Rotary reflective marker

Claim 2

A reflective marker suitable for attracting an observer's attention; said marker comprising: (a) a rotatable member having an outer wall and an inner cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore having an axis; (b) a bushing and bearing arrangement including means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about said longitudinal bore axis; (c) a non-rotatable internal shaft member mounted to extend along and inside said rotatable member longitudinal bore; (d) a brake mechanism mounted on said rotatable member; (i) said brake mechanism including a plurality of cams, each cam being pivotally mounted within said rotatable member longitudinal bore to pivot and extend inwardly toward said non-rotatable internal shaft member as said rotatable member rotates; (ii) each of said cams including a friction portion thereon constructed and arranged to engage said non-rotatable internal shaft and selectively brake said rotatable member; (e) means mounted in association with said rotatable member to selectively rotate same; and (f) reflective means applied to said rotatable member outer wall, for reflecting light rays from a light source to an observer.

Claim 3

The marker according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said rotatable member comprises wind vane means mounted on said rotatable member outer wall.

Claim 4

The marker according to claim 2 wherein said vane means comprises a spiral vane arrangement.

Claim 5

The marker according to claim 3 wherein said spiral vane arrangement comprises four vane members oriented in two double helix patterns.

Claim 6

The marker according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said non-rotatable internal shaft member comprises an elongate rod member; and (b) said brake mechanism includes two of said cams, each of which is s-shaped.

Claim 7

The marker according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said non-rotatable internal shaft member comprises an internal cylinder member; and, (b) said brake mechanism includes two of said cams.

Claim 8

The marker according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said reflective means includes a plurality of spaced reflectors mounted on said rotatable member outer wall; (i) a first of said reflectors being mounted substantially adjacent, but spaced from, a first end of said rotatable member; (ii) a second of said reflectors being mounted substantially adjacent, but spaced from, a second end of said rotatable member; and (iii) a third of said reflectors being mounted in a central portion of said rotatable member outer wall; and, (b) said rotatable member outer wall is cylindrical; (i) said first, second and third spaced reflectors being positioned spaced rotationally apart from one another on said rotatable member outer wall.

Claim 9

The marker according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said rotatable member is a substantially cylindrical rotor; (i) said cylindrical rotor having substantially transparent wall portions and substantially non-light-transmitting wall portions; (b) said reflective means comprises reflector members mounted over said rotor transparent wall portions, said reflector members constructed and arranged to permit transmission of a substantial amount of light outwardly therethrough from inside of said rotor and to selectively reflect a substantial amount of light directed thereagainst from outside of said marker; and (c) said marker includes a light-emitting source mounted non-rotatably therein, and positioned inside of said rotor.

Claim 10

A reflective marker suitable for attracting an observer's attention; said marker comprising: (a) a rotatable member having an outer wall and an inner cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore having an axis; (i) said rotatable member being a substantially cylindrical rotor having substantially transparent wall portions and substantially non-light-transmitting wall portions; (b) a bushing and bearing arrangement including means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about said longitudinal bore axis; (c) a non-rotatable internal shaft member mounted to extend along and inside said rotatable member longitudinal bore; (d) vane means mounted on said rotatable member outer wall to rotate same; and (e) reflective means applied to said rotatable member outer wall, for reflecting light rays from a light source to an observer; (i) said reflective means comprising reflector members mounted over said rotor transparent wall portions, said reflector members being constructed and arranged to permit transmission of a substantial amount of light outwardly therethrough from inside of said rotor and to selectively reflect a substantial amount of light directed thereagainst from outside of said marker; and (f) a light-emitting source mounted non-rotatably therein, and positioned inside of said rotor.

Claim 11

A reflective marker suitable for attracting an observer's attention; said marker comprising: (a) a rotatable member having an outer wall and an inner cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore having an axis; (i) said rotatable member being a substantially cylindrical rotor having substantially transparent wall portions and substantially non-light-transmitting wall portions; (b) a bushing and bearing arrangement including means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about said longitudinal bore axis; (c) a non-rotatable internal shaft member mounted to extend along and inside said rotatable member longitudinal bore; (d) vane means mounted on said rotatable member outer wall to rotate same; and (e) reflective means applied to said rotatable member outer wall, for reflecting light rays from a light source to an observer; (i) said reflective means comprising reflector members mounted over said rotor transparent wall portions, said reflector members being constructed and arranged to permit transmission of a substantial amount of light outwardly therethrough from inside of said rotor and to selectively reflect a substantial amount of light directed thereagainst from outside of said marker; and (f) a light-emitting source mounted non-rotatably therein, and positioned inside of said rotor.

Claim 12

A reflective marker suitable for attracting an observer's attention; said marker comprising: (a) a rotatable member having an outer wall and an inner cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore having an axis; (i) said rotatable member being a substantially cylindrical rotor having substantially transparent wall portions and substantially non-light-transmitting wall portions; (b) a bushing and bearing arrangement including means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about said longitudinal bore axis; (c) a non-rotatable internal shaft member mounted to extend along and inside said rotatable member longitudinal bore; (d) means associated with said rotatable member outer wall to rotate same; and, (e) reflective means applied to said rotatable member outer wall, for reflecting light rays from a light source to an observer; (i) said reflective means comprising reflector members mounted over said rotor transparent wall portions, said reflector members being constructed and arranged to permit transmission of a substantial amount of light outwardly therethrough from inside of said rotor and to selectively reflect a substantial amount of light directed thereagainst from outside of said marker; and, (f) a light-emitting source mounted non-rotatably therein, and positioned inside of said rotor.

Claim 13

A reflective marker suitable for attracting an observer's attention; said marker comprising: (a) a rotatable member having an outer wall and an inner cylindrical wall defining an internal longitudinal bore having an axis; (i) said rotatable member being a substantially cylindrical rotor having substantially transparent wall portions and substantially non-light-transmitting wall portions; (b) a bushing and bearing arrangement including means mounting said rotatable member for rotation about said longitudinal bore axis; (c) a non-rotatable internal shaft member mounted to extend along and inside said rotatable member longitudinal bore; (d) means associated with said rotatable member outer wall to rotate same; and, (e) reflective means applied to said rotatable member outer wall, for reflecting light rays from a light source to an observer; (i) said reflective means comprising reflector members mounted over said rotor transparent wall portions, said reflector members being constructed and arranged to permit transmission of a substantial amount of light outwardly therethrough from inside of said rotor and to selectively reflect a substantial amount of light directed thereagainst from outside of said marker; and, (f) a light-emitting source mounted non-rotatably therein, and positioned inside of said rotor.