Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment, a flash card unit, including: a housing; receiving means to receive in the housing a flash card having thereon at least first and second graphics; illuminating apparatus disposed in the housing to selectively illuminate at least one of the first and second graphics; the first graphic including a problem to be solved; and the second graphic including an answer to the problem.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 09/170,899, filed Oct. 13, 1998, and titled DISPLAY HAVING SELECTABLE SIMULATED ILLUMINATING MEANS, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/837,367, and titled DISPLAY HAVING SELECTABLE SIMULATED ILLUMINATING MEANS, filed Apr. 17, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,482, issued Mar. 16, 1999. Material in the present application was disclosed in Disclosure Document No. 438,274, filed Jun. 30, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to teaching aids generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel flash card unit. 
     2. Background Art 
     Flash cards are commonly used to teach or reinforce learning. Such flash cards are made in a variety of forms and sizes with typical arithmetic and spelling problems and like materials in graphic form for problem solving, identification, and spelling. The flash cards may present an arithmetic, spelling, or identification problem on one side thereof which is presented to a student. The student gives an answer and then the card is turned over to reveal the correct answer on the reverse side thereof. 
     A disadvantage of such flash cards is that, typically, only one problem is presented on each side of a card, so that it is necessary to have a fairly large number of cards to present a large number of problems. Furthermore, such conventional flash cards are usually rather plain and do not attract the attention of a student. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a flash card unit that can present a plurality of problems with one card and which can state problems and answers on one side of the card. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide such a flash card unit that is attractive and commands the attention of a student. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a flash card unit that is economical to construct and simple to use. 
     Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing in a preferred embodiment, a flash card unit, comprising: a housing; receiving means to receive in said housing a flash card having thereon at least first and second graphics; illuminating means disposed in said housing to selectively illuminate at least one of said first and second graphics; said first graphic including a problem to be solved; and said second graphic including an answer to said problem. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Understanding of the present invention and the various aspects thereof will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing figures, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, on which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partially cut-away, of a flash card unit constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the flash card unit of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the flash card unit of FIG. 1, including mask means to permit additional problems to be presented on a single flash card. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partially cut-away, of a flash card unit constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partially cut-away, of a flash card assembly inserted in the flash card unit of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference should now be made to the drawing figures, on which similar or identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout the various figures thereof, and on which parenthetical references to figure numbers direct the reader to the view(s) on which the element(s) being described is (are) best seen, although the element(s) may be seen also on other views. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a flash card unit, generally indicated by the reference numeral  20 , and constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention. Unit  20  includes a housing  22  having a front cover  24  through which are defined first and second apertures  26  and  28 , the housing and the front cover being frictionally attached together and manually separable. Alternatively, a catch or other suitable mechanical means of attachment may be provided. A rotatable flash card  40  is disposed in unit  20  and includes thereon problems, such as the arithmetic problem “2+4” visible through first aperture  26 , with the answer “6” visible through second aperture  28 . 
     A light translucent layer  42  is disposed between first and second apertures  26  and  28  and the problem presented on flash card  40  to obscure the problem and its answer unless either or both the problem and its answer are illuminated by pressing two-position switch  44  accessible through an opening  46  defined through a side of housing  22 . Alternatively, layer  42  may be wholly or partially optically transmissive and/or reflective. Switch  44  is protectively recessed in opening  46  so as to minimize the possibility that the switch will accidentally remain depressed. Layer  42  may be applied to the surface of flash card  40  or it may be the material of the body of the flash card itself. Translucent layer  42  may be colored such that opaque material of the same color behind the front surface appears dark when illuminated but is not visible otherwise. An edge of flash card  40  is manually grippable through an opening  48  defined in housing  22  so that the flash card can be manually rotated to selected positions. In some applications, translucent layer  42  need not be employed to mask a picture or problem shown in one aperture, with or without illumination. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the components of unit  20  described above and, in addition, describes the internal components of the unit. A clear window, disk holder  60  is provided to support flash card  40  and to permit rotation of the flash card in the disk holder, the disk holder being fixedly attached to front cover  24  by suitable means such as by means of an adhesive, for example. Alternatively, disk holder  60  may be held on the back of front cover  24  by being frictionally gripped in a rim molded in the back of the front cover. Disk holder  60  has a smooth inner surface so that card  40  may be easily rotated therein and serves to protect first and second light sources  62  and  64  and the user of unit  20 . 
     First and second light sources  62  and  64  are provided, respectively, in first and second compartments  66  and  68  disposed, respectively, behind first and second apertures  26  and  28  to selectively illuminate the graphic images on flash disk  40 . First and second compartments  66  and  68  may have reflective surfaces and may be curved to achieve uniform illumination. First and second light sources  62  and  64  are isolated from each other so that only a graphic image associated with a respective one of first and second apertures  26  and  28  is illuminated by a particular light source. Batteries, as at  80 , are provided to provide power to first and second light sources  62  and  64  and electronic circuitry  82  may be provided for operation of the first and second light sources. Batteries  80  may be changed from the rear of unit  20  by removing a cover (not shown) provided for that purpose. 
     In use, flash card  40  is inserted into unit  20  (FIG. 1) so that a problem is aligned with first and second apertures  26  and  28 . Switch  44  is then depressed to its first position which causes first light source  62  to be illuminated, thus rendering “2+4” visible through first aperture which is viewed by a student. The student then gives an answer and switch  44  is depressed to its second position which causes second light source  64  to be illuminated, thus rendering the answer “6” visible through second aperture  28 . Electronic circuitry may cause first and/or second light sources  62  and  64  to blink or to successively blink and hold steady or vice versa. To save battery power, first light source  62  may be turned off when second light source  64  is illuminated. The short use of first and second light sources  62  and  64  also conserves battery power. Flash card  40  is then manually rotated to a new position and the above procedure repeated. When all problems on flash card  40  have been used, the flash card is removed from unit  20  and a new flash card inserted therein. Each problem on flash card  40  may be printed on the upper back edge of the flash card so that the problem being presented will be evident to the presenter. Flash card  40  is not limited to presenting arithmetic problems, but also may be used to present objects or animals for identification or name spelling, for example, or for phonics without some letters visible without illumination. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates unit  20  with a mask  100  inserted in card holder  60  (FIG.  2 ), the mask being provided to reduce the area of flash card  40  visible through first and second apertures  26  and  28  so as to increase the number of problems that may be presented on the flash card. A tab  102  is provided on mask  100  to facilitate insertion and removal of the mask. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another flash card unit, generally indicated by the reference numeral  120 , and constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention. Unit  120  includes a covered housing  122  having defined through the face thereof first and second apertures  124  and  126  through which are visible, respectively, first and second light sources  128  and  130 . First and second light sources  128  and  130  are isolated one from the other in similar manner to first and second light sources  62  and  64  in unit  20  (FIG.  2 ). In this case, unit  120  has two switch buttons  140  and  142  to selectively connect, respectively, a source of power  144 , such as batteries, for example, to first and second light sources  128  and  130 . Additionally, an electronic or electro-mechanical flasher circuit  150  is connected in the power line to second light source  130  so that light source will blink when second switch button  142  is depressed. Ridges  160 , including the four corners of unit  120  extend orthogonally forwardly of the front surface of the unit. A gap  162  is provided in ridges  160  at one side of the unit and a gapless cutout  164  is provided at the top of the unit. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates unit  120  with a flash card assembly  170  inserted therein and frictionally held therein by means of ridges  160 . Flash card assembly  170  comprises an open ended or closed ended sleeve with a flash card  172  rotatingly disposed therein and attached, for example, to the rear portion of the sleeve by means of an eyelet. The sleeve of assembly  170  includes first and second apertures  174  and  176  defined therethrough, corresponding to first and second apertures in unit  120  (FIG.  4 ), so that a problem, in this case “8+3=11” is visible through the apertures when first and second light sources  128  and  130  are illuminated as shown on FIG. 5. A portion  180  of flash card  172  extends into gap  162  so that the flash card may be conveniently rotated by means of an index finger, for example. The upper portion of flash card  172  extends into cutout  164  and is visible through a cutout  182  in the rear portion of the sleeve of flash card assembly  170  so that the problem printed on the rear surface of flash card  172  may be viewed by a presenter. Additional cutouts (not shown) in unit  120  and the rear of flash card assembly  170  may be provided to view additional information concerning the problem being presented. Also, additional information may be provided on the front of card  172  and information on both the front and the rear of flash card assembly  170  may be read when the flash card assembly is removed from unit  120 . 
     Unit  120  and flash card assembly  170  are used in a manner similar to that described above with respect to unit  20  and flash card  40  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ). 
     Although two apertures are shown in units  20  and  120 , additional apertures may be provided. Also, as illustrated on FIG. 5, first and second apertures  124  and  126  do not have to be coextensive, respectively, with first and second apertures  174  and  176 , first and second apertures  124  and  126  being shown larger than first and second apertures  174  and  176 , the extent of the field of view being determined by the size of the latter pair of apertures. 
     Also, only one light source may be provided to illuminate, for example, only the answer to a problem. 
     Rather than providing electric light sources as described above, reflective flaps, such as are described in the above-referenced application Ser. No. 09/170,899, may be provided rearwardly of the flash card and selectively positioned to illuminate graphics on a flash card. 
     In the embodiments of the present invention described above, it will be recognized that individual elements and/or features thereof are not necessarily limited to a particular embodiment but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in any selected embodiment even though such may not be specifically shown. 
     Terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, and the like, when used herein, refer to the positions of the respective elements shown on the accompanying drawing figures and the present invention is not necessarily limited to such positions. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those elucidated in, or made apparent from, the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawing figures shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.