Abstract:
The book with spinning globe has a front cover, a back cover, and a spine or binding portion which binds the front cover, and the back cover. An earth globe is rotatably connected to a front cover, back cover, or spine so that the globe is rotatable about an axis extending along a plane of the front cover, back cover, or spine to which the globe is connected. The book may optionally include at least one leaf positioned between the front and the back cover. The globe may also be rotatably connected to the leaf. The globe is configured to represent the earth, and has outlines representing the continents and at least larger countries or geographical regions, and may have contours representing mountains or other features.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an educational book, and more particularly, to an educational book having a revolving globe disposed therein. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Knowledge of geography is essential for appreciating the physical and social aspects of the complex global world in which we live. Often times, however, conventional books relating to geography fail to maintain the interest of a young reader. This may be due to the fact that the topics discussed are sometimes difficult for a child to understand. For example, many books make reference to different regions or geographical areas in the world with which a young reader is not familiar. When a globe or atlas is not available, it becomes difficult for a young reader to properly distinguish between the different geographical locations discussed. It is also difficult for some children to understand day/night cycles. In addition, some young children may need something more than the text and pictures in most conventional books in order to remain engaged in the topic being discussed. Thus, an educational book which includes a revolving globe disposed therein would be desirable. 
   Thus, a book with a spinning globe solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The book with a spinning globe according to the present invention includes a front cover, a back cover, and a spine or binding portion which binds the front cover and the back cover. An earth globe is rotatably connected to the front cover, back cover, or spine so that the globe is rotatable about an axis extending along a plane of the front cover, back cover, or spine to which the globe is connected. The book may optionally include at least one leaf positioned between the front and the back cover. The globe may also be rotatably connected to a leaf. The globe is configured to represent the earth, and has outlines representing the continents and at least larger countries or geographical regions, and may have contours representing mountains or other features. 
   The book conveniently provides a young reader with access to a globe so that the reader will acquire a better understanding of world geography, the earth&#39;s rotation about an axis, and day/night cycles. For some, such as children who rely on others to read, the globe also provides a source of amusement and helps to maintain a child&#39;s focus on the book rather than other surrounding objects. . . . 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a book with spinning globe according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the book of  FIG. 1 , showing the back cover of the book. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the book of  FIG. 1 , showing the cutout portions in the front cover and in the leaves. 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmented sectional view of the back cover of a book of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 5  is a fragmented perspective view of the back cover of the book of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmented perspective view of the book of  FIG. 1 , showing an alternate method of mounting the globe to the cover. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of optional electronic circuitry for a book with spinning globe according to the present invention for illuminating the globe, playing an audio message, or rotating the globe. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a book with spinning globe according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a book with spinning globe according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a book with spinning globe according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the book of  FIG. 10 , showing the book opened. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a book with spinning globe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention relates to a book with a spinning globe, generally designated as  10  in the drawings. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the book  10  includes a book skeleton or book cover assembly, including a front cover  12 , a back cover  14 , and a spine or binding portion  18  which binds the front cover  12  to the back cover  14 . The book  10  includes a three-dimensional globe  20 , which may be rotatably attached to the book skeleton. As is shown, the book  10  may optionally include at least one leaf  16  positioned between the front cover  12  and the back cover  14 , and bound to the spine  18  in any suitable manner known in the art. In one embodiment, the globe  20  is attached to the back cover  14 , as can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 2 . The globe  20  includes a map or image of the earth on its exterior surface, including any or all of the indicia of a standard reproduction of the earth&#39;s surface. Thus, the map may include raised portions or contours to represent mountain ranges, as well as other topography. The globe  20  can be made from plastic, fabric, foam, or any other suitable material. The book can be made from any suitable material such as paper, plastic, or leather. As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the front cover  12  and each leaf  16  include a cutout portion  21  through which the globe  20  may protrude. 
   The globe  20  may be rotatably mounted in any suitable manner.  FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary sectional view of a portion of the back cover  14  and the globe  20  positioned within the back cover  14 . As can be seen, a supportive frame  22  may be disposed within the back cover  14  for receiving the globe  20 . The frame  22  can be hemispherical, semicircular, arcuate, or of any other suitable shape or structure. The frame  22  can be made from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metal or plastic. The globe  20  can be positioned within the frame  22  in any conventional manner that would allow a user to manually rotate the globe  20  within the frame  22 . For example, a rod  24  or other suitable cylindrical structure may extend through the globe  20  and attach at its opposing ends to the frame  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The globe  20  may thereby revolve around the rod  24  when manually spun. The globe  20  may be equipped with bearings where the rod  24  enters and exits the globe  20  to ensure smooth rotation of the globe  20  around the rod  24 . 
   In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6 , pins  26  may be provided to connect the globe  20  to the frame  22 . The pins  26  may be fixed to diametrically opposed positions of the globe  20  and configured to rotate in holes defined within the frame  22 . Alternatively, the pins  26  may be fixed in the frame  22 , but rotatably mounted to the globe  20 . 
   Optionally, the book  10  may be configured to allow for automated rotation of the globe  20 , illumination of the globe  20 , and/or activation of an audio device. Automation of the book  10  can be accomplished in any conventional manner known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the book may be equipped with one or more switches  28 , which may be located on the body of the book  10 , on the globe  20 , or on the frame  22 , that can be triggered to connect a power supply  30  to an appropriate electrical device or circuit. The power supply  30  can be, for example, one or more batteries, e.g., a watch battery, AA or AAA alkaline batteries, a lithium battery, etc. The power supply  30  provides sufficient voltage and current to activate a motor  32 , a sound device  34  and/or a light source  36 . Alternatively, however, the book  10  may be configured in any suitable manner known in the art which would allow the motor  32 , the sound device  34 , and/or the light source  36  to be activated when a user touches designated portions of the globe  20  or the book  10 , e.g., by capacitance switches, etc., as is well known in the electrical arts 
   Activation of the motor  32  initiates rotation of the globe  20 . Rotation of the globe  20  provides a child with a better understanding of how the earth revolves on its axis and the cycles of day and night. The motor  32  may be a small piezoelectric motor, a stepper motor, or any other motor known in the art. 
   Activation of the light source  36  illuminates the globe  20 . Illumination of the globe  20  allows a child to use the globe  20  at night, while traveling in a car, for example. The light source  36  may be an incandescent light, one or more light emitting diodes, a fluorescent light, or any other illumination source known in the electrical arts. For this purpose, the globe  20  may be made of translucent material and the light source may be disposed within, behind, above, or below the globe  20 . 
   Activation of the sound device  34  triggers an audio message which identifies or describes the geographic location(s) which are displayed once the globe  20  has returned to a stationary position after spinning. The sound device  34  may be a magnetic tape or audio chip connected to a speaker. For example, if the globe  20  stops its rotation with the continent of Europe displayed, the audio may recite an appropriate informational message, such as: “This is Europe, an area with many countries. These countries are Spain, France, Germany . . . ” 
   Hence, the book  10  provides an amusing diversion for children, as well as education regarding geography and the structure of the earth. 
     FIG. 8  depicts yet another embodiment of the book, generally designated as  11 . The book  11  differs from the book  10  in that the globe  20  is rotatably attached to the spine  18 , rather than to the back cover  14 , and a pair of support structures  38  extend from the spine  18 . Also, the book  11  does not include cutout portions  21 . In all other respects, however, the book  11  is identical to the book  10 . When the book  11  is opened on a horizontal support surface, the support structures  38  keep the spine  18  and the globe  20  raised above the horizontal support surface in order to facilitate rotation of the globe  20 . The support structures  38  may be rectangular, as depicted, or any other shape that would maintain the spine  18  above a horizontal surface. The support structures  38  and the spine  18  can be made from one piece. Alternatively, however, the support structures  38  can be permanently or detachably connected to the spine  18  in any conventional manner. The support structures  38  can be made from plastic, wood, or other suitable material. 
     FIG. 9  depicts yet another embodiment of the book, generally designated as  13 . Unlike the book  11 , the book  13  includes a side panel  40  extending from the back cover  14  and the globe  20  is rotatably connected to the side panel  40  instead of the spine  18 . Also, the book  13  does not have support structures  38  in the spine  18 . In all other respects, however, the book  13  is identical to the book  11 . 
     FIG. 10  depicts yet another embodiment of the book, generally designated as  15 . The book  15  is identical to the book  13 , except that the book  15  does not include a side panel  40  and the globe  20  is rotatably attached to the front cover  12 . As shown more clearly in  FIG. 11 , the spine  18  of the book  15  can be configured to extend past the leaves  16  of the book  15  to form a gap  42  between the leaves  18  and the front cover  12 . A portion of the globe  20  and/or the frame  22  that houses the globe  20  may thereby extend into the gap  42  when the book  10  is closed. 
     FIG. 12 , depicts yet another embodiment of the book, generally designated as  17 . The book  17  is identical to the book  15 , except that the spine  18  is not configured to extend past the leaves  16  of the book  10  and the globe  20  is rotatably connected to a leaf  16 . It is preferable that the leaves of the book  17  be made from cardboard. If the book  10  includes more than one leaf  16 , the remaining leaves  16  may be configured to include cutouts  21 , as is shown. 
   It will be understood that the term “book”, as used in the present application, is not limited to the conventional hardback book depicted in the drawings, but encompasses any support device having a front cover, a back cover, and a spine or binding portion having means for supporting at least one leaf between the front cover and the back cover. Thus, photo albums, greeting cards, and binders fall within the meaning of “book” as used herein. It should also be understood that the book of the present invention includes other objects beside a globe which can be made to rotate in the book. Thus, the book may include, for example, a rotating object having the shape of an animal, human, alien, or fantasy object or being instead of a globe. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.