Patent Publication Number: US-2006008782-A1

Title: Device for teaching phonetic alphabet

Description:
PRIOR ART  
      This invention relates to teaching aids, more particularly to a device for teaching phonetic alphabet.  
      Various devices have been invented to enhance breathing or speech, some of which incorporate tubular connections.  
      A gas mask patented by O. F. Wagenhorst on Jan. 25, 1921 under U.S. Pat. No. 1,366,437 includes feeding and air intake tubes.  
      A nasal positive airway pressure mask patented by Robert M. Landis and Wayne W. Disanza under U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,752 on Aug. 19, 1997 has an elbow shaped aperature.  
      A gas mask with speech membrane was patented by Gilbert Vandeputte on Sep. 18, 1990 under U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,106 is composed of flexible hose.  
      A breathing mask with speaking diaphragm was patented Jul. 12, 1988 by Helmut Ryback under U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,308.  
      A ventilation tube swivel for connecting an endotrachial tube to a supply tube was patented by Richard E. Webb and Charles S. L. Hommedieu on Jun. 30, 1987 under U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,241.  
      A speech simulator patented by Nikolai G . Zagoruiko and Alexander B. Kolmogorov under U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,103 on Aug. 22, 1978 contained a complex series of pipes connected with a sourdine intended to simulate natural speech.  
      A demand regulator patented on Sep. 7, 1976 by Justine W. Mills, Jr. under U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,854 includes an artificial diaphragm.  
      A compound swivel adaptor invented by J. W. Phillips and patented Jan. 21, 1958 under U.S. Pat. No. 2,820,651 is a swiveling tube for use in anesthesia.  
      A nasal mask providing an air tight seal around the nose of wearer was patented Feb. 27, 2001 by Kevin A Rudolph under U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,886, B1.  
      Although some of these inventions make use of tubular parts, none physically resembles this invention and none is directed toward teaching the phonetic alphabet.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      This is a device for teaching children phonetic alphabet sounds comprised of a “T” shaped tube connected at the base of the “T” to an elbow shaped tube. The “T” shaped tube may have a cap on an end of the “T” to direct sound. Objects of the invention include simplicity and practicality of design. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1 . Perspective view  
       FIG. 2 . Demonstrative view  
       FIG. 3 . Alternate embodiment view  
       FIG. 4 . Series view  
       FIG. 5 . Cross section view from  FIG. 1   
    
    
     PREFERRED SPECIFICATIONS  
       FIG. 1 . Shows an elbow tube ( 1 ) connected at one end to the base of a “T” tube ( 2 ).  
       FIG. 2 . Demonstrates the invention in use with a person making sounds into the unconnected end of elbow tube ( 1 ) and with one end of “T” tube ( 2 ) placed by that same persons ear and the other end of “T” tube ( 2 ) placed by the mouth of a second person, who initiates the sound, which the first person then repeats.  
       FIG. 3 . Depicts an alternate embodiment wherein elbow tube ( 1 ) consist of flexible hose connected in a manner similar to  FIG. 1  and forming the base of “T” tube ( 2 ). This figure also contains a cap ( 3 ) on one end of the “T” tube ( 2 ) for directing sound.  
       FIG. 4 . Contains three subject inventions in a series with elbow tube ( 1 ) connected to “T” tube ( 2 ) but with one “T” end inserted into the opposite “T” end of an adjacent like device. A cap ( 3 ) is at the end of “T” tube ( 2 ) third in the series.  
       FIG. 5 . Is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 1  showing elbow tube ( 1 ) connected to “T” tube ( 2 ) but with a cap ( 3 ) added to one open end of “T” tube ( 2 ).