Wheel of Fortune

Abstract

Wheel of Fortune (10) with - a rotor (20) having a disk (22), wherein the disk (22) has on its front side a plurality of pins (24) arranged along the circumference of the disk (22) and extending from the plane of the disk (22), and - a stator (30) forming a rotor bearing (32) supporting the rotor (20) with a pointer (34) pointing to a section of the disk (22) arranged between two pins (24), characterized by at least one light source (26) arranged on the rotor (20) rotating with the rotor (20) and a current connection (36) arranged on the stator (30), wherein the current connection (36) and the at least one light source (26) are electrically connected to each other by means of a slip ring.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel of fortune. In particular, the invention relates to a wheel of fortune with a rotor comprising a disc, wherein the disc has on its front side a plurality of pins arranged along the circumference of the disc and extending from the plane of the disc, and a stator forming a rotor bearing supporting the rotor with a pointer pointing to a section of the disc arranged between two pins.

[0002] Such (mechanical) wheels of fortune are known from prior use and are employed, among other things, at retail promotional events. These familiar wheels are often constructed simply from a few components, allowing for quick and easy assembly and disassembly. As is known, the rotating disc has a number of sections, primarily shaped as sectors, whose boundaries are marked on the disc's circumference by pins extending from the plane of the disc. A pointer attached to the stator indicates a section between two pins, depending on the disc's rotational position. Each section may be associated with a predetermined ticket or prize. The pointer can be designed as a spring-loaded mechanism, interacting with the pins to form a ratchet, producing a characteristic rattling sound when the disc is turned.

[0003] Insofar as known wheels of fortune are illuminated, this is achieved by means of multiple light sources arranged on a ring fixed to the stator, the outer diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the rotating disc. The rotationally fixed illumination of the wheel of fortune surrounding the rotating disc is either static or its sequence is fixed, i.e., independent of the disc's rotation, resulting in an overall illumination that is not very varied in terms of visual perception.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to create a wheel of fortune that evokes different, varied optical sensory impressions with regard to the lighting.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the wheel of fortune with the features of claim 1. The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0006] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to create a wheel of fortune with a light that is not fixed to the stator but rotates with the rotor, which presents problems regarding the power supply of the light. According to the invention, these problems are solved by means of a slip ring that electrically connects a power connection located on the stator to a light source rotating with the rotor.

[0007] According to the invention, a wheel of fortune is proposed, comprising a rotor having a disc, wherein the disc has on its front side a plurality of pins arranged along the circumference of the disc and extending from the plane of the disc, and a stator forming a rotor bearing supporting the rotor with a pointer pointing to a section of the disc arranged between two pins, wherein the wheel of fortune further comprises at least one light source arranged on the rotor and rotating with the rotor and a current connection arranged on the stator, wherein the current connection and the at least one light source are electrically connected to each other by means of a slip ring.

[0008] In a first preferred embodiment, the at least one light source is arranged on the front of the disc so that it can be directly seen by the viewer of the wheel of fortune. The at least one light source is preferably at least one light-emitting diode, and in particular, the at least one light source is a light strip. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of light sources designed as light strips are provided, with each light strip arranged radially in the direction of a pin. Designed in this way, the light strips most preferably form the boundaries between fields designed as sectors, to which a predetermined ticket or prize can be associated.

[0009] Furthermore, a light control system for controlling the at least one light source is preferably provided, which is particularly preferably configured to control the brightness and / or color temperature of the at least one light source. Most preferably, a sensor for detecting the rotational position and / or rotational speed of the disk is provided, wherein the light control system is configured to control the at least one light source depending on the rotational position and / or rotational speed of the disk. The sensor can specifically be a position sensor or inertial sensor arranged on the rotor.

[0010] For particularly easy assembly and disassembly of the wheel of fortune according to the invention, it is further preferred that the stator forms a plug-in axle that receives the rotor. The stator itself is preferably designed as a foldable stand that can be reduced to a compact size advantageous for shipping and transport.

[0011] Finally, a spring leaf arranged on the stator, which interacts as a ratchet with the pins arranged on the disk of the rotor, is preferably also provided, wherein the spring leaf is particularly preferably arranged hidden from the pointer in a frontal view of the wheel of fortune.

[0012] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a frontal view of a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention; and Fig. 2 a side view of the particularly preferred embodiment Fig. 1.

[0013] Fig. Figure 1 shows a frontal view of a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention. In particular, it shows Fig. 1. A wheel of fortune 10 with a rotor 20 having a disc 22 and a stator 30 supporting the rotor 20. The stator 30 is specially designed as a collapsible stand that can be folded down to a compact size advantageous for shipping and transport. The disc 22 has on its front side a plurality of pins 24 arranged along the circumference of the disc 22 and extending from the plane of the disc 22, with a pointer 34 being provided on the stator 30, which points to a section of the disc 22 arranged between each pair of pins 24.

[0014] On the front face of the disc 22 of the particularly preferred design of the wheel of fortune 10, a plurality of light strips 26 rotating with the rotor 20 are arranged, each extending radially from the axis of rotation of the rotor 20 towards a pin 24 and preferably manufactured using LED technology. The light strips 26 thus form the boundaries of sectors dividing the disc 20 into fields, which can be associated with a predetermined ticket or prize.

[0015] From the in Fig. 2 Side view of the particularly preferred embodiment shown Fig. Figure 1 shows that the stator 30 forms a plug-in shaft as rotor bearing 32, onto which the rotor 20 can simply be plugged and fastened.

[0016] Furthermore, a spring leaf 38 arranged on the stator 30, which interacts as a ratchet with the pins 24 arranged on the disk 22 of the rotor 20, can be seen, which is located in the Fig. The frontal view of the wheel of fortune 10 shown in Figure 1 is concealed by the pointer 34.

[0017] The electrical connection between the power terminal 36 located on the stator 30 and the light sources 26, which are designed as light strips on the rotating disk 22, is made by means of a slip ring (not shown) located on the rotor bearing 32. With the aid of the slip ring, it is also possible – provided the light control is not mounted rotating with the rotor 20 – to transmit control signals to the light sources 26 via a light control unit located on the stator 30 and thus to influence the brightness and / or color temperature of the light sources 26.

[0018] A particular visual sensation is created especially when a sensor detecting the rotational position and / or rotational speed of the disk 22 is provided and the light control is configured to control the light sources 26 depending on the rotational position and / or rotational speed of the disk 22. Although the rotational position and / or rotational speed of the rotor 20 or the disk 22 can be detected by a sensor arranged on the stator 30, the sensor is preferably a position sensor or inertial sensor arranged to rotate with the rotor 20.

Claims

[1] Wheel of Fortune (10) with - a rotor (20) having a disk (22), wherein the disk (22) has on its front side a plurality of pins (24) arranged along the circumference of the disk (22) and extending from the plane of the disk (22), and - a stator (30) forming a rotor bearing (32) supporting the rotor (20) with a pointer (34) pointing to a section of the disk (22) arranged between two pins (24), characterized by at least one light source (26) arranged on the rotor (20) and rotating with the rotor (20) and a power connection (36) arranged on the stator (30), wherein the power connection (36) and the at least one light source (26) are electrically connected to each other by means of a slip ring. [2] Wheel of fortune (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one light source (26) is arranged on the front of the disc (22). [3] Wheel of fortune (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one light source (26) is at least one light-emitting diode. [4] Wheel of fortune (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one light source (26) is a light strip. [5] Wheel of fortune (10) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by a plurality of light sources designed as light strips (26), wherein the light strips are each arranged radially in the direction of a pin (24). [6] Wheel of fortune (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized by a lighting control system that controls at least one light source (26). [7] Wheel of fortune (10) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the lighting control is set up to control the brightness and / or color temperature of the at least one light source (26). [8] Wheel of fortune (10) according to one of claims 6 and 7 characterized bya sensor detecting the rotational position and / or the rotational speed of the disk (22), wherein the light control is arranged to control the at least one light source (26) depending on the rotational position and / or the rotational speed of the disk (22). [9] Wheel of fortune (10) according to claim 8, characterized by that the sensor is a position sensor or inertial sensor arranged on the rotor. [10] Wheel of fortune (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the stator (30) forms a plug-in shaft that receives the rotor (20). [11] Wheel of fortune (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a spring leaf (38) arranged on the stator (30) and acting as a ratchet with the pins (24) arranged on the disk (22) of the rotor (20). [12] Wheel of fortune (10) according to claim 11, characterized by , that the spring leaf (38) is arranged hidden from view by the pointer (34) in a frontal view of the wheel of fortune (10).

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