Education and demonstration – Geography – Terrestrial globe or accessory therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2001-10-09
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Geography
Terrestrial globe or accessory therefor
C434S143000, C434S145000, C434S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299451
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The measurement of time is a concept which, while perhaps grasped in the abstract, may be difficult to understand in a more rigorous manner. It is sometimes difficult, for example, for a child to recognize and appreciate that, when it is the middle of the day in New York, it is the middle of the night in China. Further, when a clock indicates 12 noon in New York, why do clocks in Los Angeles say it is 9:00 in the morning? The teaching of the foregoing and related concepts can be facilitated by a model of the earth in which the relationship between the rotation of the earth about its axis and the passage of time and the relationship of the various points on the earth with respect to both local time and to the solar day at a particular time can be depicted.
Model globes have been developed to illustrate and present the illumination of the earth by the sun. Such globes can inferentially display the relationship of clock time to rotation of the earth. Yet such globes do not sufficiently depict the relationship of local time to the earth's rotation, or illustrate how local time varies across the world.
It is accordingly a purpose of the present invention to provide a model globe in which a representation of the illumination of the earth by the sun can be presented.
A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a model globe of the earth in which the rotation of the earth about its axis, and the effect of such rotation upon the illumination of the earth's surface by the sun can be illustrated.
Still a further purpose of the present invention is to provide a model globe in which relative clock time for different locations on the globe can be compared and presented.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a model globe in which local clock time for a chosen location can be displayed and varied in conjunction with the rotation of the globe about its axis.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a model globe in conjunction with a clock face which has a hand which rotates about the clock face to depict the passage of time in association with globe rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the foregoing and other objects and purposes, a model globe constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a translucent sphere on the surface of which major characteristics of the earth are presented mounted to a base in a manner which supports the globe upon an axis representing the earth's rotational axis and allows the globe to rotate thereabout. Internal illumination means are provided to illuminate a hemisphere of the globe to simulate solar illumination of the earth. A cursor device is mounted to the base and is independently rotatable upon the axis about the globe. An indicator is operatively connected to the cursor, such that, as the cursor is rotated with respect to the globe's surface, the indicator, which may be in the form of a clock, indicates the relative time along a longitude represented by the position of the cursor. By independently rotating the globe and cursor, a particular time associated with the cursor position can be associated with any particular location on the globe. Subsequent rotation of the cursor with the globe stationary allows relative time at different points across the globe to be shown on the clock.
Means are provided to engage the cursor with the globe to allow them to rotate together. When so connected, rotation of the cursor and globe depicts the passage of time for the geographic location indicated by the cursor as the globe rotates about its axis. At the same time, the internal illumination means laminating a hemisphere of the globe depicts the passage of the location from day into night concurrent with the passage of time as shown by the clock means. The invention thus may serve as a teaching tool for the concept of time and relative time, and further allows the user to understand differences in local time based upon the relative location of points upon the earth.
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Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Fernstrom K.
Natural Science Industries, LLP
Schweitzer Cornman Gross & Bondell LLP
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