CA1324164C - Educational children's toy - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A toy adapted to instruct young children by association. The toy teaches proper numeric, alphabetic, or color sequences and the standard left to right reading convention, by utilizing blocks that are inserted into shafts in a stand. Blocks inserted out of proper sequence will fall through the stand but passage of blocks inserted in the proper sequence will be obstructed and those blocks will not fall through but will remain supported within the stand.

Description

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EDUCATION~ CHI~DREN'S TOY

`'' Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to toys, and more 1 particularly to an educational toy adapted for use by young children ranging in age fxom toddlers to pre~schoolers.
`~ In today's technological world, as never before, literacy is essential. The world of the future will make ~i even more demands and, as the inhabitants of that future world, today's children need to be given every possible advantage. There are many toys designed to combin~
education and play, covering various skills and concepts.
This invention provides an amusing toy for teaching young children numerical and alphabetical symbols and sequences, unique among other toys, in that it cannot be made to .
operate out of se~uence. In a similar manner, this toy can be used to teach the order of the colors o~ the spectrum.
Learning the proper numeric order of numbers is the foundation of the field of mathematics, and learning the alphabet is the first step toward learning to read. A child using this toy learns the normal left to right convention .
that is used for writing and reading in the English language. Children getting an early start with words and ,.
¦ num~ers will be better prepared to tackle their future.
¦ Descriptlon of the Prior Art There are other toys designed to teach children alphanumerical sequences t but all of them may be operated I out of sequence, as distinguished from the invention ~' disclosed here. The Kaufman toy disclosed in United States -~`
~, Patent No. 4,509,920 issued to Kaufman on April 9, 1985 utilizes a support rod and a number of body members labeled .

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with numbers. A guide pin on each body member in conjunction with a channel on the support rod operates so that only when the body members are installed in a predetermined sequence will the numbers all be in a lin~.
However, it is possible to assemble the toy out of sequence, unlike the invention of this disclosure which can only be operated in one proper sequence. .In addition, the guide pin and body memb r configuration is very different from the stand, shaft, and block configuration of this invention.
The Keyko toy disclosed in United States Patent No.

2,839,842 issued to Keyko on June 24, 1958 and the Crandall toy disclosed in United States Patent No. 264,066 issued to Crandall on September 12, 1882 are both similar in configuration to the ~aufman toy. They use a series of body parts or sections that are stacked one on top of the other, with each part being labeled with a number. Again, the configurations of these telescoping tower toys are totally different from the toy of this invention. Assembly of the Keyko and Crandall toys may be started with any of the -~
sections, and may proceed out of sequence.
The Donner toy disclosed in United States Patent No.
2,415,342 issued to Donner on February 4, 1947 is adapted so `
that numbered bricks are arranged in a row upon a base plate, the bricks and plate having ribs and grooves respectively on their mating surfaces. The final arrangement of bricks must be in numerical order, but the numbered bricks may be placed in position in any sequence.
The blocks of the toy of this invention, as distinguished from the Donner toy, cannot be inserted out of sequence.
Only by inserting the blocks in sequence from 1-10 will all of the blocks be supported within the top member of the ~:.
stand. ;

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The educational Manger toy disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,427,3gO issued to Manger on January ~4, 1984 is very different from the toy of this invention. The Manger toy is configured as a book, with letters or numbers that attach, by means of Velcro connection, to a page that has a printed representation of the corresponding symbol. The letters may be attached in any sequence, and do not even have to be attached in any certain location, unlike the toy of this invention.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention, this toy comprises a three dimensional object provided with a top surface which is provided with an arrangement of openings through the top j surface, and the toy further inclucles a plurality relatively smaller objects sized to pass through the openings. The three dimensional object is depicted in the accompanying drawings as a stand, but it could take a variety of shapes, for example it could be fashioned in the shape of a truck, a ~oat, a plane, or a train. The stand depicted comprises a horizontal top membar, two vertical end support members, and an angled longitudinal support and deflect~ng member.
Numbers or alphabetical characters label each shaft in sequence, and means is provided that prevents any block inserted in a predetexmined sequence from dropping through the shaft, but which allows any block inserted into a shaft out of that proper sequence to drop through the stand, strike the angled longitudinal member, and be deflected toward the front of the toy and therefore toward the child using it. One embodiment described utili~es eccentrically mounted free swinging circular cams located in slots intermediate to adjacent shafts, and notches cut in the blocks, as the means for selectively obstructing the shafts A ;

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only in proper numerical sequence. An alternate embodiment uses specially shaped eccentrically pivoted pendulums as the selective apparatus~
Therefore, in a construction in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy comprised of a three dimensional object and a plurality of blocks. The three dimensional object includes an upper surface provided with open shafts passing through the object. One of the shafts is provided with obstructing means. The blocks are proportioned so that when inserted in the unobstructed open shafts they will drop through the object. The three dimensional object is provided with sequentially obstructing 1 action means for selectively obstructing the open shafts, so '~ that when blocks are inserted in one predekermined sequence they cannot drop through the object.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy comprised of a three dimensional object and a plurality of blocks, wherein the three dimensional ~i object includes an upper surface provided with open shafts passing through said object, wherein one of the shafts is provided with obstructing means, wherein the blocks are proportioned so that when inserted into the unobstructed open shafts they will drop through the object, and wherein ~i the three dimensional object is provided with means for -~ selectively obstructing the open shafts, so that when blocks are inserted in one predetermined sequence they cannot drop ¦ through the object. The upper surface is horizontal and the shafts are vertical shafts arranged in a row from the sinistral side of the stand to the dextral side of the 1 stand. The stand is provided with fixed obstructing means i~ which prohibits any block inserted into the most sinistral shaft from passing through the stand. The stand is provided ~ 3a ,.

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with releasing obstructing action means that prohibits blocks inserted into shafts in one predetermined sequence from passing through the stand, this sequence beginning with the most sinistral shaft and proceeding one shaft at a time to each next adjacent shaft toward the most dextral shaft~
The releasing obstructing means mounted to the stand selectively obstructs the passage of any block through any gi~en shaft when blocks are inserted in proper sequence beginning with the most sinistral shaft and proceeding in a dextral direction to, and including inserting a block in, the shaft immediately sinistrally adjacent to the given shaft. The xeleasing obstructing action means releases for all shafts dextral to any given shaft when the block in this , ::
given shaft is removed, so that any block inserted into a shaft dextral to this given shaft drops through the stand.
The releasing obstructing action me!ans does not obstruct any shaft dextral to any open shaft 50 that blocks inserted :: -dextral to any open shaft will drop through the stand.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy compriising a plurality of three dimensional objects and a support structure with openings embodying a sequential system for assembly of an array of the three-dimensional objects within openings in thP support structure ~herein the structure is provided with fixed obstructing means which prohibits any object inserted into the most sinistral opening from passing through the structure. The structure is provided wi-th releasing obstructing action means that prohibits objects inserted into openings in one predetermined sequence from passing through the structure, and supports the objects within the support structure, this sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding one opening at a time to 3b A

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each next adjacent opening toward the most dextral opening.
The releasing obstructing means mounted to the structure selectively obstructs the passage of any object through any given opening when objects are inserted in proper sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding in a dextral direction to, and including inserting an object in, the opening immediately sinistrally adjacent to the given opening. The releasing obstructing action means does not obstruct any opening dextral to any opening without an object, so -that objects inserted dextral to any opening which does not contain an object, will drop through the stand.
Furthex in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy comprising a plurality of three dimensional objects and a support structure with openings embodying a sequential system for assembly of an array of the three dimensional objects within openings in the support structure, wherein the support structure is provided with a single row of openings through its upper surface. The structure i~ provided with fixed obstructing means which prohibits any object inserted into the most sinistral opening from passing through the structure. The structure is provided with releasing obstructing action means that prohibits objects inserted into openings in one predetermined sequence from passing through the structure, and supports the obj~cts within the support structure, this sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding one openiny at a time to each next adjacent opening toward the most dextral opening. The releasing obstructing means mounted to the structure selectively obstructs the passage of any object through any given opening when objects are inserted in proper sequence 3c ~9 .,,.... ,,..., .,, . , j , :: :
beqinning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding in a dextral direction to, and including inserting an object :
in, the opening immediately sinistrally adjacent to the given opening. The releasing obstructing action means does ;.
not obstruct any opening dextral to any opening without an object, so that objects inserted dextral to any opening ~.~
I which does not contain an object will drop through the :.
j stand.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s In order that it may be readily carried into effect, .-.
the toy of this invention will now be described with ~:
reference to the following drawings: . .
I Fig. 1 is a perspective of an embodiment of the toy illustrating one of the plurality of blocks and the stand;
Fig. 2 is a cross-secti.onal view through one -:
embodiment of ,!
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the stand;
Flg. 3 is a longitudinal section through one embodimQnt of the stand, illu~trating the actlon o~ the free swin~ing cam sel~c-tive obstructing means;
Fig. 4 is an illustratlon of an alternative embodiment of the selectlve obstructing means;
Flg. 5 is an illustration of yet another alternative embodiment of the selectlve obstructing means, ~ ig. 6 ls a perspective v12w of an alternative embodiment of the toy;
Fig. 7 is a cut away plan view which illustrates the 1ip side of the top of the Toy of Flg. 6;
Flg. 8 is a cros~-section through the toy of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a Gross-~ectlon through FigO 8;
Fig. 10 is a partial cro~s ~ection through Fig. 7; and Figs. 11 to 16 are perspective views of different embodiments of the toy.
Detailed De~crlp-tlon o~ the Preerred Embodiments Any sultable configuration comprised of: a three dimensional ob~ect provided with openings through the upper ~ur ce; a plurallty o smaller obJects or blocks sized to pass through those openln~s or shafts; and means for selectlvely o~structing the shaft3, may be used. Although one embodiment illustrated deplcts the three dlmensional ob~ect in the form of a s~and 10 , oth~r orm~ are possible. For example it may be desirable to form th~ toy of this invention into the shape of a truck, ~oat, ~ar, or plane, to m~ntion a few of num~rous possibilities. C)ne of the many suitable con~igurat:Lons, comprising a stand 10 and a plurality o~ bloc~s 11, the top surface 12 o~ the stand provlded with open shafts 15 and the block~ 11 o~ sultable s~ze and shape to pass through the sha~ts, 1~ illu~trated ~ FigO 1). A primary consideration in choo~ing the sizes of the 5tand and blocks ls the expected use of this toy for teachlng small chtldren, ther0fore, the toy should be of a slze l~rge enough ~or a chlld to manlpulate but small and light enough for a chlld to pick up and move around. A single configuratlon ~32~
.` ls illustrated in the drawings and described as the inven-tion, ;. but the lnvention is not to be understood as llmited to the configuration a 7 illustrated (Figs. 1-5). Although, becausa of common toy producing techniques, it is anticipated that the most efficient production will utillze molded plastic, the components of the toy may con~lst o~ any suitable material such a~, for example, metal, wood, pla~t~c, rubber, or the like. Furthermore, any suitable color ~chem~ may be utllized to enhance the attractiveness of the toy of this invention to children. In i partlcular, utllizlng bright prlmary colors, for example, red, i~ yellow, and blue, may help su~tain the childls attention and :~ a~firm its impr~ssion of the lnvention as a toy.
The stand 10 may be all of one color, or may be mul~i-colored, or may ~ollow a specif~c color pattern. An alternating color pattern may be used, or ~hadlng of the color ~pectrum may be used, from red at one end o~ the ~tand to blue or violet at the opposite end. The block~ 11 also may be all of one color~
multicolore~, or may each be a dif~erent color or may-~have aach ~7 ace of a dlff~rent color. Each block 11 may also be colored .
with ~hadings of the ~pectrum~ or eac'h block may be colored with a di*ferent color of the spectrum. Utilizlng a stand colored with shading3 of the ~pectrum and block~ with each block colored ~7 wlth the shade of thQ ~pectrum corxesponding to the shade located on the stand at the location of one o~ the open sha~ts may help to arouse and su~tain a child's interest in the toy and further .
help develop an apprec~ation of color, patterns,~ and the properties and order of the color ~pectrum. -The stand may be of any suitable configuration~ As illu~trated ln Fig. 1, the stand is similar in shape to an elon~ated table, the top membar 12~ with horizontal upper surface, two vertical ~upport member~ 13 and an elongated rectangular ~upport member 14. Fi~ure 6 illustrates an alternative embodim~nt with an array o~ top openings rather than the horlzontal row of openiny of the toy of Fig. 1. This array wlll latex he re~erred to ~or the purpose of di.scusslng the ~ 3 2 ~
selec-tion mechanl~m~ by designating rows and columns according to the usual conventlon. Individual openings in any array wlll have speclfic (Rn, C~) de~ignatlons. The total number of rows will ~e R~ 2nd tha total number of columns C~.~ D (R1, C13 will re~er to the upper left opening. m will increase from le-Et to right for C, and n will increa~e from top to bottom ~or R. The horizonta~ row o ten openlngs of Fig. 1 ls labelled as a numher line, each opening being consecutlvely numbered with an integer from one to ten, rom left to rlght. The toy of Fig. 6 is arranged as a square in plan vlew obJec-t. That is, the top surface 6V i5 approxlmately square in plan as lllustrated also in Fig. 7. The opening~ provided in the top surface 60 of the toy of Figs. 6, 7 are labelled on one sid~ of the removable top with letters of the alphabet, 62 (Fig. 6) and on the reverse of flip side of the remo~able tDp with number~ 63 (Fiy. 7). The openin~s in the top of the toy o Fig. 6 and their respective labPls are con~lgured as to row~ and column~ as ~m array when seen in plan (Figs. 6, 7). The constructlon and operation of this toy Fig. 6 will be descr~bed ~n further de-tail bel.ow.
A~ illu~trated in Fig. 1, the two vertical support members 13 are attached to the top member 12, one at each end of the ~op member. As illustrated by the end view of Fig. 2, the vertical support members 13 are ln a shape of a trapezoid, symmetric about it~ vertical axis, with rounde~ bottom corners 16. The edge of ~he upper side of the trapezoidal shaped support member 13 is conterminou~ with the bottom edge of the end of the top member of the ~tand 12. The trapezoidal shape provides a broader footprint for stabillty, and the rounded lower corners, 16 allow smaller chlldren unable to lift the ~tand to easily slide it, and further may pro~ide some margln o~E ~a*ety whenever the stand has been overturned and the bottom corners o the vertical support members 13 point upward. Dependlng upon the choice of materlals used ln construcking the ~tand, the method of attachment of the vert~cal support member~ 13 to thQ kop member 12 may vary, for example, it could be glued, 3arewed~ welded, bolked, na~led, or cemented, or 2 ~
it could be molded in one continuou~ piece with the top member 12. For ease of assembly and economy, molding components of plastic ~hat will snap together to form khe complete toy is the preferred me-thod of constructlon. A similar arrangement is used for holding the top 60 of the toy of Flg. 6 in correct position.
The technique of molding plastic components -to snap together would b~ preferred, but with the addit~onal feature of the removable top, the top 60 of the toy of Fig. 6 must ~e attached to the sides 65 in a manner that allows release and reversal so ! the fl$p ~ide wlll show. Many possible mPthods would achieve this, one example belng a simple friction fit such as that use~
~ by Lego~ blocks. A simple set up of guide pins would also work.
¦ It is important for the top to be held in correct posltlon so that the openings 64 will be positloned correctly over the unctloning selective obstructln~ mechanism as will b~ described 3 ln greater detall below.
. I.ooking again at the toy of Fig. 1, the elor~gated rsct~ngular support member 14~serves a dual purpose in thP

`i embodiment illu~trated (Flg. 1). The prlmary purpose i~ to deflect bloc~ falling through the shafts toward the front of the i toy, but the member serv~ secondarily as additional structural support. The member ~s attached at one end to the sin1stral ', ~ertical ~upport member 13 and at the other end to the dextral ~ertlcal support member 13 providing additional structural stabllity to the stand 10. AY illu~trated in Fig. 2, the upper ~I gurface o~ the elongated horizontal support member 14 i~
3 positionsd directly ~elow the vertlGal shafts 15 dlsposed in the I top member 12. F'urther, the horizontal support 14 is attached to ¦ th~ ~ertical 9upport~ 13 so that the upper sur~ace of the horizontal support 14 provide9 an inolined surface 17 sloplng down from back to front of the toy (Flg~ 2). The purpose of the ~; sllght incline 17 provided is that when the toy is used and functions ln the manner that will be described below, any blocks 11 dropping unobstructedly through the shafts 15 wlll strike the lnclined upper sur~ace o~ the horizontal support member 14 and ::
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wlll ba deflected toward the front of the toy and therefore toward the chlld uslng it. Miniml~ing a chlld's frustration with the toy wlll keep the child playing with it longer and lead to an earller appxeciation of the principles of numerical and alphabetical se~uences. Deflecting blocks dropping through the shafts toward the chlld make for the earlier appreciatlon of the principles because, a block dropping through the top member and deflected toward the child is easier for the child to pick up and try again. In addltion, the sound of a block striking the member 14 provides ~musement for the child.
The toy o~ Fig. 6 utllize~ a s~mila~ member 66, analogous to that of member 14. The incllned member 66 is attached to the back 67 and the. side~ 65 of the toy of Fig. 6. The inclined member 66 deflect~ any bloc~s 11 dropping unobstructedly through the openings 64 of the toy toward the fxont of the toy. T~e function of the lnclined member 66 is best appreciated by referrin~ to Flg~. 9 and 10.
The horlzontal top member :L2 of the stand lO, as illustrated, comprise~ a horlzontal t;op surface provided with ~
row of ten square openings into v~r~lcal shafts 15 throu~h the ~op member 12 ~'ig~. 1 and 2~. The top member 12 i~ further provided with numerical symbols 24 arranged ln the desired se~uenGe ~rom left to rlght. The se~uence of arrangement of the s~mbols ~ lmportant b~causQ of the way the toy functlons, as w~ll be descr~bed below. The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided wlth duplicate symbols for numbers from one to ten, one each located on the upper surface of the top member 12, and the other one on the :E:ront face o tha toy 18. Each number is assoc~ ated with and ~uxtaposPd one of the -ten vertical shafts 15 .
Th~ number~ are arranged in order with the number one labeling the le~t most sha:Et and lt;he number ten labaling the rlght most sha~t, in accordance with -the left to right reading conven-tion for the ~:nglish language. ~he numbers are in Arabic numerals and may be o~ c:ontra~;tlng color, lnse-t or raised above the surrounding ~ur~ac~ he numb0r~ are large enough ~or a child to " .

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distingulsh easlly.
Although the toy, as illustrated in Fig. 1, ls provlded with a row of ten shafts and laheled with numbers from ona through ten, it is obvlous that varying numbers of shafts, arrangements or axrays~ and alternate labels may be used. The toy could be constructed to assist a child learning to spell its own name by using the proper numher of shafts labeled with the correct J spelling. For example, four shafts lab~led "K", "A", "T"~ "E", or three shafts labeled "T", i'0", I'M".
The stand 10 i8 provided with a protruslon 23 into the left mos-t passage or shaft 15 that prevents any block 11 inserted into 3 that sha~t from passing through the top mPmber 12 (Fig. 3)O The ., stand is provided, lntermedlate to each pair of adJacent shafts, with a thin rectangular slot 19 connecting the palr of shafts ~ (Fl~s~ 1, 2, and 3)~ Located within each thin slot 19 ls a `I clrcular free-swingln~ cam 20 eccentrically mounted on a fixed plvot pin 21 (Flgs. 2 and 3). In the! embodiment illustrated by ~ Fig. 1 the eccentric mountlng is achieved by utilizing an j annular shape ~or the clrcular cams 20. The cl~cular opening 1 provided ~n ~ach cam 20 i~ concentric wlth the cam and i~ of more '`1 than twicP the diameter of the plvot ~in 2~ provided for each . cam. The rel3tive dlamet2rs of the pivot pins and center circular opening in each cam are selected to prov~de the needed action for the operation of the selective obstructing of the shaft~ as will be described below. The concentric circular openlng and relatively small~r pivot pln combination is deplcted a~ the preferred embodiment because o~ t~e relatlve ease of manufacture and a~embly a~ compared to the alternatlve embodiments. Dependlng upon the material or material~ chosen for manufacture, the slot 19 may be drilled, cut, or formed ln the iniklal molding proce~e~, whichever ls most feaslble. ~he pl~ot pin 21 and the clrcula~ cam 20 may be formed of the same materlal a~ the top member or of a different material. All slots l9 and therefore all cams 20 are ln a s-trai~ht line. Each slot 8 dl~o80d ldent'l ~lly, r~l~tlve to lt~ r~ ectiv~ di~t~nce ~rom ~ 3 2 ~
~he upper surfaca of the top membær 12 and lts respective distance from -the front face 18, as all of the other slots. For ease of manufacture and assembly, the top member 12 may be assembled from two independently formed components, one from each slde of a vertical plane cut longitudinally through the illustra-ted em~odiment (Fig. 2) passing through the thin slot~
19. sy u~ing thls component method o~ construction o~ the top member 12, the slotY 19 may be readily formed and the pivot plns 21 and circular cams ~0 easily lnserted prior to fixing ths two components together to form the complete top member 12. When lnstalled ln the slots 19, the free swinging cams 20 protrude into both ad~ cent ~hafts 15 when no block is insexted in either shaft (Fig. 3).
The blockQ 11 may be made of any conflguratlon, as long as the block~ 11 will fit the openings provided ln the top surface and pass through the sha~ts 15 (Flg. 1). Therefore, as ln Flg.
1, rectangular block~ 11 are u9ed with rectangular opening3, and as ln Fig. 6, clrcular cyl~ndrlcal blocks 11 are used with clrcular openings 64. If e~ch shaft iQ shaped so that lt~ cro~s sectlon i~ in the ~orm o~ a particular ~ymbol, then the block corre~ponding to that ~haft must have a similar cros~ section.
The open shafts could be shaped ~n the form of the Arabic numerals or ln the ~orm of the letters of ths alphabet. In tha~
scenarlo, ~ach block wouid have to have a different shape, with ~ne b~ock formed to fit lnto only one of each of the shafts provided. For simpliclty, the embodiment illustrated in Fig. ~ is provlded with idantical ~hafts square ~n cross-sect~on.

~l . i GiYen the ~dentical shafts illustrated in the embodim2nt of ~Fig. 1, all the block~ provlded with this embodiment would be ~square ln cros~-section. The blocks may be made of any suitable material, for example, wood, metal, plastic, or rubber. The l~ngth of the block lllustrated, measured relative to its ;,~longitudinal axla, i~ twice the thlcknes3 of the bloclc measurad ~relative to elther mlnor aXi8 ( Flg. 1)~ These propor-tions make ,~ .
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the block easy ~or a child to gra~p, and make the necessary orientation of the block for insertlon into the stand obvlous even to young children. In the illustrated embodiment the blocks are provided with elght ~lots, wlth two slots belng cut into each of the four larger ~aces of ths block ~Fig. 1). When viewing a face of a block in elevatlon, with the longitudinal axis of the block vertical, one lot will be posit~oned vertically in the second quadrant of th~ ~ace and the second ~lot will be positioned in the forth quadrant o the ace. The remaining slots 22 are identically positioned in their respec-tive faces.
These ~lots 22 are provided so that when a block is inserted into the left most shaft, in any o~ the eigh-t posslble ways i~
may be inserted, one of the slot,Q, 22 cut into the fac2s of the block 11 will be posltioned to engage the protrusion 23 of the top member 12 into the ~eft most shaft and th,e block 11 cannot drop through the standO The face of the block 11 opposite the protrusion 23 of th~ left mos~ shaft, pushes the free swinging cam 20 located in the rectangular slot lg, intermedlate to the left most sha~t and the ne~t ad~acent shaft,~ into the next ad~ace,rlt shat~ As positioned in the next ad~acent shaft and held in place hy the block ln the, left most shaft, this cam 20 will perform the same function a~ the protrusion 23 provided in the left most shaft~ that i5, the notch or slot 22 provided on a block inserted into the second shaft will engage the cam 20, held i~ place by the block in the lef -t most shaft, and therefore the second block inserted will also be prevented from dropping through the stand. The opposlte face o~ the second block will in turn push the next cam located intermediate to the second shaft and the ad~acent empty shaft, into the next ad~acent shaft so that any block inserted lnto that shaft wlll also be prevented from dropping through the ~tand. In this manner, any block lnserted in ~equence from left to r~ght will not drop through the stand. However, 2 block inserted ollt of sequence will drop through (Flg~ 3) 4 The engaglng cam 20 to the left will not be held fast by a block i~ the sha~t is vacant, and therefore a ,,.
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block inserted out of sequence wlll push both free swinging cams 20 protruding into tha shaft into the ~mpty ad~acent shaf-ts on e~ther ~lde and there will be no obstruction to the block 1 5 passage completely through the stand's top member 12 (Fig. 3~.
Although one preferred embodiment of artion means has been ~escribed, it ls readily apparent that many alternatives are possible. One alternative embodiment would be the invention as described above, but with the ~ubstitution of the "L" shaped pendulum 30 for the free swinging cams 20 (Fig. 4). This embodiment ls also depicted in the alternative embodiment of the toy shown in Flg~ 6-10~ It i~ apparent that when circular openings 64 and ~yllndrical blocks 61 are used that it ls ¦ preferr~d to use the "~" pendulum~ 30 which do not requlre a slot 1 22 in the blosk. The pendulums 30 would be suspended from a ~ pivot 31 wlthin the rectangular slot 19 intermediate to ad~acent ; sha~ts 15. In operation, the pendulum lnitially, that is with no blocks inserted~ wo~ld have a heel 32 protruding into the left ad~acent shaft bu-t the toe 33 o~ the pendulum would not protrude into the rlght ad~acent shaft. ~A block ~nserted into th~ lPft shaft would ~trlke the 1nG1~ ned heel 3:2 and displace the pendulum to the right moving the toe 33 o the pendulum into the ad~acent shaft to the right. ~h~ 9 would ob~truct the passage of a~y block ~ inserted into that shaft~ An advanta~e to ,this e~bodiment would i be the elimination of any need for slotting the blocks, because the pendulum can be con~lgured ~o that the toe 33, when sh~fted lnto ths right sha~t, aomeQ to re~t beneath the block~
~ Another alternative embod~ment could be the invention of the ¦ first embodiment but with the ~ubstitution of a spring loaded slidln~ piece 50 (FlgO 53. Thi~ spring loaded slidlng piece 50 I located within the rectangular 810t8 19 intermediate to the ~ vertical shafts 15 is provided with an inclined heel 51, a sprin~
3 53, and a horizontal toe 52. The spring 53 i5 mounted so that the heel o~ the plece 51 ~ held protruding into the left ad~acent shaft until a block 1~ lnserted there. The block insexted lnto the le~t ad~acent shaft will cause the piece to ~ 3 ~
slid~ to the right and the toe of the piece 52 will protrudP lnto the right ad~acent sha~t, obstructing the passage of any block inserted into that shaft. This embod:Lment also has the advantage of eliminatlng the need for ~lotting or notching the blocks, but 1~ somewhat more compllcated than the cam and pendulum embodimants.
Reerence i9 now made to Figs. 6-10 depicting the more comple~ alternative embadiment. Fig. 6 lllustrates ~ toy which provides a stand wh~ch 1~ shaped into an overall box like con-figuratlon. The openlng~ 64 provided ~n the top 60 of the ~tand are arranged in thls embodiment lnto a 5 x 5 array of clrcular openings. As illustrated in Fig. 6, each of the circular openlngs 61 is labeled with a lettex of the alphabet. The arrangem~nt of the letter5 of the alphabet runs from left to right beginning with the top row and then from left to right for each succeeding row proceeding from the top 6~ of the toy (the backside of tha top horizontal surface) to the bottom 67 o~ the toy (the front slde of the top horizontal surface). What is provided is thu~ an array of openings in the hori~ontal top surface o~ the toy that i8 sequentiall'y labeled in the ~ame order as words would ordinaxily be arranged for reading on the printed page, The top ~urface 60 vf the toy of this embodiment is removable and~ as ~llu~trated ln Fig. 7, the flip side o~ the surace 60 can ~ provided with a different labeling sr color coordinated system for the array of openings. In the example illustrated, one ~ide of the horizontal surface which is provided with the array of holes is labeled with the letters of the alphabet from A to Z as illustrated tn Fig. 6 and the flip side of the horlzontal surface is labeled with numbers from 1 to 25 illu~trated ~n Fig~ 7. The furthest row from the front o the toy, row 1, is labeled from left to rlght with the numerals from to 5 and then each row closer to the front being labeled 6 to 10, 11 to 15, 16 to 20 and 21 to 25 respectively.
Each r~w is provided wlth a means for selectively obstructing or relea~in~ tha open ~hak~ such a~ tho~ prevlously "
~ 3 ~
described and illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In this manner, each row must have bloc~s inserted in sequence, moving from left to right without ~kipplng any of the openings in order that bloc~s inserted into the opPnings wlll be supported withln the openings. In additlon -to -the alternative mechanisms previously ' described, the array of openings illus-trated is further provided -~ wlth a mechanism for extending the mandatory sequentlal system from an upper row or row towards the back 68 of the toy to the next ad~acent xow towards th~ front 69 of the toy. In the em~odiment illustrate~ this mechanism takes the form of a system of lever rods as illustrated in the cross-sections of Figs. 8-10.
In essenca, the mechanism or transferrlng the requlrement for ~ sequential operation from the back rows towards the front rows j which requires the s~quence to praceed always from left to right ¦ for the firs-t row and from left to rlght for the second and from left to right for the third, etc. comprises a simpl~ rod 70 which is bent into rnughly a 1I Z " ~hape. The arrangement o~ "Z" rods utilized in the embod~ment of Flg. 6 is best lllustrated by tha cross-sectlon Flgs. 7~0. FigO 7 is a cut away which illustrates : a plan view of the arrang~ment o~ "Z" rods that manda~3 a sequentlal operation tn the deslred fashion. Fig. 7 illustrates ~ that for the 5 x 5 array four "Z" rods 70 are utili~ed. For toys i, with more row~, more rods are needed, always one less rod than the number of row~, each rod mounted between adjacent rows. As illustrated ln Fi~s. 7-10 each ~æ~ rod 70 is located within a rod carryln~ member 75 which i8 attached at each of its ends to the ~i sides 65 of the toy. The member 75 is provided with a groove or channel 71 which runs lengthwise 210ng wi~h bottom of the 1 member from sida to side of the -toy. Figs. 8 and 10. As lllustrated in F~gs. 7-10 each "Z" rod is located between two ¦ row~ of opening~ 64 within a channel 71. ~he rods 70 are /3 supported wlthln the grooves b~ pln~ 76 ln the manner illustrat~d in Figure~ 8-10~ T~e sllght bend or curva-ture to the arms 72 and 73 makes for ~moother operatlon of the toy. Notches 74 are ~ provided ln the memb~r 75 for the operation of the arms 72 and 73 " 1~

~ 3 ~
of the "Z" rods. If ob~ects or blocks havP been :Lnserted into openings one through four ln the correct se~uence, tha block in opening five w~ 11 be su~pended wlthin the support structure by ~he previousl~ descri~ed P.ccentria cam or pendulum means or equlvalent mean~3 . When block3 are i~s2rted into th1~ open~ ngs in the desired sequence, a block i nserted into opening 5 o Fig. 7 will push down the arm 72 of the " Z " rod 7û which will ln turn lift arm 73 of the sama "Z" rod and -thereby causlng it to obstruct passa~e 6 of Fig. 7. The operation is illustrated in Figs. 9-10. In a slmilar manner when the sequences are continued an~ the ob~ ects are inserted in the correct sequence into openlngs 7, 8, ~ and 10, the block inserted into opening 10 will push down arm 7:2 oi~ the "Z" rod 70 to opening 10 which will in tu~n ralse the arm 73 of the rod whls~h wlll then protrude into op~on~ ng 11 and theraby ob~truc~ opening 11 and prevent the passage of an obJe~t through opening 11. In this manner block ;.
in~erted in ~he correct sequence through openings 15 and 20 wlll ob~truct ln turn opening~ 16 and 21 and mandate that only one se~auence o in~ertion of block~ w:Lll correctly provide :Eor inishin5;~ with a completed arr~y of blocks po~i tioned and supported wlthln the openlngs ln the -toy.
A ~urther f~ature of the ilZll mechanism is also illustrated in Flgs. 9-10. It should be noted that a cut out or notch 74 ~s provid~d so that when block~ ar~ lnsertsd out of proper sequence, a ~or example~ when a blo¢k i3 in~erted into an openlng labeled:
10 out of ~equenc~ or when there i~ not ~ block ~n openlng 10 the bloc~ inserted into opening 11 wlll slmply push down the arm 73 o~ the i-Z-' xod 70 and raise the arm 72 of the "Z" rod 70 at the opposite end of th~ rod into the notch 74 provided. Therefore block~ inserted out of sequence and will ~all through the standO
As w~th the earlier de~cribed embodlmen~s, and as previo~sly mentloned, this embod~ment of the invention ls provided with an inclined element 66 which provides a slanting surface which is analogous to element 14 of Fig. 1. The slantirlg sur~ace deflects any block tha~ drop~ through an openlng in the top o~ the stand ~5 ~ 3 2 ~
towards the front of the toy and therefore towards the child as earlier described.
It should be obvious that any o~ the means previously described for selectively obstructlng openings in the top surface of the stand to require insertlon of ob~ects in the holes from left to right may be utllized. Additionally, although a single means has been described for transferring the sequence of ~j insertion requirement~ from an upper right locatlon to a lower I left location has bPen described, many equivalent means are obvious. By uslng thesa means which require sequential lnsertlon of ob~ects ~nto the openings provided in the surface of the stand, many different combination~ or arrays of obJects withln a stand are po~slbla. For e,~ample, although the embodiment illustrated ln Flgs. S through 10 shows a 5 x 5 array which is labeled on one surface with the numhers from 1 to 25 and on the ~. flip side of that surface with letters o~ the alphabet, lt is noti necessary that t~e array be such a regular 5 x 5 set up~ ~y utilizing the mean~ which require se~uential insertlon of obJection into the stand, the correct numbers and words could be spelled out, such as for example the child's full name or perhaps the chlld'~ telephone nllmber, or slmple sentences or paragraphs could be construct~d. An embodiment could be cons~ructed which could teach a chlld to count rom one to ten but which instead o~
j ~ having a single row ~rom left to right of the n--mbers 1 to 10 could utilizo two row~, a 2 x 5 array, a row from l to 5, and a row from 6 to lO. While the ~nvention has been described by means o a ~pecific example and various specific alternative embodiments, it is not to be limlted thereto. Obvlous modific~tion~ will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the ~nvention.

;' ~l 16

Claims (20)

1. A toy comprised of a three dimensional object and a plurality of blocks;
(a) said three dimensional object including an upper surface provided with open shafts passing through said object;
(b) one of said shafts provided with obstructing means;
(c) said blocks proportioned so that when inserted in said unobstructed open shafts they will drop through said object;
(d) said three dimensional object provided with sequentially obstructing action means for selectively obstructing said open shafts, so that when blocks are inserted in one predetermined sequence they cannot drop through said object.

2. A toy comprised of a three dimensional object and a plurality of blocks, wherein said three dimensional object includes an upper surface provided with open shafts passing through said object, wherein one of said shafts is provided with obstructing means, wherein said blocks are proportioned so that when inserted into said unobstructed open shafts they will drop through said object, and wherein said three dimensional object is provided with means for selectively obstructing said open shafts, so that when blocks are inserted in one predetermined sequence they cannot drop through said object, and wherein:

(a) said upper surface is horizontal and said shafts are vertical shafts arranged in a row from the sinistral side of said stand to the dextral side of said stand;
(b) said stand is provided with fixed obstructing means which prohibits any block inserted into the most sinistral shaft from passing through said stand;
(c) said stand is provided with releasing obstructing action means that prohibits blocks inserted into shafts in one predetermined sequence from passing through said stand, said sequence beginning with the most sinistral shaft and proceeding one shaft at a time to each next adjacent shaft toward the most dextral shaft;
(d) said releasing obstructing means mounted to said stand selectively obstructing the passage of any block through any given shaft when blocks are inserted in proper sequence beginning with the most sinistral shaft and proceeding in a dextral direction to, and including inserting a block in, the shaft immediately sinistrally adjacent to said given shaft;
(e) said releasing obstructing action means releasing for all shafts dextral to any given shaft when the block in said given shaft is removed, so that any block inserted into a shaft dextral to said given shaft drops through said stand;
(f) said releasing obstructing action means not obstructing any shaft dextral to any open shaft so that blocks inserted dextral to any open shaft will drop through said stand.

3. Invention of claim 2 wherein:
(a) said stand is provided with thin slotted rectangular openings, each of said openings intermediate to and connecting adjacent shafts;
(b) said releasing obstructing action means is comprised of eccentrically mounted free-swinging circular cams one cam disposed within each of said thin rectangular slotted openings intermediate to the two adjacent shafts so that:
(i) each cam protrudes into both adjacent shafts when no block is in position in the sinistrally adjacent shaft;
(ii) when blocks are inserted in the sequence as described in claim 2, each cam swings into the dextrally adjacent shaft thereby obstructing the passage of any block inserted into that shaft; and (iii) when a block is inserted into a shaft dextral to any vacant shaft, the cam on the sinistral side of said dextral shaft swings sinistrally into the adjacent vacant shaft and the cam on the dextral side of said dextral shaft swings dextrally into the dextrally adjacent shaft and the block drops unobstructedly through the stand;
(c) said blocks are provided with slotted sockets disposed to engage the cam on the sinistral side of any given shaft when blocks have been inserted in proper sequence into all shafts sinistral to said shaft;
(d) said stand is provided with a longitudinal member disposed directly below said shafts and the upper surface of said member provides a slight incline to the horizontal so that any block inserted into any shaft out of sequence and dropping through the stand will strike the inclined upper surface of the longitudinal member, and slide forward of the stand and toward the user.

4. The invention of claim 2 provided with ten consecutively numbered shafts, wherein the most sinistral shaft is labeled with the Arabic numeral 1 and the most dextral shaft is labeled with the Arabic numeral 10.

5. The invention of claim 2 provided with twenty-six alphabetically labeled shafts wherein the most sinistral shaft is labeled with the letter A and the most dextral shaft is labeled with the letter Z.

6. The invention of claim 2 wherein the stand is colored with shadings of the spectrum from the sinistral side of the stand to the dextral side and each block is colored with a different color of the spectrum corresponding to the particular shade of color located on the stand at one of the open shafts.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the blocks are formed as three dimensional letters of the alphabet and open shafts are provided wherein each of the shafts is configured in cross section so as to conform to one of the blocks in plan view so that each alphabet block can be fitted into a corresponding shaft.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the blocks are formed as three dimensional Arabic numerals from 1 to 10 and open shafts are provided which each of the shafts is configured in cross sections so as to conform to one of the blocks in plan view so that each numeral block can be fitted into a corresponding shaft.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein letters which spell words are juxtaposed the open shafts so that the insertion of blocks into the open shafts in the predetermined sequence will teach the spelling of the words.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein letters spelling a child's name are juxtaposed open shafts so that insertion of blocks in the predetermined sequence into each open shaft associated with a letter of the child's name will teach the spelling of the child's name.

11. A toy comprising a plurality of three-dimensional objects and a support structure, with openings embodying a sequential system for assembly of an array of the three-dimensional objects within openings in the support structure wherein:
(a) said structure is provided with fixed obstructing means which prohibits any object inserted into the most sinistral opening from passing through said structure;
(b) said structure is provided with releasing obstructing action means that prohibits objects inserted into openings in one predetermined sequence from passing through said structure, and supports said objects within said support structure, said sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding one opening at a time to each next adjacent opening toward the most dextral opening;
(c) said releasing obstructing means mounted to said structure selectively obstructing the passage of any object through any given opening when objects are inserted in proper sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding in a dextral direction to, and including inserting an object in, the opening immediately sinistrally adjacent to said given opening;

(d) said releasing obstructing action means not obstructing any opening dextral to any opening without an object, so that objects inserted dextral to any opening which does not contain an object, will drop through said stand.

12. A toy comprising a plurality of three dimensional objects and a support structure with openings embodying a sequential system for assembly of an array of the three dimensional objects within openings in the support structure wherein:
(a) the support structure is provided with a single row of openings through its upper surface;
(b) said structure is provided with fixed obstructing means which prohibits any object inserted into the most sinistral opening from passing through said structure;
(c) said structure is provided with releasing obstructing action means that prohibits objects inserted into openings in one predetermined sequence from passing through said structure, and supports said objects within said support structure, said sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding one opening at a time to each nest adjacent opening toward the most dextral opening;
(d) said releasing obstructing means mounted to said structure selectively obstructing the passage of any object through any given opening when objects are inserted in proper sequence beginning with the most sinistral opening and proceeding in a dextral direction to, and including inserting an object in, the opening immediately sinistrally adjacent to said given opening;
(e) said releasing obstructing action means not obstructing any opening dextral to any opening without an object, so that objects inserted dextral to any opening which does not contain an object, will drop through said stand.

13. The invention of Claim 12 with additional rows of openings through the support structure so that the openings form an even R x C array, with Rmax being the number of rows numbered from top to bottom, and Cmax being the number of openings in each row numbered from left to right, wherein, means is provided for transferring the requirement for sequential assembly of objects into an array within the support structure from each opening (Rn, Cmax) to opening (Rn + 1, C1), that is from the extreme right of an upper row to the extreme left of the next row lower.

14. The invention of Claim 12 wherein:
(a) said support structure is provided with an upper surface with left and right sides;
(b) said upper surface is provided with openings;
(c) said support structure is provided with slots below the upper surface, each slot intermediate to and open to adjacent openings in a row through the support structure;
(d) said sequential system for assembly comprises (i) rounded "L" shaped pendulums eccentrically suspended from a pivot disposed within each of said slots intermediate to the openings through said support structure so that (A) when no objects are present within any of the openings each "L" pendulum hangs from the pivot pin through the top of the "L" with the heel portion of the "L" protruding into the opening to the left of the pendulum and with the toe portion of the "L" positioned within the slot to the immediate left of the opening to the right of the pendulum;
(B) when an object is placed within an opening to the left of a pendulum the pendulum is displaced to the right and the toe of said pendulum protrudes into the opening to the right of said pendulum obstructing said rightward opening and preventing the passage of any of the objects through said rightward opening through said support structure so long as said pendulum is so displaced;
(ii) a protrusion into the first opening from the left which obstructs said opening and supports within said opening any of said objects placed within said opening, said objects in turn displacing the heel of the pendulum protruding into said left opening and thereby obstructing the next opening to the right.

15. The invention of Claim 13 wherein:
(a) said support structure is provided with an upper surface with left and right sides;
(b) said upper surface is provided with openings;
(c) said support structure is provided with slots below the upper surface, each slot intermediate to and open to adjacent openings in a row through the support structure;
(d) said system requiring sequential assembly comprises (i) a protrusion into the first opening from the left which obstructs said opening and supports within said opening any of said objects placed within said opening, said objects in turn displacing the heel of the pendulum protruding into said left opening and thereby obstructing the next opening to the right.
(ii) rounded "L" shaped pendulums suspended from a pivot disposed within each of said slots intermediate to the openings through said support structure so that (A) when no objects are present within any of the openings each "L" pendulum hangs from the pivot pin through the top of the "L" with the heel portion of the "L" protruding into the opening to the left of the pendulum and with the toe portion of the "L" positioned within the slot to the immediate left of the opening to the right of the pendulum;
(B) when an object is placed within an opening to the left of a pendulum the pendulum is displaced to the right and the toe of said pendulum protrudes into the opening to the right of said pendulum obstructing said rightward opening and preventing the passage of any of the objects through said rightward opening through said support structure so long as said pendulum is so displaced.
(iii) means for transferring the sequential assembly requirement from an upper row to the next row lower comprising:
(A) longitudinal support members located below the upper surface, and affixed at one end to the left side and at the opposite end to the right side of said support structure;
(B) a groove disposed lengthwise; facing downward along the underside of each of said support members;
(C) a rod comprising a medial segment disposed within said lengthwise groove, a first distal segment bent 90° relative to said medial segment to protrude into an opening (Rn, Cmax) so that when an object is inserted into the opening the object strikes the end of the rod and depresses it, causing the medial segment to rotate about its longitudinal axis, a second distal segment at the opposite end of said rod, said second distal segment bent 90° relative to said medial segment to protrude into an opening (Rn + 1, Cmin) only when said first distal segment is depressed by an object inserted into its opening (Rn, Cmin).

16. The invention of Claim 15 provided with ten consecutively numbered openings in a 5 x 2 array, two rows by five columns.

17. The invention of Claim 15 provided with twenty-five alphabetically consecutively labeled openings, in a 5 x 5 array.

18. The invention of Claim 15 wherein the blocks have cross sections shaped like the Arabic numerals from one to ten and corresponding shafts are provided for each block.

19. The invention of Claim 15 wherein the openings are labeled with the letters spelling simple words.

20. The invention of Claim 15 wherein the openings are labeled with the letters spelling a child's name.