Abstract:
A book that can be customized to teach letters, numbers, a series of letters, for example, a word such as a child&#39;s name and the like. The front cover has a window or opening through which can be seen the letters. The series of letters is formed by cutting each page short enough than the page beneath it such that letters on the right edge form the series.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to books and devices to teach reading. 
     Several books to teach young children to read have been published. They have taken many formats. It has been found that books containing illustrations are more likely to retain a child&#39;s interest than an unillustrated book. Furthermore, a book with an activity is of even greater interest to a child. A variety of devices to would maximize the child&#39;s interest. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,700 issued to Taylor discloses a book having magnetic surfaces to attach representations of the subject of the book. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,473 issued to Rae discloses a book having removable figures, for example, figures of dinosaurs, mounted in the pages. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,178 issued to Pietrangeli et al. discloses a book having a plurality of separately bound pages. The child can then flip through the sections independently. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,512 issued to Burke discloses a book having pieces of a puzzle that can be assembled on each page. 
     None of the disclosed books have the advantage that they can be easily customized for a particular child reader. This feature would advantageously provide a vehicle so the child could learn to read and write his own name. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the book of this invention in closed position. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the book of this invention open to the first page. 
     FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of a portion of the book of this invention open to an interior page. 
     FIG. 4 shows a top perspective view of one page removed from the book of this invention. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a book that can be customized to teach letters, numbers, a series of letters, for example, a word such as a child&#39;s name and the like. The front cover has a window or opening through which through which the series of letters or the like can be seen. The series of letters, e.g. forming a word is formed by first providing a plurality of pages, each page (or portion of a page), perferably being of different length from the immediately underlying and adjacent page, the length being measured from the binding axis for the pages. Each of the pages preferably bears at the edge remote from the binding axis the symbol (usually letters or numerals) and these symbols will form some logical combination, as for example, a name or data. All of the symbols forming the logical sequence are then seen through the window when the book is in its fully closed position. 
     Thus, one specific aspect of this invention is a book comprising: 
     a book cover having an elongate window portion; 
     a means for binding pages; 
     a plurality of pages bound within the book, each page having at least a portion being of different length as measured from the means for binding pages; and 
     a symbol being affixed to the outer edge of each page such that when the book is closed said symbols on said plurality of pages forms a sequence of symbols, visible through said window portion of said book cover. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a closed book 10 shows the name &#34;JASON CLARK&#34; 12 through a transparent window or opening 14 extending along the top edge 16 of the book, and ending at the right edge 18 of the book. The book is entitled &#34;I CAN SPELL MY NAME.&#34; The book is bound by a plastic ring binder 20. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the book 10 is opened to the first page designated by the numeral 22. This page is by way of example, for the letter &#34;J.&#34; A large exemplar of the letter 24 appears after a repeated series of the letter. A smaller exemplar 26 forms the initial letter of the word &#34;JASON.&#34; Only the smaller exemplars 28 of the succeeding letters of the name are visible through the window or opening 14. 
     Shown below the exemplars are words 30 beginning with the exemplified letter, in this case &#34;Jaguar,&#34; &#34;Jungle,&#34; and &#34;Jeep.&#34; An illustration is provided that depicts a fanciful jaguar driving a jeep in a jungle. The illustration shows the words and other important information on the right side of the page. The illustration can be cut from top to bottom any distance in from the binding axis A--A. The binding means is coincident with the binding axis A--A. All pages are bound at the binding axis. 
     The cover 32 has been opened and laid flat. The transparent window or opening 14 is attached near the top edge of the cover. A series of parallel lines 34 provide a space for the child to practice writing the letter. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a page 36 from the interior of the book 10 is visible when the book is opened and laid flat. The preceding pages 38 are laid flat on top of the cover. It can be seen that the illustrations can be cut parallel to the outer left edge or the binding axis AA anywhere from the upper edge without destroying the teaching portion of the illustration. Therefore, one master set of sheets of letters can be cut to provide the pages in the book. For example, the &#34;a&#34; in &#34;JASON&#34; and the &#34;a&#34; in &#34;CLARK&#34; can be cut from the same master &#34;a&#34; sheet. It is to be noted that the vertical parallel cut is shown as extending from upper to lower edge of the page; however, the cut need not extend all the way to the lower edge. It may terminate just below the &#34;n&#34; on page 36 and the cut may then extend horizontally to the right hand edge of the page. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, an uncut unbound sheet 40 shows all the information of the master sheet. The sheet is full sized since &#34;K&#34; is the last letter of the series of letters. The left edge 42 is perforated with a series of holes 44 to receive a plastic ring binder. A line 46, in phantom, shows the maximum displacement to the right a cut can be made. A cut from the top to the bottom further to the right will start to remove needed information on the page. On the page shown, a cut further to the right would leave too few exemplars of &#34;k&#34; and the drawing of the kangaroo would be progressively destroyed. 
     The type of binding chosen is not critical. A loose leaf type binding is preferred since the pages tend to lie flatter with this type binding. However, other well known book bindings, for example, the bindings of hardcover books, softcover, and spiral binds, Velo® bindings, even staples are all within the scope of this invention. 
     The binding should be one amenable to binding sheets of different length. Each sheet is preferably cut from a master sheet. The cut (right hand) edge is then prepared to be bound into a book format. For example, when a plastic ring binder is used, the series of holes 44 is punched into the binding edge with a standard punch. 
     The illustrated side of the page is shown. The opposite side is blank (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), except for parallel lines to aid in aligning practice letters. 
     Other uses can be envisioned for the book of this invention. A set of letters comprising the entire alphabet could be used to teach the alphabet. Numbers can be included for teaching counting or teaching addresses. Although suitable for teaching languages that use the Latin alphabet other alphabets, for example, Greek, Russian, Hebrew, or even Arabic, both of which read from right to left can be taught using this invention. In that case the binding would be on the right side. 
     The binding can be on any side as long as a series of symbols, one on each page, appears in the window. This invention should not be construed as limited to any particular location of binding or even to rectangular pages. 
     In use the child flips through the pages, learning in sequence, each letter of his name. The child can practice each letter by tracing and practicing on the page open opposite the illustration. Preferably, the pages are plastic or plastic coated so that crayon or similar ink is easily erased by wiping.