US3577656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Teaching apparatus
Assignee: KMS Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-21
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Granted: 1971-05-04
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Expires: 1989-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A teaching apparatus has a student-answer registering device including a number of individually manipulatable keys bearing different marks, with the device indicating a correct student answer on manipulation of any key the mark of which is in the order of the same key mark in a preassigned recurring sequence of successive manipulations of the keys, and the apparatus being adapted for use with successive cards or the like of which each card displays a problem question and as many answers thereto, including one correct one, as there are keys, with the answers on each card being marked the same as the keys, and the marks applied to the correct answers on successive cards conforming to the preassigned key mark sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Lyon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:21
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B3/00; G09B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
Teaching apparatus, comprising a unit for insertion therein of a series of elements and operable to display successive elements, one for each operation, of an inserted series of which each element presents a problem question and a given number of answers thereto including one correct one; and a student-answer registering device providing individually manipulatable keys of said given number, coaxial discs associated with said keys, respectively, and turnable in unison, of which each disc has at least one shoulder and the shoulders of all discs are equiangularly spaced, with one shoulder being in a predetermined angular operating position, pawls associated with said keys, respectively, of which each pawl is on manipulation of the associated key moved to be in register with the shoulder on the associated disc if said shoulder is in said angular operating position, with any pawl registering with the shoulder on the associated disc indexing all discs through one step equal to the distance between successive shoulders, and means operating said unit on each indexing step of said discs to display a next element, whereby said unit is operated only on manipulation of any key which is in the order of the same key in a sequence of successive manipulations of said keys starting and recurring with a given key, with said sequence being as the programmed sequence of the discs whose shoulders follow each other into said operating position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
Teaching apparatus, comprising a unit for insertion therein of a series of elements and operable to display successive elements, one for each operation, of an inserted series of which each element presents a problem question and a given number of answers thereto including one correct one; and a student-answer registering device providing individually manipulatable keys of said given number, coaxial discs associated with said keys, respectively, and turnable in unison, of which each disc has at least one shoulder and the shoulders of all discs are equiangularly spaced, with one shoulder being in a predetermined angular operating position, pawls associated with said keys, respectively, of which each pawl is on manipulation of the associated key moved to be in register with the shoulder on the associated disc if said shoulder is in said angular operating position, with any pawl registering with the shoulder on the associated disc indexing all discs through one step equal to the distance between successive shoulders, and means operating said unit on each indexing step of said discs to display a next element, whereby said unit is operated only on manipulation of any key which is in the order of the same key in a sequence of successive manipulations of said keys starting and recurring with a given key, with said sequence being as the programmed sequence of the discs whose shoulders follow each other into said operating position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, in which the number of said keys is more than two.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, in which said shoulders are of a larger number than said keys.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, in which said pawls are in spring-urged follower relation with said discs and override said shoulders on turning said discs in said one direction relative to said pawls, and there is further provided a fixed pointer, and a manual knob turnable with said discs and provided with a marking, with said knob being turnable in said one direction for turning said discs in the same direction to bring said marking into alignment with said pointer, and said marking and pointer being coordinated so that on their alignment said keys are at the start of said manipulation sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 4, in which said knob has as many equiangularly spaced different markings as there are shoulders on said discs, with successive ones of said markings being associated with said shoulders in the order in which they follow each other into said operating position, and said markings and pointer being coordinated so that on alignment of any marking with said pointer the associated shoulder is in said angular operating position, whereby a key manipulation sequence may be started on alignment of any of said markings with said pointer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, which further provides mechanism operable to score each registered incorrect student answer, and means for operating said mechanism providing cam formations on said discs and including said pawls, with each pawl being on manipulation of its associated key diverted by the cam formation on the associated disc into operating relationship with said mechanism if the shoulder on the associated disc is out of said operating position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 6, in which said mechanism provides a turnable ratchet disc with equiangularly spaced successive numbers starting with zero, a fixed pointer, and another pawl reciprocated by any of said diverted pawls to index said ratchet disc in one direction for aligning the next higher one of said numbers with said pointer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 7, in which said ratchet disc is normally urged in a return direction opposite to said one direction, and there is further provided a fixed stop limiting return of said ratchet disc to a start position in which said zero number aligns with said pointer, a spring-urged holding pawl preventing return of said ratchet disc from any indexed position to said start position, and manual means for releasing said holding pawl from said ratchet disc for return of the latter to said start position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 8, in which said unit includes a magazine having an open front and being otherwise closed for removable reception of an element series in the form of stacked printed cards of which each foremost card is displayed at said magazine front, and said manual pawl releasing means is provided in said magazine rearwardly spaced from said open front thereof so that access thereto is blocked by cards in said magazine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, in which said keys are registration keys, and there is further provided a manipulatable index key, a wheel turnable with said discs and having equiangularly spaced teeth equal in number to said shoulders, and another pawl moved on each manipulation of said index key to register with a tooth on said wheel and index the latter and all discs in said one direction through one of said steps for operation of said unit without manipulation of a registration key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 10, in which the pawls associated with the registration keys are first pawls, and there is further provided mechanism operable to score each registered incorrect student answer, first means for operating said mechanism providing cam formations on said discs and including said first pawls, with each of said first pawls being on manipulation of its associated registration key diverted by the cam formation on the associated disc into operating relation with said mechanism if the shoulder on the associated disc is out of said operating position, and other means for operating said mechanism providing cam portions on said wheel and including said other pawl, with said other pawl being on each manipulation of said index key also moved by a cam portion on said wheel into operating relation with said mechanism, whereby each manipulation of said index key is also scored as an incorrect student answer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, in which said unit provides an open-front magazine for removable reception of an element series in the form of stacked printed cards with opposite edges and standing on one edge, with the foremost card being displayed at the magazine front, and said cards having in opposite edges notches of which the notches in successive cards are out of alignment and the notches in alternate cards are in alignment, a member movable into opposite positions and having at and within the confines of the open magazine front lugs retaining each forward card in, and permitting removal of the same from, the magazine front when in said opposite positions of said member said lugs are out of alignment and in alignment, respectively, with said notches in said foremost card, and means operable to move said member from either of said opposite positions to the other of said opposite positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 12, in which said lugs are arranged in pairs at the top and bottom, respectively, of the magazine front to cooperate with the notches at the top and bottom of cards standing with their bottom edges in the magazine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 13, in which the lugs of one of said pairs are yieldable out of the confines of the open magazine front and have inclined front surfaces, whereby stacked cards are insertable into the magazine through the open front thereof by camming the lugs of said one pair at said inclined surfaces out of the confines of the open magazine front.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, in which said unit provides a film projector for removable reception of film with a series of successive answer and question frames, a screen on which to project the answer and question images from successive frames, a turnable film feed sprocket, and a drive connection between said discs and sprocket for operating the latter to index film one frame on each indexing step of said discs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 15, in which said drive connection includes a friction coupling having companion members of which one member turns with said discs and the other member turns with said sprocket, and there is further provided a knob turning with said other member and turnable to drive said sprocket relative to said discs for bringing film into register with said screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 16, which further provides means normally locking said discs against rotation and operable by any of said keys on its manipulation to release said discs for one of said indexing steps.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 17, in which said locking means provides a disc part turning with said discs and having in its periphery equiangularly spaced grooves equal to the number of said shoulders, and a key part turnable about a fixed pivot into and from locking register with any aligned one of said grooves and normally spring-urged into locking register therewith, with said key part having a shoulder engaged by any of said keys on its manipulation for turning said key part from locking register with any of said grooves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 1, having provisions for visually associating said keys with the respective answers to the question on each displayed element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Teaching apparatus as in claim 19, in which said provisions are different distinguishing marks on said keys corresponding to the same marks on the respective answers to the question on each displayed element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-03 | 1974-11-02 | 1975-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-03 | 1978-11-02 | 1979-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-03 | 1982-11-02 | 1983-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |