US3789522A

US3789522A - Educational toy device

Info

Publication number: US3789522A
Application number: US00342870A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-19
Filing date: 1973-03-19
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05

Abstract

An educational toy device which is a three dimensional unit for storage and includes a base with a plurality of hingedly connected panels at its outer edge adapted to be folded into the plane of the base with each of the panels defining a work station and having sockets to receive items of a predetermined geometrical shape sized to fit the respective sockets of the work stations and wall portions extending outwardly from the central portion of the base to separate the work stations from one another so that a plurality of youngsters may use the toy simultaneously, each working at a separate work station.

Description

whim

States atent 1 [111 3,789,522

Moore Feb. 5, 1974 EDUCATIONAL TOY DEVICE 3,562,929 2/1971 Emore 35/60 [76] Inventor: Jaymes D. Moore, 16198 NE. 8th

01., North Miami Beach, Fla. 33162 Primary Examiner-Wm- Gneb [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,870 [57] ABSTRACT An educational toy device which is a three dimensional unit for storage and includes a base with a plu- [52] US. Cl 35/60, 35/22 A, 35/8 R, rality of hingedly connected panels at its Outer edge 46/1 R adapted to be folded into the plane of the base with [5 i] Illl. Cl A471) 41/00 each of the panels defining a Work Station and having [58] held of Search 35/1 8 22 73; sockets to receive items of a predetermined geometri- R cal shape sized to fit the respective sockets of the work stations and wall portions extending outwardly [56] References cued from the central portion of the base to separate the UNITED STATES PATENTS work stations from one another so that a plurality of 741,903 10/1903 Gates youngsters may use the toy simultaneously, each 2,582,575 1/1952 Young working at a separate work station. 2,659,163 11/1953 Albee 3,233,346 2/1966 Cornberg 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 3,414,987 12/1968 Lindenauer 35/60 Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3,789,522

3 Sheefs-Sheet 3 EDUCATIONAL TOY DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an educational toy and, more particularly, to a toy intended to teach students various color patterns, geometrical shapes, and similar knowledge at separate work stations about a base of a single device and which can be readily collapsed into an easily stored unit adapting it for teaching at preschool classes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is perhaps well-known, a good toy must have child appeal, that is it must appeal to a child in one or more of the following categories, stimulation of the imagination, encouragement of activity and initiative, helping a child to attain a skill, and contributing to his physical, mental or social development. Furthermore, a toy must be compatible with the age of the child who will use it, it being apparent that a child of a certain age may not find any appeal in a toy which is designed for a child of another age or other physical, mental or social development levels. Finally, a suitable toy for a child at his level of interest and ability should provide some aspects which are a little advanced for the user so that the child can grow to the next toy, that is, the toy should offer some challenge in its range of activity, but be, for the most part, within the range of his particular activity so that he will not become discouraged and meet with frustration and failure.

The present invention provides a compact educational toy having a plurality of work stations each of which can have their own individual range of difficulty and interest incorporated into the activity to be conducted at the particular work station; and each of the work stations can be similar in content or be progressively more difficult. The present invention provides means for separating the several work stations from one another so that a group of youngsters can participate in using the teaching device at the same time and each feel that he is participating fully, when in actuality, some of the work stations may have a range of work somewhat more difficult than that of the other work station.

It is, generally, the purpose of this invention to provide a toy or educational device for teaching children color, shape, texture and manipulative coordination which is achieved by the selection of various geometrical designs from a designated colored quad. The child then chooses the corresponding color in some puzzle and, thereafter, match the piece with a correctly shaped socket designed to receive it. It is, therefore, a purpose of this educational toy to supply interest and learning desire for a child in a given age range for which the game is particularly designed within the ambit of the invention disclosed herein. Tests are available and have been conducted which indicate that children in certain age brackets, for example, between three and four, are able to comprehend the rules and regulations of the instant educational device. The attention span of children in this specified age group is sufficient such that it is held throughout the necessary time alotted for completion of the work to be done at any given work station.

In playing with the educational toy to be described hereinafter, work pieces are arranged correctly at designated colored areas and a child using it can easily replace the parts or work pieces and collapse the unit for storage, rendering it readily adaptable for use in teaching situations. All that is required to be done is that the hingedly connected work stations are folded into a generally vertical position, thereby collapsing the toy, and defining a receptacle for the work pieces. While the preferred embodiment described hereinafter relates to a square shaped work base, the same can be triangular, square shaped, rectangular shaped, octagonal or trapezoidal, each providing a framework within which the child learns to conduct activity and socialize in a play environment.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an educational toy which provides a collapsible unit which is readily stored and which contains work pieces and, in use, presents a base with hingedly connecting separated work stations peripherally arranged about the base, with each of the work stations being separated by a wall portion and each of the work stations having work pieces adapted to be placed in registry with either a colored portion at the work station or a plurality of sockets to receive work pieces.

Other and further objects will become apparent in the light of the description which follows and, therefore, in accordance with the foregoing object, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an educational toy in accordance with the instant invention and illustrating a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toy shown in FIG. I and showing it in a partially collapsed condition and being prepared for storage;

FIG. 3 is a view of the toy shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating the same in a more fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a view of the toy of FIG. 1 and illustrating the same in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of the device shown in FIG. 5 and illustrating the same in a partially collapsed condition;

FIG. 7 is a view of the device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and illustrating the particular embodiment in a collapsed condition for storage;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 7 in a collapsed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the first two sheets of drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, it is seen that the numeral 12 generally designates the toy which includes (a) a planar base 14 of square shape, pentagon shaped or other polygon or, preferably, a shape with equal included angles and sides and, (b) a plurality of flap-type panels I6, 18, 20 and 22 extending outwardly of the edges of the base and of such a similar shape relative to one another that when hingedly moved about their respective lines of juncture with the

base

24, 26, 28 and 30 into a generally vertical attitude, there is defined a compact three dimensional unit for storage. Each of the panels when folded out of the stored condition extends outwardly of its associated base edge defining a work station. Each of the work stations has on the panel a design which may be of a particular color arrangement printed thereon or, alternatively, has a pad such as that indicated by the numeral 32 in which there is a plurality of sockets such as that indicated by the numeral 34 which are intended to receive any one of a plurality of articles generally designated by the numeral 36 which are intended to register or coincide with its ends as to color and shape.

To the central zone of the base 14 there is provided an upstanding support or standard 38 and radially outwardly extending

walls

40, 42, 44 and 46 which terminate at the edges of the work station at their juncture with the base and which separate the toy as seen in plan into separate work stations at which a child can perform the functions indicated above and converse with an adjacent child but maintain his own work activity in a somewhat private atmosphere. Any suitable means are employed to connect the walls portions to the standard 38, which may extend upwardly of the base 14 a distance slightly higher than that of the outward extension of the work station from the edge of the base. It will be seen that hinge means are provided at the connection of the base and the various work station panels so that when the same are folded upwardly, the string means illustrated and designated by the

numerals t

52, 54 and 56 may, at their central Zones, be hooked over the upper portion of the standard so that they will not flop down, and, in this manner, the toy is collapsed into a container type unit. The particular pieces which are used in performing the work station activity by a user are placed in the quadrant of the base which is adjacent the particularly associated work station and, a cover 60 may be provided which may be connected as at 62 tonne of the work stations, see FIG. 1. Also, an opening 64 may be provided in the cap or cover 60 which nests over the standard holding the box in a collapsed condition. Additionally, handle means such as that indicated by the numeral 66 may be provided exteriorly on the cover, see F IG. 4, they being a pivotal handle which is connected as indicated by the brackets 68 and 70.

DETAILED DESCRlPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 there is also the base 114 and

wall sections

118, 120 and 122 radiating from the central region of the base and separating the base into segments and from which base there extend the work stations from a line of juncture or hinge line 124, 126 and 128 in a triangular pattern to an outer apex with the work stations being designated by the

numerals

130, 132 and 134 and each having sockets or, in this case, an imprinted indicia over which play pieces are adapted to be positioned in registry therewith and which have the required color, or, a number which is intended to be matched up with it, for example on the work station. For example, see work station 132 in which there may be varying numbers such as 5, 10, and 1 on imprinted portions to indicate a variation in size to give appreciation to a student of relative quantities. Once again the embodiment is adapted to be collapsed as indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8 by folding the work stations upwardly with the particular work pieces being housed within the segment of the base between the associated wall and work station to which they belong. A cap 14-0 may be provided to nest over the apex of the container to keep the sides from falling downwardly in storage.

it is thus apparent that there has been provided an inexpensive teaching tool which may be of any suitable material, such as plastic, paperboard or other such material which can be successfully employed in teaching color coordination, geometrical patterns, and numerical values. Hollow blocks for work pieces may be employed which contain some type of plastic rattle element so that when shaken they will produce another sensual experience for the child. Also, the type of plastic may be translucent or any of several different high intensity colors to provide an attractive and interesting educational tool. The tool provides for the teaching about a table at which several students or children are located and at which interaction can take place in a social atmosphere while at the same time the children can concentrate because of the wall portions on their own particular portion of the game board being responsible for the progress made at that particular work station.

What is claimed is:

1. An educational toy device comprising:

a base;

a plurality of flap-type panels extending outwardly of the base edges and each defining a work station,

each of the flap-type panels having recess means of predetermined geometrical shape;

hinge means connecting the panels to the base;

a plurality of wall portions, each extending outwardly from the central zone of the base toward the edge of the base and one of the intersections of the lines of juncture of the edge of the base and the panels defining a generally radial pattern of wall portions from the center zone of the base as seen in plan,

said panels being adapted to be hingedly swung about the hinge means upwardly and toward a generally vertical position;

keeper means to hold the panels in a predetermined generally vertical attitude for storage of the toy and, upon release, to permit hinged movement of the panels into work station relation to-the base extending outwardly therefrom; and

a plurality of pieces each sized to nest within one of the recess means of the panels,

whereby work pieces are adapted to be positioned in the recesses in a predetermined order.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a standard is provided on the central region of the base in a generally upright perpendicular relation and means for securing the standard to the central region and said keeper means is adapted to connect the panels to the standard for storage.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the keeper means comprise a plurality of strings, each of said strings being connected to adjacent distal portions of the panels and adapted to be secured to the standard to hold the panels in a generally vertical attitude.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein cover means are provided to span the panels and standard when the panels are in an upright condition in surrounding relation of the standard.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein handle means are provided for carrying the toy device.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base and panels are of plastic material. is of planar square shape.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is of triangular form as seen in plan.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base 5 9. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base and panels are of paperboard material.

Claims

1. An educational toy device comprising: a base; a plurality of flap-type panels extending outwardly of the base edges and each defining a work station, each of the flap-type panels having recess means of predetermined geometrical shape; hinge means connecting the panels to the base; a plurality of wall portions, each extending outwardly from the central zone of the base toward the edge of the base and one of the intersections of the lines of juncture of the edge of the base and the panels defining a generally radial pattern of wall portions from the center zone of the base as seen in plan, said panels being adapted to be hingedly swung about the hinge means upwardly and toward a generally vertical position; keeper means to hold the panels in a predetermined generally vertical attitude for storage of the toy and, upon release, to permit hinged movement of the panels into work station relation to the base extending outwardly therefrom; and a plurality of pieces each sized to nest within one of the recess means of the panels, whereby work pieces are adapted to be positioned in the recesses in a predetermined order.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is of planar square shape.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base and panels are of plastic material.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base and panels are of paperboard material.