Education and demonstration – Geography – Terrestrial globe or accessory therefor
Patent
1996-06-07
1997-12-09
Hirsch, Paul J.
Education and demonstration
Geography
Terrestrial globe or accessory therefor
434137, G09B 2708, G09B 2902
Patent
active
056953429
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a world map system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FR-A-1088671 describes a globe which is made up of twelve equilateral pentagons and twenty inequilateral hexagons having alternately a relatively short side and a relatively long side. Each pentagon is surrounded by five hexagons in such a way that the sides of pentagons and hexagons abutting each other are the same length. The French application describes how the surface areas of the pentagons and hexagons differ very little from each other and touch the same sphere. However, it has been found that giving the pentagons and hexagons essentially the same surface area does not ensure that if they are combined to form a globe, the pentagons and hexagons are at the same or essentially the same distance from the centre of said globe. In other words, contrary to what is claimed in FR-A-1088671, the pentagon and hexagon surfaces do not touch the same sphere. Besides, this reference is not concerned with a set of loose maps which can be laid on a flat surface in a large number of patterns abutting each other, in order to be able to measure the distance between two arbitrary points on earth and to calculate therefrom the actual distance between two arbitrary points on earth and to calculate therefrom the actual distance between points on the earth. If the maps of the globe according to the French application were detached from one another and laid in the above-mentioned manner on a flat surface, the accuracy of the distance calculations would not be satisfactory, because the cartographic scale for the pentagons is not the same as that for the hexagons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a world map system which consists of separate maps and in which the cartographic scale is essentially the same over the entire surface.
To this end, the world map system consists of thirty-two loose maps in the form of twelve equilateral pentagons and twenty inequilateral hexagons having alternately a relatively short side and a relatively long side, which maps together can form a globe through each pentagon being surrounded by five hexagons in such a way that the sides of pentagons and hexagons abutting each other are the same length, the ratio of the length of the relatively long hexagon sides to the length of the relatively short hexagon sides lying between 1:0.75 and 1:10.
A cartographic scale which is totally identical for the pentagons and hexagons is achieved if the abovementioned ratio is 1:0.839.
The latter ratio is approximately 0.69 in the case of the globe according to the abovementioned French patent application.
The ratio of the surface area of a pentagon to the surface area of a hexagon in the system according to the present invention is about 1:1.31, and that according to the French application about 1:1.
The thirty two loose maps can be laid on a table and tacked together in many combinations. The result is cartographically very accurate; the distance between two points can be converted to the actual distance within very narrow limits by way of a scale.
Means can be present to retain the maps in their selected positions relative to each other. For example, the maps are magnetic, and are retained on a steel plate, or the maps are provided at their edges with Velcro strips or magnetic strips, by means of which their positions relative to each other can be temporarily fixed.
Of course, a globe can be formed from the world map system with thirty-two loose maps by joining the maps together. This can also be temporary, depending on the connections at the edges.
The world map system according to the invention could also be used professionally by pilots and ships' navigating officers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of an imaginary globe made up from a world map system according to the invention.
FIG. 2 and 3 show a view of a hexagonal and a pentagonal map respe
REFERENCES:
patent: 2424601 (1947-07-01), Crouch
patent: 2436860 (1948-03-01), Fisher
patent: 2967318 (1961-06-01), Hammer
patent: 3578331 (1971-05-01), DeGast
patent: 4620842 (1986-11-01), Wang
patent: 5222896 (1993-06-01), Smith, Jr.
Schaper Franciscus Ferdinandus Jozef
Schaper Hubertus Cornelis Joseph
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