Ted B Shapiro

US Patent:

7766717, Aug 3, 2010

Filed:

Mar 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/053610

Inventors:

Ted Shapiro - New York NY, US

International Classification:

A63H 33/30
A63H 33/26
G09F 19/02

US Classification:

446236, 446238, 446229, 40409

Abstract:

A system is provided for representing an autonomous entity, which may be a winged entity. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a vessel having an interior that is viewable from outside the vessel. The system further includes a rotational drive system, a flexible shaft connected to the rotational drive system for rotation by the rotational drive system, and a display object positioned in the interior of the vessel and connected to the flexible shaft at a position that is spaced from the rotational drive system. In a particular embodiment, the display object has a plurality of wings, including a first wing and a second wing that is generally opposed to the first wing. Rotation of the flexible shaft causes the display object to move within the vessel.

US Patent:

57956308, Aug 18, 1998

Filed:

Aug 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/699463

Inventors:

Ted S. Shapiro - New York NY

International Classification:

B44C 300
G09F 1912

US Classification:

428 13

Abstract:

The invention relates to an illusion device for amusement and entertainment purposes. The invention is more specifically suited to an illusion device which seems to the observer to produce a shimmering bubble floating in free space with no visible means of support or motivation. The invention includes novel sculptural cage design of commercially available silver diffraction grating MYLAR and a novel arrangement for electrically rotating it within a sealed transparent case for the purpose of creating the illusion of a floating transparent bubble which changes in shape and scintillates with color.

US Patent:

55477186, Aug 20, 1996

Filed:

Nov 1, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/144043

Inventors:

Ted S. Shapiro - New York NY

International Classification:

B44C 300
G09F 1912

US Classification:

428 13

Abstract:

A novelty illusion device producing an illusion of a shimmering floating bubble having a transparent case, an illusion object disposed within the case, an electric motor for producing rotational force, a power circuit and power source for driving the motor, and a drive shaft for transferring rotational force from the motor to the illusion object. The drive shaft is rendered virtually invisible to an observer when the drive shaft is rotating by concealing the shaft within a groove formed in the casing. The illusion object is made of a plurality of mylar strips joined at both ends to form a cage structure. Additional circuits are included to vary the movement of the illusion periodically and in response to detected sounds.

US Patent:

20220221131, Jul 14, 2022

Filed:

May 12, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/610213

Inventors:

Ted Shapiro - New York NY, US

International Classification:

F21V 14/04
F21S 6/00

Abstract:

A floor lamp includes a base, a light-permeable pipe extending upwardly from the base, a light reflecting member movably disposed in the light-permeable pipe, a light source disposed in the base for emitting light toward the light reflecting member, and an air blower disposed in the base for blowing air toward the light reflecting member to float the light reflecting member in the air inside the light-permeable pipe. As a result, the light reflected from the light reflecting member is floating in the air and visible via the light-permeable pipe. The floor lamp of the present invention may additionally include an ambient light located on the top of the light-permeable pipe, so that the floor lamp provides not only the above-described magic floating light for decoration, but also the ambient light for illumination.

US Patent:

20180068608, Mar 8, 2018

Filed:

Jul 13, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/648743

Inventors:

Rufus Butler Seder - Arlington MA, US
Ted Shapiro - New York NY, US

International Classification:

G09G 3/20
G02F 1/01
G06T 5/50
G06T 13/00

Abstract:

A coded image display and animation system with an image decoding panel and a coded image panel, one such panel comprising an actuated panel. The image decoding panel comprises a shutter element panel or a lenticular panel. A progressive drive mechanism, such as a sloped surface, advances the actuated panel progressively, and a rapid-return mechanism, such as a biasing member, rapidly retracts the actuated panel when it is periodically freed to move in a longitudinally retracting direction. The sloped surface can be that of a wheel, and the actuated panel can be freed to retract by a ridge in the wheel. The sloped surface can be a helical formation in a rotatable member, and the rapid-return mechanism can be a longitudinal formation in the rotatable member contiguous with the helical formation. The actuated panel can be advanced and retracted by a distance equal to the width of one image cluster.