US 2020/0184852 A1 · TILED GLOBE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A globe can include a plurality of pieces structured to inter-attach to form a surface of the globe, and an attachment system. Each piece can be substantially rigid, and can have an outer major surface shaped to form a portion of the surface of the globe. The plurality of pieces can include a first quantity of substantially identically-shaped polygonal pieces. The attachment system can be configured to attach at least some adjacent edges of the pieces, and can attach at least one edge of each of the pieces to an adjacent edge of another of the pieces. The attachment system can be configured such that the globe has sufficient structural integrity to substantially maintain a globular shape under its own weight. Each of a majority of the pieces can include a printed image on its outer major surface that is different than any printed image of any other piece.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A globe, comprising:

a plurality of pieces structured to inter-attach to form a surface of a globe, each of the plurality of pieces having a curved outer major surface that is shaped to form a portion of the surface of the globe and that is curved on more than one axis, the plurality of pieces including:
a first quantity of substantially identically-shaped M-sided polygonal pieces, and
a second quantity of substantially identically-shaped N-sided polygonal pieces;
and
an attachment system structured and configured to attach at least some adjacent edges of the plurality of pieces, the attachment system attaching at least one edge of each of the plurality of pieces to an adjacent edge of another of the plurality of pieces, the attachment system being configured such that the globe has sufficient structural integrity to substantially maintain a globular shape under its own weight,
wherein each of a majority of the plurality of pieces includes a printed image on its outer major surface, and
wherein the printed image is printed directly upon the outer major surface of each of the majority of the plurality of pieces by a print head.

4 more elements

A method for providing a photo globe, comprising:

providing a plurality of pieces structured to inter-attach to form a surface of a globe, each of the plurality of pieces having a curved outer major surface that is shaped to form a portion of the surface of the globe and each of the plurality of pieces being bounded by edges that demark a substantially regular polygon, the plurality of pieces including at least a first quantity of substantially identically-shaped M-sided polygonal pieces and at least a second quantity of substantially identically-shaped N-sided polygonal pieces;
printing directly onto the outer major surface of each of a majority of the plurality of pieces with a print head, wherein motion of the print head is constrained to a plane while printing onto the outer major surface that is curved on more than one axis;
and
providing an attachment system that is structured and configured to attach at least some adjacent edges of the plurality of pieces, the attachment system being configured such that the globe, when assembled via inter-attachment of pieces via the attachment system, has sufficient structural integrity to substantially maintain a globular shape under its own weight.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tiled globe assembly

Life of this patent

Tiled globe assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28