Abstract:
A desktop teaching aid which has a body having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the bottom surface comprising a magnetic material for securing the body to a desk, the body defining a frame around an aperture, educational information represented on the top surface of the body, and a replaceable name tag positioned within the aperture of the body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a teaching aid. More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a magnetic teaching aid that can hold a name tag. 
   Teachers have found that teaching aids that can be placed on a desk are helpful. There are laminated desktop teaching aids and self-adhesive plastic desktop teaching aids available through various vendors. 
   Yet problems remain with such teaching aids in that only a limited amount of educational material can be place on a teaching aid. 
   Another problem with such teaching aids, is that with a plain laminated desktop teaching aid the teaching aid is not secured to the desk and therefore can cause a distraction for the student. There are also problems with the self-adhesive teaching aids in that custodians may not like teachers using tape or adhesives because it can leave a residue on the desk and sometimes pull off the paint. 
   Also, it is known that teachers use name tags that can be taped or adhered to a desk with their own educational material on a name tag to aid the student. This system creates the same problem in that the tape or adhesive leaves a residue and can pull off the paint. Therefore, problems remain in the art. 
   Thus, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art. 
   It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a teaching aid that can be secured to a desk. 
   It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a teaching aid that does not use tape or adhesive to secure the teaching aid to a desk. 
   It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a teaching aid that allows teachers to replace or update educational material associated with the teaching aid. 
   These and/or other object, feature, or advantage of the present invention will become apparent from the Specification and claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a teaching aid. In one aspect of the invention, the teaching aid includes a body that has a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a magnet for attaching to a metal surface such as a desk or locker. The body defines a frame around an aperture. Within the aperture, a replaceable name tag is positioned. There is educational information represented on the top surface of the body. In addition, educational information can also be placed on the replaceable name tag. 
   The present invention provides the advantage of allowing a teacher to easily modify the educational material used on a desktop. In addition, the present invention allows the teaching aid to be removed from the desktop without causing damage to the desktop. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of a classroom with multiple desks. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of one embodiment of a teaching aid according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of one embodiment of a teaching aid according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of another embodiment of a teaching aid of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a pictorial representation of a row of lockers using the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention is a new teaching aid that can be used in the classroom environment.  FIG. 1  illustrates a classroom  10  in which the invention can be used. Within the classroom  10  are plurality of desks  12  for students. There is also a chair  14  associated with each desk  12 . A top surface  16  of each desk is shown. The top surface  16  is usually metallic in nature. Attached to a side surface of each desk  12  is one embodiment of a teaching aid  18  according to the present invention. The teaching aid  18  includes a body  20 . The body  20  at least partially surrounds or defines a hole or aperture  22 . The body  20  has a front surface  21  and an opposite rear surface (see  FIG. 3 ). On the front surface  21  of the body  20  there are a plurality of regions such as region  24 , region  26 , and region  28 . Within each region is educational material that serves as a teaching aid. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the teaching material shown in regions  24 ,  26 , and  28  is permanent in nature such as if this information was printed on the front or top surface  21  of the body  20 . In addition to the educational material, the present invention contemplates that one or more design elements  30  may be present on the top surface of the body  20 . In hidden lines, the teaching aid  18 A is also shown on the top surface  16  of each desk  12 . 
   In  FIG. 2 , a name tag  32  is shown. The name tag is preferably of the kind sold as a label or name tag, but other types of paper medium standardized or non-standardized sizes can be used, including note cards. Thus, such a paper medium can be a “name tag” even though it is not necessarily sold as such. The name tag  32  can include a student name or can include educational material  34 . The educational material  34  can relate to any number of subjects that a student is exposed to. Subjects can include reading, writing, mathematics, science, geography, and other subjects. Also shown on the name tag  32  is a plurality of design elements  36 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the design elements  36  correspond to, match, or otherwise are associated with the design elements  30  on the body  20  of the teaching aid  18 . The matching of the design elements  36  and  30  make the teaching aid more universally appealing to students which hopefully increases the effectiveness of the teaching aid. 
   The name tag  32  is positioned so that the aperture  22  in the body  20  frames the name tag  32 . This provides a teacher a number of advantages. The teacher can replace the name tag  32  throughout the school year with different educational materials. This greatly enhances the value of a desktop teaching aid as a learning tool. The present invention contemplates a teacher can make their own name tags  32  by writing or printing educational material on a blank name tag. The blank name tag may come with design elements  36  already on it. It is also noted that, because the name tag is placed within the body  20 , the name tag  32  does not develop “dog-ears” that would be present if it was adhered to a desk. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates one manner in which the name tag  32  can be secured to the body  20  of the teaching aid  18 . In  FIG. 3 , the bottom surface  38  of the body  20  is shown. Operatively connected to the bottom surface  38  is a sleeve  40  that is adapted to accept a name tag  32 . The sleeve  40  includes an opening  42  in which the name tag  32  can be inserted. The sleeve  40  can be operatively connected to the body  20  in various ways, including through adhesives, through stitching, or through other types of fastening. The sleeve  40  shown provides the additional benefit of protecting the name tag  32  in addition to holding the name tag  32 . The invention contemplates, however, that a sleeve  40  need not be used and alternative means for securing the name tag  32  can be used, including by providing one or more slots for holding the name tag  32 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a teaching aid  50  of the present invention. The teaching aid  50  in  FIG. 4  includes a body  56  and has regions  52  and  58  for permanent educational material. In addition, there are pockets  54  and  56  for holding name tags. In this embodiment, multiple name tags can be used at the same time. The pocket or sleeve  54  has an opening  62  for insertion of a name tag. The pocket  56  has an opening  64  for insertion of a name tag. The top surface  70  of the pocket  54  and the top surface  72  of the pocket or sleeve  56  are both preferably of a transparent material so that the educational material on a name tag can be clearly seen. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the name tags can be inserted from the top of the teaching aid  18 . When configured in this fashion, the body  60  need not have an aperture such as the aperture  22  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , a name tag holder  80  is shown. The name tag holder includes a name tag  86  with a student name. In addition instead of teaching information, there is school mission information  82  and school spirit information  84 . The name tag holder  80  is also magnetic in nature. It can be used on a metal locker  90  as shown in  FIG. 6 , where the name tag holder  80  includes a design, the design including a school name, mascot, or logo. 
   Also, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates numerous variations in the shapes, types of material, specific types of educational material, manner in which the name tag is secured, and the design of the name tag used. These and other variations are all within the spirit and scope of the invention.