WO2018127871A2

WO2018127871A2 - Didactic device for learning letters and numbers

Info

Publication number: WO2018127871A2
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco HERIBERTO; Laura PATIÑO; Jorge Luis PINO; Ariel RODRÍGUEZ
Original assignee: Universidad Autónoma De Chiriquí
Priority date: 2018-03-21
Filing date: 2018-03-26
Publication date: 2018-07-12
Also published as: WO2018127871A3

Abstract

A non-electronic didactic device is described, being easy to handle, portable and versatile, from which the children can learn to identify the alphabet letters and the numbers using their senses, consisting of a series of panels, being connected to each other through a cylinder and lever system, and moulds for the alphabet letters and the numbers.

Description

DIDACTIC DEVICE FOR LEARNING LETTERS AND NUMBERS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention refers to a didactic device for learning letters from the alphabet and numbers by means of manual and visual contact. The present invention can be included, thus, in the field of education and demonstration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common knowledge that learning and early stimulation are very important in the cognitive development of children, and that it is a priority to have options allowing a suitable psychomotor growth. Current devices comprise electronic mechanisms such as boards attached to control panels, computer characters used for executing results obtained by mathematical calculations, word spelling or answers based on formulated questions. For example, patent US3,822,487A to Koch contemplates alphabet letter symbols constructed in three-dimensional block form, for helping children assemble letter blocks into a meaningful word pattern, or at least into a display in which letters of the alphabet are properly oriented. Likewise, in patent US7,018,213B2 to Marcus et al., the invention refers to an educational system for teaching children language and/or arithmetic, wherein the children arrange 1 or more computer-recognizable characters on a working platform to spell a word or give a response to computer generated questions; and then the system indicate whether the response is correct or not. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a didactic device for learning alphabet letters and numbers, being portable, with the upper part, sides and bases thereof having defined shapes; incorporating a keyboard with keys where there are alphabet letter symbols and numbers from 0 to 9 at the upper part thereof; connected through a lever system to a series of individual platforms located in the intermediate area of the device. The letter and number moulds are placed on these platforms, and they are introduced from the upper side of the device.

This invention proposes to be provided with a non-electronic educational device, being easy to handle, portable and versatile, from which the children can learn to identify the alphabet letters and the numbers using their senses as part of a child's game.

The didactic device for learning alphabet letters and numbers comprises:

- an upper panel formed by a board having moulds with alphabet letters and numbers from 0 to 9;

- a lower panel comprising a keyboard with the alphabet letters and numbers from 0 to 9 and a slot opening; and

- pieces representing alphabet letter and numbers from 0 to 9 fitting into the upper panel moulds;

characterized in that the upper and lower panels are connected by:

- a cylinder connecting system which connects the alphabet letter and number moulds from the upper panel with the slot opening of the lower panel; and

- a mechanical lever system connecting the keyboard from the lower panel with a platform located in the corresponding mould from the upper panel, causing the adequate piece to fall through the cylinder connecting system, into the slot of the lower panel.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper panel has a geometric form that can be preferably rounded, square, triangular or conical, although other forms can be adopted, and is formed by a board having moulds of alphabet letters and numbers from 0 to 9, intended for being the inlet hole for introducing the pieces inside the device. In another preferred embodiment, the lower panel is rectangular and is used as a support for a board formed by pieces with a geometric shape for the alphabet letters and numbers from 0 to 9. Particularly, different types of keyboards can be used adaptable for the Latin alphabet, English alphabet or Cyrillic alphabet, although other alphabets may be considered.

In another preferred embodiment, the slot opening of the lower panel has a rounded shape.

In another preferred embodiment, the invention also comprises pieces of letters and pieces of numbers made of a durable and resistant material, capable of resisting impacts caused by exhaustive use. These pieces are made of a nontoxic material, in order to avoid damage in people. Particularly, this material is selected from a polymer material, although other materials can be used, such as wood, plastic and foam. The size of the pieces is appropriate for them not to fit in the children mouth, with rounded and flat edges.

Furthermore, the letter and number moulds could be textured, such that visually impaired children, or those having reduced vision, may also identify the type of letter or number they have selected. The size of the device could also be varied, depending on the requirements regarding the children height.

In another preferred embodiment, the cylinder connecting system comprises:

- a first connecting cylinder, connecting the upper part moulds with the platform located in the intermediate area of the device, consisting of a movable circular platform going from the upper panel to the lower panel of the device;

- a second collecting cylinder with a slightly concave shape, wherein the piece coming from the platform is collected; - a third connecting cylinder, mounted underneath the circular platform, connecting the collecting cylinder with the outlet slot of the lower panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To implement the present description being made and in order to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as part of this description, with an illustrative but not limitative purpose, which represents the following:

FIG. 1 . It shows a perspective view of the learning didactic device.

FIG. 2. It shows a perspective view of the board with moulds and the keyboard with pieces from the learning didactic device with the Latin type of alphabet.

FIG. 3. It shows a perspective view of the board with moulds and the keyboard with pieces from the learning didactic device with the English type of alphabet. FIG. 4. It shows a perspective view of the inner moving system for the pieces in the learning didactic device.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The following is a detailed description, with the help of figures 1 -4 referred above, of an exemplary preferred embodiment of the didactic device for learning letters and numbers, being object of the present invention. The current dimensions and/or shapes of each of the components of the device may vary. The learning didactic device is intended to be portable, it can be located in a space neither too small nor too large, positioned on its own base. FIG. 1 shows that the learning didactic device comprises a rounded upper panel with a board comprising moulds of letters and numbers (1 ), which is fixed to the upper part of the device, for example, by means of bolts or screws, habitually used for fixing the upper panel to its corresponding base. The rectangular lower panel (2) is formed by a board comprising geometric shape pieces for alphabet letters, and geometric shapes pieces for numbers, it being attached to the upper panel by means of screws.

The learning didactic device also comprises a rounded slot (3), located as a central hole, and used for manually accessing the piece. Geometric shapes pieces for letters (4) and geometric shapes pieces for numbers (5) are also contemplated, having the characteristics described above.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of both the board with moulds of letters and numbers, and the keyboard with geometric shapes for the Latin alphabet letters and for numbers.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of both the board with moulds of letters and numbers, and the keyboard with geometric shapes for the English alphabet letters and for numbers.

The learning didactic device additionally consists of, as it can be seen in FIG. 4, a plurality of connecting systems:

- a first connecting cylinder (6) is located along the vertical axis, and it connects the letter moulds (7a) and numbers (7b) from the upper part, with the platform located in the intermediate area of the device;

- a second collecting cylinder (8) is located along the horizontal axis within the device, between the platform and the levers; and

- a third connecting cylinder (9), is located perpendicular to the second collecting cylinder and is used as a link between the platform and the outlet slot. The movable circular platform (10) is used as a base for the letter and number moulds, and is connected individually by means of a lever system with the corresponding keys, to each number and letter in the keyboard. Lastly, each lever (1 1 ), is a bar that rests and lifts the platform, by pressing a key in the keyboard, so as to let the corresponding mould fall.

The letter and number moulds could be manually handled for them to be folded, touched and pressed as required.

In order to fix the device in its operation condition, a key from the board is actuated, which will actuate a lock, causing the circular platform to fold and so the piece falls, which, once being in the first connecting cylinder, moves towards the centre and from there through the third connecting cylinder to the outlet slot, where it is manually accessible.

Claims

C L A I M S

1 . Device for learning alphabet letters and numbers, comprising:

- an upper panel formed by a board with moulds of alphabet letters and numbers from 0 to 9;

characterized in that the upper and lower panels are connected by:

2. - Device according to claim 1 , where the slot is round-shaped.

3. Device according to claim 1 , where the upper panel has a shape selected from round, square, triangular or conical.

4. Device according to claim 1 , where the keyboard of the lower panel is adapted for the Latin alphabet, the English alphabet or the Cyrillic alphabet.

5. - Device according to claim 1 , where the pieces of the alphabet letters and the numbers are formed by a non-toxic material.

6. Device according to claim 5, where the material for the pieces of the alphabet letters and the pieces of the numbers are selected from a polymer material, wood, plastic and foam.

7. - Device according to claim 1 , where the pieces of the alphabet letters and the numbers are textured.

8. - Device according to claim 1 , where the cylinder connecting system comprises:

- a first connecting cylinder, connecting the upper part moulds with the platform;

- a second collecting cylinder with a slightly concave shape, wherein the piece coming from the platform is collected; and

- a third connecting cylinder, connecting the collecting cylinder with the slot of the lower panel.