AU2005215929B2

AU2005215929B2 - Teaching aid

Info

Publication number: AU2005215929B2
Application number: AU2005215929A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stephen Ungar
Original assignee: Ip Int Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ip International Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-27
Filing date: 2005-09-27
Publication date: 2010-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-27
Also published as: AU2005215929A1

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: HINKLER BOOKS PTY. LTD. Actual Inventor(s): STEPHEN UNGAR Address for Service: SANDERCOCK & COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 Invention Title: TEACHING AID Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. 2004905562 Filed: 2 7 th September, 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2005-09-27,Z:\Letters\hinkler.file.wpd,I - la TITLE: TEACHING AID FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention concerns teaching aids and especially devices for manual use in kindergartens and prep schools. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 10 The apparatus aspect of this invention provides a teaching aid having a surface on which 2005-09-27,Z:\Specifications\hinkler.cap.wpd, I -2 a problem is presented to the viewer and a surface on which a solution is presented, wherein the solution is obscured until the surfaces move in relation to each other in order to reveal the solution to the viewer. 5 The surfaces are preferably superimposed and the problem hides the solution. The problem may be identified on a pocket and the solution may appear on a part which is inserted into and retracted from the pocket. The aid may be made from layers of paperboard, plastic sheet or plywood. 10 The aid preferably comprises a stationary grip, a panel extending from the grip and a pocket which slides on the grip. The panel may be symmetrical in outline and the grip and pocket cut as identical blanks. This is not an essential feature as the grip and panel may be made as a unitary component, but it simplifies production if the panel is I-shaped and symmetrical and the grip and pocket look identical. 15 In an aspect of the invention there is provided a teaching aid comprising a panel, a grip, and a pocket, said grip or pocket having an indicia bearing surface which presents an intellectual problem to a viewer, said panel having an indicia bearing surface which presents the solution to the problem to the viewer, and wherein the panel and grip are 20 slidingly moveable with respect to the pocket to move the panel between a position in which the panel is within the pocket such that the solution is hidden and the problem is viewable and a position in which the panel is at least partially removed from the pocket and both the solution and problem are viewable. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 30 Figure 1 is a plan of the aid with the top layer removed to show the internal construction. Figure 2 is a side view of the aid shown in Figure 1.

-3 Figure 3 is a plan of the aid in the present mode. Figure 4 is a plan of the aid in the reveal mode. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the aid is laminated from three paperboard layers, namely a base layer 2, a mid layer 4 and a top layer 6. The aid consists of a grip 8, an I shaped panel 10 extending from the grip 8 and a pocket 12 within which the I-shaped 10 panel slides. The three layers of the grip and the panel are glued together as a one piece unit. The pocket 12 is the same area as the grip but its three layers allow the panel to slide in and out of the pocket in controlled rectilinear motion. The slide motion is made possible by making the mid layer of the pocket substantially U-shaped and making the projections 14 on the leading end of the panel, the same width as the projection 16 on the 15 pocket. The panel is accordingly guided at two sites. The edge 18 acts as an insertion stop whereas the two mutually obstructing surfaces 20 act as a withdrawal stop. The broken line indicates the panel position when the grip and pocket close together. The top layer 6 is glued to the mid layer 4 imprisoning the panel 10 within the pocket 12. Thus the parts cannot separate and become lost. 20 Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the front face of the grip 8 is printed with a picture of an apple 22. The front surface of the panel is printed with the word "apple". The user holds the pocket showing the apple picture to the learner and asks the learner the name of the displayed object, namely the apple. When the learner replies, the user slides out 25 the panel revealing the "apple" answer. In other non-illustrated embodiments, the subjects for recognition vary, for example the grip shows 6 + 4 = while the panel shows 10. 30 In a variant, the aid is not flat but cuboid presenting four faces for teaching grouped subject matter. We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be: -4 1. A series of flat aids fit face to face in a stacking box. 2. Children enjoy the anticipation of the solution which may appear step wise one letter at a time to encourage spelling. 5 3. Hard to learn items can be grouped for repeat more easily than if the items were in book form. It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is 10 to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements. It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications 15 and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A teaching aid comprising a panel, a grip, and a pocket, said grip or pocket having an indicia bearing surface which presents an intellectual problem to a 5 viewer, said panel having an indicia bearing surface which presents the solution to the problem to the viewer, and wherein the panel and grip are slidingly moveable with respect to the pocket to move the panel between a position in which the panel is within the pocket such that the solution is hidden and the problem is viewable and a position in which the panel is at least partially removed 10 from the pocket and both the solution and problem are viewable.

2. A teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the panel and pocket have mutually obstructing parts which act as stops to limit the retraction of the pocket. 15

3. A teaching aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the panel is I-shaped and the pocket is substantially U-shaped internally preventing separation of the pocket from the panel.

4. A teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the aid is mode from three layers, 20 the middle layer comprising the panel having a grip end and pocket end, each end being surrounded by a substantially U-shaped spacer all lying in a common plane, a top outer layer superimposed on the panel and spacers and a bottom outer layer likewise superimposed on the panel and spacers serving to imprison the grip end and pocket end of the panel while allowing the panel to slide in the pocket. 25

5. A teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the grip and pocket are of equal area.

6. A teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the aid is made from layers of 30 paperboard, plastic sheet or plywood.

7. A teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first part cooperates with the -6 panel as the grip and the second part cooperates with the panel as the pocket.