Patent US3994076A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3994076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular computer teaching device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-09-30
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Granted: 1976-11-30
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Expires: 1995-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A cube is provided with four side walls, and an open bottom and top. Mounted within the cube is a flip-flop unit made up of three wings, one wing being longer than the other two so that when a marble is dropped in the cube, the flip-flop unit will rotate until the longer wing is in contact with one of the side walls. A plurality of each such cubes are provided in order to teach adding and subtracting in the binary system and to perform many other functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Martha O. Bertman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:19
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B23/00; G09B23/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A teaching device comprising at least one cube having four side walls, an open bottom and an open top, each of said four side walls having a top edge and a groove formed in said top edge, said four side walls forming at the bottom thereof four corners, each of said four corners having a cut-out formed therein, so that said cube may be mounted on another cube of like configuration, and a flip-flop unit mounted between two of said side walls for rotation in said cube, said flip-flop unit comprising a shaft rotably mounted between said two side walls, a first wing extending from said shaft, and a second and third wing spaced angularly from said first wing about said shaft, and said first wing having a length greater than the lengths of said second and third wings, whereby when a marble or the like is dropped into said open top of said cube, said flip-flop unit is rotated until said first wing contacts one of the other two side walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A teaching device comprising at least one cube having four side walls, an open bottom and an open top, each of said four side walls having a top edge and a groove formed in said top edge, said four side walls forming at the bottom thereof four corners, each of said four corners having a cut-out formed therein, so that said cube may be mounted on another cube of like configuration, and a flip-flop unit mounted between two of said side walls for rotation in said cube, said flip-flop unit comprising a shaft rotably mounted between said two side walls, a first wing extending from said shaft, and a second and third wing spaced angularly from said first wing about said shaft, and said first wing having a length greater than the lengths of said second and third wings, whereby when a marble or the like is dropped into said open top of said cube, said flip-flop unit is rotated until said first wing contacts one of the other two side walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The teaching device according to claim 1 wherein said flip-flop unit is positionable in a first and second state, said first state comprising said first wing in contact with one of said other two side walls, and said second state conprising said first wing in contact with the other of said other two side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The teaching device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of said cubes, said plurality of cubes being arranged in a pyramid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The teaching device according to claim 3 wherein said pyramid comprises a diagonal row of said cubes, and said flip-flop unit is positionable in a first and second state, said first wing in contact with the other of said other two side walls, the cubes in said diagonal row having respective flip-flop units arranged in either of said first or second states to thereby represent a number in the binary system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The teaching device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of said cubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The teaching device according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of cubes are stacked into an arrangement, said arrangement comprising alternating rows of single and double cubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The teaching device according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of cubes are arranged so that one cube is supported by two other cubes, said cut-outs in said one cube being supported by said grooves in said other two cubes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1979-11-30 | 1980-05-31 | 1980-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-30 | 1984-05-31 | 1984-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-30 | 1988-05-31 | 1988-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |