Patent Application
20060255538
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a globe, and more particularly to an illuminated puzzle globe that is educational and emits light.
2. Description of Related Art
A puzzle can help people learn when they are assembling puzzle pieces. However, functions of a conventional puzzle only include being educational and decorative. The conventional puzzle does not emit light so the functions of the puzzle are limited.
Furthermore, a conventional lighting device only emits light. The lighting device is not educational so the lighting device can only be used to provide light.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an illuminated puzzle globe to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an illuminated puzzle globe that is educational and emits light.
The illuminated puzzle globe has a sphere and multiple puzzle pieces assembled on the outer surface of the sphere to form a globe. The sphere has a lighting device mounted inside the sphere. People can learn when assembling and taking apart the puzzle pieces. The lighting device can function as a lighting apparatus or a decoration.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The stand (10) is a C-shaped frame and has a top, a bottom, an optional ancillary device (11) and two mounting pins (12). The ancillary device (11) is mounted on the stand (10) and can be a clock, a radio and the like. The mounting pins (12) are mounted respectively through the top and the bottom of the stand (10) and align with each other.
The sphere (20) is hollow and light-permeable plastic ball and has a top, a bottom, an outer surface, two optional pivot holes (21), a lighting device (22) and multiple optional magnets (23). The pivot holes (21) are formed respectively at the top and the bottom of the sphere (20) and rotatably hold the mounting pins (12) to rotatably mount the sphere (20) in the stand (10). The lighting device (22) is mounted in the sphere (20) and is able to emit light. The light from the lighting device (22) can light the sphere (20) so it serves as a lighting apparatus or an effective decoration. The magnets (23) are mounted on the outer surface of the sphere (20).
The puzzle pieces (30, 30A) are removably mounted on the outer surface of the sphere (20) to form a globe, may be U-shaped, rectangular or triangular segments and may be a metallic material. Each puzzle piece (30, 30A) has an outer surface, an inner surface, optional magnetic devices (31) and optional light-penetrating holes (32). The U-shaped or rectangular and triangular segments conform to and mount flush on the outer surface of the sphere (20). The outer surfaces of the puzzle pieces (30, 30A) collectively have a world map formed on the outer surfaces. The magnetic devices (31) are attached respectively to the inside surfaces of the puzzle pieces (30) and correspond to the magnets (23) on the sphere (20). The light-penetrating holes (32) are formed through the puzzle pieces (30, 30A) to indicate locations of major cities in the world. After the puzzle pieces (30, 30A) are assembled, the light penetrating holes (32) of the puzzle pieces (30, 30A) indicate each and every major city on the globe.
In a first embodiment of the illuminated puzzle globe in accordance with the present invention, the puzzle pieces (30) are U-shaped.
In a second embodiment of the illuminated puzzle globe in accordance with the present invention, the puzzle pieces (30A) are triangular and rectangular.
When the puzzle pieces (30, 30A) are assembled on the sphere (20), the map of the world is formed on the sphere (20). That is, people can learn when assembling the puzzle pieces (30, 30A). Light emitted from the lighting device (22) passes through the penetrating holes (32) of the puzzle pieces (30, 30A) to indicate the position of each and every major city on the sphere (20).
In conclusion, people can learn when assembling and taking apart of the puzzle pieces (30, 30A), and the lighting device (22) can function as a lighting apparatus or an effective decoration.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
