An Apparatus to Facilitate the Teaching of Arithmetic.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus to Facilitate the Teaching of Arithmetic.
1, WILLIAM GEORGE BROWNE Rodborough Stroud Gloucestershire, Schoolmaster,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of a case made of wood, metal, or other suitable material having a
sheet glass front, and furnished with a number of coloured balls, as A. Details shown
in B.
2. Attached to the back and fitting into alternate sides are straight bars or inclined
planes as D. each fixed at an angle of 93 degrees or thereabouts, with the side of the
case as at b and having a space at lower end c wide enough for balls to fall through.
3. At the lower end of each plane, a slide E made the same width as plane works
in a slot, g. cut in side of frame, and projects through the side far enough to be
easily manipulated by the finger and thumb of the operator.
4. The inner end of slide, when the latter is pushed in, meets the end of the plane
as at c. Slots are shown at g. g in side C.
5. At the top of the back of the case, immediately above the higher end of
uppermost plane, is cut a circular aperture large enough to allow the balls to be
passed into the case, this is marked f.
6. A corresponding aperture is made in the back at lower end of lowest plane d to
permit the exit of the balls, this is marked e.
7. The case is held or fixed vertically, as at A.
8. Being inserted through aperture f, and the slides drawn back, the balls are free
to travel along succeeding planes to aperture e.
9. If cover (as F) be moved aside behind aperture e they can be collected in the
hand or received in a box or bag affixed behind e.
10. The number of balls admitted into any row, or on to any plane in the series
can be regulated by the slides being drawn or pushed in.
11. All the simple operations of arithmetic as addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division can be vividly depicted.
12. The motion of the balls is very diverting to children and their attention is
readily attracted and sustained.
Dated this 15th day of February 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus to Facilitate the Teaching of Arithmetic.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE BROWNE Rodborough Stroud Gloucestershire Schoolmaster,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
The apparatus consists of a case, (marked A in drawings left with the Provisional
Specification) made of wood, metal or other suitable material, having a sheet glass
front and furnished with a number of coloured balls of any suitable and convenient
size. Further details are shown in B.
Attached to the back and fitting into alternate sides, are straight bars or inclined
planes as D, each fitted at an angle of 93 degrees or thereabouts with the sides of the
case as at b, and having a space at lower end c wide enough for balls to fall through.
At the lower end of each plane, a slide E, made the same width as plane, works in
a slot 9, cut in side of frame, and projects through the side far enough to be easily
manipulated by the thumb and finger of the operator.
ת ...D

page_text: The planes and slides to be of such a width as to allow at least the centre of the
balls to rest on them. The inner end of slide when the latter is pushed in, meets the
end of the plane as at c¹. Slots are shown at g, g, in side c. At the top of the back
of case, immediately above the higher end of the uppermost plane, is cut a circular
aperture, large enough to allow the balls to be passed into the case-this is marked f.
A corresponding aperture is made in the back at lower end of lowest plane d, to
permit the exit of the balls-this is marked e. Apertures are covered with shutters
as F F. Or, similar apertures may be made in top or bottom sides of case to allow
entrance and exit of balls. The case is held or placed vertically as at A.
Being inserted through aperture f, and the slides drawn back, the balls are free to
travel along succeeding planes to aperture e.
If cover F be moved aside, behind lower aperture, the balis can be received in the
hand or may fall into a box, or bag, affixed behind e.
The number of balls admitted into any row, or on to any plane can be regulated
by the slides being drawn out or pushed in, that is after balls are inserted through
the apertures mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The construction of the case as described above.
2. The application of the motion of balls freely moving on inclined planes, for the
purpose stated in title above.
Dated this 18th day of October 1800
WILLIAM GEORGE BROWNE.