IMPROVEMENTS IN GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER GLOBES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Crum Brown, M.D., Professor of Chemistry at
the University of Edinburgh, of 8, Belgrave Crescent, in the City of Edin-
burgh, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER
GLOBES."
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 29th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Crum Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1877.
ALEXANDER CRUM BROWN, M.D., Professor of Chemistry at the University of
Edinburgh, of 8, Belgrave Crescent, in the City of Edinburgh. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER GLOBES."
The apparatus consists essentially of two parts,―
First. A bag (which will in this description be called A) composed of air-tight
flexible material of such a shape that when fully inflated or filled with air or other
gas it shall be spherical and provided with a tube or nozzle, through which it may
be inflated; and which can be closed by a stop-cock or plug, or otherwise, so as to
prevent the escape of the air or gas.
Second. A bag (which will in this description be called B) composed of cloth or
other flexible material of the same shape as A, of the same size as A, or a very
little larger, with a hole (C) sufficiently large to admit A in its collapsed or unin-
flated state.
Upon the outer surface of B, the map of the world or other map or diagram which
is to be displayed on a spherical surface, is drawn or printed, painted, or otherwise
delineated or marked.
To mount B upon A, draw B over A in the empty or uninflated state, so that the
nozzle of A protrudes through the hole (C) in B, then inflate A and close the nozzle.
The globe thus produced may be mounted in any way which may be convenient..
If desired it can be mounted with hour circle, meridian, and horizon.
In this case
A is furnished with a bearing (D) at the point opposite to the nozzle; and B has a
hole (E) at the point opposite to the hole C.

page_text: The nozzle protruded through the hole C, and the bearing D protruded through
the hole E, form the two bearings upon which the globe turns, and by which it is
attached to the meridian.
Any number of bags B may be made, having each a different map or diagram,
as, for instance, a physical, political, zoological, or missionary globe, a celestial
globe, diagrams in spherical trigonometry, &c., and one map or diagram may be
drawn or painted, or otherwise marked upon the bag A itself.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Crum Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
April 1878.
ALEXANDER CRUM BROWN, M.D., Professor of Chemistry at the University of
Edinburgh, of 8, Belgrave Crescent, in the City of Edinburgh.
' IMPROVEMENTS IN
GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER GLOBES."
The apparatus consists essentially of two parts,-
First. A bag (which will in this description be called A) composed of air-tight,
flexible material, of such a shape that when fully inflated or filled with air or other
gas it shall be spherical and provided with a tube or nozzle, through which it may
be inflated, and which can be closed by a stop-cock or plug, or otherwise, so as to
prevent the escape of the air or gas.
Second. A bag (which will in this description be called B) composed of cloth or
other flexible material, of the same shape as A, of the same size as A, or a very little
larger, with a hole (C) sufficiently large to admit A in its collapsed or uninflated
state.
Upon the outer surface of B, the map of the world or other map or diagram which
is to be displayed on a spherical surface, is drawn or printed, painted, or otherwise
delineated or marked.
To mount B upon A, draw B over A in the empty or uninflated state, so that the
nozzle of A protrudes through the hole (C) in B, then inflate A and close the nozzle.
The globe thus produced may be mounted in any way which may be convenient.
If desired it can be mounted with hour circle, meridian, and horizon. In this case
A is furnished with a bearing (D) at the point opposite to the nozzle, and B has a
hole (E) at the point opposite to the hole C.
The nozzle protruded through the hole C and the bearing D, protruded through
the hole E, form the two bearings upon which the globe turns, and by which it is
attached to the meridian.
Any number of bags B may be made, having each a different map or diagram, as,
for instance, a physical, political, zoological, or missionary globe, a celestial globe,
diagrams in spherical trigonometry, &c., and one map or diagram may be drawn
or painted, or otherwise marked upon the bag A itself.
A map or diagram of any kind may be put on to the elastic bag A, as well as on
to its outer covering.
The bag A I prefer to make of a fabric prepared by cementing together two light
woven tissues by means of india-rubber cement. At each end of the bag a metal

page_text: disc is fixed; one of these discs carries the metal pin or bearing D, and the other
the air valve. The valve has a square recess in it to receive a corresponding key,
by which it can be turned, and by so turning it a passage into the bag is opened
and closed.
The square key has a passage through it by which when the valve is open the
air is forced into the bag either by means of bellows connected with the key by a
flexible pipe, or more simply, the bag is inflated from the mouth.
When the bag is fully distended the key is turned to close the valve, and then
is removed, and in the place of the key a plug is inserted into the hole in the valve,
carrying another pin or bearing like that marked D.
The meridian in which the globe is to be mounted is provided with simple sockets
to receive these pins, and the elasticity of the air bag is sufficient to admit of its
being compressed to the extent requisite to permit the pins to pass into the
sockets.
The bag B may conveniently be made of fine Japanese silk; this fabric can be
printed very sharply from engraved plates such as are usually employed in printing
maps, or it may be printed from lithographic stones. It will be found to keep its
shape well.
The several sections of which the globe is built up are sewn the one to the other,
or fixed together by india-rubber or other adhesive substance.
What I claim is the construction of geographical and other globes, substantially
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Crum Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TRY
ALEA, CRUM BROWN. (L.S.)