# US 4,400,162 A · Planetarium

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- Number: US 4,400,162 A
- Document ID: US4400162A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/365,596
- Filed: 1982-04-05
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1982-04-05
- Inventors: Constantine F. Rustemis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400162A

## CPC

- G09B 27/00: Planetaria; Globes
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

Disclosed is an enclosed planetarium with both fluorescent and phosphorescent painted representations of astronomical bodies, some of the representations may be mobile and rotated and the remainder of the representations may be painted on the inside surface of the enclosure. An ultraviolet light source is provided which upon activation illuminates all of the representations, but upon extinguishment only the phosphorescent painted representations continue to be visible. This provides two different displays both of which have the pleasing effect of ultraviolet illumination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A miniature astronomical display comprising:
(a) an enclosure, the interior of which is viewable from appropriate positions exterior to said enclosure,
(b) a first set of representations of astronomical objects painted with phosphorescent paint and contained within said enclosure,
(c) a second set of representations of astronomical objects painted with fluorescent paint and contained within said enclosure,
(d) an ultraviolet light source positioned to illuminate said first and second sets,
(e) means for activating and deactivating said ultraviolet light source,
(f) said phosphorescent paint characterized by illumination of said first set by ultraviolet light causes said first set to glow and said glow decays but is still visible for a few minutes after said illumination terminates, and
(g) said fluorescent paint characterized by illumination of said second set by ultraviolet light causes said second set to glow and said glow ceases just after said illumination terminates.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is essentially an opaque sphere with a opening for viewing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is essentially an opaque oblong with an opening in one of the ends for viewing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is essentially an opaque rectangular solid with an opening in one of the faces for viewing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is essentially an opaque rectangular solid with an opening in the end region of one of the faces together with a mirror interiorly mounted near said opening for viewing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is essentially a transparent sphere.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, further comprising:
(a) a motor for rotation,
(b) a frame attached to said motor output,
(c) means for attaching at least a portion of said second set of representations to said frame, whereby activation of said motor results in the movement of said portion of said second set of representations.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said second set of representations being easily insertable and removable from within said enclosure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The display of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is provided with an outer wall, incandescent illumination sources between said enclosure and said outer wall, and with a plurality of small holes in said enclosure walls, whereby said incandescent illumination passing through said plurality of holes creates the illusion of representations of further astronomical objects within said enclosure.