Fully rotational illuminated globe

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to globes and, in particular, to a novel type of 
fully-rotational illuminated globe. 
Illuminated globes are desirable to consumers because they are attractive, 
easier to read and provide better definition of features on the surface of 
the globe than traditional non-illuminated globes. At the same time, it is 
highly desirable for an illuminated globe to be fully and freely 
rotational through 360.degree. about its polar axis so that the entire 
surface of the globe may be examined without moving the base of the globe. 
Most illuminated globes that are available today are not fully and freely 
rotational about their axis because the electrical wiring for the lamp 
fixture in these globes passes from the surface portion of the globe 
directly to an electrical outlet. Thus, as the globe is rotated, the 
wiring becomes entangled about the axis support for the globe, making it 
unsafe, and in some cases impossible, to rotate the globe about its axis. 
Numerous attempts have been made to provide an illuminated globe which is 
fully and freely rotational about its axis support member. For example, 
the following patents are all addressed to various facets of the problem 
of creating such an illuminated, rotational globe: U.S. Pat. Nos. 
2,932,907 (Stieber, et al); 2,515,400 (Dupler); 2,345,800 (Dupler); 
2,339,385 (Dupler); 2,200,821 (Colberg); 2,177,352 (Dupler); 2,127,249 
(Dupler); 2,115,372 (Peterson); 2,099,518 (Hazlett); 2,027,156 (Dupler); 
1,335,923 (Schrenkeisen). 
However, the prior attempts to create an illuminated globe are either 
inoperable in practice, prohibitively expensive, or will not meet the 
rigid safety requirements of independent testing agencies, such as 
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Hence, these earlier attempts to create a 
rotational illuminated globe have not been successful, and in particular, 
have not been commercially successful. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple, 
inexpensive illuminated globe which is fully and freely rotational about 
its axial support. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a fully rotational 
illuminated globe that will comply with the safety standards promulgated 
by nationally recognized testing organizations. 
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a unitary base 
and axial support member for the illuminated globe. 
These and additional objects of the invention will become apparent as the 
invention is described in detail hereinafter. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The disclosed invention is an illuminated globe which is fully and freely 
rotational about its axial support member. Fully rotational illuminated 
globes are commercially desirable for many reasons, as indicated above. 
Yet, in order to be a commercially viable product, a fully rotational 
illuminated globe must be safe, durable, and yet constructed in a manner 
which does not result in prohibitive expense. Particularly important is 
the manner in which the globe is mounted to its base, because unless an 
appropriate base and mounting assembly is utilized, the desirable safety, 
durability, and cost constraints which the globe must meet cannot be met.

FIG. 1 shows the invention generally in an exploded view. A translucent 
globe 1 which may be made of a suitable plastic material, such as a clear 
acrylic or high impact styrene, defines an aperture 2 at its South Pole. A 
cylindrical sleeve 3 made of a suitably durable material, such as styrene, 
is affixed to the interior of the globe at aperture 2. While several 
methods may be utilized to affix the sleeve to the globe, the currently 
preferred method is to mold the sleeve onto the globe. The interior 
diameter of the sleeve is equal to the diameter of aperture 2. A series of 
webs 4 reinforce the sleeve/globe connection. 
The base 5 and axial support member 6 are of a unitary construction, formed 
by inserting the support member 6 into the base 5 while the base 5 is hot 
from molding and permitting the base 5 to contract or shrink onto the 
support member 6. A bearing surface 7 is located on the axial support 
member 6, preferably by molding it as part of the support member. A washer 
8 made of suitable friction-reducing material, such as nylon, rests on the 
bearing surface 7. 
A lamp socket 9, having a diameter less than the axial support member 6 is 
affixed to the top 10 of the support member 6. The bulb 12 then screws 
into the lamp socket 9. Both the socket and bulb are of standard 
construction and will operate on the 120 volt current supplied to most 
homes, schools, and offices. The lamp socket's wiring 13 is attached to 
the power cord 14 by a standard crimp connection 15. A two-pronged plug 16 
is attached to the end of the power cord 14 to allow connection to an 
electrical outlet (not shown). An in-line on/off switch 17 is also 
provided at an intermediate point on the power cord 14. 
The base 5 further comprises a series of supporting legs 16 and stops 22. 
As noted above, the axial support pin 6 is molded into base 5. The base 5 
has a hollow passageway 19 which is in communication with the hollow 
center 11 of the axial support 6, thereby allowing the lamp wiring/power 
cord assembly to pass through the hollow center of the axial support 
member 11, through the passageway 19 in the base 5 and exit the base 
through an aperture 20 in the side of the base. A stress relief or tab 21 
secures the power cord from movement with respect to the aperture in the 
base. 
The axial support pin 6 is of slightly smaller diameter at its top 10 than 
at the point were the bearing surface 7 is affixed to it. This creates a 
slope in the outside surface of the axial support member. Thus, when the 
globe 1 and sleeve 3 are mounted on the support member, a small, 
approximately 1.degree. draft exists, as best seen in FIG. 3. This 
1.degree. draft allows the sleeve 3 to be more easily inserted and removed 
from the support member 6, reduces wear, and yet retains a sufficiently 
snug contact between the sleeve and support member to provide the 
necessary stability for the globe. 
In operation, the globe 1 is placed on the axial support member 6 so that 
the globe rests on the washer 8 and bearing surface 7. The sleeve 3 
provides stability for the globe 1 as shown in FIG. 2. The globe 1 is then 
free to rotate fully about its axis. 
It should be understood that numerous changes in the details of 
construction may be effected without departing from the spirit of the 
invention, especially as defined in the following claims.