GB2201281A - A model globe - Google Patents

Abstract

A model globe erectable from a blank (1) comprising a plurality of interconnected map-bearing sections (2) has an inflated balloon inside to retain the blank in its erected form and/or to distort the erected blank into a more truly spherical form. <IMAGE>

Description

A model globe This invention relates to a model globe and in particular, but not exclusively, to a disposable or throwaway globe intended for short term use only, e.g. for aircraft passengers to use on a flight.

It is already known from GB-A-560186 and GB-A-1444480 to erect model globes of non-spherical, polyhedral form from at least one blank of non-extensible, foldable sheet material such as stiff paper. It is also known from GB-A674776 to form a more expensive, substantially spherical inflatable globe from an outer flexible, non-extensible casing bearing printed map information and an inner inflatable air chamber to retain the casing in a spherical form.

The present invention seeks to provide a model globe which is relatively cheap to produce and which can be erected from a blank of foldable sheet material.

According to the present invention there is provided a blank for a model globe and made of foldable sheet material, comprising a plurality of interconnected mapbearing sections and tabs connected to edges of at least some of the map bearing sections for adherence to other map-bearing sections to enable the blank to be erected into a closed container form with map parts on the map-bearing sections facing outwards, the blank having an aperture therein for receiving, when the blank is in an erected form, the neck of an uninflated balloon projecting outwardly therethrough, subsequent inflation of the balloon into an at least substantially spherical form serving to retain the blank in its erected form and/or to distort the erected blank into a more truly spherical form.

Preferably the aperture is reinforced around its periphery. This prevents the sheet material from tearing during and/or after inflation of the balloon. Typically, the reinforcement is in the form of a ring, e.g. of paper or plastics material, adhered to the side of the blank destined to form the inside of the erected container. In certain instances the reinforcement is not required, e.g.

if the sheet material is toughened or made of non-tear material.

The sheet material of the blank may be paper, conveniently good quality paper such as, for example, paper having a weight of 100 gm2. Another preferred type of sheet material is "non-tear" sheet material such as the type used in certain types of toughened envelope, e.g. the material known under the trade name "Tyvek". However many other types of foldable sheet material , such as card or board, may be employed for the blank although it is preferred that the sheet material should be flexible, have a degree of rigidity (i.e. like paper as opposed to plastics film or cloth), be substantially non-extensible and be easily foldable and/or creasable.

The blank may be pre-creased. Alternatively, the blank may be marked to indicate where the blank is to be folded. The blank may need to be detached from or cut from a larger regular shaped sheet of material. However the blank is preferably pre-cut to the correct size.

Preferably the map-bearing sections comprise regular polygons, e.g. pentagons, so that the blank can be erected into a polyhedron, e.g. a regular dodecahedron, prior to inflation of the balloon. The bases of such polygon-shaped map-bearing sections are preferably straight but may be curved to provide a more truly spherical closed container.

Alternatively it is possible for the map-bearing sections to comprise a plurality of "lunes" connected together at their central or "equatorial" regions. Although this latter form of blank can be erected into a near spherical form, it is more difficult to erect and, as such, is less preferred since it leads away from the concept of an easily erectable, throw away model "globe".

Conveniently the tabs, or the edge regions to which the tabs are to be adhered to, have adhesive means preapplied thereto. For example, the adhesive means may be of the type which becomes tacky when wetted, e.g. with water, or of the type which is covered by an easily removable backing layer. Preferably, however, the adhesive means is in the form of double-sided adhesive tape, one side of which is preferably pre-adhered to the blank and the other side of which carries an easily removable backing layer.

The model globe when erected may be a terrestrial globe or a celestial globe.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing the sole figure of which shows a blank according to the invention for a model globe.

The figure shows a unitary or one-piece pre-cut blank, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, made of flexible, non-extensible and easily foldable sheet material having a degree of rigidity, e.g. good quality paper (such 2 as paper having a weight of 100 gum ). Another preferred type of sheet material is non-tear sheet material, e.g. of the type used in strong envelopes and sold, for example, under the trade name "Tyvek". In the figure, the dashed lines represent fold lines (which may be pre-creased or merely indicate where folds should be made). All the fold lines marked require the blank 1 to be folded in the same direction - i.e. downwardly out of the plane of the drawing - to erect the blank into a dodecahedral form.

The blank 1 consists of twelve interconnected mapbearing sections 2 each having the shape of a regular pentagon and a plurality of tabs 3 provided along some of the edges of at least some of the sections 2. All the mapbearing sections have map sections 4 provided, e.g.

printed, on one side - i.e. the upper side in the figurealthough for simplicity only some of the map sections have been shown on the figure. A hole 5, which is reinforced around its periphery by means of a reinforcing ring 6 shown in dotted lines in the figure, is provided in one of the map-bearing sections 2. The reinforcing ring 6 may not be required if, for example, the blank is made of non-tear material. The ring typically comprises a plastics or selfadhesive paper ring adhered to the underside of the blank 1. An uninflated balloon 8 is received in the hole 5 with its neck projecting through the latter. The balloon is chosen to have as true a spherical form as possible when inflated.

Double-sided adhesive tape 7 is adhered to each tab 3 (on the upper side as viewed in the figure). A peel-off backing layer is provide on the upper side of the tape 7 which covers a tacky adhesive layer. Instead of adhesive tape, the tabs may be provided with an adhesive layer which is covered with a peel-off backing layer or which becomes tacky when wetted, e.g. with water.

In order to erect the blank 1 into a regular dodecahedron, the backing layers are peeled off the double-sided adhesive tape 7 as required and the tabs are adhered to the underside of the blank 1 along the appropriate edge regions of the map-bearing sections 2 which have no tabs integrally connected thereto. In this manner a non-spherical closed container - i.e. of dodecahedral shape - is formed, with map sections 4 facing outwards and cooperating with each other to provide a continuous map.

The uninflated balloon 8 is then inflated into a substantially spherical form inside the erected dodecahedron so that the plane pentagonal faces are distorted and the dodecahedron is converted into a more spherica shape.

Of course since the sheet material is substantially nonextensible, the dodecahedron cannot be distorted into a truly spherical form. However, the balloon 6 does provide the "globe" with a degree of curvature. In addition to providing curvature to the globe, the balloon 8 in its inflated condition, serves as an inner support which retains the globe in its erected state even if the globe is compressed, e.g. whilst being handled. Once inflated the balloon 8 can be closed by tying a knot in its neck or by use of a special clip (not shown). The reinforcing ring 6 prevents the sheet material from tearing during and/or after inflation of the balloon.

It will be appreciated that the tabs 3 may be provided on different edges of the map-bearing sections, although it is preferred that each pair of adjacent edges of the mapbearing sections in the erected dodecahedron should be joined by a tab connection. Other dodecahedron "nets" may also be employed. Tab positioning and "net" selection are not considered in detail herein but are well known to persons skilled in mathematics.

The blank may be pre-cut and creased. Alternatively the blank could be partly cut (to enable the shaped blank to be detached from a larger, e.g. regular, piece of sheet material) or merely marked to enable a blank to be cut from the sheet material.

In other embodiments of the invention, differently shaped map-bearing sections, e.g. other polygonal shapes such as triangles and pentagons or even non-polygonal shapes such as "lunges", may be provided. However the use of interconnected regular pentagons for the blank is preferred since such a blank is easy to erect, e.g. by travellers on an aircraft, and is not difficult or expensive to produce.

The main purpose of the globe is to provide a therapeutic model for construction by air travellers when flying long distances. The globe could be used to follow the course of the flight around the world. It will of course be realised that the globe has other uses.

Claims (19)

1. A blank for a model globe and made of foldable sheet material, comprising a plurality of interconnected map-bearing sections and tabs connected to edges of at least some of the map bearing sections for adherence to other map-bearing sections to enable the blank to be erected into a closed container form with map parts on the map-bearing sections facing outwards, the blank having an aperture therein for receiving, when the blank is in an erected form, the neck of an uninflated balloon projecting outwardly therethrough, subsequent inflation of the balloon into an at least substantially spherical form serving to retain the blank in its erected form and/or to distort the erected blank into a more truly spherical form.

2. A blank according to claim 1, in which the aperture is reinforced around its periphery.

3. A blank according to claim 2, in which the reinforcement is in the form of a ring of material adhered to the side of the blank destined to form the inside of the erected container.

4. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said sheet material comprises paper.

5. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the said sheet-material comprises card or board.

6. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the sheet material comprises non-tear sheet material.

7. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said sheet material is pre-creased.

8. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the said sheet material is marked to indicate where the blank is to be folded.

9. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the map-bearing sections comprise regular polygons so that the blank can be erected into a polyhedron prior to inflation of the balloon.

10. A blank according to claim 9, in which the bases of said polygon-shaped map-bearing sections are straight.

11. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the map-bearing sections comprise a plurality of lunes connected together at their central or equatorial regions.

12. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tabs, or the edge regions to which the tabs are to be adhered, have adhesive means pre-applied thereto.

13. A blank according to claim 12, in which the said adhesive means is of the type which become tacky on wetting, e.g. with water.

14. A blank according to claim 12, in which the said adhesive means is in the form of double sided adhesive tape, one side of which is pre-adhered to the blank and the other side of which carries an easily removable backing layer.

15. A blank according to claim 12, in which the said adhesive means is covered with an easily removable, nonadhesive backing layer.

16. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, and a balloon for use therewith.

17. A model globe erected from a blank according to any one of the preceding claims.

18. A model globe according to claim 17, in the form of a terrestrial globe or a celestial globe.

19. A blank for a model globe constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to -and as illustrated in the sole figure of the accompanying drawing.