WO2008140279A2

WO2008140279A2 - Globe apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008140279A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/002738
Authority: WO
Inventors: In-Hyung Cho
Original assignee: In-Hyung Cho
Priority date: 2007-05-16
Filing date: 2008-05-16
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Also published as: WO2008140279A3

Abstract

Provided is an Earth globe apparatus that can accurately set a position of the Earth on the revolution orbit of the Earth in the solar system by aligning the Earth globe apparatus with an actual direction of space. The Earth globe apparatus includes an Earth globe horizontally rotating and inclined a predetermined angle to a vertical line, a support frame rotatably supporting the Earth globe in a North Pole and a South Pole and including the driving unit therein, a solar system unit including a plurality of planet orbits concentrically rotating around a Sun model, a revolution unit rotating an Earth orbit of the planet orbits in the solar system unit, and a rotatable day-and-night-division unit disposed in the Earth globe and engaging with the Earth orbit through the revolution unit.

Description

GLOBE APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an Earth globe apparatus, and more particularly, to an Earth globe apparatus that can simulate the revolution and the rotation of the Earth. Background Art

[2] Generally, an Earth globe apparatus includes a base, an arch-shaped arm, and an

Earth globe. The arch-shaped arm, fixed to the base, has bearings in both ends thereof. The Earth globe is slidably coupled to the both ends of the arm with the bearings interposed therebetween. Miniatures of land, sea, mountains, and countries are two or three-dimensionally provided on the surface of the Earth globe.

[3] Such Earth globe apparatuses are used for decoration and some Earth globe apparatuses with latitudes and longitudes are used for practicality.

[4] An improved Earth globe apparatus is disclosed in U.S. patent No. 6,299,451, in which a lighting device representing the Sun is disposed in an Earth globe, and the lighting device is linked with a clock to provide a visual day-and-night division.

[5] However, methods of simulating the revolving Earth with rotating through a single

Earth globe apparatus are not universally suggested. Specifically, it is difficult to simultaneously simulate both the rotation of the Earth and the revolution of the Earth linked with the Sun in the structure of a single typical Earth globe apparatus.

[6] While a separate revolution device simulating the revolution of the Earth around the

Sun and a separate rotation device simulating the rotation of the Earth can perform this simulation, the single Earth globe apparatus cannot perform this simulation.

[7] To address these limitations, U. S. patent No. 6,979,197 to the present inventor discloses an Earth globe apparatus for showing rotation and revolution at the same time through a single Earth globe apparatus.

[8] However, the Earth globe apparatus disclosed in U. S. patent No. 6,979,197 has a complicated structure because an axis of the rotation and an axis of the revolution extend from a base. It is also difficult to align the Earth globe apparatus with an actual direction of space and accurately set a position of the Earth on the revolution orbit of the Earth in the solar system.

[9] Also, it is not difficult to detect variations in the lengths of day and night depending on the seasons in a year and the change of dates in relation to a position of the Earth on the revolution orbit of the Earth. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [10] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an Earth globe apparatus having a graceful appearance by simulating the rotation and the revolution of the Earth at the same time with a simple structure.

[11] Another object of the present invention is to provide an Earth globe apparatus that can accurately set a position of the Earth on the revolution orbit of the Earth in the solar system by aligning the Earth globe apparatus with an actual direction of space.

[12] Another object of the present invention is to provide an Earth globe apparatus that can detect the change of dates and variations in the lengths of day and night depending on the seasons in a year in relation to a position of the Earth on the revolution orbit of the Earth.

[13] Other objects of the present invention will be more clearly appreciated through the following embodiments. Technical Solution

[14] To achieve the objects of the present invention, there is provided an Earth globe apparatus including: a rotation unit including an Earth globe inclined a predetermined angle to a vertical line and a driving unit horizontally rotating the Earth globe; a support frame rotatably supporting the Earth globe in a North Pole and a South Pole and including the driving unit therein; a housing supporting the support frame; a solar system unit disposed in the housing to be exposed over the housing and including a plurality of planet orbits concentrically rotating around a Sun model; a revolution unit rotating an Earth orbit of the planet orbits in the solar system unit; and a rotatable day- and-night-division unit disposed in the Earth globe and engaging with the Earth orbit through the revolution unit.

[15] The solar system unit may include: a support bracket fixed to the housing; a cylindrical rotatable Earth orbit member disposed on the support bracket and including an interposed bearing and gear teeth, the gear teeth being disposed along a lower-outer side of the Earth orbit member; a Venus orbit member, a Mercury orbit member, and a Sun member that are sequentially inserted into the Earth orbit member, the Sun member having the protruding Sun model in a center thereof; a release prevention member fixed to the support bracket to surround the Earth orbit member on an outer side of the Earth orbit member; and a Mars orbit member disposed on the release prevention member.

[16] The revolution unit may include: a gear-ratio-change unit coupled to the Earth orbit through a gear and changing a gear ratio to synchronize a rotation angle of the Earth orbit with a rotation angle of the day-and-night-division unit; and a rotation control unit coupled to the gear-ratio-change unit and transmitting a rotation of the Earth orbit to the day-and-night-division unit by a user's operation, wherein the rotation control unit includes: a support bracket fixed to the housing; and a rotation axis including an upper portion, a lower end having a lower transmission gear, and an upper end having an upper transmission gear, and the lower transmission gear is rotatably inserted into the support bracket with a bearing interposed therebetween, and the upper portion rotatably penetrates through the support frame, and the upper transmission gear is coupled to the day-and-night-division unit through a gear.

[17] The Earth globe apparatus may further include a rotatable time ring disposed in a plane horizontally sectioning the Earth globe, the time ring being coupled to the support frame and engaging with the Earth orbit and having a surface on which a 24-hour scale is marked.

[18] A time-ring-rotating gear may be disposed in the support frame at a position where the support frame and the time ring cross each other, and a knob connected to the time- ring-rotating gear is disposed on an outer side of the support frame, wherein the time ring is slidably disposed on a ring-shaped time ring support fixed to the support frame in the plane, and gear teeth are disposed on an inner surface of the time ring along a circumference thereof and engaging with the time-ring-rotating gear.

[19] The Earth globe apparatus may further include a rotatable date-change-check tab connecting the North pole to the South Pole, the date-change-check tab being coupled to the time ring at a position corresponding to 12 o'clock PM of the time ring to engage with the time ring.

[20] The Earth globe apparatus may further include an Earth orbit ring that is disposed on an outer side of the most outer orbit of the planet orbits; and is disposed to allow a position corresponding to 1st January of 12 months to be placed at a position tilted a predetermined angle in a Earth revolution direction from a line passing through the Sun model and the North Pole; and has a surface on which the 12 months and divisions of a year in a lunar calendar are marked.

[21] The support frame may include: a couple of Earth globe support frames having a hook shape with an angle of 270 degrees and detachably coupled to each other and including an axis support protrusion and an antenna support protrusion, the axis support protrusion having a through hole therein and being disposed in the South Pole, the antenna support protrusion having a through hole therein and being disposed in the North Pole; a stand having one end fixed to the support frame and the other end fixed to the housing; and a plurality of coupling parts detachably coupled to the Earth globe support frames to store an installation including the driving unit.

[22] The installation may include: a white-night-indicating lamp disposed in a North Pole side end of the Earth globe support frames; and an antenna disposed on the antenna support protrusion.

[23] The housing may include: a base plate; a rotation plate rotatably coupled to the base plate and coupled to the revolution unit, the support frame, and the solar system unit; and a main body covering the rotation plate and including a function button. [24] The driving unit may include: a rotating motor disposed in the support frame and incl uding an axis coupled to a transmission gear; and a gear block protruding through the support frame and including a lower-outer surface and a constraining flange protruding toward an upper-outer side thereof, the lower-outer surface having gear teeth engaging with the transmission gear, the South Pole of the Earth globe being firmly fitted on the constraining flange.

Advantageous Effects

[25] According to the above structure, the driving unit of the Earth globe is disposed in the support frame, thereby achieving a simple structure and a graceful appearance.

[26] Also, a position of the Earth on the revolution orbit of the Earth can accurately set in the solar system by aligning the Earth globe apparatus with an actual direction of space, thereby detecting the change of dates and variations in the lengths of day and night depending on the seasons in the same manner as the actual situation. Brief Description of the Drawings

[27] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an Earth globe apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[28] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the Earth globe apparatus of FIG.

1 without several parts.

[29] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the Earth globe apparatus of FIG. 1.

[30] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[31] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solar system unit 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[32] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a gear-ratio-change unit 320.

[33] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a coupling relationship between the gearratio-change unit 320 and a rotation control unit 500 and the solar system unit 300.

[34] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the rotation control unit 500.

[35] FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a coupling relationship between a day- and-night division unit 700 and the rotation control unit 500.

[36] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the day-and-night division unit

700.

[37] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a coupling structure of a rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500.

[38] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a rotation unit 800.

[39] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a coupling relationship between the rotation unit 800 and the rotation axis 512 and a support frame 600.

[40] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the support frame 600.

[41] FIG. 15 is a view of the support frame 600.

[42] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of an Earth orbit ring.

[43] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a coupling structure of a date-change-check tab according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[44] FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a time ring.

[45] FIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating a network connected to an Earth globe apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[46] FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an operating server 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[47] FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing relevant information from an operating server to an Earth globe apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[48] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[49] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an Earth globe apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the Earth globe apparatus of FIG. 1 without several parts. FIG. 3 is a cross- sectional view illustrating the Earth globe apparatus of FIG. 1.

[50] Referring to FIGs. 1 through 3, the Earth globe apparatus according to the embodiment includes a housing 100, 200, and 400, a revolution unit 300 and 500, a support frame 600, a day-and-night division unit 700, a rotation unit 800, and other measuring units.

[51]

[52] Housing QOO. 200. 400^s)

[53] The housing includes a base plate 100, a main body 400, and a rotation support 200 disposed therebetween.

[54] The base plate 100, which is disposed in the lowest portion, includes an axis hole 102 receiving a bearing 104. Also, the rotation plate 200 includes a surface having a plurality of screw holes and an inner surface having a boss 203. A protruding rotation axis 202 is integrally formed with a center of the inner surface. The screw hole extends through the boss 203.

[55] Thus, the rotation axis 202 of the rotation plate 200 is fitted into the bearing 104 and rotatably inserted into the axis hole 102 of the base plate 100. Then, a cap 104 from an inner surface of the base plate 100 is coupled to an end of the rotation axis 202. As a result, the rotation plate 200 is rotatably coupled to the base plate 100. [56] A printed circuit board 1000 is disposed on the rotation plate 200. Relevant parts including a control microprocessor, a communications module, and a memory are mounted on the printed circuit board 1000. A connector, for receiving power from the outside, may be disposed on the main body 400. [57] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [58] Referring to FIG. 4, a central opening 424 is disposed in the surface of the main body

400. Support stems 420 and 422 protrude on both sides of the central opening 424.

Provided is a window 426 through which a compass is visible. The window 426 is covered by, e.g., glass. A through hole 428 is provided to allow a function button and an indication lamp to protrude. [59] A drawer or a storage 402 for storing the compass extends inward from a side surface of the main body 400. The drawer may store a magnet flag of each nation or a remote control for controlling an Earth globe-driving motor that will be described later. [60] The main body 400 is coupled to the rotation plate 200 through, e.g., a screw, to rotate according to rotation of the rotation plate 200. [61] Although the main body 400 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape in this embodiment, a different shape, e.g., a cylindrical shape may be exemplified. [62]

[63] Revolution Unitf 300. 500^s)

[64] 1. Solar System Unit 300

[65] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solar system unit 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [66] A support bracket 302 including screw holes 301 and 301a is fixed to a center of the rotation plate 200. A ring-shaped bearing cover 304 is fixed to a bottom of an Earth orbit member 306. The Earth orbit member 306 having a cylindrical shape includes gear teeth 305 along a lower outer circumference. [67] A bearing 308 is inserted into the Earth orbit member 306, then a Venus orbit member 310 and a Mercury orbit member 312 are sequentially inserted over the bearin g 308, then a Sun member 314 including a protruding Sun model 315 is inserted, and a bottom of the Sun member 314 is coupled to a screw through the screw hole 301 of the support bracket 302. [68] Then, a release prevention member 316 for preventing release of the Earth orbit member 306 is coupled and fixed to the screw hole 301a of the support bracket 302, and a Mars orbit member 318 is disposed on the release prevention member 316. [69] An Earth model 306a, a Venus model (not shown), a Mercury model (not shown), and a Mars model 318a protrude from the Earth orbit member 306, the Venus orbit member 310, the Mercury orbit member 312, and the Mars orbit member 318, respectively.

[70] The orbit members 306, 310, 312 and 318 exposed from a top of the main body 400 may be differently colored for identification. For example, a light-storing material may be applied to emit light at night. Also, a lamp such as LED may be disposed in main planets, e.g., the Sun model 315 and the Earth model 306a to emit light.

[71] As illustrated is FIGs. 2 and 3, an Earth orbit ring 319 is fixed to cover an edge of the

Mars orbit member 318 and an edge of the central opening 424 of the main body 400, which will be described in detail lately.

[72]

[73] 2. Revolution Control Unit 500

[74] A revolution control unit includes a gear-ratio-change unit 320 and a rotation control unit 500.

[75] 2.1 Gear-Ratio-Change Unit 320

[76] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the gear-ratio-Change unit 320.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a coupling relationship between the gearratio-change unit 320 and the rotation control unit 500 and the solar system unit 300.

[77] The gear-ratio-change unit 320 changes a gear ratio of the day-and-night division unit 700 (illustrated in FIG. 10) to a lower value. In other words, since the gear teeth 305 on the Earth orbit member 306 of the solar system unit 300 have a different size from that of gear teeth in a bevel gear 740 of the day-and-night division unit 700, the gear-ratio-change unit 320 matches the gear ratio of the day-and-night division unit 700 with a gear ratio of the solar system unit 300.

[78] Referring to FIG. 6, the gear-ratio-change unit 320 includes a fixing bracket 338, a first gear unit (331, 332, 333, 334, 335, and 336), and a second gear unit (321, 323,

324, 325, and 326).

[79] The first and the second gear units have the same structure. The first gear unit includes driven gears 331 and 333. The driven gear 331 is connected to a lower transmission gear 506 of the rotation control unit 500 through a timing belt. The driven gear 333 is rotatably coupled to the driven gear 331 through a rotation axis 335. The second gear unit includes a driven gear 323 and a transmission gear 321. The driven gear 323 is connected to the driven gear 333 through a timing belt. The transmission gear 321 is rotatably coupled to the driven gear 323 through a rotation axis 335 and engages with the gear teeth 305 on the Earth orbit member 306 of the solar system unit 300.

[80] Each of timing belt pulley covers 332, 334 and 324 limits upper and lower portions of each timing belt. Bearings 336 and 326 effectively rotate the rotation axis 335 and

325, respectively. [82] 2.2 Rotation Control Unit 500

[83] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the rotation control unit 500. FIG.

9 is a schematic view illustrating a coupling relationship between the day-and-night division unit 700 and the rotation control unit 500.

[84] A rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500 has a lower end coupled to the lower transmission gear 506 and an upper end coupled to an upper transmission gear 520. The lower transmission gear 506 of the rotation axis 512 is rotatably inserted into the rotation plate 200 through an interposed bearing 504. The rotation axis 512 penetrates through a support bracket 502 fixed to the rotation plate 200 with a bearing 510 interposed therebetween, so that a lower side is firmly fixed.

[85] Furthermore, the rotation axis 512 is inserted into the support stem 420 of the main body 400 through the main body 400 to achieve more reliable fixing. At this point, a coupling ring 511 disposed on a top of the support stem 420 is inserted into a groove disposed in the rotation axis 512, to prevent a vertical movement of the rotation axis 512.

[86] The upper end of the rotation axis 512 is rotatably fixed to axis support protrusions

612 and 632 of the support frame 600 (illustrated in FIG. 14) through an interposed bearing 518.

[87] A couple of handles 514 and 516 are disposed on an outer side of the rotation axis

512. A coupling boss 517 protruding from an inner side the handle 516 penetrates through the rotation axis 512 to be coupled to the other handle 514. Thus, when a user rotates the handle 514, the rotation axis 512 also rotates. An uneven surface of the handle 514 and 516 prevents slip.

[88]

[89] Dav-and-Night Division Unit 700

[90] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the day-and-night division unit

700. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a coupling structure of the rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500.

[91] The day-and-night division unit 700 is disposed in Earth globe parts 802 and 804 of the rotation unit 800 and rotates while engaging with the solar system unit 300 to display the day and night of the Earth and the change in the length thereof according to the revolution orbit of the Earth.

[92] A support block 720 includes a rotation-axis-coupling portion 724, plate supports

726 and 728, and a receiving portion 722. The rotation-axis-coupling portion 724 is coupled to the upper end of the rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500. The plate supports 726 and 728 support a conductive plate 760. The receiving portion 722 is disposed in a center of the support block 720 and receives the bevel gear 740 and a coupling axis 730.

[93] A day-and-night division plate 710 is disposed on an upper portion of a support case

770 and has both surfaces including light emitting devices 712 such as a high-intensity LED. The color of the light emitting devices 712 on the both surfaces of the day- and-night division plate 710 are different to divide day-and-night. Selectively, a diffusion plate or diffusion sheet 750 may be attached to the day-and-night division plate 710 between the day-and-night division plate 710 and the Earth globe parts 802 and 804 such that light emitted from the light emitting devices 712 are uniformly diffused in the Earth globe parts 802 and 804.

[94] Since the light emitting devices 712 are uniformly distributed on an entire surface of the day-and-night division plate 710 and power is applied to each of the light emitting devices 712, e.g., the day-and-night division plate 710 may be formed as a printed circuit board to have a conductive pattern connected to each of the light emitting devices 712.

[95] Also, two conductive paths 762 and 764 are formed in a concentric circle shape on the conductive plate 760 fixed to the plate support 724 of the support block 720. For example, the conductive plate 760 may be formed through an insert-injection-molding process with a copper film or a process of forming a copper pattern in a printed circuit board.

[96] To supply power to the conductive paths 762 and 764, the power is transmitted through a conductive wire disposed in a stand 640 of the support frame 600, through conductive strips 621 and 622 (illustrated in FIG. 13) disposed on outer sides of the axis support protrusions 612 and 632 of the support frame 600, through an attached conductive strip 792 on the support layer 720 of the day-and-night division unit 700, and to a connection member 790 that is electrically connected to the conductive paths 762 and 764 of the conductive plate 760.

[97] An elastic contact 782 comes in elastic contact with the conductive paths 762 and

764. A press button 786 inserted from a top of the rotation case 770 presses the elastic contact 782 at a predetermined pressure with an spring interposed therebetween.

[98] Referring to FIG. 11, the rotation-axis-coupling portion 724 having an approximately

U-shaped section is fitted to be in contact with inner and outer surfaces in the upper end of the rotation axis 512. At this point, since the day-and-night division unit 700 is supported by coupling the rotation-axis-coupling portion 724 to the rotation axis 512, when a coupling force is weak, the day-and-night division unit 700 can shake during rotation. Thus, the rotation-axis-coupling portion 724 is required to be firmly and reliably coupled to the rotation axis 512.

[99] The bevel gear 740 rotates, engaging with the upper transmission gear 520 of the rotation axis 512. Support protrusions 742 and 743 each having a through hole in a center thereof extend toward an outer surface and an inner surface of the bevel gear 740. Thus, the support protrusion 742 extending toward the inner surface is inserted into the rotation-axis-coupling portion 724 with interposed bearings 735 and 732, and the support protrusion 743 extending toward the outer surface is inserted into a center of the conductive plate 760 with an interposed bearing 735.

[100] Under this condition, the coupling axis 730 from the rotation-axis-coupling portion 724 of the support block 720 is inserted to protrude over the support protrusion 743 of the bevel gear 740, and a central through hole of the support case 770 is fitted on the protruding coupling axis 730, so that the bevel gear 740 is coupled to the support case 770.

[101] In this case, since an end of the support case 770 rotates, spaced a predetermined distance from inner sides of the Earth globe parts 802 and 804, the support case 770 is required to be firmly fixed to the rotation axis 512.

[102]

[103] Rotation Unit 800

[104] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the rotation unit 800. FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a coupling relationship between the rotation unit 800 and the rotation axis 512 and the support frame 600.

[105] The rotation unit 800 includes the Earth globe parts 802 and 804 and a driving unit (810, 830).

[106] A rotating motor 810 is disposed in a motor-receiving portion 614 of the support frame 600, and a transmission gear 812 is coupled to an axis of the rotating motor 810.

[107] A gear block 830 has a barrel shape with a through hole therein. The gear block 830 includes a bevel gear portion 832 on a lower side surface and a constraining part 834 on an upper side. The bevel gear portion 832 engages with the transmission gear 812. The gear block 830 is fitted on and fixed to the outer sides of the axis support protrusions 612 and 632 of the support frame 600 while an interposed bearing 820 is provided to a lower end of the gear block 830 to effectively rotate. The constraining part 834 limits a distance from the bevel gear portion 832 to firmly couple the gear block 830 to coupling parts 616 and 636 of the support frame 600. The Earth globe part 804 corresponding to a lower hemisphere is firmly coupled to an upper side of the constraining flange 834.

[108] The Earth globe part 802 corresponding to an upper hemisphere and the Earth globe part 804 corresponding to the lower hemisphere are detachably coupled to each other with a ring-shaped holder 806 on an inner surface of a boundary. The Earth globe is formed of a transparent or translucent material to allow light emitting from the inside thereof. The shape of the Earth is scaled down on an outer surface of the Earth globe, and latitudes and longitudes are formed on the outer surface of the Earth globe. [109] Also, through holes 814 and 824 are respectively formed in portions where the upper hemisphere 802 and the lower hemisphere 804 and a line connecting the upper hemisphere 802 to the lower hemisphere 804 cross. The rotation axis 512 and the axis support protrusions 612 and 632 are inserted into the through hole 814, and a support axis 826 of a protruding cylindrical support protrusion 825 is inserted into the through hole 824. Thus, the Earth globe is inclined 23.5 degrees to a vertical line.

[HO]

[111] Support Frame 600

[112] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the support frame 600. FIG. 15 is a view of the support frame 600.

[113] The support frame 600 includes Earth globe support frames 610 and 630, the coupling parts 616 and 636, and the stand 640.

[114] The Earth globe support frames 610 and 630 have a substantially same structure and may be screw-coupled using a plurality of bosses arranged in a longitudinal direction. For convenience, only the Earth globe support frame 630 will now be described.

[115] Referring to FIG. 15, both ends of the Earth globe support frame 630 make 270 degrees about a center, and seating portions 631 and 631a are formed at a position making 180 degrees with the end of the Earth globe support frame 630. A time ring support is fixed to the seating portions 631 and 631a. The time ring support supports a time ring that will be described later.

[116] As described above, the axis support protrusion 632 is integrally formed with a lower portion inclined 23.5 degrees to the vertical line passing through the center, and an antenna support protrusion 633 is integrally formed with an upper portion inclined 23.5 degrees.

[117] The coupling part 636 is detachably coupled on an outer side of the axis support protrusion 632 to surround the axis support protrusion 632. The axis support protrusion 632 fixes the gear block 830 that have been fitted on the axis support protrusion 632, as described above. The conductive strips 621 and 622 is built in the axis support protrusion 632 through insert injection molding as described above, and an end thereof is exposed from an upper end of the axis support protrusion 632.

[118] The motor-receiving portion 614 is formed adjacent to the axis support protrusion 632 to receive the rotating motor 810.

[119] A rotatable support part 680 for supporting the lower hemisphere 804 is disposed at a predetermined position of the Earth globe support frame 630. Rotation of a handle (not shown) exposed from an inner surface of the Earth globe support frame 630 rotates the support part 680 counter clock-wise, so that the support part 680 protrudes.

[120] A knob 650 protrudes outward at the position making 180 degrees with the end of the Earth globe support frame 630. A time-ring-rotating gear 652 is coupled to the knob 650. The time ring that will be described later engages with the time-ring-rotating gear 652. Thus, a user can rotate the knob 650 to control the rotation of the time ring.

[121] The support axis 826 is inserted into the antenna support protrusion 633 with a bearing 632 interposed therebetween, then an antenna support block 637 is disposed on the support axis 826 with a Teflon member 638 interposed therebetween, then an antenna 670 with an antenna spring 672 is disposed on the antenna support block 637, and then antenna cases 636 and 639 are threaded to the antenna support protrusion 633. Since the antenna cases 636' and 639 are coupled to each other through threads, only the antenna case 636 is removed when replacing the antenna 670.

[122] A through hole 634 for fixing a white-night-indicating unit 660 is disposed in the other end of the Earth globe support frame 630. The white-night- indicating unit 660 is used to represent a white night occurring near the North Pole of the Earth globe, as will be described later.

[123] The stand 640 is provided to support the Earth globe support frame 630, and the rotation axis 512 and the stand 640 are symmetrical.

[124] A lower portion of the stand 640 is fixed to the rotation plate 200 and protrudes through the support stem 422 of the main body 400. As described above, conductive strips 642 and 644 may be integrally formed with the stand 640, or a power wire may pass through an inner space of the stand 640. Also, the lower portion of the stand 640 has an opening 641 to allow a power wine from the outside to extend.

[125] The stand 640 having this structure is screw-coupled with an upper end inserted into the Earth globe support frame 630.

[126]

[127] Measuring Unit

[128] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of an Earth orbit ring.

[129] As described above, the Earth orbit ring 319 covering a portion of the Mars orbit member 318 is fixed around the central opening 424 of the main body 400. 365 days in a year unit and divisions of the year in the lunar calendar are marked on a surface of the Earth orbit ring 319 that is used to indicate a position of the Earth model 306a on the revolution orbit thereof.

[130] The Earth orbit ring 319 is disposed to allow a position corresponding to 1st January to be placed at a position tilted 9.5 degree in the Earth revolution direction (counter clock-wise in the northern hemisphere, but clock- wise in the southern hemisphere) from a line passing through the North Pole and the Sun model 315 of the solar system unit 300. To this end, a protrusion is disposed on an inner surface of the Earth orbit ring 319 and an indentation 401 is disposed in the main body 400 such that the protrusion is fitted into the indentation 401 to maintain the same position.

[131] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a coupling structure of a date-change-check tab according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[132] A date-change-check tab 840 is set to 24 o'clock to determine whether a day is subtracted or added with regard to the international date line of the Earth globe. For example, a region between the date-change-check tab 840 and the international date line is a region with a day added, but the other regions are regions with a day subtracted.

[133] Both ends 841 and 842 of the date-change-check tab 840 have a link shape, in which the end 841 is coupled to the antenna support protrusion 633, and the other end 842 is coupled to the coupling part 636 surrounding the axis support protrusions 612 and 632 of the support frame 600. A portion between the both ends 841 and 842 extends with spaced a predetermined distance from the upper hemisphere 802 and the lower hemisphere 804.

[134] FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a time ring.

[135] A time ring 850 engaging with the Earth orbit member 306 makes one revolution per year. Hour and minute scales forming a day and a date scale forming a year are marked on the time ring 850 that is disposed on the ecliptic. A gear, formed on an inner surface of the time ring 850 along a circumference thereof, engages with the time-ring-rotating gear 652 coupled to the knob 650. Thus, as described above, time ring supports 852 and 854, having approximately the same shape as the time ring 850, are fixed to the Earth globe support frames 610 and 630, and the time ring 850 is slidably coupled to an upper portion of the time ring supports 852 and 854 and rotates to a desired position according to the rotation of the time-ring-rotating gear 652.

[136] The time ring support 854 has an opening in a portion corresponding to the time- ring-rotating gear 652, to couple the time-ring-rotating gear 652 to the gear of the time ring 850. The time-ring-rotating gear 652 protrudes through this opening.

[137] Also, the time ring 850 rotates while engaging with the date-change-check tab 840 at a position representing 12 o'clock PM on the time ring 850.

[138] As described above, the Earth orbit member 306, the date-change-check tab 840, and the time ring 850 rotate while engaging with each other. In this embodiment, a user rotates the Earth orbit member 306 using the rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500 and rotates the date-change-check tab 840 and the time ring 850 coupled th ereto using the time-ring-rotating gear 652. In another embodiment, the Earth orbit member 306, the date-change-check tab 840, and the time ring 850 all may engage with each other using the rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500.

[139] Hereinafter, the operation of an Earth globe apparatus having the above described structure will now be described.

[140] FIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating a network connected to an Earth globe apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [141] An operating server 10 is connected to a plurality of user clients 20 and 40 through a network 12 such as the Internet. For example, the operating server 10 and the clients 20 and 40 may be computer systems, and the network 12 may include both a wireless network and a wired network.

[142] Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 are controllably connected to the plurality of clients 20 and 40. To this end, a wired connection such as a USB port or a wireless local area connection including the Bluetooth may be applied.

[143] Driving agents 32 and 52 are installed as programs for the clients 20 and 40 to control the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 according to a command from the operating server 10.

[144] FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the operating server 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[145] An Earth-globe-apparatus-driving module 11 controls the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 through the driving agents 32 and 52 installed in the clients 20 and 40.

[146] An agent-driving-check module 13 checks the activation of the driving agents 32 and 52 installed in the clients 20 and 40.

[147] A control module 12 controls the operation of the Earth-globe-apparatus-driving module 11 and the operation of the agent-driving-check module 13 and controls data input/output to/from a member DB 14, a Earth-related information DB 15, and a received information DB 16.

[148] Information about users owning the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 is stored in the member DB 14 that may include a user identifier and an identifier of the owned Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50. A certification process for the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 is performed through the identifiers.

[149] For example, the Earth-related information DB 15 includes: various information about the Sun and planets included in the solar system; a current position of the planets; sunrise time, sunset time, the time of ebb and full tide and the lengths of days and nights around the countries; and the coordinate values of latitudes and longitudes of respective regions.

[150] Various information, received from various satellites in space and observatories, is stored in the received information DB 16.

[151] FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing relevant information from an operating server to an Earth globe apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[152] In operation S 131, a user drives computer systems 20 and 40 to access to the operating server 10 through the network 12. In operation S 132, power is applied to the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 connected to the computer systems 20 and 40, and the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50 are driven. In operation S 133, the driving agents 32 and 52 are activated.

[153] In operation S133, the operating server 10 interposes the driving agents 32 and 52 to certify the clients 20 and 40 based on the user identifier and the Earth globe apparatus identifier, and check the current status of the Earth global apparatuses 30 and 50.

[154] When the current status is normal based on current date and time and other factors, in operation S 135, it is determined whether current Earth-related information is provided. When it is determined that the current Earth-related information is provided, in operation S 136, the current Earth-related information is provided. When the current status is abnormal, in operation S 138, the driving agents 32 and 52 are commanded to check the Earth globe apparatus.

[155] Hereinafter, a method of operating the Earth globe apparatus of the present invention will now be described.

[156] In the Earth globe apparatus of the present invention, an N-pole is disposed in a direction of the Earth globe inclined 23.5 degrees to the solar system unit, and the N- pole is opposite to an S-pole. Thus, the main body 400 is rotated to respectively match the N-pole and the S-pole of the compass with an N-pole and an S-pole of the compass provided to the main body 400. Here, as described above, the rotation plate 200 to which the main body 400 is fixed, is rotatably coupled to the base plate 200, so that the main body 400 rotates.

[157] As described above, the position corresponding to 1st January of the Earth orbit ring 319 is set to the position tilted approximately 9.5 degree, that is adopted as an international astronomical standard, in the Earth revolution direction from the line passing through the North Pole and the Sun model 315 of the solar system unit 300.

[158] Thus, a user adjusts the rotation axis 512 of the rotation control unit 500 to set the

Earth model 306a of the Earth orbit member 306 to a current date marked on the Earth orbit ring 319. Through this adjustment, a revolution position corresponding to the current date of the Earth revolving around the Sun in the solar system is obtained.

[159] Through this adjustment, the bevel gear 740 rotates while engaging with the upper transmission gear 520 of the rotation control unit 500, so that the day-and-night division plate 710 in the Earth globe rotates together with the Earth model 306a of the Earth orbit member 306.

[160] Accordingly, a direction (a day direction) where the Earth model 306a of the Earth orbit member 306 faces the Sun model 315 is always the same as a direction where the outer surface of the day-and-night division plate 710 is exposed.

[161] Then, when rotating the knob 650 of the support frame 600, the time-ring-rotating gear 652 rotates, so that the time ring 850 rotates. The time ring 850 on the ecliptic is rotated to place each of positions of 6 o'clock AM (sunrise time) and 6 o'clock PM (sunset time) marked on the time ring 850 at a position where night changes to day through the day-and-night division plate 710.

[162] Then, the rotating motor 810 is driven to rotate the Earth globe, and the white- night-indicating unit 660 is turned on, so that light emitted from the white- night- indicating unit 660 reaches a portion of the Earth globe corresponding to an actual region in which a white night occurs.

[163] Various functions can be embodied through the above operation of the Earth globe apparatus.

[164] 1) The Earth globe apparatus is inclined 23.5 degrees to the vertical line, and the Earth globe apparatus is disposed in a direction matching with the actual N-pole and the actual S-pole using the compass, thereby representing the North Pole adopted as an international standard and the same direction as that of space.

[165] 2) The position tilted approximately 9.5 degree, that is adopted as an international astronomical standard, in the Earth revolution direction from the line passing through the North Pole direction and the Sun model is set to 1st January, and the Earth model is placed at a position corresponding to a current date with reference to the position, thereby setting the position of the Earth model on the Earth revolution orbit corresponding to the current date according to an international standard.

[166] 3) The day-and-night division is linked with the revolution orbit of the Earth model, thereby simulating the same day and night as those of space in real time.

[167] 4) The lengths of day and night depending on the seasons can be seen by a naked eye. That is, since the colors of light emitted from the outer surface and inner surface of the day-and-night division plate are different, variations in the lengths of day and night depending on the seasons, i.e., depending on a position on the revolution orbit of the Earth can be seen with a naked eye, based on the color and the size of light projected to the Earth globe.

[168] 5) Current times around the countries can be known through times corresponding to positions where the latitudes marked on the surface of the Earth globe cross the time ring.

[169] 6) Date change can be observed through the relationship between the date- change-check tab and the international date line marked on the surface of the Earth globe. Also, as described above, it can be determined whether a specific region is a region with a day added or a region with a day subtracted.

[170] 7) A white night near the South Pole or the North Pole can be simulated on the Earth globe.

[171] 8) Light is emitted from the antenna in the North Pole to simulate the position of the polar star.

[172] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modi- fications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure.

[173] 1) A display may be disposed in the upper portion of the main body 400. The control microprocessor of the printed circuit board 1000 may display, through the display, Earth-related information that the communications module receives in real time through the computer client from the external operating server.

[174] 2) A touch sensor may be disposed on the surface of the Earth globe, and when a user touches a certain country, a microprocessor senses a touch signal and reads information about the touched country from a memory to display the information through a display.

[175] 3) A speaker for audio output may be provided to the main body.

[176] Thus, the scope and spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments, but be defined by the following claims.

Claims

[1] An Earth globe apparatus comprising: a rotation unit including an Earth globe inclined a predetermined angle to a vertical line and a driving unit horizontally rotating the Earth globe; a support frame rotatably supporting the Earth globe in a North Pole and a South

Pole and including the driving unit therein; a housing supporting the support frame; a solar system unit disposed in the housing to be exposed over the housing and including a plurality of planet orbits concentrically rotating around a Sun model; a revolution unit rotating an Earth orbit of the planet orbits in the solar system unit; and a rotatable day-and-night-division unit disposed in the Earth globe and engaging with the Earth orbit through the revolution unit.

[2] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solar system unit comprises: a support bracket fixed to the housing; a cylindrical rotatable Earth orbit member disposed on the support bracket and including an interposed bearing and gear teeth, the gear teeth being disposed along a lower-outer side of the Earth orbit member; a Venus orbit member, a Mercury orbit member, and a Sun member that are sequentially inserted into the Earth orbit member, the Sun member having the protruding Sun model in a center thereof; a release prevention member fixed to the support bracket to surround the Earth orbit member on an outer side of the Earth orbit member; and a Mars orbit member disposed on the release prevention member.

[3] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revolution unit comprises: a gear-ratio-change unit coupled to the Earth orbit through a gear and changing a gear ratio to synchronize a rotation angle of the Earth orbit with a rotation angle of the day-and-night-division unit; and a rotation control unit coupled to the gear-ratio-change unit and transmitting a rotation of the Earth orbit to the day-and-night-division unit by a user's operation, wherein the rotation control unit comprises: a support bracket fixed to the housing; and a rotation axis including an upper portion, a lower end having a lower transmission gear, and an upper end having an upper transmission gear, and the lower transmission gear is rotatably inserted into the support bracket with a bearing interposed therebetween, and the upper portion rotatably penetrates through the support frame, and the upper transmission gear is coupled to the day- and-night-division unit through a gear.

[4] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable time ring disposed in a plane horizontally sectioning the Earth globe, the time ring being coupled to the support frame and engaging with the Earth orbit and having a surface on which a 24-hour scale is marked.

[5] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 4, wherein a time-ring-rotating gear is disposed in the support frame at a position where the support frame and the time ring cross each other, and a knob connected to the time-ring-rotating gear is disposed on an outer side of the support frame, wherein the time ring is slidably disposed on a ring-shaped time ring support fixed to the support frame in the plane, and gear teeth are disposed on an inner surface of the time ring along a circumference thereof and engaging with the time-ring-rotating gear.

[6] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a rotatable date- change-check tab connecting the North pole to the South Pole, the date- change-check tab being coupled to the time ring at a position corresponding to 12 o'clock PM of the time ring to engage with the time ring.

[7] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an Earth orbit ring that is disposed on an outer side of the most outer orbit of the planet orbits; and is disposed to allow a position corresponding to 1st January of 12 months to be placed at a position tilted a predetermined angle in a Earth revolution direction from a line passing through the Sun model and the North Pole; and has a surface on which the 12 months and divisions of a year in a lunar calendar are marked.

[8] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises: a couple of Earth globe support frames having a hook shape with an angle of 270 degrees and detachably coupled to each other and including an axis support protrusion and an antenna support protrusion, the axis support protrusion having a through hole therein and being disposed in the South Pole, the antenna support protrusion having a through hole therein and being disposed in the North Pole; a stand having one end fixed to the support frame and the other end fixed to the housing; and a plurality of coupling parts detachably coupled to the Earth globe support frames to store an installation including the driving unit.

[9] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 8, wherein the installation comprises: a white-night- indicating lamp disposed in a North Pole side end of the Earth globe support frames; and an antenna disposed on the antenna support protrusion.

[10] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a base plate; a rotation plate rotatably coupled to the base plate and coupled to the revolution unit, the support frame, and the solar system unit; and a main body covering the rotation plate and including a function button.

[11] The Earth globe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving unit comprises: a rotating motor disposed in the support frame and including an axis coupled to a transmission gear; and a gear block protruding through the support frame and including a lower-outer surface and a constraining flange protruding toward an upper-outer side thereof, the lower-outer surface having gear teeth engaging with the transmission gear, the South Pole of the Earth globe being firmly fitted on the constraining flange.