Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a set of interconnecting letterform segments, in the discernable shapes of letters, numerals, and mathematical operators. Each segment comprises a length of body material defining an inner region having an access opening to enable the letterform segments to be releasably coupled with other segments—to enable the linked spelling of words and the linked construction of mathematical expressions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates in general to interconnecting letterform segments and, more particularly, to a children&#39;s toy comprising interconnecting geometrical shapes in the form of letters, numbers and mathematical operators.  
           [0003]    2. Background Art  
           [0004]    A child&#39;s cognitive development improves in direct proportion to the sensory stimulation he or she receives as an infant. As a result, manufacturers of children&#39;s toys often seek to develop interactive toys for infants which promote strong cognitive development. One example of such a toy currently known in the art comprises interconnecting or interlinking shapes. These toys typically have simple geometric or animal shapes and employ simple linking mechanisms.  
           [0005]    It is also well known in the art that infants may implicitly remember shapes, colors, and other sensory stimuli even when infants are unable to explicitly recall specific stimuli. This implicit memory improves an infant&#39;s ability to learn as it grows. Because of this implicit memory, infants who are frequently exposed to letters and numbers develop stronger reading skills earlier in life than their peers who are not similarly exposed.  
           [0006]    Thus, an infant&#39;s cognitive development may be further accelerated if the cognitive skill of combining letters into words and/or numbers into mathematical expressions can be implicitly taught to infants at an early stage in life.  
           [0007]    It is thus an object of this invention to provide interactive children&#39;s toys having the shapes of letters, numbers, and mathematical operators, which can be interlinked to form worded and mathematical expressions, thereby allowing an infant to experiment with letterforms by linking them into chains while exploring them tactilely, visually, and orally.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to a children&#39;s toy comprising a plurality of individual segments which may be releasably coupled together to form a chain of segments. Each segment is an integral length of body material preferably surrounding at least one inner region. The inner region is completely enclosed by the body material, except for an access opening in the body material. A first segment may be releasably coupled with a second segment by inserting the second segment into the access opening of the first segment. Each segment is in the form of a letterform, which includes letters, numerals, or mathematical operators. When successive segments are linked together in series, they may form words or mathematical expressions for infants to explore.  
           [0009]    In one embodiment, the inner region is in the discernable shape of a letterform, as opposed to the body material itself being in the shape of a discernable letterform. Likewise, in another embodiment, the body material itself, rather than the inner region, may be in the shape of a discernable letterform.  
           [0010]    In yet other embodiments, some of the individual segments may include more than one inner region, with each additional inner region having a corresponding additional access opening.  
           [0011]    In one preferred embodiment, an access opening may be formed between the two ends of the length of body material. Alternatively, the access opening may also be formed between one end of the length of body material and another portion of the body material. In either form, the access opening is no wider than the cross-sectional width of the lengths of body material.  
           [0012]    The body material may further include a series of ribs which serve to retain coupled segments in a linked configuration. Protrusions and depressions in the body material may be provided to present additional stimulation for infants. Some segments may further have substantially planar reinforcement sections which serve to provide additional rigidity to the body material of each reinforced segment.  
           [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the letterform segments may be manufactured from a non-toxic plastic material being pliable yet having a sufficient hardness to withstand the teething action of an infant, and may also be manufactured in various colors.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an elevated front view of a plurality of letterform segments in the form of alphabet letters, which are linkable, in series, to form many different words.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an elevated front view of a plurality of letterform segments in the form of numerals and mathematical operators, which are linkable, in series, to form many different mathematical expressions.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is an elevated front view of a letterform letterform segment where the body material is in the shape of a discernable letterform.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is an elevated front view of a letterform letterform segment where the inner region is in the shape of a discernable letterform.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is an elevated front view of a letterform letterform segment where the letterform has multiple access openings.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is an elevated front cross-sectional view of two letterform letterform segments showing the configuration of the segments before coupling.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a elevated front cross-sectional view of two letterform letterform segments showing the segments in position for coupling.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a elevated front cross-sectional view of two letterform letterform segments showing the positions of the segments during coupling.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a elevated front cross-sectional view of two letterform segments showing the positions of the segments after coupling.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is an elevated side view of one of the letters of FIG. 4  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is an elevated front view of several letterform segments linked together to form a word.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is an elevated front view of several letterform segments linked together to form a mathematical expression.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13. is an elevated side view of a letterform segment with surface protrusions.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is an elevated side view of a letterform segment with ribs.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is an elevated side view of a letterform segment having a substantially planar reinforcement section.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, the drawings show several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0030]    FIGS.  1 - 2  illustrate several embodiments of letterform letterform segments in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment  80  with respect to all of the letters of the alphabet, while FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment  90  with respect to the numerals one through zero, as well as the mathematical operators including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and an equal signs.  
         [0031]    FIGS.  3 - 5  show various embodiments of letterform segments in more detail. FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a letterform segment  100  in the form of the letter “Q”. The segment  100  comprises a length of body material  102 , having a first end  104  and a second end  106 . The body material  102  is preferably manufactured of a single, integral length of plastic or other suitable body material. The segment  100  defines a substantially closed shape with the exception of an access opening  108  between the first end  104  and the second end  106  of the body material  102 . The access opening  108  provides access to the inner region  110  of the segment  100 , which is substantially enclosed by the body material except for the access opening  108 . The body material  102  of segment  100  is in the discernable shape of a letterform, namely the alphabet letter “Q”.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a letterform segment  200  in the form of the capital letter “H”. The segment  200  also comprises a length of body material  202 , having a first end  204  and a second end  206 , and an access opening  208  between the first end  204  and the second end  206 . However, in this segment, the body material  202  is not itself in the discernable shape of letterform; rather, it is the inner region  210  that is in the discernable shape of letterform, namely the alphabet letter “H”.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a letterform segment  300 , in the form of the letter “S, comprising a length of body material  302  having a first end  304  and a second end  306 . The length of body material  302  defines a first inner region  310  and a second inner region  312 . A first access opening  314 , between the first end  304  and a portion of the length of body material  302 , corresponds to the first inner region  310 . Likewise, a second access opening  316 , between the second end  306  and a portion of the length of body material  302 , corresponds to the second inner region  312 .  
         [0034]    FIGS.  6 - 9  illustrate how a first letterform segment  400 , in the shape of the letter “O”, and a second letterform segment  402 , shown in cross-section, are releasably coupled. FIG. 6 illustrates a first end  404 , a second end  406 , and an access opening  408  of the first letterform segment  400 . The second letterform segment  402  is disposed immediately adjacent to the access opening  408  of the first letterform segment  400 .  
         [0035]    Turning to FIG. 7, the second segment  402  has been brought into proximity with the access opening  408  of the first segment  400 . In the preferred embodiment, the width of the access opening  408  is less than or equal to the cross-sectional width of the body material of the second segment  402 . Thus the body material of the second segment  402  is preferably too wide to fit through the access opening  408 . However, as force F is applied to the second segment  402 , the first segment  400  begins to bend, widening the access opening  408 , as shown in FIG. 8. Once the access opening is wide enough, the second segment  402  passes through the access opening  408  and the first segment  400  snaps back into its original shape, as indicated by the dashed lines  410 ,  412  in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 illustrates the second segment  402  having been fully inserted into the inner region  405  of the first segment  400 . Because the width of the access opening  408  is preferably less than the width of the body material of the second segment  402 , the segments  400 ,  402  will remain releasably coupled until a second force F 2  is applied.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 illustrates the preferred width of the access opening  408 . FIG. 10 is an elevated side view of the first segment  400  of FIGS.  6 - 9 . The segment  400  is made of a body material  401  having a first end  404  and a second end  406 , separated by an access opening  408 . The width  414  of the access opening  408  is defined by the distance between the first end  404  an the second end  406 . The width  416  of the body material  401  of the segment  400  is preferably greater than or equal to the width  414  of the access opening  408 .  
         [0037]    The letterform segments each have the form of discernable letterforms, which include alphabet letters, numerals, or mathematical operators. Thus, expressions can be formed by combining the appropriate letterform segments together in series. Thus, the word “COW” may be spelled by combining the letterform segments representing the letters “C,” “O” and “W”, as shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11 shows a first letterform segment  500  in the shape of the letter “C”, a second letterform segment  502  in the shape of the letter “O”, and a third letterform segment  504  in the shape of the letter “W”. Each letterform segment  500 ,  502 ,  504  has a respective access opening  506 ,  508 ,  510 . Each segment  500 ,  502 ,  504  additionally has a respective inner region  512 ,  514 ,  516 . A portion of the first segment  500  passes through the inner region  514  of the second segment  502 . Likewise, a portion of the second segment  502  passes through the inner region  512  of the first segment  500 . Thus, the first segment  500  and the second segment  502  are releasably coupled.  
         [0039]    In addition, a portion of the second segment  502  passes through the inner region  516  of the third segment  504 , while a portion of the third segment  504  passes through the inner region  514  of the second segment  502 . Thus, the second segment  502  and the third segment  504  are also releasably coupled. The segments  500 ,  502 ,  504 , as assembled in series spell out the word “COW”.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12 illustrates how a series of letterform segments of numerals and operators are combined to form a mathematical expression. A first segment  600  in the form of the numeral “1” is releasably coupled to a second segment  602  in the form of the mathematical operator “+”. The second segment  602  is likewise releasably coupled with a third segment  604 , in the form of the numeral “2”. The third segment  604  is further releasably coupled with a fourth segment  606 , in the form of the mathematical operator “=”. Finally, the fourth segment  606  is releasably coupled with the fifth segment  608 , in the shape of the numeral “3”. When combined in series as shown in FIG. 12, the segments form the mathematical expression “1+2=3”.  
         [0041]    Once combined, the segments will remain releasably linked until pulled apart. The ability to combine segments allows infants to become familiar with the shapes of various letters and numbers and, as the infants grow older, introduces them to the concepts of combining letters to form words and combining numbers to form expressions.  
         [0042]    The letterform segments are preferably made of a non-toxic plastic material safe for use around small children. Specifically, the letterform segments are made of a material a child could safely put into his or her mouth. In addition, the segments are sized so as to be too large for a child to swallow. The segments are also preferably made from a durable, substantially rigid, but pliable plastic capable of withstanding the elastic deformation that occurs during the coupling and uncoupling of the segments, as well as the teething action of an infant. Various body sections may also be manufactured from plastics in various colors.  
         [0043]    The letterform segment may further include surface textures as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 illustrates a letterform segment  700  in the shape of the letter “O”. The segment  700  is made of a length of body material  702  having a series of protrusions  704 . Yet another embodiment may incorporate depressions instead of protrusions, or may also incorporate a combination of protrusions and depressions.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 14 illustrates first letterform segment  800  in the form of the letter “O” and a second letterform segment  802  in the form of the letter “S”. The first segment  800  is comprised of a length of body material  801  having a series of ribs  804 . Similarly, the second segment  802  is comprised of a length of body material  803  having a series of large ribs  806  and series of small ribs  807 . The large ribs  806  and small ribs  807  on the second segment  802  interfere with the ribs  804  on the first segment  801 , thus maintaining the relative orientation of the two segments  800 ,  802  and preventing the two segments  800 ,  802  from becoming accidentally uncoupled.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 15 illustrates a letterform segment  900  having a substantially continuous, substantially integral length of body material  902 , an inner region  904 , and a reinforcement section  906 . The reinforcement section  906  is integral with the length of body material  902  and substantially co-planar with the letterform  900 , which is in the shape of the letter “J”. The reinforcement section  906  imparts additional rigidity to the letterform segment, thus making the segment more durable and less likely to break.  
         [0046]    The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the amended claims are so limited as those skilled in the art having the present disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.