Patent GB-1047149-A (GB)
Title: Educational device
IPC: G09B17/00
Filed: 1963-12-24
Abstract: 1,047,149. Educational appliances. PHD. Inc. Dec. 24, 1963 [Dec. 28, 1962], No. 50810/63. Heading G5G. An educational device comprises a board having a group of apertures in line, a card having indicia thereon for observation through the apertures, and manually-operated keys having parts co-operating with a shaped edge of the card so that successive operation of keys corresponding, e.g., to the letters of a word causes a step-by-step movement of the card relative to the board so that the letters of the word appear through the apertures one after the other until the word is completed. As shown, the apparatus comprises a base 2 having side members 3, 4, Fig. 1, with two vertical boards 5, 8, Fig. 2, supported thereon, the boards 5, 8 being spaced to provide a slot 9 into which a card 10 can be inserted. Pivoted on a shaft 20 carried by the members 3, 4, are five keys 15 ... 19 each comprising, as shown for the key 18, Fig. 2, an operating-handle pin 18c, a weighted restoring arm 18e, an arm 18b for engaging the bottom edge of a card 10, and a pin 18d limiting anticlockwise movement of the key. Three horizontal rows of apertures 13, 14, 22 and two windows 11, 12 are provided in the board 5. For teaching, e.g., the spelling of the word " cat," a card 10 has thereon a representation 23 of a cat, three rows 24 ... 26 of letters making up the word arranged as shown, Fig. 6, and another three rows 27 ... 29 with the same letters. Also on the card are a further three rows 30, 31, 32 of letters including the letters of the word to be spelt. The bottom edge of the card 10 is contoured so that when the card is placed in the slot 9, its lowest part 35 rests on the arm 18b of the key corresponding to the letter C as indicated by that letter in the row 32 being exposed through aperture 22c. In this position of the card, the letters CAT in row 29 are visible through apertures 14b . . . 14d, and the representation 23 is visible at window 11. No letters are visible at the apertures 13. When the key 15 corresponding to the letter C is depressed, the arm 18b is moved to allow the card to drop. Actuation of any other key causes no movement of the card, since the arm 18b thereof would move freely through a cutaway part of the card. The downward movement of the card is stopped by a ledge 36 on the card engaging the arm 18b corresponding to the letter A. In this position of the card, the letters AT in row 28 are exposed in apertures 14c, 14d and the letter C in row 26 becomes visible in aperture 13b. Similarly subsequent operation of the key 15 corresponding to the letter A causes another downward movement of the card 10 until it is stopped by arm 18b corresponding to key t, in which position the letter T, row 27, is visible in aperture 14d and letters CA, row 25, are visible in apertures 13b, 13c. Finally, when the key 17 corresponding to letter T is operated, the card drops so that no letters are exposed at apertures 14, the letters CAT are exposed at apertures 13b ... 13d and the representation is visible at window 12. When the card 10 reaches its final position, a shoulder 44, Fig. 6, thereon operates a microswitch 45, Fig. 1, whereby a bell is actuated or the completed word at 13 and the representation 23 at 12 are illuminated. A pivoted shutter S may be employed to cover the apertures 14 so that the keys 15... 19, have to operate from memory. Alternatively the letters in lines 27, 28, 29 may be omitted.