Patent Publication Number: US-2011059428-A1

Title: Memorization system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a memorization system. More specifically, this invention relates to a memorization system that provides a means for memorizing and studying a large amount of information while being small, compact, and light, making it easily portable. 
     For as long as organized education itself has existed, individuals have developed aids to assist themselves and others in learning and memorizing information. Although a variety of memorization aids have been developed over the years, perhaps the most effective and widely utilized tool for memorization is the flash card. Typically, flash cards have information on one side, such as a word or question, and related information, such as the corresponding definition of the word or answer to the question, on the other. 
     Individuals seeking to learn or memorize the content of information provided on flash cards often start by simply reading each side of the cards repeatedly to gain a baseline knowledge of the information. Next, individuals quiz themselves or others by only allowing one side of the card to be viewed or known to evaluate whether the content of the information on the opposite, hidden side of the flash card has been learned. Despite the conventional and relatively simple nature of flash cards, the popularity of flash cards appears to be increasing rapidly; a popularity which can be attributed, on one hand, to the inherent simplicity of flash cards, but on the other, to the incorporation of an added level of complexity. 
     Flash cards can be used by virtually any individual to memorize virtually any category of information, no matter how elementary or advanced; flash cards are equally as effective in helping a grade school student learn multiplication tables as they are for use by a medical student to memorize anatomical structure. In addition, flash cards are beginning to incorporate questions and answers written by experts specialized in cognition and learning to maximize the effectiveness of their use. 
     Given the widespread applicability, growing popularity, and advanced nature of flash cards, the cost of flash cards is similarly increasing. Although a box of flash cards directed to unspecialized information may typically cost $10-20, flash cards containing information utilized in professional fields such as law or medicine can cost as much as $400 for a set of 6-10 boxes. 
     Despite their growing popularity, a potentially high cost is not the only problem associated with flash cards. A box of flash cards can contain as many as 1,000 individual cards which can prove to be cumbersome, unmanageable and heavy to a student sitting at a desk, let alone an individual who wants to study the flash cards while partaking in activities such as running errands, exercising, traveling, or the like. Furthermore, flash cards are limited in the amount of information that they can offer because flash cards are characterized by only having one word or question on one side and only one corresponding definition or answer on the other. As a result, a student or individual utilizing traditional flash cards that desires to study, learn, or memorize a large number of questions or words is going to be required to carry a separate, individual flash card for every answer or definition that is sought to be memorized. Therefore, a need exists to provide a memorization system that overcomes these problems. 
     Therefore, a principal object of the invention is to provide a memorization system that maximizes information retained by a user. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a memorization system that is portable. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a memorization system that is easy to use and is organized. 
     These and other objects, features or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A memorization system includes a housing having a top, bottom, sides and an open end that forms a hollow chamber. A first compartment having an open end is disposed within the housing. A second compartment is provided having a first aperture and at least one card is slidably received within the second compartment. The second compartment has a first layer that is secured to a second layer. The card has a first side that includes first and second columns of printed indicia wherein information in the first column corresponds with related information in the second column, and each second column of printed indicia represents information to be memorized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a memorization system with a first compartment, second compartment and cards removed; 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of a memorization system with first and second compartments and cards in hidden lines; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a memorization system; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a computer system used to make a memorization system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the figures, a memorization system  10  is presented. The memorization system  10  has a housing or case  12  that is made of any known suitable material. In one embodiment the housing  12  is made of clear, rigid plastic. Alternatively, the housing  12  is composed of a heavy weighted card stock. The housing  12  comprises a top  14 , a bottom  16  three sides  18 , and an open end  20  to surround and form a hollow chamber  22 . An aperture  24  is placed in the housing  12  in order to help an individual to access the hollow chamber  22 . While in  FIG. 1  the aperture  24  is shown disposed through the top  14 , the aperture  24  could be placed on the top  14 , bottom  16 , or sides  18  to help access the hollow chamber  22 . 
     Disposed within the hollow chamber  22  is a first compartment or pack  26 . In a preferred embodiment the first compartment  26  is secured to the housing  12 . The first compartment  26  has a top  28 , bottom  30 , three sides  32 , and an open end  34 . Disposed through the open end  34  is a partial aperture  36  to enable the user to more easily grasp hold of a card or cards for removal. 
     Also disposed within the hollow chamber  22  of the housing  12  is a removable second compartment or single card holder  38 . The second compartment  38  is also referred to as a jacket. Second compartment  38  comprises a first layer  40  that is secured to a second layer  42  to form a pocket  44  having a closed first end  46  and an open second end  48 . Also optionally, at the first end  46  a partial aperture  50  is presented to gain access to the pocket  44 . A thumb cut out also can be presented at an end  46  or  48 . The second end  48  has a notch  52  disposed therein and a clear cover  54  is attached to the first layer  40  in order to cover the notch  52 . In yet another embodiment a layer  40  or  42  can have a first aperture staggered above and to the side of a second aperture. 
     Disposed within the first compartment  26  are a plurality of cards  56 . The cards  56  are of an appropriate size to allow a user to easily and conveniently place them in a back pocket of a pair of pants or inside a purse. In one embodiment the cards have a length of 5.5-6 inches and are 2.8-5 inches wide. The height and width dimensions of the cards determine the height and width dimensions of the housing  12  and first and second compartments  26  and  38 . The cards  56  can be composed of any known suitable material including but not limited to heavy stock paper or suitable plastics. In one embodiment the cards are composed of 70-90 pound card stock. 
     Each card  56  has a first and second column  58  and  62  of printed indicia  64 . The printed indicia of the second column  62  presents information related to the printed indicia of the first column  58 . The printed indicia  64  includes but is not limited to words, phrases, questions, definitions, explanations, answers, translations, or the like presented. Additionally, the subject matter of the printed indicia  64  includes but is not limited to foreign languages, mathematics, chemical, cognitive equations, cognitive exercises, religious studies, history, law, medicine, information specific to a particular test (e.g., a driver&#39;s license test offered by Department of Motor Vehicles or an SAT Reasoning Test), and the like. 
     While in a preferred embodiment the printed indicia  64  of the first column  58  is adjacent to the printed indicia  64  of the second column  62  the printed indicia  64  of the second column could be staggered below the printed indicia  64  of the first column  58  to correspond to different embodiments of the second compartment  38 . Specifically, the second compartment  38  and cards  56  are designed so that when the card  56  is in the pocket  44  printed indicia  64  of the first column  58  is revealed without revealing the related printed indicia  64  in the second column  62 . Thus, a user can guess the related information of the printed indicia  64  in the second column  62  before sliding the card to reveal related item of printed indicia  64  in the second column  62 . 
     Each card  56  includes a card categorization and organization system wherein each card  56  has an organization identifier to allow the user to identify the category of the subject matter that the card contains. For example, in one embodiment the organization identifier is a colored top  66  wherein the cards are color coded with different colored tops  66  depending upon the subject matter they contain. Cards that are categorized as containing similar subject matter can share the same shade of colored top  66 . Further, the cards  56  each have a number  68  on the first and second sides to allow the user to both maintain the order of the cards or to provide a supplementary means of card identification. 
     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  the top  14  of housing  12  has an opening  70  disposed therein so that first and second pockets  72  and  74  are formed at the sides  18  of the housing. The pockets are of size and shape so that the edge of a card  56  on either side can be placed within the pocket to hold the card  56  within the housing on top of the first compartment  26 . In this embodiment the second removable compartment  38  is replaced with a partial card  76  that is of size and shape that can fit into one of the first or second pockets  72  and  74  and when placed on top of a card  56 , information in the first column  58  is exposed and information in the second column  62  is hidden. Thus, as with the previous embodiment presented is a memorization system that is easy to carry and simple to use improving upon the state of the art. 
     Additionally, a method of making the memorization system is presented. As best shown in  FIG. 4  a computer processing unit  88  is presented. The computer processing unit or computer  88  contains software that presents and communicates with the internet or worldwide web. On the computer  88  a website  90  is presented that provides templates  91  for both the housing or case  12 , the first compartment or pack  26  and second compartment or single card holder  38 . Downloaded information provides indications where the housing, and first and second compartments either need to be folded, cut or attached in order to construct a memorization system  10 . Thus, one only needs to download, form, cut and then attach to create a memorization system  10 . 
     The website  90  also provides a module  92  that allows a user to custom make cards  56  to be used in association with the memorization system  10 . Specifically, the module  92  requests information regarding printed indicia to be placed onto a card. For example, the module  92  in one embodiment requests a question to be placed in the first column  58  of card  56  and an answer to be placed in a corresponding second column  62  adjacent the first column  58  on the card  56 . The module  92  aligns the information either side by side, staggered, in the form of a wheel, or the like depending on the template of the memorization system  10  chosen by a user. Thus, a user can choose a desired template and create their own indicia and cards to make their own customized memorization system  10 . 
     In operation, an individual removes the second compartment  38  from the housing  10 , slides a card  56 , or alternatively, a few cards  56  into the pocket  44  of the second compartment  26 , and carries the second compartment  26  with them, leaving the housing  12 , first compartment  26 , and remaining cards  56  in a permanent location. Alternatively, an individual carries the entire memorization system  10 , including the housing  12 , first compartment  26 , second compartment  38  and cards  56 , with them in a pocket, purse, or the like. The entire memorization system  10  is small, compact, and light, making it easily portable. A plurality of cards  56  are disposed within the first compartment  26  that contain information that is desired to be memorized by an individual user. When the individual decides they want to memorize information on a card  56  the second compartment  38  is removed from the housing  12 . At this time a card  56  is, or alternatively, a few cards  56  are removed from the first compartment  26  and placed within the pocket  44  of the second compartment  38 . Because of the notch  52  with clear cover  54  printed indicia  64  within the first column  58  is viewed by the user while the printed indicia  64  of the second column  62  is covered. Thus, a user can attempt to guess what the printed indicia  64  of the second column provides based upon the printed indicia  64  of the first column  58  that is shown. When one decides to uncover the printed indicia  64  in the second column  62  adjacent the related printed indicia  64  of the first column the card  56  can be pushed up through the partial aperture  50  in order to reveal the printed indicia  64 . In this manner the individual memorizes the related information in the first and second columns  58  and  62 . Furthermore, at the same time, by moving the card  56  up a second item of printed indicia  64  in the first column  58  is revealed via the notch and clear cover  52  and  54  so that the next association or relation can be determined and memorized by a user. 
     Thus, presented is a memorization system  10  that is portable and easy to use. Specifically, the system allows for quick and easy use so that information can be memorized. Additionally provided is a method for producing the memorization systems utilizing a website so that the systems are conveniently accessed. Thus, at the very least all of the stated objectives have been met. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.