GB2235805A

GB2235805A - Educational globe toy

Info

Publication number: GB2235805A
Application number: GB8918032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fye Hong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-07
Filing date: 1989-08-07
Publication date: 1991-03-13
Also published as: GB8918032D0

Abstract

Elements 4 have spigots 12 for insertion into sockets 10 formed in sphere 2. The sphere may be a globe marked with the oceans and lines of latitude and longitude. The elements 4 may represent states, countries or continents and may have information bearing decals adhered thereto. The base of each element has curvature corresponding to that of the globe. <IMAGE>

Description

EDUCATIONAL TOY The present invention relates to an educational toy and particularly, but not exclusively, to an educational toy comprising a globe for enabling a user to inter-actively learn demarcations around the globe.

At present, demarcation information concerning a globe such as the earth may be represented either in a 3-D representation or in an atlas. A user, thus only has access to such information in a passive manner since the atlas or 3-D representation is only used as a reference.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an educational toy comprising a globe for enabling a user to inter-actively learn information concerning the globe.

According to the present invention there is provided an educational toy comprising: a sphere having at least one recess; at least one element, the or each element having a protusion for coupling with a respective recess; and means for identifying at least one charactaristic of the or each element.

By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an element and a decal according to the preferred embodiment.

The preferred embodiment comprises a globe 2, elements or area pieces 4 and decals 6. The globe 2 is formed from a blank hollow sphere which may initially be provided in sections or as a complete sphere. The globe 2 may be made from any commercially known process of plastic moulding. The globe 2 may have the longitude and latitude reference lines 8 marked thereon.

Furthermore, the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, comprises a globe 2 having the seas of the earth marked on the surface of the globe 2.

The globe 2 also includes a number of recesses or indentations 10. The area pieces 4 include protrusions 12 for inserting into the recesses or indentations 10.

The area pieces 4 have a curvature which corresponds to the curvature of the globe 2. The area pieces 4 may represent each country of the world or continents or in the case of countries which have a large area, the component states. When all of the area pieces 4 are attached to the globe 2, the edges of the area pieces 4 protrude slightly.

The decals 6 comprise thin pieces of vinyl material upon which the top surface is printed with the geographical map of the country or state and the bottom surface is coated with an adhesive. Prior to use of the decal, a non-stick film is attached to the adhesive. The decals, may be used to represent particular countries, political divisions, geographical areas, vegetation areas, religious divisions. and other such demarcations. In the preferred embodiment, each decal represents a specific country and the perimeter thereof corresponds to each area piece 4 as shown in Figure 2.

The educational toy may be played in the following manner: 1) The globe 2 is assembled if provided in sections; 2) Each area piece 4 is matched with a corresponding decal; 3) The non-stick film of each decal is removed so that the decal may be affixed to each respective area piece; 4) The appropriate site on the globe 2 is found for each area piece 4 and the corresponding protrusion 12 is inserted into the respective recess 10.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention thus enables a user to inter-actively learn specific demarcations of the earth. Having finished positioning all the area pieces 4 on the globe 2 the user may wish to disassemble the educational toy or alternatively maintain it for display. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment includes means for holding and displaying the globe 14. A clip may be attached to the holder means for enabling the globe 2 to be hung. Alternatively, the globe may be positioned on a stand 16.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been given by way of example only and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CTAIMS

1. An educational toy comprising: a sphere having at least one recess; aL least one element, the or each element having a protrusion for coupling with a respective recess; and means for identifying at least one characteristic of the or each element.

2. An educational toy as claimed in Claim 1, in which the or each element comprises a segment of a hollow sphere having an inner radius substantially the same as the radius of said sphere.

3. An educational toy as claimed in Claim 2, in which said means comprises a decal for coupling to the outer radius of the or each segment of the hollow sphere.

4. An educational toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said sphere represents earth and includes the latitude and longitude lines marked thereon.

5. An educational toy as claimed in Claim 4, in which the oceans and seas are marked thereon.

6. An educational toy as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which said characteristic comprises national boundaries.

7. An educational toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a plurality of elements in which each element represents a country.

8. An educational toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.