor shaft such that the motor unit generates a rotational force to rotate the motor shaft. The drive mechanism further includes a primary shaft that is adapted to be coupled to the motor unit such that the primary shaft is adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the motor shaft. The drive mechanism further includes a plurality of partially toothed gears that are adapted to be coupled to the primary shaft such that the plurality of partially toothed gears is adapted to be rotated upon rotation of the primary shaft. The drive mechanism further includes a plurality of secondary shafts that are disposed around the primary shaft. The drive mechanism further includes a plurality of fully toothed gears that are coupled to the plurality of secondary shafts wherein each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears is in mesh engagement with each partially toothed gear of the plurality of partially toothed gears such that the plurality of fully toothed gears rotate upon rotation of the plurality of partially toothed gears, and the plurality of secondary shafts rotate upon rotation of the plurality of fully toothed gears. The drive mechanism further includes a plurality of spring-loaded ball plungers that are adapted to be disposed around the plurality of fully toothed gears. The drive mechanism further includes a plurality of plates coupled to the plurality of secondary shafts wherein each plate of the plurality of plates comprising an engaging surface and a plurality of grooves that are disposed on the engaging surface, wherein the engaging surface is adapted to be in constant contact with each spring loaded ball plunger of the plurality of spring loaded ball plungers during rotation of each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears, and each groove of the plurality of grooves is adapted to engage with a ball portion of each spring loaded ball plunger of the plurality of spring loaded ball plungers during the rotation of the each fully toothed gear of the plurality of fully toothed gears to intermittently rotate each secondary shaft of the plurality of secondary shafts. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the drive mechanism further includes a holding plate that is coupled to the primary shaft and adapted to be coupled to the plurality of partially toothed gears. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the holding plate further includes an upper surface and a lower surface such that the upper surface and the lower surface are adapted to couple to the plurality of partially