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This invention relates to element of block games applicable to build a portion of ball-like body, particularly to a set of elements suitable for creating a pre-determined portion of a hollow globe-like body or simulative celestial sphere.
Play and learning is the most interesting way for most people, especially, through play that much of children's early learning is achieved.
Learning geography, especially on a global scale and referring to a world atlas that involves positioning by longitude and latitude system, and involves the exercise of a great deal of spatial imagination, often in three dimensions. The ability to use this kind of imagination is usually crude in the very young and must be slowly nurtured and developed during the educational process. Moreover, in the early stages of the development of the necessary skills, different children utilize different learning modalities. Even the same child at different levels of development may use different learning modes.
To this end, educators have developed a number of visually or tactually stimulating models of geographical phenomena, such as relief maps and variations of the well known terrestrial globe. Many of these devices are suitable for a form of programmed teaching in which a terrestrial globe is built up piece by piece from a large number of separate parts in the form of a kit. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,102 issued to Forsyth, illustrated a globe-shaped body built from a skeletal framework to hold a number of blocks, the blocks together forming a spherical surface. Appropriate portions of geographical features, or portions of cues, are formed on the blocks. A number of means has shown in the patent for attaching the blocks to the framework and the segments to the body. Forsyth's patent has shown a series of embodiments to teach geography to student; however it has fall short of the ideal teaching of the relation of longitude and latitude of which is a basic information shown on most of the world atlas.
Others, such as Margolis in U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,261 discloses a globe, comprising a hollow globe rotationally molded of polyvinyl chloride plastisol and iron powder having molded therein embossed lines of latitude and longitude and other information as desired. The rest of the geographic information of the globe is embodied in several layers of puzzle-like pieces of soft, flexible magnetized thermoplastic material. However, such globe can be assembled only by a person already familiar with terrestrial geography, and lacks for offering any assistance to the untutored student who is working or playing alone. Further, the means used to attach component parts to these globes have tended to be either unreliable or overly complicated for a young person whose hand/eye coordination is not fully developed.
In general, the prior globe body cannot be assembled as in form of a block game, and further, none of the prior globe structure is capable of providing the most interesting portion of which is selected by its owner.
Larger size globe is much helpful and capable of carrying a tremendous geographic information for helping people to learn geography thereby; however, any of the big size traditional globe structures is always very difficult to manufacture and deliver, that is the main cause of the selling price getting higher and may be unaffordable for an ordinary people or middle class family.
For instance, I ever found at http://www.globeshop.net, a web-site of Japanese Shop who is providing their biggest and highest class globe, having 81 cm in diameter, and weighted up to 68 kg, and quoted an amazing price, that is 1,659,000 yen.
Neither these, nor any other in the field of this invention, suggests their globe structure to be assembled as block game, and is selectable to provide the most interesting portion which can be determined by an owner.
The object of this invention is to provide a set of elements of block games for stacking up to create a pre-determined portion of a hollow globe-like body or a simulative celestial sphere.
In accordance with this invention, the element has a relatively larger outer face boundary and a relatively small inner face boundary both are defined by the interfaces therearound. The surface within the relatively larger outer face boundary or the relatively small inner face boundary, can further be processed by a known printing, engraving, embossing, gluing, laser carving, sand blasting, colored painting or chemical etching method, for creating a known or imaginary geographic information, star chart or picture thereon.
In an embodiment according to the present invention, the element have an interface defined along a longitude and latitude lines with a predetermined dividing (N°), therefore, when the element stacked up, the interface therebetween shall shown as the longitude and latitude lines of the globe-like body surface.
The surface within the relatively larger outer face boundary having a longitude edge (H1) and a latitude edge (L1s) at a latitude that equals to the predetermined dividing (N°) multiplied by a predetermined number (S), that can be determined by:
H1=(2πR)(N°)÷(360°); and
L1s=(2π)(R)(cosine(N°·S))(N°)÷(360°);
and The surface within the relatively smaller inner face boundary also having a longitude edge (H2) and a latitude edge (L2s) at a latitude that equals to the predetermined dividing (N°) multiplied by a predetermined number (S), that can be determined by:
H2=(2π)(R−T0)(N°)÷(360°); and
L2s=(2π)(R−T0)(cosine(N°·S))(N°)÷(360°).
In another embodiment according to this invention, the element having interfaces defining along with a set of regular pattern on the globe-like body, therefore each of the elements having a relatively larger outer face and relatively small inner face, and a plurality of geographic information or pictures is printed or attached thereon.
The element can either be a solid body or a shell-like body, and made from any of moldable materials, such as paraffin, candle, chocolate, styrofoam, paper pulp, concrete, acrylic, plastic, porcelain, clay; or any other cuttable material such as stone, crystal, glass, wooden, metal sheet, cloth, or paper, or any possible combination of the above materials, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. The scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, references should be had to the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a set of the element in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating the use of an elements in accordance with this invention; once pressed it on outside, the pressing force shall be shared and transmitted to another elements via the interfaces therearound, same as the way of traditional arch principle; however, in this invention, it is transmitted in a three dimensional way;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an elements in accordance with this invention creating a portion of a hollow globe-like body;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an elements in accordance with this invention creating another portion of a hollow globe-like body;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a set of the element in accordance with this invention, wherein the interfaces of the element is defined along with a longitude and latitude lines which having a predetermined dividing of 15°;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an elements in accordance with this invention creating a portion of a hollow globe-like body, in which having an inner face for celestial pictures be printed or attached thereon;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing, an element in accordance with this invention that using to build a portion of a globe-like surface on a table;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention that is using to combine with on a book shelf;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view snowing an element in accordance with this invention having a pair of male/female connector formed on its interfaces;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention having magnetic coupling element disposed on its interfaces;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention having a shell-like body;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention having a carton-like body that is expandable as shown;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention that having a magnetic portion on its outer face;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention further having a transparent layer on the outer face:
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention that are stacked up on an equatorial ring and created a portion of a globe-like body;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of elements in accordance with the present invention, each having an interfaces to follow a regular pattern and define a larger outer face and smaller inner face therebetween;
Referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention, an embodiment of a set of elements (S1) for play and stacking up to create a portion of a hollow globe-like body, each element (10) having a larger surface (11) within a relatively larger outer face boundary and a smaller surface (12) within a relatively smaller inner face boundary both are defined by a plurality of interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16) therearound.
Referring to FIG. 2, while the portion of a hollow globe-like body (20) is stacked up by the elements (10), and even a force is applying thereon, the force shall be transmitted and shared by another elements (10), and acted as a three dimensional arch. There are no prior art that is possessing a globe-like body utilizing the same principle of 3-D arch, and is capable of stacking up like a
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, according to the present invention, the embodiment of the element (10) each having a larger surface (11) within a relatively larger outer face boundary for printing or attaching a portion of a geography information or pictures (31) thereon, and a smaller surface (12) within a relatively smaller inner face boundary for printing or attaching a portion of celestial picture thereon. The larger surface (11) and smaller surface (12) is defined by the interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16) which is following a predetermined longitude and latitude lines on the globe-like body (20), so it is capable of forming a plurality of longitude and latitude lines automatically on the surface of globe-like body (20) while stacking up in a block games.
In accordance with this invention, The predetermined longitude and latitude lines having a predetermined dividing (N°), the relatively larger outer face boundary having a longitude edge (H1) and a latitude edge (L1s) at a latitude that equals to the predetermined dividing (N°) multiplied by a predetermined number (S), that can be determined by:
H1=(2πR)(N°)÷(360°); and
L1s=(2π)(R)(cosine(N°·S))(N°)÷(360°);
and the relatively smaller inner face boundary also having a longitude edge (H2) and a latitude edge (L2s) at a latitude that equals to the predetermined dividing (N°) multiplied by a predetermined number (S), that can be determined by:
H2=(2π)(R−T0)(N°)÷(360°); and
L2s=(2π)(R−T0)(cosine(N°·S))(N°)÷(360°).
For instance, referring to FIG. 5, the longitude and latitude lines having a predetermined dividing of 15°, the longitude edge length of the relatively larger outer face boundary can be determined by the following formulae:
(H1)≠(2πR)(15°÷360°);
(H2)≠(2π)(R−T0)(15°÷360°); and
at the latitude 0°, set (S)=0, the latitude edge (L1s) shall be (L10), which can be determined by:
at the latitude 15°, set (S)=1, the latitude edge (L11) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 30°, set (S)=2, the latitude edge (L12) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 45°, set (S)=3, the latitude edge (L13) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 60°, set (S)=4, the latitude edge (L14) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 75°, set (S)=5, the latitude edge (L15) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 90°, set (S)=6, the latitude edge (L16) shall be determined by:
and, the latitude edge (L2s) of the relatively smaller inner face boundary can be determined by the following formulae:
at the latitude 0°, set (S)=0, the latitude edge (L2s) shall be (L20), and determined by:
at the latitude 15°, set (S)=1, the latitude edge (L21) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 30°, set (S)=2, the latitude edge (L22) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 45°, set (S)=3, the latitude edge (L23) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 60°, set (S)=4, the latitude edge (L24) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 75°, set (S)=5, the latitude edge (L25) shall be determined by:
at the latitude 90°, set (S)=6, the latitude edge (L26) shall be determined by:
According to the formulae, to create a portion of an 100 cm globe, needs only 48 sets of the elements (S1) ; the largest edge or the first latitude edge (L10), is only 13.09 cm.
Alternatively, when interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16) are defining along with the longitude and latitude lines with a predetermined dividing 10°, the total would needs only 72 sets of the elements (10), and each set of the element (S1) would having 9 pieces of the element (10), wherein the largest edge of the element (10) would be 8.727 cm only. Thus, to compare with the traditional globe structure, this invention is much helpful to reduce the packing size and can lower the freight cost; and more interestingly allowing to play and learning geography knowledge in its block games.
The elements (10) of block games according to this invention, can be made from any of moldable materials; for instance, there are paraffin, candle, chocolate, Styrofoam, paper pulp, concrete, acrylic, plastic, porcelain, clay; or any other solid cuttable material such as stone, crystal, glass, wooden, metal, cloth, or paper, or any possible combination of the above materials, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the elements (10) in accordance with this invention is capable of creating a portion of a hollow globe-like body, having an smaller surface (12) for presenting a known or imaginary celestial pictures (32) by a known printing, engraving, embossing, gluing, laser carving, sand blasting, colored painting or chemical etching method, for creating a known or imaginary geographic information, star chart or picture thereon.
Further referring to FIG. 7, the embodiment of the elements (10) in accordance with this invention are capable of creating a portion of a globe-like body (20) combined with a game table or board, and providing a surface for attaching some extra geographic items (33) thereon. FIG. 8 further showing a plurality of set of the elements (S1) in accordance with this invention are combined with a portion of a book shelves (40) for holding the books (41) therebetween.
For adding a connective force in either longitude or latitude directions, the interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16) can further have connectors selectively disposed thereon. For example, please refer to FIG. 9, there is a perspective view showing an element in accordance with this invention having a part of male/female connectors (17 and 18) formed on the interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16). Referring to FIG. 10, there is a perspective view showing an element (10) in accordance with this invention having a part of a known magnetic coupling elements (19) disposed on its interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16).
For saving material and weight for the element (10), it can be made as a hollow body. Please refer to FIG. 11, there is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the element (10) in accordance with this invention the having a shell-like body with interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16) defining a relatively larger outer face boundary and a relatively smaller inner face boundary. Moreover, we can make a paper or plastic carton with some flips (f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6 and f7) for glue disposing thereon, having interfaces (13, 14, 15 and 16) and larger surface (11) within the relatively larger outer face boundary and smaller surface (12) within the relatively smaller inner face as shown on FIG. 12. The length of edges (H1, H2, L11, L12, L21, L22 and T0) can be determined by the formulae as we have discussed in FIG. 5.
For capable of presenting more information on the larger surface (11), a connector including but not limited to a magnetic portion (34) can be attached thereon, as shown in FIG. 13. In order to contain more information and protect the relatively the larger surface (11) of the element (10), a transparent layer (35) further can be covered onto it, as shown in FIG. 14.
For supporting the set of elements (S2) in accordance with this invention, FIG. 15 is shown an equatorial ring (50) having latitude information thereon, that helps the elements (10) be correctly stacked up to create a portion of a globe-like body (20).
Another embodiment in accordance with this invention, having a set of interfaces (13, 14, 15, and 16) following a set regulative pattern on the globe-like body, that is defining a set of elements as shown in FIG. 16. A larger surface (11) and smaller surfaces (12) is defined therebetween.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
| PARTS LIST | ||
| S1 | a set of elements | |
| S2 | a set of elements | |
| 10 | element | |
| 11 | larger surface | |
| 12 | smaller surface | |
| 13 | interface | |
| 14 | interface | |
| 15 | interface | |
| 16 | interface | |
| 17, 18 | a part of male/female connectors | |
| 19 | a part of a known magnetic coupling elements | |
| 20 | a globe-like body | |
| 31 | a geography information or pictures | |
| 32 | Celestial pictures | |
| 33 | extra geographic items | |
| 34 | a magnetic portion | |
| 35 | a transparent layer | |
| 40 | bookshelf | |
| 41 | book | |
| 50 | an equatorial ring | |
| H1 | longitude edge | |
| H2 | longitude edge | |
| L1s | latitude edge | |
| L2s | latitude edge | |
| L10 | latitude edge at latitude 0° | |
| L11 | latitude edge at latitude 15° | |
| L12 | latitude edge at latitude 30° | |
| L13 | latitude edge at latitude 45° | |
| L14 | latitude edge at latitude 60° | |
| L15 | latitude edge at latitude 75° | |
| L16 | latitude edge at latitude 90° | |
| L20 | latitude edge at latitude 0° | |
| L21 | latitude edge at latitude 15° | |
| L22 | latitude edge at latitude 30° | |
| L23 | latitude edge at latitude 45° | |
| L24 | latitude edge at latitude 60° | |
| L25 | latitude edge at latitude 75° | |
| L26 | latitude edge at latitude 90° | |
| N° | predetermined dividing of the longitude and latitude | |
| R | stands for the radius of the globe-like body | |
| T0 | stands for the predetermined thickness of the globe-like | |
| body | ||