The object of the present invention is a device for detecting objects placed on a support plane .

The present invention aims to help users find objects , in particular small-sized ones , which are located on a support plane .

Consider , for example , small parts of toys to be built , such as for example the Lego® construction pieces , or the like , which are often scattered on the floor and are difficult to find, precisely because of their small sizes , with the risk of these pieces being lost after , for example , vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner during common housework .

A further example is the breakage of objects made of fragile materials , such as glass , ceramics or the like , caused by the fall of such objects and by the impact with the floor .

The impact causes the fallen object to be subdivided into a plurality of small-sized pieces , which pieces are scattered on the floor in a random order .

These pieces are not only difficult to be collected, but also have sharp edges , so they are dangerous for the safety of users .

Regardless of the type of obj ects to be detected on the rest plane , whether they are toy construction pieces or glass or ceramic fragments , the identification of these small-sized objects is made even more difficult by the various types of floors on which the objects are scattered, which differ in both materials and colourings .

In the state of the art , a possible solution is to provide for floor cleaning , using specific tools such as vacuum cleaners or the like .

However , this solution is particularly inefficient .

In fact , as previously described , in the case of small-sized construction pieces , such pieces would be sucked and irretrievably lost .

However , in the case of glass or ceramic pieces , devices such as vacuum cleaners or the like are not always able to effectively suck the pieces .

In addition , regardless of the power and suction quality, the small-sized pieces are difficult to identify using the simple view of users .

There is therefore a need not met by the devices known to the state of the art to solve the disadvantages set out above .

The present invention achieves the above purposes by realizing a device for detecting obj ects placed on a support plane , which is configured to rotate on the support plane according to an axis oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the support plane , in such a way that the device comprises at least one point of contact with said support plane , on which it can rotate .

There is also present at least one light element for generating a light beam, configured to generate a light beam that projects externally to said device and in such a way that the light beam generates a light plane during the rotation of said device . By rotation , in fact , the light beam generated by the device identifies a light plane , substantially parallel to the support plane .

The light plane is the visual result of the rotation of the light beam emitted by the device object of the present invention .

The present invention , therefore , envisages realizing a light beam and, consequently, a light plane , which is projected parallel to the support plane and through the rotation of the light beam.

The light plane , unlike a single beam of light that must necessarily be directed towards the objects to be identified, makes it much easier to identify the objects on the support plane wherever they are , also through a view from above with respect to the support plane , identifying the objects themselves in a simple , fast and effective way .

In the event that the light beam generating the light plane , impacts with one or more objects scattered on the support plane , these objects to be identified will reflect the light of the light beam allowing a user to immediately identify the object on the support plane .

The device object of the present invention , therefore , exploits the combination of the movement , rotation , and reflection of the light beam so as to signal to the user the presence of objects on the support plane regardless of their actual position .

The rotation of the device in fact allows the entire surface of the support plane to be covered through said rotation , even with a single light beam.

As is evident from what has just been described, it is sufficient for the light beam to be directed towards the support plane , projecting itself from the device object of the present invention .

However , in order to optimize object detection , the light beam should project along a direction parallel to the support plane and as close as possible to the surface of the support plane .

For this reason , according to an improvement of the device obj ect of the present invention , the light element is positioned at the rest point , so as to generate a light beam that projects in a direction substantially parallel to the support plane and at a minimum distance from said plane .

Still in order to increase the chances of detecting objects through ref raction/ref lection of the light beam, advantageously the light element is provided to emit a laser ray .

Preferably, a green light is used, as it is the colour that allows a high contrast to be obtained on the objects to be detected .

From what has just been described, it is evident how the device object of the present invention can be made according to any shape , as long as it allows the rotation of the device itself on the support plane and the emission of a light beam that projects along the support plane .

In order to facilitate its rotation , the device object of the present invention is made in the form of a spinning top , that is , a device with cylindrical or conical shape , provided with rotational symmetry and with a rest point in the middle .

An object with such characteristics is particularly simple to be set in rotation , precisely because of its construction , and the high number of turns it is able to make , together with the projection of the light beam, makes it easier for a user to identify the objects on the rest plane .

Precisely in the case of the spinning top , it is specified that the terminology "rotation according to an axis oriented in a substantially perpendicular direction" preferably refers to the initial phase of rotation , in which the spinning top rotates around an axis perpendicular to the support plane .

In fact , a few turns of the spinning top are enough to precisely identify the objects on the support plane .

Consequently, the principle known as the motion of the spinning top is exploited , which consists of a rigid body with a certain mass and a certain length , provided with rotational symmetry, whose point of contact with the support plane is fixed and subjected to a constant force of gravity of acceleration .

The spinning top can integrate the light element, preferably at the tip on which the spinning top rotates .

Alternatively or in combination , it is possible to provide that the light element is a separate element , removably fixable to the device object of the present invention .

In fact , according to a possible embodiment , the light element consists of a torch having a light terminal adapted to generate a light beam.

The torch is inserted into a housing seat obtained inside the device obj ect of the present invention , in such a way that the torch is inserted into the device with its longitudinal axis parallel to the rotation axis of the device and with the light terminal arranged at the rest point . One of the advantages of the device object of the present invention is the possibility of making a housing seat inside a device that can be set in rotation , such as for example a spinning top , and using elements known to the state of the art , such as for example a torch , to achieve the purposes set out above .

The torches known to the state of the art generally project the light beam in the direction of their longitudinal axis , so it is necessary that the device obj ect of the present invention has reflection means for reflecting the light beam generated by the torch .

The reflection means may be integrated into the torch , or they may be inserted into said housing seat .

According to a possible embodiment , a plurality of light elements , arranged homogeneously around the rest point , is provided .

It is evident that the increase in the number of light elements allows to optimize the times of detection of the objects scattered on the support plane , since at the same instant, light rays are projected in different directions that impact on several objects at the same time .

In this case , given the circular movement , the light plane will be clearer , a lower rotation speed of the device object of the present invention will be sufficient for the light beams emitted by the light elements to generate the light plane .

According to a further embodiment , the spinning top has a rotation tip at the rest point, which rotation tip has at least one opening on the side walls so as to allow the passage of the light beam generated by the light element . This embodiment variant is particularly advantageous both in the event that the spinning top provides for the insertion of a torch , and in the event that the light element is already integrated into the spinning top .

Alternatively, it is possible to provide for a rotation tip made of transparent material , so as to allow the passage of the light beam.

As is evident from what has been discussed, the light element can be made in any shape or technology known to the state of the art .

Advantageously, the light element comprises a light beam generation unit .

According to an improvement , the light beam generation unit is configured to generate a non-dotted light beam, with a certain opening .

A wider and non-dotted light beam allows to limit the number of components downstream of the generation unit , simplifying the construction of the device object of the present invention .

Regardless of the peculiar configuration of the light beam, according to a further embodiment , light beam deflection means are provided, which are configured to orient the light beam according to a direction substantially parallel to the support plane .

According to this embodiment variant , a lens interposed between the generation unit and the deflection means is also provided, which lens is configured to increase the width of the light beam.

This variant is particularly advantageous as the lens , by increasing the width of the light beam, makes the light plane wider and, consequently, increases the visibility and the identification of the objects . The rotation of the device , in combination with the increased width of the beam, allows to generate a sort of cylinder of light that makes all the objects that are intercepted by said beam bright .

Furthermore , this embodiment variant is particularly advantageous in combination with the generation of a laser ray, which consists of a beam with dotted width .

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following disclosure of some embodiment examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which : figure 1 illustrates a principle diagram of a possible embodiment of the device object of the present invention ; figures 2a and 2b illustrate a further embodiment of the device object of the present invention , respectively in a coupled and decoupled version of the components of the device itself ; figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the device object of the present invention ; figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the device object of the present invention ; figure 5 illustrates a principle diagram of a possible embodiment of the device object of the present invention .

It is specified that the figures appended to this patent application illustrate only some possible embodiments of a device for detecting objects placed on a support plane object of the present invention , to better understand the advantages and characteristics described . Such embodiments are therefore to be understood as purely illustrative and not limiting the inventive concept of the present invention , i . e . that of using the combination of the rotation of a device and the reflection or refraction of the light ray generated for the identification of objects scattered on a support plane .

With particular reference to figure 1 , the device object of the present invention comprises a spinning top 1 having a main body 10 and a rotation tip 11 .

Like all the spinning top known to the state of the art , the spinning top 1 is made so as to be able to rotate around a rotation axis A on a support plane 2 , in particular on the rotation tip 11 .

The rotation tip 11 has a rest point C on the support plane 2 , passing through the rotation axis A, so that the spinning top 1 rotates on the rest point C .

Generally, during the rotation of the spinning top 1 , the rest point C may vary, following the possible displacement of the spinning top 1 during its rotation , wherein the main body 10 is integral with the rotation tip 11 .

The spinning top 1 also has a light element 12 configured to emit a light beam, in particular a laser ray B , which is projected from the rotation tip 11 towards the outside of the spinning top 1 .

Preferably, the laser ray B is projected in a direction parallel to the support plane 2 and close to the support plane 2 itself .

The light element 12 can be made in any of the ways known to the state of the art, for example it can consist of an electronic device capable of generating a laser ray B .

Just like the electronic devices known to the state of the art , the light element can provide an activation unit aimed at switching on/off the light element 12 .

The activation unit can be manual , made with specific keys on the surface of the spinning top 1 or through remote controls , transmitted to the activation unit through wireless communication .

Alternatively or in combination , the activation unit can generate control signals for activating the light element 12 automatically, for example by providing an accelerometer , an inertial switch , a centrifugal switch or similar components , so that , when the rotation of the spinning top 1 is detected, the light element 12 is automatically activated .

There is also present an object 3 placed on the support plane 2 : the laser ray B , when it impacts against the object 3 , is reflected or refracted, as illustrated in figure 1 , based on the nature of the obj ect 3. Regardless of the positioning of the obj ect 3 along the support plane 2 , the rotation of the spinning top 1 about the axis A causes the laser ray B , before or after during the rotation cycle , to impact against the object 3.

The deflection of the laser ray B allows a user to immediately visualize the presence of the object 3 on the support plane 2 , even in the case of transparent and/or small-sized objects , such as glass fragments , or the like .

For illustrative simplicity, figure 1 illustrates only one object 3 , but it is evident how the rotation of the spinning top 1 allows to let the laser ray B impact against all the objects 3 placed on the surface of the support plane 2 .

Furthermore , figure 1 illustrates the spinning top 1 , but it is evident how the same result can be obtained with a light element 12 placed on a body set in rotation around the axis A, on the support plane 2 .

For example , even a simple torch set in rotation according to an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis can be used to allow a user to identify the object 3 following the refraction of the laser ray B .

As an alternative to the spinning top 1 , moreover , a device fixed stably at a point can be provided, which has a rotating body to which the light element 12 is mounted integrally .

The rotating body can be operated manually or through an electric motor .

The spinning top 1 is particularly advantageous in that it is easy to be set in rotation and allows a high number of rotation turns to be obtained, so as to also identify a high number of objects 3 placed on the support plane 2 .

As described above , the light element 12 can be made in any of the ways known to the state of the art .

Figures 2a to 3 illustrate a possible embodiment of such a light element , which consists of a torch 4 having a main body 40 and of a light terminal 41 .

The light terminal 41 is configured to emit a light beam, in a manner completely similar to the light element 12 of figure 1 , but the operation will be described later , with reference to figure 3.

According to the variant illustrated in figures 2a and 2b , the torch 4 is removably fixable to the spinning top 1 , thanks to the presence , inside the spinning top 1 , of a housing seat 100 of said torch 4 .

The torch 4 is inserted into the housing seat 100 by sliding it along the direction of the arrow D in figure 2b .

The housing seat 100 is obtained in the thickness of the main body 10 of the spinning top and in the thickness of the rotation tip 11 , so as to allow the light terminal 41 to be placed at the rotation tip 11 , in order to project the light beam in proximity to the support plane 2 .

It is specified that the torch 4 can be removably fixed to the spinning top 1 according to any of the ways known to the state of the art .

For example , magnetic means inside the housing seat 100 , as well as mechanical means such as interlocking clips , bayonet interlocking elements , or threads , may be provided .

In case of stable fixing of the torch 4 to the spinning top 1 , it is possible to envisage using the terminal of the torch 4 opposite to the light terminal 41 as a handle of the spinning top 1 itself and to place the spinning top 1 in rotation .

As anticipated, the torch 4 , through the light terminal 41 , projects a light beam extending along a direction parallel to , or coinciding with , the longitudinal axis of the torch 4 .

For this reason , based on the fixing of the torch 4 , the light beam of the torch 4 would be directed along the rotation tip 11 , in the direction of the support plane 2 .

Figure 3 illustrates deflection means for deflecting the laser ray B generated by the torch 4 . The deflection means can for example consist of a mirror 5 , oriented according to a specific angle so as to impact against the laser ray B and deflect it parallel to the support plane 2 .

The operation of the device object of the present invention according to the variant illustrated in figure 3 will therefore be the same as that described in relation to figure 1 .

As described above , it is possible to provide for generating a plurality of laser rays B , which diffuse from the rotation tip 11 towards the outside of the spinning top 1 .

Preferably, the diffusion of such rays is carried out through a homogeneous distribution of the means for generating such rays .

In the case of the embodiment variant of figure 1 , this feature results in a homogeneous distribution of the light elements 12 along the surface of the rotation tip 11 , each responsible for the generation of a laser ray or of a light beam.

In the case of the variant of figure 3 , it is instead possible to provide a system of mirrors , which uses the ray alone generated by the light terminal 41 , to diffuse it according to different directions , all parallel to the support plane 2 , creating a radial pattern with a common centre provided at the rotation tip 11 .

Finally, it is specified that the rotation tip 11 can be made of both transparent material , in order to allow the passage of rays , and it can have openings obtained on the side surface .

Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the device obj ect of the present invention , in particular of the light element , integrated inside the spinning top 1 .

In this case , in fact , the light element consists of a laser ray generation unit 51 .

The source 51 generates a laser ray B that projects in the direction of the support plane 2 and impacts with a lens 52 for enlarging the width of the laser ray B , configured to generate a wider light beam Bl , always directed towards the support plane 2 .

The presence of the mirror 5 also allows to deflect the beam Bl in the direction of the object 3.

The beam Bl intercepting the object 3 passes from a dotted width (typical of the laser ray) to a width ranging from 3 to 4 millimetres , thanks to the cylindrical lens 52 , so as to be more visible to the eyes of a user , who will , consequently, be able to more easily detect the object 3 intercepted by the ray Bl .

According to the variant illustrated in figure 4 , the spinning top 1 has a disc-shaped central body 10 , so as to have greater stability during rotation , is a handle part 13.

The handle part 13 can house both the laser ray generation unit 51 , and a possible activation unit 6 , aimed at activating the generation unit 51 , controllable as described above .

The spinning top 1 can have a power supply unit , such as for example a battery, which can be inserted into the handle part 13 or integrated into the central body 10 .

The variant of figure 4 is particularly advantageous with a specific shape of the light beam generation unit , illustrated as a principle diagram in figure 5 . According to this variant , the light element consists of a generation unit configured to generate a non-dotted light beam B and having a certain opening .

The operation downstream of the generation unit 51 will be completely similar to that described in relation to figure 4 , but the peculiar realization of the generation unit 51 allows to simplify the construction of the device , allowing a single lens 52 to be used in combination with a mirror 5 .

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions , some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail .

It should be understood, however , that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but , on the contrary, the aim is to cover all the modifications , alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims .

The use of "for example" , "etc . " , "or" indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation , unless otherwise indicated.

The use of "includes" means "includes but is not limited to" , unless otherwise stated .