Patent GB-1200964-A (GB)
Title: Teaching machine toy having aural stimuli and aural reinforcers
IPC: A63H5/00
Filed: 1968-07-03
Abstract: 1,200,964. Gramophone tov teaching appliance. MATTEL Inc. 3 July, 1968 [3 July, 1967], No. 31806/68. Headings G5G and G5R. In a teaching toy in which a number of recorded bands on a gramophone record are each associated with an illustrated sheet or booklet page, each band includes three tracks, the first containing a question relating to the illustrated page, the second a commendation to the user if correct answer indication is given and the third encouragement to the user to try again if an incorrect answer is given. The illustrated page is positioned between guides 480, Fig. 1, and is provided with a series of illustrations 46 each with an associated aperture 58 whereby the user, by entering a probe 56 in an aperture can indicate an illustrated answer to the played back question. If the probe passes through a corresponding aperture 198 in a template 192, which is slidable to a new position for each page and recording band, it pivots a plate 118 indicating a correct answer and further pressure operates a switch 420 in the probe whereby the second track commending the user is played back. If the aperture selected does not correspond to one in the template indicating an incorrect answer only switch 420 in the probe is operated and the third track encouraging a further attempt is played back. Assuming indexing arm 72, which can be moved to a position over each recorded band in turn, is positioned over band 16 on record 62 and turntable 320, belt driven from motor 332, is in a position such that the beginning point of the first sound track is below needle 76 when the arm 68 is moved by spring 136 to its start position in response to the lifting of speaker arm 84 by operation of start button 112. On release of the start button the speaker 80 is urged into contact with pick-up arm 68 and the needle into contact with the record by a spring 92 acting on the speaker support arm and the motor is energized via a switch 344. The record is driven through 4¢ revolutions during which it plays back the question and is then stopped by a switch 392 operated by a pin 402 on a gear 398 driven by a pinion 400 on the turntable drive shaft. The user now answers the question by inserting probe 56 in a selector aperture 58. If the associated illustration is the correct answer to the question then the probe passes through aperture 198 in the template and tilts a plate 118. This via an arm 98 with an end 102 lifts the speaker arm and allows the pick-up arm to be returned to its start position which is now over the beginning point of the second sound track which is displaced 180 degrees from the beginning point of the first and interleaved therewith. Continuing pressure on the probe now operates switch 420 and the motor is again energized to drive the turntable 4¢ turns during which the complimentary message in the second track is played back. Should the user insert the probe in the wrong aperture the plate 118 is not tilted to return the pick-up to the start of the second track however further pressure on the probe operates switch 420 and the motor is driven to play back the third track which is a continuation of the first track. The message on this track encourages the user to try again by operating start button 112 whereby the apparatus starts again by repeating the question recorded on the first track. When the correct answer is obtained the tilting of plate 118 also unlatches an indexing mechanism so that on next operating the start switch indexing arm 72 is moved so that the play back apparatus is now associated with the next recorded band 18 which requires a change of illustrated page or sheet. Additionally arm 200 coupled to the indexing arm moves the template 192 to a new position. When the arm 72 has been indexed to the innermost band it is atutomatically returned to the outermost.