GB2054849A - Physical education device and game comprising a hand-held level - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the education and control of body movements and comprises a manually held device sensitive to changes of level, in which a metal ball 14 is conductively suspended 15 within a conical sleeve 19 and on contact therewith, through tilting, completes an electric circuit including an acoustic emitter 20. The separation between the ball and sleeve is adjustable by means of a screw support 16. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Physical education device and game The invention relates to the education and control of body movements, more particularly the education of the stability of handling, carrying and displacement movements.

Up to the present time very few means have been known for the re-education of the control of body movements, particularly of the continuous stability of such movements. These known education means are usually based on methods derived from gymnastic exercises, which for their practice require the presence of an educator.

These exercises are generally tedious and therefore tiring, which partly explains the unpopularity of such methods.

There is consequently a very great need for an original method of movement education which is exempt from the disadvantages mentioned above, is of such a nature as to be completely adopted by those concerned - both educators and users, and is capable of ensuring verifiable progress in all cases, without ever leading to tiredness but on the contrary encouraging through play the practice of this work of education.

To this end the invention relates to a device for the education and/or control of body movements, more particularly the stability of handling, manipulation, carrying, and displacement movements, which device is characterised in that it is in the form of a manually grippable solid, so that it can be displaced along various free or organised paths, the device being provided with apparatus sensitive to changes of positioning, inclination, and acceleration or deceleration, and this apparatus emitting, when not in a reference position, a signal which indicates the loss of equilibrium and which is perceptible to the user whenever the device is subjected to a movement the direction and extent of which move it away from the reference position.

As a result, the device must be manipulated and displaced with care, precaution, and control in order not to trigger the emission of the signal indicating the loss of equilibrium.

According to one feature of the invention the grippable solid is in the general form of a box containing the sensitive signal emitter apparatus, while a sensitivity adjustment means makes it possible to graduate the response time of the signal emitter in dependence on an adjustable value of the amplitude of the movement bringing about sufficient loss of equilibrium to trigger the emission of the information signal.

According to another feature of the invention, the sensitive signal emitter apparatus is composed of an inertia member mounted in the suspended state on a support in such a manner as to be able to oscillate freely in all directions inside the casing of the box, this member being disposed with clearance, particularly at the centre of an element which delimits by a stop action the oscillations imparted to the said member, the inertia member and the said element being electrically or electronically connected in such a manner as to form an inertia switch inserted in the supply circuit of a signal emitter.

The invention likewise relates to an educational game, particularly for the education of stability of body movements, such as handling, manipulation, carrying, and displacement movements, which game is provided with a signal emitter apparatus and comprises, among other means, route indicator elements adapted to organise a route for the displacement of the device, grippable support means for the displacement of the device in accordance with different modes of equilibrium, and also obstacles of different degrees of difficulty, which have to be passed.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the detailed description given below of one form of application of the device, described here by way of example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing in exploded form an application of the device to an educational game.

Figure 2 is a view in section showing details of one form of construction of the device.

According to the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the device for the education and/or control of body movements is given the general reference 10.

This device is in the form of a parallelepipedic solid whose envelope comprises a casing 11 and a lid 12. On the lid 12 is disposed a control button 13, intended in particular for the adjustment of the sensitivity of the device, as will be indicated later on in connection with Figure 2.

Between the casing 1 1 and the lid 12 is disposed a signal emitter apparatus sensitive to changes of position. In the example of embodiment illustrated the signal emitted is of the acoustic type, but it is obvious that it is possible to envisage a visual signal, such as for example an indicator lamp disposed on the lid of the device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensitive signal-emitter apparatus is composed of an inertia member, such as a metal ball 14, mounted in the suspended state-with the aid of a suspension line 15 on a support member 16 solid with the control button 13. The suspension line 15 is retained for example with the aid of a ball 17 bearing against a seat provided at the bottom of a hole 18 in the control button 13.

The inertia member 14 is disposed with play in the centre of an element which by a stop action delimits the oscillations imparted to the ball 14; this delimitation may be in material form through the use of a sleeve 1 9 or else in the form of electromagnetic forces. In the case of a sleeve the inertia member, the socket, the suspension line, and the support 16 are electrically conductive so as to form an inertia switch inserted in the supply circuit of an acoustic signal emitter 20.

The inertia member 14 and the sleeve 19 are preferably disposed in the centre of the casing 11, while the supply batteries 21 of the circuit are disposed away from the centre of the casing, thus tending to give rise to permanent disequilibrium of the whole device.

In a preferred embodiment the sleeve 19, which also constitutes the stop for the oscillatory movements of the inertia member 14, is frustoconicai in shape, converging in the upward direction. Moreover, the suspension line 1 5 for the inertia member is adjustable in height between the end openings of the sleeve 1 9, so that in dependence on the height of the inertia member 14 the amplitude of its oscillations making contact with the wall of the sleeve is increased or reduced.

The adjustment in height of the suspension line of the inertia member 14 is effected with the aid of the rotation of the control button 13, whose support 16 is externally threaded and is screwed into a threaded bore 22 in the lid 12. A reference pointer 1 3a is provided on the button 13 and can be set to coincide with graduations 1 3b marked on the lid 12.

A safety switch 23 is disposed in the supply circuit for the acoustic signal 20. It is obvious that the switch 23 can be combined with the control button 13, so that for a determined angular position of the button the supply circuit is broken, while in another position this circuit is made.

The device functions in the following manner: When the switch 23 is in the "on" position, one of the poles of the battery 21 feeds the acoustic signal emitter 20. The latter is connected electrically to the conductive support of the inertia member 14.

Finally, the other pole of the battery 21 is connected to the sleeve 19. It will be understood that in the example illustrated various kinds of manoeuvres can bring about the closing of the supply circuit of the acoustic signal emitter; thus, when it moves out of a horizontal plane, the inertia member will make contact with the sleeve 19 when the casing is in a given angle, thus closing the circuit and triggering the emission of an acoustic signal. In the same way, if the casing is held in a horizontal plane but undergoes acceleration or deceleration, the inertia member will once again be displaced and come into contact with the sleeve 19, thus triggering the acoustic signal.

In its educational function the device 10 can be held in the hand, as shown in Figure 2, but may also be handled in various ways, as will be seen from the description of an educational game set, for example of the type illustrated in Figure 1.

In this game, which is combined with the use of the device 10, various route indicator elements have been provided for organising a route for the displacement of the device, together with grippable support means for displacing the device according to various modes of equilibrium, and also obstacles of different degrees of difficulty, which have to be passed. The route indicator elements are composed in particular of cards 24 marked with arrows, which when placed on the ground or elsewhere indicate the direction of the route to be followed by the device 10.As has already been indicated in the discussion of Figure 2, the device may be held manually, but may also be transported by different grippable support means, such as for example a transport aircraft 25, made for example by cutting out from a flat cardboard blank, in such a manner as to offer a support area 26, which may or may not be marked with boundaries, for the device. On this transport apparatus are provided symmetrical gripping zones 27, for example for the thumb and forefinger of each hand.

The grippable support means may also be in the form of a platform 28 having an area for supporting the signal emitter device; this platform can be held by both hands with the aid of suspension straps 29 which are unequal in length, so that dissymmetry at hand level is obtained.

With this type of support it is thus possible to provide education for alternate dissymmetrical gripping.

The obstacles which have to be passed by the device carried by an apparatus or held in the hand may be of increasing difficulty.

Thus, for example, use will advantageously be made of frames 30 through which the device can pass. It will be understood that for the purpose of passing through such frames one hand will move the device through the frame, while the other hand will then take over the device.

A dissociation of the reactions of the two hands is thus achieved, so that it is made possible to lead up to the education of reflexogenic autonomy.

In another form of construction the obstacle which has to be passed through is in the form of a tunnel 31. In the example illustrated this tunnel is composed of two articulated sheets of cardboard held in the position of use between the bottom and the edges of a lid 33 which serves to close a box 34 inside which all the components of the game are accommodated. The bottom of the tunnel 31, formed by the lid 33, is provided with a support area 35 for the device. It will be understood that with this arrangement the device 10 will be placed inside the tunnel without visibility, as the result of which use will be made of observation of internal sensation of hand movements in the introduction of the device into the tunnel and its positioning on the support area 35.

The game may also be supplemented by various other types of obstacle, as well as by other accessories, such as for example a game board 36a and markers 37 for each player.

In its application to a game the device 10 may be regarded for example as a box containing explosives and provided with an alarm system which is triggered if the box is not kept horizontal.

The game will also comprise five markers 37, five route arrows 24 numbered from 1 to 5, an aircraft 25, a jungle passage 30, a movable bridge 28, a river 36b, and mine workings 31.

The winner is the player who delivers the box of explosives into the mine working as quickly as possible, with the aim of travelling over the course with the smallest number of triggerings of the alarm signal.

The game may be prepared either by using the game board 36a, which thus delimits the game area, or by using the arrows 24, thus enabling the playing area to be expanded; in this case each player will take an arrow 24 and place it wherever he chooses in the room where the route is to be laid out, for example under the table, on a chair, on a shelf, and so on. The arrows must obligatorily be placed on a flat surface, such as a table, the floor, or the like, and the arrows 24 will indicate the order in which the various stages of the course must be followed.

Each player must follow the same course, from stage 1 to the last stage, carrying the box of explosives with the minimum shaking, and clearing not only natural obstacles (table, chair, occasional tables, and so on), but also those provided in the game.

The game elements may be placed as follows: ~the aircraft 25 on the arrow 1, ~the jungle 30 between arrows 2 and 3, ~the movable bridge 28 on the arrow 3, ~the river 36b between the arrows 3 and 4, ~no game obstacle between arrows 4 and 5, ~the mine working 31 immediate after the arrow 5. As already explained above, it is placed in the inverted lid 33.

Each player receives a marker 37 of his own colour, the box or device 10 is placed on the aircraft 25, and the alarm system is set in the operative position.

The game may proceed in the following manner: each player places his marker near the arrow 1 , and each player in turn must transport the box 10 from his marker to the mine working 31. As soon as the alarm system transmits an acoustic signal, the player must stop in the position reached by him and his marker 37 is then placed at his feet.

For the purpose of moving the device together with the aircraft 25, the latter is carefully lifted by the tips of the wings 27 and carried slowly in the direction of the arrow 2, on which the aircraft has to be placed.

The next step is to pass through the jungle, which is formed by the frame 30, and the box 10 is then laid on the movable bridge 28. The movable bridge is used for passing the device across the river 36; in order to do this the movable bridge is held by the carrying handles 29, and the river is crossed by placing first one foot and then the other on the opposite bank. The box 10 is then placed on arrow No. 4.

There is then a free passage from arrow 4 to arrow 5, the route not containing any game obstacles. All that is required is to lift the box by the hand and take it from arrow 4 to arrow 5, on which it is laid. However, this stage must be completed in a single step. If the alarm system is triggered, the player must not place his marker at his feet but must leave it at the starting point, for example, that is to say arrow 4.

The box 10 is passed through the mine working 31 by gripping it in one hand and introducing it into the mine working. The box is laid down inside the mine working when the player considers that it is in the correct position. This can be checked by removing the roof of the mine working.

If the box 10 is in the right position, in which none of the edges of the box projects beyond the area 35 marked out for the purpose, the player has completed the course.

The invention is obviously not limited to the application to a game as just described, its main aim being the acquisition of control and sureness of body movement whatever the type of travel over a course to which the device is subjected.

It should be noted that the device can be used with the aid of interposed equipment, such as for example the instrument board of a motor vehicle, or other support means.

The invention is likewise obviously not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated, for which other variants could be provided without thereby departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims (11)

1. A device for the education and/or control of body movements, more particularly the stability of handling, manipulation, carrying, and displacement movements, characterised in that it is in the form of a manually grippable solid, so that it can be displaced along various free or organised paths, the device being provided with apparatus sensitive to changes of positioning, inclination, and acceleration or deceleration, and this apparatus emitting, when not in a reference position, a signal which indicates the loss of equilibrium and which is perceptible to the user whenever the device is subjected to a movement the direction and extent of which move it away from the reference position, this grippable solid being in the general form of a box containing the sensitive signal emitter apparatus, while a sensitivity adjustment means makes it possible to graduate the response time of the signal emitter in dependence on an adjustable value of the amplitude of the movement bringing about sufficient loss of equilibrium to trigger the emission of the information signal.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the sensitive signal emitter apparatus is composed of an inertia member mounted in the suspended state on a support in such a manner as to be able to oscillate freely in all directions inside the casing of the box, this member being disposed with clearance at the centre of an element which delimits, particularly by a stop action or force field, the oscillations imparted to the said member, the inertia member and the said element being electrically connected in such a manner as to form an inertia switch inserted in the supply circuit of a preferably acoustic signal emitter.

3. A deviced according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the inertia member and the element limiting its oscillations are preferably centred in the enclosing casing, while the supply batteries are disposed eccentrically in such a manner as to form a naturally unstable device.

4. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the means of adjustment of the sensitivity of the signal emitter consists in that the stop element of the inertia member is in the form of a truncated cone converging in the upward direction, and in that the suspension line of the inertia member is adjustable in height between the end openings of the said element, as the result of which the amplitude of the oscillations of the inertia member bringing it into contact with the wall of the stop element is increased or reduced in dependence on the height of the said inertia member.

5. A device according to anytof Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the adjustment of the height of the suspension line of the inertia member is effected by turning a control button which has a threaded extension screwing into a bore threaded in corresponding manner and provided, for example, in the lid of the casing of the device.

6. An educational game, particularly for the education of the stability of body movements, such as handling, manipulation, carrying, and displacements, comprising a signal emitter apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises, among other means, route indicator elements adapted to organise a route for the displacement of the device, grippable support means for the displacement of the device in accordance with different modes of equilibrium, and also obstacles of different degrees of difficulty, which have to be passed.

7. An educational game according to Claim 6, characterised in that the grippable support means are composed of a platform having a support area for the signal emitter device, and also having gripping zones on the said platform, particularly symmetrical gripping zones for double gripping.

8. An educational game according to Claim 6, characterised in that the support means are composed of a platform having a support area for the signal emitter device, the double gripping of which platform is effected with the aid of suspension straps of unequal lengths, so as to obtain dissymmetry at the manual gripping level.

9. An educational game according to any of Claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the obstacles to be cleared are composed of tunnels for the passage and laying-down of the device, without visibility, on a marked-out area.

10. A device according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A game according to Claim 6, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.