US2476580A - Educational device - Google Patents

Description

Jul 19, 1949. J. BERGMAN 2,476,580

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1944 INVENTOR JackBeJyman Patented July 19,1949

EnUoAnoNAL DEVICE v Jack Bergman, Pittsburgh,'Pa. Application September 21, 1944, Serial No. 555,053

My invention relates to educational devices and toys, and consists in a device which permits a child at play to learn the numerical system and the rudiments of arithmetic.

The device of the invention is characterized by means for displaying arithmetic symbols in juxtaposition with-a system-of Wheels or disks-that carry numerals in sequence on their; rims. The wheels are selectively rotatable, to establish in conjunction with said symbolsvarious arithmetical problems and their. solutions.

Theinvention will be understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

'Figure 1 is a view-in front elevation of a device embodying in exemplary way the new and useful improvements of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the device in cross section, as seen on the vertical plane of section-indicated at 11-11 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a-view infront elevation -of the mechanism which is arranged within the hous- 111g of the device; e

Figure 4 is a view of themechanism, partl in of one of Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of said disk;

Figure 7' is a View in side elevation of another of the numerical disks of the mechanism; and

Figure 8 is-a view in perspective of a numeralbearing band that may be removably applied to one of the disks of the device. I p

Referring to the drawings the toy or device of the invention consists ina housing '2 formed of molded plastic material 'or sheet metal. Within the housing three disks or wheels 3, 4 and are mounted in axial alignment upon a shaft 6. The shaft is trunnioned at its two ends in brackets I which are boltedto, and rise from,-a baset metal cross bar 9, and thedisks, freely and indi vidually rotatable in their mounting, are held in spaced relation by means of hub portions or spacer sleeves l0. s

The front wall of the housing is inpart formed as a cover portion II which is hinged at points 12 to the main body of the housing, and this" 4 Claims. (Cl. 3577) cover portion is provided'with three open wintheyflare nevertheless'effective temporarily to dows i3, i4 and IS through which window por tions of the rims of the three disks 3, 4 and 5 are exposed to view. More minutely considered, the rim of each diskcarries printed in sequential orderupon it' 'the' tent-numerical digits fl to 9,-

and in this case, the ?rims' of the disks are shapedtho-provide ten fi at facets, one'foreach digit Each of the windows formed in the cover portion H is of'flsu'ch size as toexpose to view one of the numeral-bearing facets ef-the disk associated therewith. 9 7 V The 'di'sks Y. may be rotated individually by applying rotative stress with the finger or thumb upon the rims of the disks -exposed within the windows,-and soany 'desiredone of the numerals ontherim of; each'difsk may be brought into position Qof, registry with thelcorresponding windo-w. Means are" provided for yieldingly securing each, disk with any selected one of its numeralbearinglfacets centered or indexed in the associate window, fand such' means advantageously comprise detents l6 organized one witheachdisk.

The detentsare formed as leaf springs of metal, secured at one end to the cross bar 9, and at opposite iendfashionedlinto a V-shaped catch; that yieldingly engages "one orv another of ten equi-spaced notches. l1 sunkin the inner peripheral edge 'of the flanged rim of the associate disk.

The detent'of each disk is'so positionedthat, when it engages one on another of the notches in the disk, one or another of the numeral-bearing facets stands injre'gistery with the window with which the diskois'correlat'ed. -Whilethe detents yield whenj-rotative stress is applied to the disks,

secure .eachdisk with the selected numeral presented to viewincentered or indexed position in sented, In-"the present "embodiment of the in-;

vention the symbol and equals sign are carried by tabs l8 secured iattheir upper and lower edgesbeneath "cleats I9 on the face of'the cover portion ll of the housing 2. If desired, the equals sign may be permanently imprinted orembossed upon the'cover portion II, but it is preferable that the-arithmetic symbol be carried on a device, such as a tab l8, that allows the tab carrying the symbol to be supplanted by one caras'iaoso 3 rying either the or the X symbol, as will be understood upon consideration of the following description of the utility of the toy.

In using the device, the child may set up various arithmetic problems and their solutions. Assuming the arithmetic problem to be 3+4, the child sets all disks to read zero, and then turns the first disk to show the numeral 3, and turns theseconddisk to.show. the numeral 4, as illustrated iinil igure- 1- Next, he turnssth'e thirds disk (5) to show the same numeral as is displayed by the first disk, that is, the numeral Br-1 and then he turns the third disk four step in numeral-ascending direction. In suclr mannee the numeral -the answer to the prohlem isr brought into view,

Each step in the rotation offa; disks-imaudiblyz denoted by a choking sound of the detentlfi aslit.

snaps into a notch ll, asjwell as visually indicated by the passageof four numbered facets across the areaofthe-window I5, andthi-s is particularly useful'jirrassisting: the child-to mentally' grasp the significance of the manipulation of'the third or so -called answer disk- 5; I

When a study of arithmetiesubtractionisto be made the tab bearing the -l=" symboljissupplanted by one bearing the-= "symbol. The number-from which subtraction is to bemade (say'9'l' is by rotation of "the firsti diskdisplayed inthe window: I35 while the numberto be sub tracted (say-2) is" displayed: inthe-window Mi Thereupon, the third disk is rotated topresent thenumeral 9 which is displayed by the disk" at the left of' the minus? symbol, and then' the third disk is rotated innumeral-descending direcrtion through the number of steps indicated by the numeral (2; in the given example) that is,displayed in the-window l4. Hence, the answer 'T." is-tpres'ented inthe window l5.

Asnoted above, the thirdi disk" in realitycom; prises two disk-elements 5' andia, andfitwill lie understood that in the addition and; subtraction examples-given the numerals on the portion, 5=are adequate. Indeed; the numeralsor tlie disk portion 5 are adequate'lforanyyproblemin subtraction that can be posed? by the disks, 3 and i which bear numerals rangirig-from to 9; However; inorder topermit. all examples in addition to be worked. the third-0r answer disk mustzhava manifestly, an' effective range of from,0?to,18; and itis primarily to, this end'thatthegthirdjdisli is made in'a plurality of disk portions.

A's here shown, the disk portionju issmall'er thanthe main disk portion 5, audit i'sformed with six facets numbered from 0 to 5; But .the. facets: of thesmallerdisk portionj'a areequal in size with those of the main disk portion an d'the smaller disk portion is so mounted beside the. main disk portion that'the facets of both disks; which are displayed in the. window l5? lie. in common plane clearlyto showone or anothetot the particular double-digit numerals of whichv thetwo disk portions are capable; The smaller disk portion is essentially mounted for rotation. on an axiswhich is eccentric withrespect to the-axis 6; l The axis 20 is trunnioned inthe arms of a Y-shape d standard 21,,andonthe left-of. the smaller disk; portion a cylindricai; shoulder. 22 is integrally formed; including notches 23; which-in structure and function are the'counterparts ofthe notches I of the t'lisl'ls already described. A detent' 24, similar; to the detents. l5; ismounted upon the upper endof one} of the; arms of standard 21 and cooperates? with. the; notches: 23.

Means are provided for rotating the disk portion 512 through one step for each full rotation of the disk portion 5. Such means comprise a plurality of lugs 25 on the disk portion 5a that in the assembly protrude laterally into position within the rim of the disk portion 5, and the rim of the latter disk portion carries a lug 26 that in the rotation of the disk portion makes a sweepingcontact. withone of.,the ,lugs 25 on the disk portion. 5a; the lug 25 which is thus contacted being the one which (due to the eccentric relation of the two disk portions) is nearest to the rim of the disk portion 5. The sweeping contact of the lug 26 with a lug 25 occurs only once in each, complete rotation of the disk portion 5, and the efiect of each contact is to advance the disletportionfim through one step. Accordingly, the efiect of rotating the disk 5 through one or more complete rotations is cumulative. An example will make the utility and operation perfectly oleart Supposing: the problem is' to add 8 and 9: All disks:are-'-set at zero; thenthe first diskistumed to show the numeral'8 and the second disk' the numeral-9 next thedisk' portion 5 turnedin niirneral' ascending directiorrfrom: its zero setting until the numeral 8 appears; and then-' the rotatioaof the disk porti'om S iscontinuedin the same direction through-nine'steps. thedisk portiom 5 passes=from the positionin which the numeral 9 thereon shows-in the wind'owto the pOSi'tiiJnillWh-ibh (l-shows', the 111??? on disk portion- 5- engagesa lhg fi on disle portion 5a and causes the'latten disleportion toadvance one step, changing the numeral showing inthewind'ow from 0 to 1. Therotatifon of 'the'disk' portion 5is continued througha total of" nine steps, and its numeral 7 thereby: moved into position in the window. The numerical'oombination: displayed by thetwodiskportions is 17=-the answertothe problem. And so any-addition= problem involving a total of from 0 to 18 may be worked.

a matterbf fact; it will benoted that the compound disk-5 5a-=-is--capable of displaying any, number from 00 t'o-59 it being understoodthat twofull rotationeofthe disk portion 5 will advance the complementary disk portion to show thenumerai 2*; three-rotations of diskrportion- 5 will result indis'kportion 5a; displaying the-numere] 3: andfsodl; isthat any'number from-00,, to 59 maybe displayed by the two disk portions The use of the toy in' problems involving; totals of more than 18 and up:to EB'ofcourse, requires numerals on the-disks 3" and 4of-- higher value. than;9. Tothis-end;a-band; such as-the ban-d2! of Figure 8; provided with anydesired sequence. of numerals, may be appliedto the rim: of either orbpth of the disks-Sandi. The: band 21'com=- prises" a split ring of-resilient material, shaped to 60 conform to the surfaces: otthe disks. In order. toapply a band" to a;disk; the cover I-lfisliited; and the band sprung-intosplace: on the rim of a: disk: Manifestlm. by, the. use of a plurality, of; interchangeable number. bands the; rang of the. arithmetic problems; which.v may be workediis very wide;

In order to work:multipiication problems, ,the arithmeticsymboli between disks 3 and; 4 i would. by; interchanging; of tabs l8j be caused to. readj 7o A- band 21' would: be provided; for. each. multiplier; andthe band" for the multiplier to be used would be. securedg on the rim of. the disk portion 5. In-Eigurafi; the bandii's sliown num-. e i or the. mu tiplier. Thus, when the disk 3115 set to show this multiplier, the disk 4' may be set to indicate any number from to 9, and the disk turned in numeral-ascending direction through the number of steps indicated by the numeral showing on the disk 5. The answer to the multiplication problem posed by the disks 3 and 4 will be presented by disk portion 5. A band 21 may be provided for each multiplier desired, and so the child using the toy may learn elementary multiplication, as well as addition and subtraction.

Within the terms of the appended claims various modifications and reorganizations of the exemplary structure described are held in contemplation.

I claim:

1. Inan educational toy having a, rotary disk with alaterally extended rim adapted to carry on its face a series of figures, and a detent for releasably securing said disk in any of several positions of rotary adjustment; the invention herein described wherein said detent comprises a leaf spring mounted externally of said disk and having at its distal end a laterally extending finger, the body of said disk including means located radially within the face of said laterally extended rim for cooperation with the finger of said detent.

2. In an educational toy comprising a. housing having a window, a disk with a laterally extended rim rotatably mounted in said housing, a series of figures on said rim adapted by rotary adjustment of the disk to be selectively displayed in said window, and a detent for releasably securing said disk in adjusted position; the invention herein described wherein said detent comprises a leaf spring mounted externally of said disk and having at its distal end a laterally extending finger, the body of said disk including means located radially within the face of its laterally extended rim for cooperation with the finger of said detent.

3. In an educational toy comprising a windowed housing having means for displaying in spaced relation an arithmetic symbol and an equals sign, three disks rotatably mounted in said housing, with the rim of the first disk presented in a window at the left of said symbol, the rim of the second disk presented in a window between the symbol and the equals" sign, and the rim of the third disk presented in a window at the right of the equals sign, thefirst and second disks each having a succession of numerals on its rim whereby, by selective disk rotation, numerals may be selectively posed on opposite sides of said symbol to present various arithmetic problems, and the third disk having on its rim a succession of numerals representing the arithmetic answers to said problems and adapted by disk rotation to be selectively registered with said equals sign; the invention herein described wherein said third disk comprising a compound disk having two disk portions of unequal diameters arranged side by side with their centers eccentric and their rims positioned substantially fiush within the area of said window at the right of the equals sign, the two disk portions being severally rotatable to bring into registry with said equals sign numerical combinations representing the answers to said problems, a. detent for each disk portion comprising a leaf spring mounted externally of said disk and having at its distal end a laterally extending finger, and each disk portion having means arranged to cooperate severally with said detents, the larger of said disk portions having a laterally extended rim, and said means of the larger disk portion which cooperate with the associated detent comprising a series of notches in the internal face of said extended rim.

4. In an educational toy comprising a windowed housing having means for displaying in spaced relation an arithmetic symbol and an "equals sign, three disks rotatably mounted in said housing, with the rim of the first disk presented in a window at the left of said symbol, the rim of the second disk presented in a window between the symbol and the equals sign, and the rim of the third disk presented in a window at the right of the equals sign, the first and second disks each having a succession of numerals on its rim whereby, by selective disk rotation, numerals may be selectively posed on opposite sides of said symbol to present various arithmetic problems, and the third disk having on its rim a succession of numerals representing the arithmetic answers to said problems and adapted by disk rotation to be selectively registered with said equals sign; the invention herein described wherein said disks are mounted to be selectively rotated, detent means cooperating with each disk for restraining the disk in selected position of rotation, said detent means comprising a support, leaf springs for said disks severally mounted on said support in spaced-apart relation, a laterally extending finger on each leaf spring, a series of notches on each disk for cooperation with the finger of the associated leaf spring, and each disk having a substantial area of its numeral-bearing rim exposed within the area of the associate window for the fingers of the user to apply rotative stress adequate to overcome the resistance of the detent associated with the disk and effect the turning of the disk from one numeral-displaying position to another.

JACK BERGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 69,482 Richardson 1 Oct. 1, 1867 198,934 Fields Jan. 8, 1878 209,416 Odhner Oct. 29, 1878 238,122 James et al Feb. 22, 1881 296,900 Wheeler Apr. 15, 1884 412,489 Force et a1 Oct. 8, 1889 845,276 Swart Feb. 26, 1907 924,406 Walker June 8, 1909 1,052,460 Charlier Feb. 11, 1913 1,159,133 Thomson Nov. 2, 1915 1,256,224 Habart Feb. 12, 1918 1,536,119 McDonald May 5, 1925 1,581,390 Cook Apr. 20, 1926 2,152,777 swindell Apr. 4, 1939 2,342,325 Bliss Feb. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 246,174 Great Britain 1927 420,775 Germany .l 1924 450,877 Germany 1925 502,263 France Feb. 17, 1920

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