United States Patent 1») Rosenberg 154) 176) ey 221 (51) 152] [58] 156) MULTI-STABLE MECHANICAL DEVICE. EMPLOYING COMPACTED RODS OR DISKS Inventor: Bruce Lamar Rosenberg. 23 N. Chelsea Ave.. Atlantic City, NJ. 08401 Appl. No.: 68/901,567 Filed: Jul. 28, 1997 In. cs AGE 9100 US. cL 279/083 S; 273/153 R Field of Search .. 273/153 R, 153, 273/157 R: 40/90 S; 401/131, 49; 206/214 References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 132,562 10/1872 Cleveland ... (1) Patent Number: (45) Date of Patent: 5,924,692 Jul. 20, 1999 1257432 1708.60 21913,789 3,026/847 320184 8/1965 Resch .. Primary Examiner—Steven Wong 57) ABSTRACT This invention is a multi-stable mechanical device. I is a pundle of rods surrounded by elastic. which when manipu- lated can be made to change from one stable close State to another, causing a sudden rearrangement of the rods Within the bundle, and producing a snapping noise or click Which can be heard and felt wth the fingers, and interesting visual effects due to the rearrangement of the rods. Possible applications of this invention are amusement devices. Puzzles. science education, toys, executive pacifiers. hand exercisers, and physics and materials science demonstra- tions. 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets5,924,692 Sheet 1 of 2 Jul. 20, 1999 US. Patent FIG. 4 FIG. 65,924,692 Sheet 2 of 2 Jul. 20, 1999 _ US. Patent FIG. 7