US3775868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Form board for child education
Assignee: Times Mirror Co
•
Filing: 1973-02-12
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1993-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A flat base has a first plurality of flat depressions, a second plurality of flat depressions, and a third plurality of flat depressions arranged in adjacent rows so the depressions form columns perpendicular to the rows. The first plurality of depressions have identical circular shapes; the second plurality of depressions have identical triangular shapes; and the third plurality of depressions have identical square shapes. A first set of geometric form blocks equal in number to the first plurality of depressions each have bases shaped to fit interchangeably into the first plurality of depressions. A second set of form blocks equal in number to the second plurality of depressions each have bases shaped to fit interchangeably into the second plurality of depressions. A third set of form blocks equal in number to the third plurality of depressions each have bases shaped to fit interchangeably into the third plurality of depressions. Each block of the first set has a characteristic in common with a block of the second set and a block of the third set. Some of these characteristics are height, profile, color, and fractionalization. The form blocks are hollow and open on one side.
Inventors
- 👤 H Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:53
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B23/00; G09B23/02; G09B23/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An article of manufacture for child education, the article comprising: a flat base; a first plurality of flat identical geometric depressions arranged in the base in a row; a second plurality of flat identical geometric depressions arranged in the base in a row adjacent to the first pluraLity of depressions, the second plurality of depressions having a different geometric shape from the first plurality of depressions; a third plurality of flat, identical, geometric depressions arranged in the base in a row adjacent to the first and second plurality of depressions, the third plurality of depressions having a different geometric shape from the first and second plurality of depressions; the first, second, and third plurality being equal in number to each other and the individual depressions of the first, second, and third plurality being arranged to form columns that are perpendicular to the rows; a first plurality of geometric form blocks equal in number to the first plurality of depressions, the first plurality of form blocks each having a different three dimensional geometric shape with a base shaped to fit interchangeably into each of the first plurality of depressions; a second plurality of geometric form blocks equal in number to the second plurality of depressions, the second plurality of form blocks each having a different three dimensional geometric shape with a base shaped to fit interchangeably into each of the second plurality of depressions; and a third plurality of geometric form blocks equal in number to the third plurality of depressions, the third plurality of form blocks each having a different three dimensional geometric shape with a base shaped to fit interchangeably into each of the third plurality of depressions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
An article of manufacture for child education, the article comprising: a flat base; a first plurality of flat identical geometric depressions arranged in the base in a row; a second plurality of flat identical geometric depressions arranged in the base in a row adjacent to the first pluraLity of depressions, the second plurality of depressions having a different geometric shape from the first plurality of depressions; a third plurality of flat, identical, geometric depressions arranged in the base in a row adjacent to the first and second plurality of depressions, the third plurality of depressions having a different geometric shape from the first and second plurality of depressions; the first, second, and third plurality being equal in number to each other and the individual depressions of the first, second, and third plurality being arranged to form columns that are perpendicular to the rows; a first plurality of geometric form blocks equal in number to the first plurality of depressions, the first plurality of form blocks each having a different three dimensional geometric shape with a base shaped to fit interchangeably into each of the first plurality of depressions; a second plurality of geometric form blocks equal in number to the second plurality of depressions, the second plurality of form blocks each having a different three dimensional geometric shape with a base shaped to fit interchangeably into each of the second plurality of depressions; and a third plurality of geometric form blocks equal in number to the third plurality of depressions, the third plurality of form blocks each having a different three dimensional geometric shape with a base shaped to fit interchangeably into each of the third plurality of depressions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The educational article of claim 1, in which each block of the first plurality of blocks has a characteristic in common with a corresponding block of the second plurality of blocks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The educational article of claim 1, in which each of the blocks is hollow and is open on one side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 1, in which each form block of each plurality of form blocks has a characteristic in common with a form block of the other two pluralities of form blocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 4, in which the characteristic is the height of the form blocks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 4, in which the characteristic is the color of the form blocks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 4, in which the characteristic is the profile of the form blocks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 4, in which the characteristic is the fractionalization of the form blocks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 8, in which fractionalization of the form blocks is such that each of the form blocks is divided into the same number of parts that are identical to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 4, in which the first plurality of depressions is circular.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 10, in which the second plurality of depressions is equilaterally triangular.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 11, in which the third plurality of depressions is square.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article of claim 12, in which the form blocks are hollow and open on one side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
The article of claim 13, in which the common characteristics are height, profile, fractionalization and color; the form blocks of the first plurality comprise a short cylinder, a tall cylinder, a cylinder of medium height fractionalized into equal halves, a cylinder of medium height fractionalized into equal quarters, and a cone; the second plurality of form blocks comprise a short prism, a tall prism, a prism of medium height fractionalized into equal halves, a prism of medium height fractionalized into equal quarters, and a triangular based pyramid; the third plurality of form blocks comprises a short hexahedron, a tall cubicle hexahedron, a hexahedron of medium height fractionalized into equal hexahedral halves, a hexahedron of medium height fractionalized into equal hexahedral quarters, and a square based pyramid; the short form blocks are all the same height and the same primary color; the tall form blocks are all the same height and the same primary color; the form blocks fractionalized into halves are all the same height and the same primary color; the form blocks fractionalized into quarters are all the saMe height and the same primary color; and the conical, square based pyramidal, and triangular based pyramidal form blocks are all the same primary color.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
272 words
An educational article comprising: a base having a flat surface on which are formed a plurality of flat depressions arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of depressions including a first row of identical geometric depressions, a second row of identical geometric depressions having a different geometric shape from the first row of depressions, and a third row of identical geometric depressions having a different geometric shape from the first and second rows of depressions; first, second, and third groups of form blocks; the form blocks of the first group being equal in number to the depressions in the first row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the first row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the first group; the form blocks of the second group being equal in number to the depressions in the second row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the second row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the second group; the form blocks of the third group being equal in number to the depressions in the third row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the third row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the third group; and each form block in the first group having a corresponding form block in the second group and a corresponding form block in the third group with a common characteristic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
272 words
An educational article comprising: a base having a flat surface on which are formed a plurality of flat depressions arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of depressions including a first row of identical geometric depressions, a second row of identical geometric depressions having a different geometric shape from the first row of depressions, and a third row of identical geometric depressions having a different geometric shape from the first and second rows of depressions; first, second, and third groups of form blocks; the form blocks of the first group being equal in number to the depressions in the first row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the first row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the first group; the form blocks of the second group being equal in number to the depressions in the second row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the second row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the second group; the form blocks of the third group being equal in number to the depressions in the third row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the third row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the third group; and each form block in the first group having a corresponding form block in the second group and a corresponding form block in the third group with a common characteristic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The educational article of claim 15, in which the common characteristic is color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The educational article of claim 15, in which the common characteristic is height.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The educational article of claim 15, in which the common characteristic is fractionalization.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
250 words
An educational article comprising: a base having a flat surface on which are formed a plurality of flat depressions arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of depressions including a first row of identical circular depressions, a second row of identical triangular depressions, and a third row of identical square depressions; first, second, and third groups of form blocks; the form blocks of the first group being equal in number to the depressions in the first row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the first row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the first group; the form blocks of the second group being equal in number to the depressions in the second row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the second row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the second group; the form blocks of the third group being equal in number to the depressions in the third row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the third row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the third group; and each form block in the first group having a corresponding form block in the second group and a corresponding form block in the third group with at least two common characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
250 words
An educational article comprising: a base having a flat surface on which are formed a plurality of flat depressions arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of depressions including a first row of identical circular depressions, a second row of identical triangular depressions, and a third row of identical square depressions; first, second, and third groups of form blocks; the form blocks of the first group being equal in number to the depressions in the first row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the first row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the first group; the form blocks of the second group being equal in number to the depressions in the second row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the second row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the second group; the form blocks of the third group being equal in number to the depressions in the third row, having geometric shapes with bases that fit interchangeably into the depressions of the third row, and having at least one characteristic that is different from some of the other form blocks of the third group; and each form block in the first group having a corresponding form block in the second group and a corresponding form block in the third group with at least two common characteristics.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The educational article of claim 19, in which the common characteristics are color and height.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The educational article of claim 19, in which the common characteristics are color, height and fractionalization.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
82 words
The educational article of claim 19, in which the common characteristics are color, height, and fractionalization, two of the form blocks of the first group comprising a short unfractionalized cyliNder and a tall cylinder fractionalized into quarters, two of the form blocks of the second group comprise a short unfractionalized prism and a tall prism fractionalized into equilateral quarters, and two of the form blocks of the third group comprise a short unfractionalized hexahedron and a tall hexahedron fractionalized into cubical quarters.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The educational device of claim 22, in which one of the form blocks of the first group comprises a tall cylinder fractionalized into halves, one of the form blocks of the second group comprises a tall prism fractionalized into halves, and one of the form blocks of the third group comprises a tall hexahedron fractionalized into halves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |