Patent ID: 6200140
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: G09B

Abstract:
Educational apparatus, comprising a double-beam math balance, wherein:the apparatus includes a first balance beam, pivoted about a first fulcrum, and a second balance beam pivoted about a second fulcrum;in respect of each balance beam, the beam has left and right arms, extending radially from the fulcrum;in respect of each balance beam, the beam includes many weight-stations, each weight-station having a means, at the weight-station, for applying a weight to the bar;in respect of each balance beam, the weight-stations are disposed in a series along the length of the beam;the beam is marked with numerals in respect of the weight stations, each numeral being ascribed to a respective one of the weight stations;the numerals are so marked as to be readily visible to a user of the apparatus;in respect of each balance beam, and in respect of each numeral, the numeral is ascribed to its respective weight-station in proportional correspondence to the radial distance of that weight station from the fulcrum of that beam;in respect of each balance beam, the fulcrum of that beam includes a means for constraining the beam against all modes of movement other than pivoting about the axis of the fulcrum;the fulcrums are so mounted in a frame of the apparatus that the axis of the first fulcrum and the axis of the second fulcrum are both horizontal;the apparatus includes a beam-interconnecting-means, for interconnecting the first and second balance beams;the beam-interconnecting-means is such as to constrain the first and second beams to move pivotally about their respective fulcrums only in unison with each other, in that, upon the first balance beam undergoing an angular movement about the first fulcrum, the beam-interconnecting-means constrains the second balance beam to undergo a corresponding angular movement about the second fulcrum, and upon the second balance beam undergoing an angular movement about the second fulcrum, the beam-interconnecting-means constrains the first balance beam to undergo a corresponding angular movement about the first fulcrum;the beam-interconnecting-means is so arranged as to constrain the two beams, when they undergo tilting movement, to tilt one clockwise and the other correspondingly anti-clockwise, about their respective fulcrums;and the arrangement of the beam-interconnecting-means is such that, in respect of an angular movement of amplitude X degrees undergone by the first beam, during operation, the corresponding angular movement undergone by the second beam is a multiple of X degrees, and the multiple remains the same throughout the range of the angular movement.