Improvements in or relating to Terrestrial or Celestial Globes or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Feb.. 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Terrestrial or Celestial Globes or
the like.
A communication by ISAAC HODGSON, of Chicago, in the County of Cook and
State of Illinois, United States of America, Architect, and MARY ANN
HODGSON, residing at the same place, wife of Isaac Hodgson aforesaid.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to make an inflatable and collapsible globe which
can be inflated by forcing air therein, and placed upon a suitable stand to illustrate
the geography of the earth. The globe is also capable of collapsing into a small
and compact form, and being placed in a box for storage or shipment. It is thus
possible to have a globe which can be used for all purposes for which a solid
geographical globe is used, and a globe which can be readily collapsed and put away
in a small space.
The globes are also made, either with the geography of the earth printed upon
them, or the outside globe is made, where two globes are used, as hereinafter
specified, of a flexible material having a surface adapted to be used as a black-board
ou which pupils and others can draw the outlines of the various divisions and
sub-divisions of the earth's surface.
To enable others to understand how to make and use this invention, the same will
be described with particularity, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
which form a part of this Specification, in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical central view of the invention, with a portion of the
globe cut in section.
Figure 2 represents an end view of the globe stand with a portion of the globe
stem.
Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the upright of the globe stand.
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken at the line 4-4, Figure 1 looking down.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the telescopic mast which extends through
the globe, and shows a portion of the handle of the globe to which it is attached.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the metallic cap to which the upper portion of the
collapsible globe is attached, taken at the line 6-6, Figure 1, looking down.
Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the collapsible mast, taken at the
line 7-7, Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a transverse view of the same, taken at the line 8-8, Figure 5.
Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken at the line 9-9,
of Figure 5, looking down.
Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view, taken at the line 10-10, Figure 1,
looking up.
Figure 11 is a detached view of a section of the lower portion of the outside
collapsible globe, with the edge turned to show the stitching used to make
the seam.
In these A represents a globe made of flexible material and preferably of two
independent spheres, one within the other; the outer sphere, B, made either of

page_text: silk, upon which is printed the geography of the earth, or of rubber cloth with a
black exterior surface, upon which a student can draw the outlines of divisions and
subdivisions of the earth and erase the same readily, as from a black-board.
C, is an interior sphere which holds the air with which the globe is inflated.
The outer flexible collapsible sphere B has its edges clamped between two
rings, D & E. The ring D has attached to it turned-over hooks, F, which, when
turned into certain positions, pass through notches, G, in the edge of the supporting
piece, H, which is securely fastened to the neck, I, of the globe-holder. As
clearly shown in Fig. 1, the rings E and D between which the edge of the collapsible
sphere B is clamped, are swaged together and may be bolted through the edge of
the cloth, but the rings can be readily removed from the supporting piece H when
it is desired to take the inner flexible sphere from within the outer sphere for the
purpose of renewing the outer sphere.
The edges of the inner collapsible sphere C are clamped to the telescopic mast
of the globe at J by winding a cord or wire as shown in Fig. 1, or in any other
substantially air-tight manner.
K is a telescopic support or mast that extends through the interior of the globe and
is attached to the neck I by being screwed thereto, or in any detachable manner,
as clearly shown in Fig. 1. By these attachments the telescopic mast or support
which extends through the globe can be detached from the handle or stem-holder
of the globe, and the inner globe being also attached to the mast or support can be
removed from the outer globe when desired.
The neck I of the stem or handle of the globe has at its upper end a valve-
seat, I, in which the conical valve, M, rests. This valve is attached to a valve-stem
or rod, N.
O, which constitutes a part of the handle or stem of the globe also forms the
cylinder of an air-pump within which there is a pump-valve, P, and a hollow valve-
stem, Q, through which the valve-stern N extends.
R, is a nut which screws upon the lower end of the valve-stem N and holds the
valve M firmly in its seat when the globe is inflated, thereby preventing the air
from escaping therefrom.
S, is a knob or handle on the end of the hollow valve-stem Q by means of which
the valve is operated to pump the globe full of air. When it is desired to pump
air into the globe, as well as when it is desired to allow the air to escape from the
globe, the nut R is removed from the valve-stem N so as to allow the valve to
admit of the air passing it, either in entering the globe or escaping therefrom.
By removing this nut R from the end of the valve-stem N, a person can nearly fill
the globe with air by blowing it through the hollow valve-stem Q, but when the
air is being pumped into the globe by the air-pump above described, the valve M
rises, the air passing into the globe, but closes to prevent any air from escaping
from the globe on the down stroke of the air-pump.
The north pole of the globe has a metallic cap-piece, T, to which the edge of
the outer flexible sphere B is clamped by an inner plate, U. These plates are
held in a sleeve, V, which surrounds the upper end of the telescopic mast or
support which passes through the globe. Above this sleeve there is a nut, a, over
which the upper end of the graduated semi-circular meridian, b, slips to hold it in
place. The edge of the inner flexible sphere is attached to the neck on the upper
end of the central mast or support as shown at c, Fig. 1. In this manner the
interior flexible sphere C is attached to the central telescopic mast or support and
is readily removable from the outer flexible sphere.
The central telescopic mast or support is made in two parts, d and e.
The part e
being made with side pieces,f, with a ring, g, at their lower ends and the top piece, h,
clearly shown in Fig. 5. The upper portion of the part d is made with projecting
ribs in the form shown in cross-section in Fig. 8, sliding within the side pieces of
the upper portion of the mast or support. The lower end of the part d of this
telescopic support or mast is made hollow for the air to enter the globe through it,
as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5. The lower end of this mast is screwed to the

page_text: neck I of the stem or handle of the globe. This construction enables the mast or
support to be telescoped in the centre of the globe when the globe is collapsed,
and pack it in a short box, which need be made only the length of the air pump
which constitutes the stem or handle of the globe.
It is found that it is important in stitching seams for the outer flexible sphere B
of the collapsible globe, not to have the stitches appear on the outer surface of
said sphere, and that in order to hold the seams permanently so as not to open, it is
desirable to fold one edge and then lay the other edge on it and stitch through
three thicknesses, and then double back the edge through which the stitches pass
through a single thickness over the stitches, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, so that
when the seam is pulled, the stitches do not show on the outer surface. It is also
very desirable in making the outer flexible sphere B to have the seam under the
meridian lines. A seam is not made under every meridian line in making the
collapsible sphere, but the parts are so cut that what seams there are come under
the meridian lines when the globe is marked into the usual divisions indicating the
meridians.
i, is a box made large enough to hold the collapsible globe and its parts when
it is collapsed, and it also serves as a base of the stand on which the globe is held
when in use, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
There is attached to the box a standard, j, which is passed through a slot
in the cover, and into a socket in the bottom of the box, as clearly shown in
Fig. 1.
k, are braces which brace the standard to hold it firmly in position when in use.
The lower ends of these braces are attached to a cross-piece, l, which in turn is
held in place by brackets, m, on the end of the box. There is also attached to
the upper end of this standard j an arm, n, which is bifurcated at one end, in
which bifurcated end the neck I of the stem or handle of the globe rests when in
position for use. The lower end of the stem or handle of the globe passes through
the cover, o, of the box, resting in a socket, p, permanently attached to the bottom
of the box. This socket is made of such shape that by placing the lower end of
the handle or stem of the globe through a hole in the cover of the box in nearly a
vertical position, and then turning it into an inclined position, the lower end of the
stem will be guided into the socket where it will rest and can be turned to revolve
the globe on its axis. The cover of the box o is preferably made to slide on the
top of the box, it being held in place by the over-turned edges of the box and the
over-turned edges of the cover, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
There is shown in Fig. 1 a second interior cover to place in the box, but this
cover, although shown in the position in the box where it is used when the
collapsible globe is within the box, is not in use in the box when the globe is
taken out of the box and inflated for use. This second cover is only used to press
down the collapsible globe into the box, and enable the cover to be slid over
it without catching on the collapsible globe or wearing it.
The graduated semi-circular meridian b is supported near one end of it on the
upper end of the standard ; when the globe is in use, and it is also made hinged
near its middle portion as shown at q so that it can be folded and placed in the
box. The bifurcated arm n which is attached to the standard can also be folded
down upon the standard to be packed in the box. The braces are removed from
the standard and the cross-piece, and the cross-piece can be readily removed
from the brackets on the end of the box, and all be placed in the box for packing
and shipment. The end of the bifurcated arm n is clearly shown in Fig. 10, which
figure also shows the manner in which the neck of the stem or handle of the globe
rests against the arm of the standard when the globe is in use.
It is found that this globe can be used as a terrestrial globe or a celestial globe,
and it can also be used as a drawing-board upon which pupils and others can
practice drawing the divisions of the globe represented.
My correspondents find that the exterior collapsible sphere or globe will
become worn by use, and it is desirable to readily remove it from the interior of

page_text: the collapsible sphere or globe and replace it. They also find that it is very
desirable to make a globe which can be readily inflated to the shape of a globe,
and as readily collapsed to be packed into a box for shipment and storage.
It is quite important that the globe should be held firm when expanded for use,
on account of which an interior mast or support is desirable; and to enable them.
to pack the collapsed globe in a small compass they have made this interior mast
or support telescopic.
In using the globe it is important that it should be capable of revolving on its
axis, and to accomplish this the poles of the globe are the points where the
attachments are made to the globe, as shown in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A collapsible flexible globe having clamping devices at the points indicating
the two poles of the globe; a stem or handle attached to the south pole of the
globe through which air can be forced into the interior of the globe; and a suitable
valve for retaining the air in the globe, this device being capable of being opened
to allow the air to escape to collapse the globe.
2. A collapsible globe; a stem or handle through which the globe is inflated;
the collapsible globe being composed of two flexible spheres, one within the other,
each being separately attached to its clamping devices so that one can be removed
from within the other, substantially as specified.
3. A flexible and collapsible geographical globe having attached to it a stem
or handle through which air is admitted to the globe to inflate it; and an interior
mast or support extending from pole to pole of the globe to hold it in a rigid
position when inflated, as specified.
4. A collapsible globe provided with an interior support or mast which is made
telescopic, one part of said support or mast sliding over the other part for
shortening the length of the mast when the globe is collapsed, substantially as
specified.
5. A flexible collapsible globe provided with a stem or handle through which
air is admitted to the interior of the globe, and within which stem or handle is
an air-pump valve and piston for pumping air into the globe to fully inflate it,
as specified.
6. A flexible collapsible globe, having a suitable stem or handle; a box in which
said collapsed globe and handle can be packed; a standard supported in said box;
a bifurcated arm attached to said standard for supporting the globe when in use;
and a suitable step in the box for supporting the lower end of the stem or handle
of the globe when in use, as specified.
7. In a collapsible globe, the rings with which the edge of the outer flexible
sphere of the globe is clamped; and a locking device for locking said rings to the
stem or handle of the globe, as specified.
8. A collapsible globe made of two flexible spheres, the outer flexible sphere
being made of a single color, preferably black, adapted to receive crayon marks
and be used as a drawing-board, and made removable from the inner flexible sphere,
substantially as specified.
9. A collapsible globe, the outer collapsible sphere of which has seams made
at the proper distances apart to be under the lines of the meridian of the sphere,
and sewn by stitching through three thicknesses of the cloth and doubling back
one thickness over the threads of the seams, as clearly shown and described.
Dated this 14th day of January 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.