GB2176411A

GB2176411A - Globe puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2176411A
Application number: GB8515346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Newson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-18
Filing date: 1985-06-18
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Also published as: GB8515346D0

Abstract

The puzzle is constructed of interlocking sections 2 - 9 each having its own face as appropriate to its location of longitude and latitude, each section being able to interlock with its surrounding sections. One section may contain a battery and an electric conducting track 32, may be formed by the interlocking sections. If all sections are located correctly a circuit will be formed and a bulb or bulbs will light up. The sections may be translucent. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzle This invention relates two a puzzle, and particularlyto a globe puzzle.

Puzzles come in manyformsand are commonly used for amusement and to pass time. Many have little or no educational value.

According to the present invention there is provided a globe puzzle comprising a plurality of globe surface sections that are each releasably intercon nectablewith at leasttwo adjacent sectionsto form an assembled globe.

The globe may be provided on its outer surface with a pictorial design, such as a map. An assembled globe puzzle according to the invention maythen represent a planetary body, typicallythe Earth, and may provide a valuable educational aid,teachingthe locations of countries and seas, for example, according to the detail provided on the surface sections making up the globe.

The interconnections between the surface sections are releasable without damage to permitthe assembled puzzleto be readily dismantled and rebuilt.

Many forms of interconnection are possible.

Aspecific embodiment ofthe invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows in perspective a partially assembled globe puzzle; Figures2a, band cshowthree elevations ofthe south polarsurfacesection; Figures3a, band cshowthree elevations ofthe north polarsurfacesection; Figures 4to 9 show six slightly different intermediate surface sections; Figures 10 a, band c sh ow th ree elevations ofthe surface section of Figure 6; Figures 11 a and b showtwo elevations ofthe surface section of Figure 9; Figure 12 illustrates how the south polar surface section may fit on to a stand;; Figure 13 illustrates how the southern most ofthe intermediate surface sections may connect with the south polarsurfacesection; Figure 14 shows a partially amended globe; and Figure 15 illustrates how the north polar surface section completes the globe.

The following description and the accompanying drawings relate to a globe puzzle representing the Earth and made of one hundred and ten surface sections. There are eight master shapes, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 9. Each represents an area ofthe Earth's surface bounded by lines of lattitude and, in all except the polar sections, by lines of longitude.

Asouth polar section 2 extends southward from latitude 60"S. A north polar section 3 extends northward from latitude 60"N. Intermediate sections 4to 9 each extend consecutively northward over arcs of 20 from latitude 60"S to latitude 60"N. The intermediate sections each extend from east to west over arcs of 20 of longitude and accordingly eighteen of each intermediate section 4to 9 are required to assemble the complete globe. Each section depicts on its surface a map of the corresponding area ofthe Earth's surface.

The globe puzzle is provided with a stand 10 on which the globe can be assembled and on which the completed globe is rotatably mounted. The stand comprises a shaft 11 suitably set at an angle of 23" corresponding to the Earth's axial tilton a base 12.

The shaft is provided with a collar 13. The south polar surface section 2 has an aperture 14to a supporttube 17 at the south pole sized to accept the upper end of the shaft as far as the collar on which the south polar section then rests.

Each of the intermediate surface sections 4to 9 is provided with a tongue 15 which is adapted to be releasably received in a complementary socket 16 in an adjacent surface section. The tongues 15 extend southwardlyfrom each section and the sockets 16 are open northwardly. The south polar section 2 has eighteen equally spaced sockets 16to acceptthetongues 15 of the southernmost intermediate sections 4.

The intermediate sections 4 to 9 are also interconnected laterally, i.e. in an east-westdirection.Alateral flange 20 on a first surface section is provided with an end portion 21 that is inturned radially, i.e. radially of the globe, and a lateral flange 22 on an adjacent second surface section is provided with a radially outturned end portion 23. The flanges 20 and 22 are complementary such that they overlap when the sections are assembled in the globe and the outturned end portion 23 is engaged behind the inturned end portion 21.

The globe can be builtupfrom the south polar surface section by inserting the tongues 15 of successive intermediate surface sections 4to 9 into the complementary sockets 16 in the southerly adjacent surface section. These tongues and sockets are tapered and are a somewhat loose fit, at least in the first stages of insertion,to allow angular movement including some relative rotation between the surface sections being connected. This isto permit adjacent flanges 20 and 22to overlap one another, particularly when the last arc of any layer ofthe intermediate surface sections is being positioned in the wedgeshaped last remaining space ofthe layer. The overlapping adjacentflanges clip together when the surface section is straightened into its correct position.

The northernmost intermediate surface sections 9 in the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention are each provided with a relatively shorttongue 25 in place of the sockets 16 ofthe other intermediate section. The north polar surface section is provided with eighteen equally spaced sockets 26 complementary to thetongues 25. When all the sections 9 are in position (Figure 15) the north polar section can be placed on the intermediate sections 9 to complete the assembly of the globe, the tongues 25 being received in the sockets 26.

As thus far described, the globe can be assembled in many ways on the south poiar section 2, only one way being correct when considering the surface markings on the globe. In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the surface sections include electrical circuit elements so located as to interconnect between adjacent sections and form a continuous electrically conducting pathway only when the sections are assembled in specific relative position on the globe, and means are provided for indicating when an electrical circuit including the thus formed pathway is complete.

As shown in Figures 2cant 3c,the said means include an electrical power source comprising a dry cell 30 in the south polar section 2 and an electric lamp31 inthenorth polarsection3.Atleastone surface section is translucent so thatthe light ofthe lamp is visible when the lamp is energised; prefer ably all sections are translucent, orthetranslucent areas are confined to certain geographical features, for a pleasing effect.

The electrical circuit elements are shown in Figure 1 as conductor strips 32 on the inner surfaces ofthe surface portions. The conductor strips are at stag- gered latitudes around each set of intermediate sections 4to 9 and make contact across the overlapping adjacentflanges 20 and 22 only when the sections are paired correctiy. Electrical contact is made between each adjacent set of intermediate surface sections 4 to 9, and between the southernmostsetofintermedi- ate surface sections 4 and the south polar section 2, and between the northernmost set of intermediate surface sections and the north polar section 3, through exposed conductors in specific tongue and socketconnectors, which must accordingly be correctly alignedforlongitude in order to complete the circuit and lightthe lamp 31.

Claims

1. Globe puzzle comprising a plurality of globe surface sections that are each releasably intercon nectablewith at least two adjacent sectionsto form an assembled globe.

2. A globe puzzle according to claim 1 wherein a tongue on a surface section is adapted to be releasably received in a complementary socket in an adjacent surface section.

3. A globe puzzle according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a lateral flange on a first surface section is provided with a radiaily inturned end portion and a lateral flange on an adjacent second surface section is provided with a radially outturned end portion,the flanges being complementarywherebyto overlap when the said sections are assembled in the globe with the outturned end portion ofthe flange ofthe second section engaged behind the inturned end portion oftheflange of the first section.

4. A globe puzzle according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the globe is provided with a pictorial design on its outer surface.

5. Aglobe puzzle according to claim 4wherein the design is a map.

6. Ag lobe puzzle according to claim 5 wherein the surface sections are interconnected along lines of latitude and/or longitude.

7. Aglobe puzzle according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the surface sections are interconnectableto form an assembled globe in a plurality of relative positions.

8. A globe puzzle according to claim 7 wherein the surface sections include electrical circuit elements so located as to interconnect between adjacent sections and form a continuous electrically conducting pathway only when the sections are assembled in specific relatively positions in the globe, and means are provided for indicating when an electrical circuit includ ingthethusformed pathway is complete.

9. A globe puzzle according to claim 8wherein the said means comprise an electrical power source and an electric lamp.

10. A globe puzzle according to claim 9 wherein the lamp is inside the giobe and when lit is visible through at least one translucent surface section.

11. A globe puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a stand on which the assembled globe is rotatably mountable.

12. A globe puzzle substantially as herein describedwith reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.