JPH07219426A - Spherical display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a spherical display device having the whole spherical surface easy to see and a spherical body removably set on a pedestal and continuously rotated in a prescribed attitude when it is set on the pedestal in an optional direction. CONSTITUTION:This terrestrial globe 2 is provided with a hollow spherical body 4 modeled after the earth, a pedestal 6 rotatably supporting the spherical body 4 at its bottom section, and a driving device 8 applying the rotating force to the spherical body 4. A spherical weight 10 kept it distance L to the center line 4d of the spherical body 4 constant is arranged in the spherical body 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sphere display device, and more specifically, to a character, a figure or a symbol including a globe, a moon globe, a celestial globe or the like having a sphere shaped like a star or a celestial body, or a combination thereof. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sphere display device having a sphere having a color bond on its surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, globes, lunar globes, celestial globes, etc. are used for teaching materials or as interiors. And, the conventional globe a is as shown in FIG. FIG. 5: is a side view which shows the whole structure of the conventional globe.

As shown in FIG. 5, this conventional globe a has a sphere b shaped like the earth, a support c for rotatably supporting the sphere b, and a support d for supporting the support c. It is mainly composed of Sphere a has its north pole part b1
The line connecting the line and the South Pole part b2, that is, the earth axis is inclined like the actual earth. The receiving tool c is formed in an arc shape from the vicinity of the north pole part b1 to the vicinity of the south pole part b2 along the meridian of the sphere b, and at both ends thereof,
A support shaft c1 and a support shaft c2 that pivotally support the north pole portion b1 and the south pole portion b2 of the sphere b are provided.

A conventional globe a having such a configuration
The sphere b is rotatable around the earth axis by the receiving tool c, and when it is desired to rotate the sphere b, the sphere b is manually rotated. In addition, another conventional globe is shown in FIG.
Shown in. FIG. 6 is a side view showing another conventional globe.
This globe j is the north pole part k1 and the south pole part k of the sphere k.
The meridian ring m is attached to 2 and is formed so as to extend along the southern hemisphere side half of this meridian ring m and at both ends the meridian ring m.
The receiving tool n for supporting is fixed to the support base p.

On the other hand, as another conventional globe, there is known one in which a sphere is suspended by magnetic force. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the overall configuration of still another conventional globe.
The globe e shown in FIG. 7 includes a support base g facing the south pole part f1 of the sphere f, and a mounting part i fixed to the support base g via a curved support rod h and facing the north pole part f2 of the sphere f. Is to have. Further, in this globe e, each of the support base g and the mounting portion i is provided with a magnetic material.

When the sphere f is floated, an electric current is passed through the magnetic material of the support base g to generate a magnetic force, and this magnetic force and the magnetic force generated from the mounting portion i are applied to the sphere f to cause the sphere f. F is floated between the support g and the mounting part i.

[0007]

By the way, since the actual earth continues to rotate, if the globe is provided with a function that keeps its sphere rotating like the actual earth, it is of educational significance. Or it will be very valuable as an interior.

However, in the conventional globe a, the sphere b does not rotate unless it is rotated by hand, and therefore it is impossible to give the viewer a dynamic sensation that the earth is rotating. . In addition, the conventional globe a
In the above, since the north pole portion b1 and the south pole portion b2 of the sphere b are rotatably supported by the support shaft c1 and the support shaft c2, respectively, the sphere b cannot be easily removed from the receiver c. Therefore, the north pole portion b1 of the sphere b
The vicinity and the south pole part b2 are difficult to see, especially the south pole part b2
Since it is located at the bottom, it was very difficult to see. Further, the part of the sphere b facing the receiving tool c is also hidden by the receiving tool c, and when it is desired to see the terrain, administration, etc. near the part, it is necessary to rotate the sphere b, which is troublesome. Further, the receiving tool c impairs the aesthetics of the globe a as an interior. Such a problem remarkably occurs for the meridian ring m of the other globe j.

On the other hand, even in another conventional globe e that floats the globe by magnetic force, it is impossible for the globe f to continue to rotate, and in this globe e, the globe f is supported by a support g. Since it is necessary to float between the mounting part i and the mounting part i and to be rotatable about the earth axis, the earth axis direction must be the vertical direction. Therefore, the inclination of the earth's earth axis cannot be reproduced, and the image is different from the image of the globe that has already been formed. Therefore, it is difficult to use the globe e as a teaching material.

Further, since it is necessary to balance the magnetic force delicately, the entire apparatus becomes large in size and expensive. In addition, a globe that emits light by using a fluorescent paint is also used, but it is not inexpensive either. It should be noted that these problems are not limited to the conventional globe, and may occur in the moon globe, the celestial globe, and other spherical display devices as well.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to make it easy to see the entire surface of the sphere and to attach and detach the sphere to and from the pedestal. An object of the present invention is to provide a sphere display device in which a sphere continues to rotate in a predetermined posture even when set in an orientation.

[0012]

The present invention has the following constitution in order to achieve the above object. That is, the invention of claim 1 comprises a hollow sphere, a pedestal that supports the bottom of the sphere to allow the sphere to rotate, and a drive device that applies a rotational force to the sphere. Is a sphere display device characterized in that a weight whose distance from the center line of the sphere is kept constant is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rod member disposed on the center line of the sphere inside the sphere, one end of which is rotatably attached to the rod member and the other end of which is attached to the weight. The spherical display device according to claim 1, further comprising a support arm.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the drive device has a rotating plate that rotates in the pedestal, and the rotating plate contacts the lowermost portion of the sphere at a portion other than the center of rotation thereof. The spherical display device according to claim 1.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the pedestal supports the bottom of the sphere, it can be easily removed from the pedestal by lifting the sphere. Further, even when the sphere is set on the pedestal, the whole sphere can be easily seen.

Further, since the weight always maintains the state in which its potential energy is minimized and the distance between the weight and the center line of the sphere is constant, the inclination of the center line of the sphere is constant. Can be kept. Therefore, the sphere that receives the rotational force from the drive device always continues to rotate with the center line of the sphere as the axis of rotation. Further, even if the sphere is set on the pedestal in an arbitrary direction, the sphere is rotated, and the weight always takes a posture in which the center line of the sphere rotates about the rotation axis.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the distance between the weight and the center line of the sphere can be kept constant with a simple structure using the rod member and the support arm. Claim 3
According to the invention of (1), the structure of the entire apparatus can be simplified, and even if the sphere is set on the pedestal, the whole sphere becomes easier to see. Further, since the rotating plate can contact the sphere at a portion other than the center of rotation to give a rotational force to the sphere, the sphere can be smoothly rotated.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the spherical display device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, the sphere display device includes a globe, a moon globe, a celestial globe or the like having a sphere shaped like a star or a celestial body, a character, a figure or a symbol or a combination thereof or a combination of these and a color on the surface. A display device having a sphere.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the globe according to this embodiment. Further, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the entire configuration of the globe of the present embodiment viewed from the side. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view including a partial cross-section as seen from a plane cut along line III-III in FIG. Further, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the globe according to the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the sphere display device of the present invention is applied to a globe 2, which is a hollow sphere 4 in the shape of the earth and the sphere 4.
A pedestal 6 that supports the bottom of the sphere 4 to allow the sphere 4 to rotate, and a drive device 8 that includes a worm gear and applies a rotational force to the sphere 4.

The sphere 4 is made of, for example, metal, gypsum, plastic, paper or a combination thereof,
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a spherical weight 10 having a distance L from the center line 4d of the sphere 4 kept constant is arranged in the sphere 4.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the globe 2 is arranged on the center line 4d in the sphere 4 and is tilted about 23.5 degrees with respect to the vertical line as in the actual earth. 4a and the south pole portion 4c of this axle 4a at one end
A supporting arm 12 rotatably mounted in the vicinity and the other end of which is fixed to a weight 10 is provided.
2, the distance L between the weight 10 and the center line 4d is kept constant.

Both ends of the earth axis rod 4a are fixed to the inner walls of the north pole portion 4b and the south pole portion 4c of the spherical body 4. The weight 10 is a metal sphere made of iron, stainless steel, brass or the like, a glass sphere, or a sphere made of resin, and when the earth axis rod 4a is inclined by about 23.5 degrees, the inner bottom portion of the sphere 4 is It is located in contact with. The shape of the weight 10 is not limited to the spherical shape, and may be another shape such as an elliptic spherical shape having a curved surface.

The pedestal 6 is, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3,
A hollow body having a substantially disk shape and a space formed in the same shape as the outer surface of the battery box 6a, the motor housing portion 6b, the through hole 6c, and the peripheral edge of the through hole 6c. 3 ball bearings 6c1
Have and.

The motor accommodating portion 6b is an elongated cylindrical space. The through hole 6c is a circular hole formed near the center of the upper portion of the pedestal 6, and the center of the through hole 6c and the center of the sphere 4 are on the same vertical line. Then, the three ball bearings 6c1 respectively support the bottom circumference of the sphere 4 in rolling contact with the peripheral edge of the through hole 6c at equal intervals. The number of ball bearings 6c1 is not limited to the number in this embodiment, and may be three or more.
What supports the sphere 4 may be a resin material or the like that makes a sliding contact with the sphere 4, instead of the ball bearing.

The drive device 8 has a worm wheel 8a that rotates in the pedestal 6, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3.
The worm wheel 8a is in contact with the lowermost portion of the spherical body 4 at a portion other than the rotation center 8a1. Further, the drive device 8 is inserted into the motor accommodating portion 6b of the pedestal 6 and the support shaft 8b that pivotally supports the worm wheel 8a. The drive device 8 meshes with the worm wheel 8a and the worm wheel 8a.
A worm 8c for rotating the worm 8c and a motor 8d mounted in the motor housing portion 6b for driving the worm 8c.

The operation of the globe 2 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 or 4. First, the worm 8c driven by the motor 8c rotates the worm wheel 8a. As a result, the worm wheel 8a that rotates in the direction indicated by the symbol A (see FIG. 4) applies a rotational force P to the spherical body 4 at the contact portion 8a2 with the lowermost portion of the spherical body 4.

On the other hand, the weight 10 in the sphere 4 is always located at the inner bottom portion of the sphere 4 (the position of the weight 10 shown in FIG. 4) in order to maintain the state in which the potential energy is minimized. As a result, the sphere 4 rotates while the weight 10 is located at the inner bottom portion of the sphere 4.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, since the distance L between the weight 10 and the axle 4a is constant and the axle 4a and the support arm 12 are rotatable with respect to each other, the sphere 4 is always With the axis bar 4a as the axis of rotation, it continues to rotate smoothly in the direction indicated by the symbol B in FIG. According to the present inventors, the reduction ratio of the worm gear is considered to be suitable for reproducing the rotation motion of the earth when the sphere 4 is rotated at 1 to 5 revolutions per minute.

Even if the sphere 4 is set on the pedestal 6 in an arbitrary direction, the sphere 4 is rotated and the weight 10 always causes the sphere 4 to have a predetermined posture, that is, the ground rod 4a is inclined by about 23.5 degrees. It stabilizes, and it rotates by the drive device 8 using the earth axis rod 4a as a rotation axis.

With the above-described structure and operation, the globe 2 of this embodiment has the following effects. By lifting the sphere 4 from the pedestal 6, the sphere 4 can be picked up and the entire surface on which the terrain, administration, etc. are expressed can be easily seen. As a result, the person who views the globe 2 can deepen the understanding of the geographical features and administration of the earth. Further, since the sphere 4 has a structure in which it is supported by the pedestal 6 only at the bottom thereof, even if the sphere 4 is set on the pedestal 6, the whole sphere 4 can be easily seen. As a result, the sphere 4 can have a feeling of floating the earth in space.

Further, the sphere 4 can be smoothly and continuously rotated in a fixed direction with a low cost and simple structure using the motor 8d with the earth axis rod 4a of the sphere 4 as a central axis. Therefore, the slow rotation of the earth can be reproduced at low cost without requiring a large-scale device for balancing the magnetic force. Further, since the earth axis rod 4a of the sphere 4 is inclined like the earth axis of the actual earth, it is possible to keep the image of a generally formed globe.

Therefore, the globe 2 is very valuable as an educational significance or an interior.
As a result, even if the globe used for learning is no longer needed, it can be reused as an interior. Further, when the sphere 4 is removed from the pedestal 6 and then set on the pedestal 6 again, the sphere 4 can be set without worrying about the orientation of the sphere 4.

The present embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the configuration of each unit in the present embodiment may be as follows.

For example, in the present embodiment, a worm gear is used as the reduction mechanism of the drive unit 8 when the sphere 4 is rotated, but in contrast to this, a mechanism formed by combining gears such as spur gears, A transmission mechanism using a pulley and a belt may be adopted.

The portion of the sphere 4 that comes into contact with the worm wheel 8a is not limited to the lowermost portion of the sphere 4, and any position can be set.

The fixing of the earth axis rod 4a to the spherical body 4 is not limited to fixing at both ends, but may be fixed only to the inner wall of the south pole portion 4c. In addition, the weight 10 is not always supported by the support arm 12.
It is not necessary to make the distance L between the axis bar 4a (center line 4d of the sphere 4) constant and, for example, a hollow donut-shaped tube in which the weight 10 is rolled is coaxial with the axis of the sphere. The distance L between the weight 10 and the center line 4d of the sphere 4 may be fixed so that the distance L is fixed.

In order to prevent the sphere 4 from rolling down from the pedestal 6, an arcuate receiver having an appropriate width may be attached to the pedestal 6 along the equator or latitude line of the sphere 4. In this case, if the receiving member is made of a resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate or a transparent material such as glass,
It is possible to give the sphere 4 a floating feeling of the earth in space.

The present embodiment is an example in which the spherical display device of the present invention is used in a globe, and the spherical display device of the present invention includes characters, figures or symbols including a lunar globe, a celestial globe or the like, or a combination thereof. It is also applicable to a sphere display device provided with a sphere having a combination of these and colors on the surface. The spherical display device of the present invention can also be used for a display device having an ellipsoidal sphere or the like.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the first aspect of the invention, the sphere can be picked up by hand and the entire surface can be easily seen, and the whole sphere can be easily seen even when the sphere is set on the pedestal. Therefore, for example, when the sphere is a shape of the earth, it is possible to easily see the entire surface in which the terrain, the administration, etc. are expressed. As a result, people who see the globe can deepen their understanding of the terrain and administration of the earth.

Further, since the sphere always continues to rotate with the center line of the sphere as a rotation axis, for example, when the sphere is a shape of the earth, while revolving the rotation of the earth, the center line of the sphere is further reproduced. The same weight as the earth's axis and the weight is installed so that the northern hemisphere faces upwards, thereby eliminating the need for a large-scale device for balancing the magnetic force, and making it closer to the actual rotation of the earth. Can be reproduced. Therefore, it is very valuable as an educational meaning or interior.

Further, even if the sphere is set on the pedestal in an arbitrary direction, the sphere takes a posture in which the sphere always rotates about the center line of the sphere by the weight while rotating. As a result, for example, if the sphere is shaped like the earth, no matter how the sphere is set on the pedestal, the sphere will take the same posture as the actual earth, so be careful of the orientation of the sphere. You can set a sphere without it.

According to the invention of claim 2, with a simple structure,
Since the sphere can be continuously rotated with the center line of the sphere as the axis of rotation at all times, for example, when the sphere is a shape of the earth, the inclination of the center line of the sphere at the time of rotation is the actual earth axis of the earth. It becomes easy to set the same as the inclination of.

According to the third aspect of the invention, even when the sphere is set on the pedestal, the whole sphere can be seen more easily. Further, the sphere can be smoothly rotated by the rotating plate. Therefore, for example, when the sphere has a shape of the earth, the sphere can have a floating feeling of the earth in the universe, and the smooth rotation of the earth can be reproduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a globe according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the entire configuration of the globe according to the present embodiment as seen from the side.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view including a partial cross-section as seen from a plane cut along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the globe according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a conventional globe.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the overall configuration of another conventional globe.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the overall configuration of still another conventional globe.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 globe (sphere display device) 4 sphere 4a earth axis rod (bar member) 4d sphere center line 6 pedestal 6c1 ball bearing 8 drive device 8a worm wheel (rotating plate) 8a1 worm wheel rotation center (rotating plate rotation center) 8a2 Contact part of worm wheel with sphere 8c Worm 8d Motor 10 Weight 12 Support arm A Worm wheel rotation direction B Sphere rotation direction L Distance between weight and sphere center line

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Muranaka 2-5-12 Irie, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Mitsubishi Pencil Research and Development Center

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hollow sphere, a pedestal that supports the bottom of the sphere to allow the sphere to rotate, and a drive device that applies a rotational force to the sphere. A spherical display device, wherein a weight having a constant distance from the center line is provided. 2. A rod member disposed on a center line of the sphere in a sphere, and a supporting arm having one end rotatably attached to the rod member and the other end attached to the weight. The spherical display device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The drive device has a rotating plate that rotates in the pedestal, and the rotating plate contacts the lowermost portion of the sphere at a portion other than the center of rotation thereof. The spherical display device described.