Dental instruction device

Claim 2

A visual instruction device which comprises in combination: a. means to display in continuous timed sequence at least one of a plurality of visual instructional units wherein the means includes a display window, the window having a tinted portion and a clear portion, and the tinted and clear sections dimensioned such that at least a portion of two instructional units are positioned in the window at any time; b. means to commence a cycle of said instructional units; c. means to control the time of display of each of said instructional units within the cycle, the time of display controlled to approximate the time for the viewer to carry out the instructional unit displayed in the clear portion of the window; and d. means to terminate said cycle of instructional units.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the means to display the instructions includes band means having the instructions thereon.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the instructional units are set forth in sequence on the display means, and the means to display the instructional units in timed sequence includes means to display said instructional units at a fixed rate, the rate selected to provide the viewer time to carry out the instructional unit displayed.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said instructional units occupies a nonuniform portion of said display means and said display means are driven at a constant speed rate, whereby at least one of said instructional units is displayed for a different duration of time than another of said instructional units.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 which includes signal means to indicate the initiation or termination of each of said instructional units.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein the means to display includes: a. an endless strip with instructional units thereon; b. a single unidirectional motor means to drive the strip so as to display sequentially the instructional units in the clear portion of the window; c. means to illuminate the instructional units displayed in the clear portion of the window; and d. gear means to control the drive rate of the strip.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 wherein the edge portion of the strip is characterized by a plurality of signal holes spaced at the start and end of each unit of instruction, and which device includes a signal means to indicate the commencement or termination of each unit of instructions displayed in the clear portion of the window and a microswitch means adapted to activate the signal means and responsive to the signal holes in the strip.

Claim 9

A dental instruction device which comprises in combination: an instructional strip having a plurality of separate visual instructional units therein; means to move the strip continuously for a timed sequence aLong a predetermined path; means to display in a continuous time sequence the time of display of at least one of said instructional units to the viewer for a predetermined time period, the time period related to the time required for the viewer to perform the instructional unit, the means to display the instructional units includes a window, said window having a tinted portion and a clear portion and dimensioned such that at least two instructional units are in the window, whereby the viewer may follow a first instructional unit passing by the clear portion and into the tinted portion while anticipating the following instructional unit passing into the clear portion; signal means to indicate when each of said instructional units is commencing or terminating; and means to control the display of each of said instructional units, the time display controlled to the time required for the viewer to carry out the instructions.

Claim 10

A dental instruction device which comprises in combination: an instructional strip having a plurality of separate visual instructional units therein; means to move the strip continuously for a timed sequence aLong a predetermined path; means to display in a continuous time sequence the time of display of at least one of said instructional units to the viewer for a predetermined time period, the time period related to the time required for the viewer to perform the instructional unit, the means to display the instructional units includes a window, said window having a tinted portion and a clear portion and dimensioned such that at least two instructional units are in the window, whereby the viewer may follow a first instructional unit passing by the clear portion and into the tinted portion while anticipating the following instructional unit passing into the clear portion; signal means to indicate when each of said instructional units is commencing or terminating; and means to control the display of each of said instructional units, the time display controlled to the time required for the viewer to carry out the instructions.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8 wherein the instructional strip includes means thereon to initiate or terminate means to actuate a signal on the start or termination of each instructional unit.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 wherein the instructional strip is an endless band and wherein the device includes a plurality of guide rollers, the strip in contacting engagement with the rollers, said rollers defining the path through which the strip is moved.