Spherical puzzle

Abstract

A spherical puzzle for learning knowledge about geography is disclosed. The spherical puzzle comprises a sphere and a plurality of puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces can be arranged on the sphere by a user and are held to the sphere by magnetism. The puzzle pieces are formed in the shape of specific land masses and/or water masses. A base is provided for holding the sphere and allows the sphere to be rotated or turned.

1 . A spherical puzzle comprising:
 a sphere; and   a plurality of puzzle pieces, each puzzle piece attachable to the sphere.   
     
     
         2 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the sphere is metallic and each puzzle piece is magnetic. 
     
     
         3 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the sphere is magnetic and each puzzle piece is metallic. 
     
     
         4 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one puzzle piece is formed in a shape of a land mass or a water mass. 
     
     
         5 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one puzzle piece has terrain contours. 
     
     
         6 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a resting base for holding the sphere.   
     
     
         7 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting base for holding the sphere.   
     
     
         8 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one puzzle piece comprises data, the data comprising country information, continent information, state information, province information, region information, territory information, land mass information, water mass information, mountain information, country flag, sports team information, advertising, population, logo, latitudinal information, longitudinal information, global positioning satellite information, or elevation information, or a combination of country information, continent information, state information, province information, region information, territory information, land mass information, water mass information, mountain information, country flag, sports team information, population, logo, latitudinal information, longitudinal information, global positioning satellite information, and elevation information. 
     
     
         9 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 8 , wherein the data is provided on an inner side of the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         10 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 8 , wherein the data is provided on an outer side of the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         11 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , each puzzle piece comprising a magnetic layer and a printed layer. 
     
     
         12 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , the sphere comprising two metal pieces that attach together to form the sphere. 
     
     
         13 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , the sphere comprising longitudinal and latitudinal indicators. 
     
     
         14 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , the sphere comprising indicators for land mass location, water mass location, or a combination of land mass location and water mass location. 
     
     
         15 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of country flags attachable to the plurality of puzzle pieces.   
     
     
         16 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 1 , the sphere comprising at least one magnet positioned in the interior of the sphere. 
     
     
         17 . A spherical puzzle comprising:
 a metallic sphere; and   a plurality of magnetic puzzle pieces, at least one magnetic puzzle piece formed in a shape of a land mass or a water mass.   
     
     
         18 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , wherein at least one puzzle piece has terrain contours. 
     
     
         19 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a resting base for holding the sphere.   
     
     
         20 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a mounting base for holding the sphere.   
     
     
         21 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , wherein at least one puzzle piece comprises data, the data comprising country information, continent information, state information, province information, region information, territory information, land mass information, water mass information, mountain information, country flag, sports team information, advertising, population, logo, latitudinal information, longitudinal information, global positioning satellite information, or elevation information, or a combination of country information, continent information, state information, province information, region information, territory information, land mass information, water mass information, mountain information, country flag, sports team information, population, logo, latitudinal information, longitudinal information, global positioning satellite information, and elevation information. 
     
     
         22 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 21 , wherein the data is provided on an inner side of the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         23 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 21 , wherein the data is provided on an outer side of the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         24 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , each puzzle piece comprising a magnetic layer and a printed layer. 
     
     
         25 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , the sphere comprising two metal pieces that attach to each other to form the sphere. 
     
     
         26 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , the sphere comprising longitudinal and latitudinal indicators. 
     
     
         27 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , the sphere comprising indicators for land mass location, water mass location, or a combination of land mass location and water mass location. 
     
     
         28 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of country flags attachable to the plurality of puzzle pieces.   
     
     
         29 . A spherical puzzle comprising:
 a first metal half-sphere;   a second metal half-sphere, the first metal half-sphere and the second metal half-sphere attachable together to form a sphere; and   a plurality of magnetic puzzle pieces, each magnetic puzzle piece attachable to the sphere;
 wherein at least one of the magnetic puzzle pieces is in a shape of a land mass or a water mass. 
   
     
     
         30 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , wherein at least one puzzle piece has terrain contours. 
     
     
         31 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a resting base for holding the sphere.   
     
     
         32 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a mounting base for holding the sphere.   
     
     
         33 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , wherein at least one puzzle piece comprises data, the data comprising country information, continent information, state information, province information, region information, territory information, land mass information, water mass information, mountain information, country flag, sports team information, advertising, population, logo, latitudinal information, longitudinal information, global positioning satellite information, or elevation information, or a combination of country information, continent information, state information, province information, region information, territory information, land mass information, water mass information, mountain information, country flag, sports team information, population, logo, latitudinal information, longitudinal information, global positioning satellite information, and elevation information. 
     
     
         34 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 33 , wherein the data is provided on an inner side of the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         35 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 33 , wherein the data is provided on an outer side of the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         36 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , each puzzle piece comprising a magnetic layer and a printed layer. 
     
     
         37 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , the sphere comprising longitudinal and latitudinal indicators. 
     
     
         38 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , the sphere comprising indicators for land mass location, water mass location, or a combination of land mass location and water mass location. 
     
     
         39 . The spherical puzzle of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a plurality of country flags attachable to the plurality of puzzle pieces.