US3674905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Teaching aid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-22
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A windowed housing internally supports a removable rod that mounts a series of concentrically positioned wheels having indicia thereon which appear through the windows. Detent means between the wheels and the housing permit the selective positioning of the wheels such that particular indicia remain in view through the windows. Brackets are provided in the interior of the housing to slidably mount the rod thereby permitting rapid removal and replacement of the rod. Removal of the rod allows rapid rearrangement of the wheel order on the rod.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Collins Sr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:06
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B1/00; G09B1/02; G09B1/16; G09B1/18; G09B1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A learning aid for the teaching of word formation and letter sounds comprising: a housing having at least one window therein, ten alphabetical letter indicia bearing colored wheels, certain ones of said wheels having different colors, different vowel indicia, and different consonant indicia and being grouped so that related indicia and colors are located in predetermined positions in said window of said housing in order to facilitate learning of word formation and letter sounds, a support member rotatably mounting said wheels in said housing, bracket means in said housing for removably mounting said support member, and stop means connected to said housing for engaging said wheels and retaining the wheels in a desired rotatable position viewable through said window, each of said wheels including a single group of indicia thereon with the ten wheels including three identical groups each consisting of all the vowels and the schwa, one group of silent consonants, one group of digraphs and consonant letters with sound equivalents of the other consonant letters, three groups each consisting of all the consonants, and two groups each consisting of the most used consonants, whereby movement of said wheels in relation to each other provide a visual indication of various letters and phonetic sound relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A learning aid for the teaching of word formation and letter sounds comprising: a housing having at least one window therein, ten alphabetical letter indicia bearing colored wheels, certain ones of said wheels having different colors, different vowel indicia, and different consonant indicia and being grouped so that related indicia and colors are located in predetermined positions in said window of said housing in order to facilitate learning of word formation and letter sounds, a support member rotatably mounting said wheels in said housing, bracket means in said housing for removably mounting said support member, and stop means connected to said housing for engaging said wheels and retaining the wheels in a desired rotatable position viewable through said window, each of said wheels including a single group of indicia thereon with the ten wheels including three identical groups each consisting of all the vowels and the schwa, one group of silent consonants, one group of digraphs and consonant letters with sound equivalents of the other consonant letters, three groups each consisting of all the consonants, and two groups each consisting of the most used consonants, whereby movement of said wheels in relation to each other provide a visual indication of various letters and phonetic sound relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
199 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a plurality of parallel openings disposed in mutually spaced relation, each of said wheels having a plurality of peripherally aligned and circumferentially spaced radially extending projections, said projections being disposed between adjacent alphabetical letters, said projections passing through said openings during a portion of the rotatable movement thereof to enable manual rotation of each of said wheels, said stop means including a pair of longitudinal resilient strips disposed adjacent the periphery of said wheels and engaging said projections to releaseably retain the wheels in rotatably adjusted position, said pair of strips being spaced apart to engage the inner surfaces of adjacent projections to align individual alphabetical letters with the window, the support member comprising a rod slotted at opposite ends thereof, the bracket means including guide elements projecting in confronting relation from the housing interior to slidably engage the slotted endS, the guide elements of each bracket means including a raised W-shaped projection having outer arm portions and a central arm portion, the outer arm portion serving to embrace an associated rod end while the central arm portion is slidingly keyed in the slot of the rod end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a rod slotted at opposite ends thereof and wherein the bracket means include guide elements projecting in confronting relation from the housing interior to slidably engage the slotted ends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure set forth in claim 3 together with sprockets formed along the wheel periphery for facilitating wheel manipulation, and further wherein the stop means include detent projections for engaging adjacently positioned sprockets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein the guide elements of each bracket means include a raised W-shaped projection having outer arm portions and a central arm portion, the outer arm portion serving to embrace an associated rod end while the central arm portion is slidingly keyed in the slot of the rod end.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
The system of demonstrating the relationship between alphabetic letters and phonetic sounds consisting of the steps of separating the alphabetic letters into ten groups including three identical groups each consisting of all vowels and the schwa, one group of silent consonants, one group of digraphs and consonant letters with sound equivalents of other consonant letters, three groups each consisting of one-third of all consonants, and two groups each consisting of one-half of the most used consonants, distinguishably color coding the groups of letters, placing each of said groups of letters on an independently movable member, aligning alphabetic letters by varying the relative position of the members and the sequential position thereof, and revealing the aligned alphabetic letters through a restricted viewing area whereby movement of members in relation to each other provide for demonstration of various letter relationships and phonetic sound relationship.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
The system of demonstrating the relationship between alphabetic letters and phonetic sounds consisting of the steps of separating the alphabetic letters into ten groups including three identical groups each consisting of all vowels and the schwa, one group of silent consonants, one group of digraphs and consonant letters with sound equivalents of other consonant letters, three groups each consisting of one-third of all consonants, and two groups each consisting of one-half of the most used consonants, distinguishably color coding the groups of letters, placing each of said groups of letters on an independently movable member, aligning alphabetic letters by varying the relative position of the members and the sequential position thereof, and revealing the aligned alphabetic letters through a restricted viewing area whereby movement of members in relation to each other provide for demonstration of various letter relationships and phonetic sound relationship.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |