Patent Publication Number: US-2006014127-A1

Title: Instructive clock with removable numerating strips

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an instructive clock with removable numerating strips, and more particularly to a numerating strip that is designed to embody the abstract time concept for children to learn about time and numbers by way of counting time marks on the numerating strip, which can be removably fitted on an instructive clock.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      To teach children about time and using phrases about time, a teacher would usually begin with the structure of a clock, for example, hour and minute hands, and numerals on the face of the clock. In a conventional way of teaching a child about time, a toy clock is given to the child, so that the child may move the hour and minute hands to have an idea about changes of time. The child has to watch the clock face and remember that each scale represents one minute, the numeral “1” represents five minutes and “2” represents ten minutes, etc. Children do not have fun in learning time in this way because it is difficult for children to understand what it exactly means by the numerals on the clock face. For example, the children might remember that when the hour hand points to the numeral “2” and the minute hand to “12”, it means the time is two o&#39;clock. However, they might be confused why it reads as fifteen minutes when the minute hand moves to point to the numeral “3”.  
      Another conventional way of teaching children about time is using an instructive clock, such as that disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 390490. The instructive clock is designed in an attempt to convert abstract numeric concepts into concrete objects. For example, the instructive clock may have a post removably inserted at each position representing one minute. The children may remove and count the posts to learn about time. These sixty removable posts are easily lost and scattered, and are not grouped. To tell the time of one minute to two o&#39;clock, the children have to count from the first to the fifty-ninth post. And, it will be a great challenge to the children&#39;s patient in counting so many posts. The above-mentioned instructive clock is therefore not practical for use.  
      It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a device that not only eliminates the limitations in conventional ways of teaching children about time and time-related phrases, but also effectively helps children to learn and thereby understand time and numbers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A primary object of the present invention is to provide an instructive clock with removable numerating strips. The clock may be of any size and configuration, and the numerating strips are provided with embodied time marks and removably fitted on a face of the clock. Children are taught about concepts of time and numbers and calculation thereof through counting the time marks on the numerating strips. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein  
       FIG. 1  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a first embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a second embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a third embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  shows an instructive clock before an assembled ring of numerating strip is fitted therearound;  
       FIG. 15  shows the instructive clock of  FIG. 14  with the assembled ring of numerating strip fitted therearound;  
       FIG. 16  is a sectioned side view of  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 17  shows an instructive clock before an assembled ring of numerating strip is circumferentially fitted therein;  
       FIG. 18  shows the instructive clock of  FIG. 17  with the assembled ring of numerating strip circumferentially fitted therein;  
       FIG. 19  is a sectioned side view of  FIG. 18 ;  
       FIG. 20  shows a plurality of numerating strips according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention before being serially connected to form a ring for removably mounting on an instructive clock;  
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a ring assembled from the numerating strips of  FIG. 20 ;  
       FIG. 22  is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 21 ;  
       FIG. 23  is an instructive clock with an assembled ring of numerating strip of  FIG. 21  fitted therearound;  
       FIG. 24  is a sectioned side view of  FIG. 23 ;  
       FIG. 25  is an instructive clock with an assembled ring of numerating strip of  FIG. 21  circumferentially fitted therein;  
       FIG. 26  is a sectioned side view of  FIG. 25 ; and  
       FIG. 27  shows an example of teaching children about the concept of time using numerating strips of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2  that are respectively perspective views of a plurality of numerating strips  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention before and after being assembled into a ring for removably fitting on an instructive clock of the present invention, and to  FIG. 3  that is a fragmentary sectional views taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 . As shown, the numerating strip  1  mainly includes a main body  11  having five equally spaced time marks provided on a front side thereof. Each of the time marks represents one minute, so that each numerating strip  1  represents five minutes. Twelve numerating strips  1  have total sixty time marks to correspond to the sixty minutes on a face of the instructive clock. Each main body  11  is provided at a first end with a male connector, such as a butt  12 , and at a second end with a female connector, such as a cavity  13  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  12 . An upward marking projection  14  is provided on the main body  11  immediately above the cavity  13 . A recess  15  is formed at a back side of the main body  11  for soft magnets  16  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  1  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  1 . Twelve numerating strips  1  could be sequentially assembled by way of engaging the butt  12  on a preceding numerating strip  1  with the cavity  13  on a following numerating strip  1 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , to finally form a ring of numerating strip, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIGS. 4 and 5  respectively shows a plurality of numerating strips  2  according to a second embodiment of the present invention before and after being assembled into a ring. The numerating strip  2  includes a main body  21  having ten equally spaced time marks provided on a front side thereof, and each of the time marks represents one minute, so that each numerating strip  2  represents ten minutes. Six numerating strips  2  have total sixty time marks to correspond to the sixty minutes on a face of the instructive clock. Each main body  21  is provided at a first end with a male connector, such as a butt  22 , and at a second end with a female connector, such as a cavity  23  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  22 . A recess  24  is formed at a back side of the main body  21  for soft magnets  25  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  2  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  2 . Six numerating strips  2  could be sequentially assembled by way of engaging the butt  22  on a preceding numerating strip  2  with the cavity  23  on a following numerating strip  2  to finally form a ring of numerating strip, as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIGS. 6 and 7  respectively shows a plurality of numerating strips  6  according to a third embodiment of the present invention before and after being assembled into a ring. The numerating strip  6  includes a main body  61  having fifteen equally spaced time marks provided on a front side thereof, and each of the time marks represents one minute, so that each numerating strip  6  represents fifteen minutes. Four numerating strips  6  have total sixty time marks to correspond to the sixty minutes on a face of the instructive clock. Each main body  61  is provided at a first end with a male connector, such as a butt  62 , and at a second end with a female connector, such as a cavity  63  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  62 . A recess  64  is formed at a back side of the main body  61  for soft magnets  65  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  6  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  6 . Four numerating strips  6  could be sequentially assembled by way of engaging the butt  62  on a preceding numerating strip  6  with the cavity  63  on a following numerating strip  6  to finally form a ring of numerating strip, as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
       FIGS. 8 and 9  respectively shows a plurality of numerating strips  8  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention before and after being assembled into a ring. The numerating strip  8  includes a main body  81  having twenty equally spaced time marks provided on a front side thereof, and each of the time marks represents one minute, so that each numerating strip  8  represents twenty minutes. Three numerating strips  8  have total sixty time marks to correspond to the sixty minutes on a face of the instructive clock. Each main body  81  is provided at a first end with a male connector, such as a butt  82 , and at a second end with a female connector, such as a cavity  83  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  82 . A recess  84  is formed at a back side of the main body  81  for soft magnets  85  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  8  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  8 . Three numerating strips  8  could be sequentially assembled by way of engaging the butt  82  on a preceding numerating strip  8  with the cavity  83  o a following numerating strip  8  to finally form a ring of numerating strip, as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
       FIGS. 10 and 11  respectively shows a plurality of numerating strips  10  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention before and after being assembled into a ring. The numerating strip  10  includes a main body  101  having thirty equally spaced time marks provided on a front side thereof, and each of the time marks represents one minute, so that each numerating strip  10  represents thirty minutes. Two numerating strips  10  have total sixty time marks to correspond to the sixty minutes on a face of the instructive clock. Each main body  101  is provided at a first end with a male connector, such as a butt  102 , and at a second end with a female connector, such as a cavity  103  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  102 . A recess  104  is formed at a back side of the main body  101  for soft magnets  105  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  10  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  10 . Two numerating strips  10  could be sequentially assembled by way of engaging the butt  102  on a preceding numerating strip  10  with the cavity  103  on a following numerating strip  10  to finally form a ring of numerating strip, as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
       FIGS. 12 and 13  respectively shows a numerating strip  12  according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention before and after being formed into a ring. The numerating strip  12  includes a main body  121  having sixty equally spaced time marks provided on a front side thereof, and each of the time marks represents one minute, so that the numerating strip  12  represents sixty minutes. The numerating strip  12  has total sixty time marks to correspond to the sixty minutes on a face of the instructive clock. The main body  121  is provided at a first end with a male connector, such as a butt  122 , and at a second end with a female connector, such as a cavity  123  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  122 . A recess  124  is formed at a back side of the main body  121  for soft magnets  125  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  12  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  12 . The numerating strip  12  could be formed into a ring by way of engaging the butt  122  with the cavity  123 , as shown in  FIG. 13 .  
       FIGS. 14, 15 , and  16  shows a ring  141  formed from the numerating strip of any of the previously mentioned embodiments of the present invention is fitted around an outer circumferential surface of an instructive clock  142 . Marking projections  146  provided on the ring  141  assist children in numerating the time marks on the ring  141  faster. The marking projections  146  are set in a plurality of cavities equally spaced on a support  147  of the instructive clock  142 . Hour, minute, and second hands  143 ,  144 ,  145  are provided on the instructive clock  142  to show time for children to learn about time. The marking projections on the ring of numerating strip function to help children understand different segments of time. In the present invention, the marking projections are spaced at intervals of five minutes. Therefore, children know each one marking projection represents five minutes, and two marking projections represent ten minutes because five plus five equals ten. With this type of grouped design, children could quickly and correctly count even a quite large number of minutes.  
       FIGS. 17, 18 , and  19  shows a ring  171  formed from the numerating strip of any of the previously mentioned embodiments of the present invention is fitted in an annular groove provided on a face of an instructive clock  172 . Marking projections  173  provided on the ring  171  are also set in the face of the instructive clock  172 . In this fitting manner, the ring of numerating strip could always be set in the face of the instructive clock  172  no matter what an appearance the clock has. In this case, the instructive clock may be designed to have a configuration showing a certain cartoon or animal figure. A numerating strip that could be removed from a face of a clock would surprise children and arouse their interesting in learning time.  
      Please refer to  FIGS. 20 and 21  that respectively shows a plurality of numerating strips  201  according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention before and after being assembled into a ring, and to  FIG. 22  that is a fragmentary sectional views taken along line B-B of  FIG. 21 . As shown, the numerating strip  201  includes a main body  202  having a first end provided with a male connector, such as a butt  203 , and a second end provided with a female connector, such as a through hole  204  adapted to fitly engage with the butt  203 . A recess  205  is formed at a back side of the main body  202  for soft magnets  206  to attach thereto, so that the numerating strip  201  could be attached to any magnetically attractive surface to facilitate teaching with the numerating strip  201 . The main body  202  of the numerating strip  201  is provided at a front side with five equally spaced time marks, and each of the time marks represents one minute, so as to facilitate teaching children about the numerals on the face of the instructive clock. Twelve numerating strips  201  could be assembled into a ring by way of engaging the butt  203  on a preceding numerating strip  201  with the through hole  204  on a following numerating strip  201 . A thickness at the joint of the butt  203  and the through hole  204  is the same as an overall thickness of the main body  202 , as shown in  FIG. 22 . The ring assembled from twelve numerating strips  201  (see  FIG. 21 ) could be fitted around an instructive clock. The above-described structure for the flat joint of the butt  203  and the through hole  204  having the same overall thickness as that of the main bodies  202  of the numerating strip  201  is also applicable to one numerating strip that represents sixty minutes, two numerating strips representing thirty minutes each, three numerating strips representing twenty minutes each, four numerating strips representing fifteen minutes each, or six numerating strips representing ten minutes each.  
       FIGS. 23 and 24  are assembled perspective view and sectioned side view, respectively, showing a ring  231  formed from the numerating strip of the seventh embodiment of the present invention is fitted around an outer circumferential surface of an instructive clock  232 . The ring  231  is set between the clock  232  and a support  233  thereof. Since the joint of two adjacent numerating strips on the ring  231  have an overall thickness the same as that at other areas of the numerating strip, the ring of numerating strip  231  fitted around the instructive clock  232  is flush with the outer circumferential surface of the clock.  
       FIGS. 25 and 26  are assembled perspective view and sectioned side view, respectively, showing a ring  251  formed from the numerating strip of the seventh embodiment of the present invention is fitted in an annular groove provided on a face of an instructive clock  252 . Since the ring of numerating strip  251  is a flat strip, the annular groove may have a width the same as the overall thickness of the ring of numerating strip  251 . In this fitting manner, the ring of numerating strip could always be set in the face of the instructive clock, and the instructive clock may be designed to have any configuration showing a certain cartoon or animal figure. A numerating strip that could be removed from a face of a clock would also surprise children and arouse their interesting in learning time.  
       FIG. 27  shows an example of teaching children about the concept of time using the numerating strip of the present invention. To teach a child about the concept of one hour, it is advisable to first explain to the child that one hour equals to sixty minutes, and each time mark on the four numerating strips attached to a black board represents one minute. Each of the numerating strips on the black board has fifteen time marks and therefore represents 15 minutes. And, the four numerating strips represent four times of fifteen minutes or sixty minutes or one hour. The child may also numerate the time marks on the numerating strips to know a time difference, for example, between twenty minutes past one o&#39;clock (1:20) and ten minutes to two o&#39;clock (1:50). To do this, simply remove from the instructive clock the numerating strips located between the fourth and the eleventh hour numerals, and allow the child to count the time marks on the removed numerating strips, or to add up all the five-minute grouped marking projections. And the child could find out the answer very quickly. Alternatively, it is also possible to teach the child to numerate forty time marks on the numerating strips located after the time point of 2:20 and then tell the time. To do this, simply ask the child to put numerating strips showing total forty time marks behind the time point of 2:20. The numerating strips of the present invention may also be used to learn the addition of two or more different time segments. For example, to calculate a total length of three hours and thirty minutes and two hours and twenty minutes, first add up the numbers of hours, and then put one or more numerating strips showing total twenty time marks on the instructive clock behind the sixth hour numeral. The numerating strips of the present invention may also be used to learn the subtraction of one time segment from another time segment. For example, to subtract two hours and ten minutes from six hours and forty minutes, first subtract two from six, and then put one or more numerating strips representing total ten minutes on the instructive clock behind the sixth hour numeral. And, the child could learn that forty minutes could be divided into ten and thirty minutes. Through different permutations and combinations of the numerating strips of the present invention, children could easily learn about addition and subtraction and the concept of time, and become more sensitive to numbers.  
      The time marks on the numerating strips of the present invention corresponding to the hour or minute numerals on the instructive clock are not necessarily scales, but may be numerals, combinations of scales and numerals, dots, dents, or patterns. And, the time marks on the numerating strip of the present invention are not necessarily minute marks that appear every one minute, but may be hour marks that appear every one hour, five-minute marks that appear every five minutes, or other specific time interval marks, such as, for example, 15-minute marks, 30-minute marks, etc.  
      The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.