GB2168189A

GB2168189A - Question-and-answer device

Info

Publication number: GB2168189A
Application number: GB08430969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsing-Ching Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-07
Filing date: 1984-12-07
Publication date: 1986-06-11
Also published as: GB8430969D0

Abstract

The device comprises: a base (1) having a plurality of passages (8), each passage extending from one side (9a) of the base (1) to a respective outlet (10) at an opposite side; a plurality of replaceable question and answer combination cards (3) each including a plurality of question (13) and corresponding answer (14) illustrations, each question illustration (13) having a respective aperture (15) so that, in use of the card on the base (1), each aperture is aligned with one of the passages (8) while each answer illustration (14) is arranged at a location corresponding to a respective passage outlet (10); and at least one bead (4) of a suitable size to be dropped through an aperture (15) in a question illustration on a card and to roll through a passage (8) to the outlet (10) thereof. A transparent cover (2) may be provided in which use the bead is of magnetic or magnetisable material and is moved by means of an operating rod (5) carrying a magnet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An educational toy THIS INVENTION relates to an educational toy.

UK Patent Specification No. 2,051,450 which was granted to the present applicant, Hsing-Ching Liu, and his daughter, Lan-dih Liu, discloses an educational toy which comprises a base having a plurality of passages, a lid having a plurality of openings corresponding to the passages, and a series of replaceable question and answer combination cards divided into a plurality of corresponding question and answer illustration sections, each section having an opening which is aligned with one of the openings in this lid when the card is positioned on the base. At least one bead of suitable size to be dropped into the opening in any of the question sections is provided. In use of the toy, the bead is dropped into an opening in a question section of a selected card positioned on the base and an answer section selected.If the bead rolls out from the opening of the selected answer section, then the answer selected is correct.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an educational toy, comprising: a base having a plurality of passages, each passage extending from one side of the base to respective outlet at a side of the base opposite the one side of the base; a plurality of replaceable question and answer combination cards, each are including a plurality of question and corresponding answer illustrations, each question illustration having a respective aperture so that, when a question and answer card is positioned on the base, each aperture is aligned with a respective one of the passages while each answer illustration is arranged at a location corresponding to the outlet of a respective passage; and a bead of suitable size to be dropped through an aperture of any one of the question illustrations on a card positioned on the base and to roll through a passage to the outlet thereof.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an educational toy, comprising: a base having a plurality of passages; a plurality of replaceable question and answer combination cards, each including a plurality of question and corresponding answer illustrations, each question illustration having a respective aperture so that, when a question and answer card is positioned on the base, each aperture is aligned with a respective one of the passages while each answer illustration is arranged at a location corrresponding to the outlet of a respective passage; a bead of a suitable size to be dropped into the aperture in any of the question illustrations on a card and to roll through a passage to the outlet thereof, the bead being at least partially formed of a magnetic or magnetisable material; and an operating rod carrying a magnet for moving the bead by means of magnetic force.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a toy embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base of the toy shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an educational toy embodying the present invention. The toy comprises a substantially rectangular base 1 having side walls 9 and a back wall 9a extending upwardly from the base 1, and a transparent cover 2 for the base. The toy also comprises a plurality of question and answer cards 3, each of which may be positioned on the base 1. The toy is also provided with at least one bead 4 formed of a magnetic or magnetisable material, preferably metal, together with an operating rod 5 having a magnet 6 at one end thereof.

The base 1 is divided by a plurality of partitions 7, four in the illustrated embodiment, into a plurality of passages 8, one more than the number of partitions (namely five in the ilustrated embodiment), including the passages between respective partitions 7 and the side walls 9 of the base 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the partitions 7 which extend parallel to one another are disposed so as to define passages 8 which do not run in a straight line. In particular each of the partitions 7 extends substantially perpendicularly of the back wall 9a of the base of the base 1 and then extends obliquely away from the back wall 9a toward one of side walls 9. Each partition then travels substantially parallel to the side walls 9 for a given distance and then bends to extend obliquely of the back wall 9a toward the other side wall 9. Thus, each passage 8 is inclined to the side walls 9 of the base and is arranged to deflect the bead 4 from the path it would otherwise naturally follow. Each passage 8 ends at a respective outlet 10 opening to the front edge of the base 1 at a distance therefrom. A buffer 11 may be provided at each outlet 10.A stop 12 is positioned at a distance from the front edge of the base 1 on ech side wall 9 so that the stops 12 are substantially aligned with the outlets 10 of the passages 8.

Each question and answer combintion card 3 includes a plurality of illustrations. In the arrangement shown ten illustrations are provided, namely five question illustrations 13 and five corresponding answer illustrations 14.

Each question illustration 13 has a respective aperture 15 which is positioned so as to be aligned with a respective passage 8 when the card is positioned on the base, while each answer illustration 14 has a indication 16 which points toward the respective outlet 10 of a passage when the card 3 is in position on the base.

The cover 2 confines the bead 4 between itself and the base 1, and the operating rod 5 can be used from outside of the cover 2 to move the bead 4, by means of attraction or repulsion forces produced between the bead 4 and the magnet 6, to the aperture 15 on a given question illustration 13, as well as to accept the same bead 4 at selected answer illustrtion 14.

In order to allow cards 3 to be positioned on the base 1 and later removed, a slit is provided between the back wall 9a of the base 1 and the cover 2. When a card 3 is correctly inserted between the base 1 and the cover 2 the leading edge of the card is stopped by the stops 12, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the illustrations 13, 14 and apertures 15 on the card 3 can be seen through the transparent cover 5 and the passages 8 and then outlets 10 are covered by the card 3, which thus simultaneously has the function of forming a lid of the base 1. Preferably, the base 1 is provided with legs or support members 17 so that the base 1 can be supported in an inclined state.

When a card 3 has been correctly inserted between the base 1 and the cover 2, a child, in answer to the question "Whose shadow is this?" may move the bead 4 using the rod 5 to a position over the aperture 15 of the illustration 13 showing the selected shadow or silhouette, then lift up the rod 5 so that the bead 4 drops through the selected aperture 15 and into the corresponding passage 8.

Then the child must immediately select the correct answer by, for example, placing the rod 5 at the front edge of the base 1 at the location corresponding to the indication 16 of the selected answer illustration 14. If the bead 4 just rolls out of the outlet 10 adjacent the location at which the rod 5 is placed and is attracted by the magnet 6, then the answer is correct, otherwise the answer is wrong.

Thereafter, the bead 4 may be moved to another question illustration for a further quiz.

Two rods 5 may be provided, one rod 5 for a teacher or parent to select a question and another rod 5 for the child to provide the answer. Also, the rod 5 may be omitted and the bead 4 may be moved by hand, provided that the cover 2 is removed.

Claims

1. An educational toy, comprising: a base having a plurality of passages, each passage extending from one side of the base to respective outlet at a side of the base opposite the one side of the base; a plurality of replaceable question and answer combination cards, each card including a plurality of question and corresponding answer illustrations, each question illustration having a respective aperture so that, when a question and answer card is positioned on the base, each aperture is aligned with a respective one of the passages while each answer illustration is arranged at a location corresponding to the outlet of a respective passage and a bead of suitable size to be dropped through an aperture of any one of the question illustrations on a card positioned on the base and to roll through a passage to the outlet thereof.

2. A toy according to Claim 1, further comprising at least one operating rod for moving the bead.

3. A toy according to Claim 2, wherein the bead is at least partially formed of magnetic or magnetisable material and the operating rod has a magnet provided at one end thereof for moving the bead by means of magnetic forces.

4. An educational toy, comprising: a base having a plurality of passages; a plurality of replaceable question and answer combination cards, each card including a plurality of question and corresponding answer illustrations, ech question illustration having a respective aperture so that, when a question and answer card is positioned on the base, each aperture is aligned with a respective one of the passages while each answer illustration is arranged at a location corresponding to the outlet of a respective passage; a bead of a suitable size to be dropped into the aperture in any of the question illustrations on a card and to roll through a passage to the outlet thereof, the bead being at least partially formed of a magnetic or magnetisable material, and a operating rod carrying a magnet for moving the bead by means of magnetic force.

5. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein each passage extends along a path which does not lie on a straight line.

6. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein at least part of each passage extends obliquely of the one side of the base toward a further side of the base adjoining the one side and then bends back to extend obliquely of the one side away from the further side of the base.

7. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is provided with transparent cover so that in use of the toy a card is inserted between the base and the cover.

8. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein each answer illustration of each card carries a respective indication which, when the card is positioned on the base, points towards the outlet of the respective passage.

9. An educational toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.