Abstract: A teaching device including a globe and a DVD player. A wireless connection is provided between the globe and the DVD player. Based upon an individual's choosing a location on the globe or based upon a video clip played on the monitor of the DVD, information relating to that particular spot on the globe would be displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a globe apparatus for showing rotation and revolution at the same time. The globe apparatus includes: a base to which one end of at least one support rod is fixed and one end of a revolution axis is rotatably fixed; a support arm fixedly coupled with the support rod; an Earth globe rotatably coupled with the support arm at two confronting points of the Earth globe with an inclination, and rotating; and a revolution unit placed inside the Earth globe and revolving relative to the two confronting points with coupled with the revolution axis, and showing day and night separately according to the rotation of the Earth globe.

Abstract: A model globe for illustrating time relationships and related concepts includes a global representation of the earth rotatable about an axis simulating the earth's axis of rotation. A cursor assembly is independently rotatable about the axis, and includes a cursor which may be positioned at a desired place on the earth as represented on the model globe. An indicator is coupled to the cursor assembly and displays the rotations position of the cursor about the simulated axis of rotation. The indicator is preferably in the form of a clock, whereby the time over a 24-hour period corresponding to a revolution of the earth about its axis is displayed to correspond to the position of the cursor. The cursor assembly may be locked to the globe so that they may be rotated about the axis in unison, whereby the indicator depicts the passage of time along the longitude of the cursor as the globe rotates.

Abstract: A internally lighted globe for showing the world as illuminated by the sun at the current time. The internally lighted globe includes a base with an arm coupled thereto. A sphere has indicia representing the surface of the earth and an axis. The sphere is rotatably coupled to the arm of the base along the axis of the sphere. The sphere is translucent so that light shining inside of the sphere illuminates the material of the sphere. A light means is rotatably positioned in the sphere for emitting light on a portion of the sphere corresponding to a portion of the earth illuminated by sunlight at a given time. The sphere completes one 360 degree revolution in 24 hours for simulating rotation of the earth about its axis.

Abstract: The touch controlled light emitted two balls instrument comprises the following elements. A seat with a two loops touch controlled sensing switch circuit system, one side of the seat is formed with a pivotal hole, and the opposite side of the seat is installed with a through hole used to mounted with a first light source. A supporting frame is a cambered rod having an approximate C shape and is assembled on the pivotal hole of the seat. A screw rod is mounted on the top of the rod and an engaging rod is projected from the lower end thereof and may be pivotally connected with a second light source. A globe is a hollow and transparent round ball and a world map is depicted on the surface thereof, and holes are formed on the upper and lower ends thereof for being inserted by the screw rod and convex shaft of the supporting frame and a first light source. A heaven body ball is a transparent round ball with a hollow inner space, a heaven body map is depicted thereon.

Abstract: A touch controlled multiple functional terrestrial globe is disclosed. A ball is a transparent round ball with a hollow inner space, a world map is depicted on the surface of the ball; a palm shape supporting frame for supporting the ball by the part between the thumb and the index finger. The under-pan of a ball driven device is firmly secured to an axial rod through a positioning piece for bearing the ball, a belt disk is installed on the lower portion thereof, while the belt disk is connected to another belt disk under the central shaft of the motor through a belt, therefore, by starting a decelerated motor, the ball is driven to rotate. A light source is mounted on the top of an axial rod and can emit light. A seat is installed on the lower portion of the palm shape supporting frame, a touch controlled sensing circuit system is installed therewithin, it can connected to the decelerated motor and the bulb base through a dual loop touch controlled switch circuit.

Abstract: An educational globe-shaped tool is provided including a rigid sphere having a plurality of bores formed therein each with a lamp and a switch associated therewith which generates an activation signal when closed. A plurality of country pieces each having an outboard portion with a periphery shaped as a unique country. Each country piece further has a post for being removably coupled with an associated one of the bores for closing the switch thereof. Control circuitry is connected between each of the switches and the lamps. Such control circuitry is adapted to illuminate one of the lamps upon the receipt of an associated activation signal.

Abstract: An earth globe includes a base and a hollow globe body made of translucent material and having a spherical configuration corresponding substantially to the earth. A first support mechanism serves to rotatably support the globe body relative to the base around a first axis corresponding substantially to the earth axis. An illumination device and a shading device are disposed within the globe body. The shading device serves to shade light from the illumination device over a substantially half region of the globe body. A second support mechanism is provided to rotatably support the shading device relative to the globe body around a second axis corresponding substantially to an axis perpendicular to the orbital plane of revolution of the earth around the sun.

Abstract: A computer-aided geographic system highlights a specified area of a map based on operator input. In a preferred embodiment, a voice recognition system receives the operator input in voice form and determines the area to be highlighted. In the preferred form, the map used is a globe, and computerized controls turn and tilt the globe in response to the voice command so that one or more spotlights inside the globe illuminate the area of interest. Information related to the geographic location selected may be retrieved and simultaneously displayed on a computer monitor, video screen, slide screen, and/or narrated by synthesized voice.

Abstract: A hollow housing which may be flat or in the shape of a sphere has a map extending over at least part of its outer surface representing at least some of the topographical features of the Earth's surface. The map is formed at least partially by openings in the surface, and a light source inside the housing illuminates the openings so that they will stand out in a darkened room. The openings may be holes at the locations of major cities, cuts extending along the continents and rivers separated by bridges, and cut-outs representing major lakes and inland seas.

Abstract: A computer controlled illuminated globe almanac is disclosed for rotating the globe to a selected viewing position and illuminating selected points, lines and areas on the globe. The system also displays and/or prints associated almanac-type data such as, for example, city or country name and population, river name an length, etc.

Abstract: An earth planet model as illustrated in the drawings having a base supporting a globe cradle 28. The globe cradle supports a glove 40 at a north pole bearing 48 and at a south pole bearing 50 with the polar axis of the globe being inclined. The model 10 has a polar shaft 66 with a north pole shaft end 68 extending upward through the north pole bearing 48 and a south pole bearing end 70 extending downward through the south pole bearing 50. A light illuminating means is tiltably mounted on the polar shaft 66 for tilting movement and for rotation with the shaft for illuminating the interior of the globe. The model 10 has a manual adjusting means associated with the north pole bearing 48 for manually adjusting the inclination of the illuminating means in response to the setting of a manual knob. A timer drive is detachably coupled to the south pole shaft end 70 for rotating the polar shaft with respect to the globe. The timer is removably mounted on the base.

Abstract: A cartographic device consists in particular of a globe inside which is placed a driving and controlling mechanism able to move a point radiator (42) along the inner wall of the globe in such a way that a point of light visible from the outside and movable at will in the horizontal and vertical directions indicates the geographical location of a place the name of which has been entered in the computer arranged in the base of the globe. The device is controlled by a permanently programmed micro-computer connected to the stepping motors (31, 41) of the mechanism.

Abstract: A puzzle apparatus utilizing a curved member having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. A plurality of interlocking pieces are employed, each possessing a concave surface conforming to the convex outer surface of the curved member. Each of the multiplicity of pieces includes a convex surface displaying indicia. The plurality of interlocking pieces are held to the curved outer surface to form a rendition.

Abstract: An educational toy for familiarizing young people or children with different geographic areas of the world. The educational toy comprises a rotatable world globe on which is mounted a carrier at least partially encircling the globe along a meridian thereof. The carrier supports a film strip containing longitudinally spaced images of selected geographic areas of the globe. In addition, a viewer is slidably mounted on the carrier, and is slidably movable thereon to a selected position of latitude on the globe in which the viewer is substantially in register with a plurality of images on the carrier of a selected geographic area. Indicia on a light transmitting spot on a geographic area of the globe that corresponds to the images of the selected geographic area is movable by manual rotation of the globe into register with the viewer. The viewer is adjusted to view the indicia and then images of the selected geographic area on the film strip are moved into register with the viewer.

Abstract: Claimed is an illuminated globe which is fully rotational about its axis. A translucent globe is slidably and rotatably mounted on an axial support pin and rests on a bearing surface. The axial support pin and the globe base are a unitary assembly. A lamp socket is affixed to the top of the support pin and the wiring is passed through the center of the support pin and exits through the side of the base.

Abstract: This Earth Photo Globe is characterized in that LANDSAT or other remote sensing geographical indicia is reproduced on the globe sphere with a definition smaller than that resolvable by the unaided human eye. An optical magnifier is mounted above the globe sphere to enable resolution of the full globe definition. A "cloud cover" spherical overlay may surround the sphere and contain a representation of the earth's cloud cover. The magnifier may be supported by this overlay.Various systems are disclosed for making the Earth Photo Globe. One uses a laser beam that is raster scanned across a photosensitized sphere, and is modulated by LANDSAT pixel data. In another system the LANDSAT data is used to prepare a set of photographic negative images each covering a section of the globe, and each containing alignment and positioning information. These images are projected onto a photosensitized sphere to make the globe.

Abstract: This Earth Photo Globe is characterized in that LANDSAT or other remote sensing geographical indicia is reproduced on the globe sphere with a definition smaller than that resolvable by the unaided human eye. An optical magnifier is mounted above the globe sphere to enable resolution of the full globe definition. A "cloud cover" spherical overlay may surround the sphere and contain a representation of the earth's cloud cover. The magnifier may be supported by this overlay.Various systems are disclosed for making the Earth Photo Globe. One uses a laser beam that is raster scanned across a photosensitized sphere, and is modulated by LANDSAT pixel data. In another system the LANDSAT data is used to prepare a set of photographic negative images each covering a section of the globe, and each containing alignment and positioning information. These images are projected onto a photosensitized sphere to make the globe.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a raised relief, illuminated globe includes printing a hemispherical map design on a flat vinyl plastic sheet, forming the vinyl plastic sheet into a substantially hemispherical shape, positioning the hemispherically formed sheet in a mold cavity, positioning a mold core on the back side of the sheet, injection molding a styrene backing for the hemispherical shaped sheet to conform the sheet with the mold cavity including relief areas defined in the cavity wall, and removing the molded hemisphere from the mold. A second molded hemisphere is produced in substantially the same manner and is attached to the first hemisphere to form a complete globe. The printed map design of the globe is positioned in the mold cavity to insure that the relief areas are properly positioned with respect to the design.