GB2278481A

GB2278481A - Educational toy

Info

Publication number: GB2278481A
Application number: GB9310123A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Poh Wah Tan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-17
Filing date: 1993-05-17
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-17
Also published as: GB2278481B; HK160296A; GB9310123D0

Abstract

The toy (1) comprises a playing surface (2) on which game sheets may be placed. The game sheets ask questions which a child answers by pressing on two locations. If the answer is correct, the pressure causes a circuit to be made beneath the playing surface so as to activate a light and/or sound generating means. <IMAGE>

Description

=rmy This invention relates to a toy, and in particular to a toy that is not only entertaining to a child but is also educational.

According to the present invention there is provided a toy comprising a playing surface divided into a plurality of regions, light and/or sound generating means, and means whereby simultaneous pressure applied to selected pairs of said regions will cause operation of said light ssldfor sound gensting means.

With such an arrangement a sheet may be laid over the game surface with various questions being asked on the sheet. A child answers the questions by pressing two regions of the sheet and the questions are arranged so that a correct answer will result in the light and/or sound generating means being operated.

In a preferred embodiment said toy comprises a first sht of material disposed beneath the playing surface and comprising regions of conductive matcrial, preselected ones of said conductive regions being electrically interconnected, a second sheet of material disposed beneath the playing surface and having two conductive areas thereon, said two conductive areas being connected to respective poles of a power source and to said light and/or sound generating means In this way the light and/or sound generating means is operated whenever two regions of the playing surface are pressed corresponding to underlying regions of the first sheet that are connected, one of the two regions under- or overlying one of the two said conductive areas on the second sheet, and the other of the two regions under- or overlying the other of the two said conductive areas so that a connection is made between the conductive areas to complete the circuit.

Said first and second sheets may comprise sheets of flexible matenal having conductive material deposited thereon in the required regions and areas. Preferably a spacer sheet is disposed between said first and second sheets to prevent accidental contact and false connecdons. Such a spacer sheet may comprise a sheet of non-conductive material having a plurality of apertures corresponding in size and location to the co~.ductive reglons of the first sheet.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention Figure 2 is a plait view of a first flexible sheet, Figure 3 is a plan view of a second flexible sheet, and Figure 4 illustrates one example of a queston sheet.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown one embodimcnt of the toy comprising a plastics housing I having an aperture defining a frame for a playing surface 2. The housing I also includes a light 3 and (not shown) a loudspeaker connected to sound generatir!g means.

Beneath the playing surface are disposed first and second sheets of a flexible material as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The first sheet (Figure 2) is provided with 100 conductive regions. The conductive regions are intersonneted into groups in a pseudo-random manner.

For example, one group may consist of regions 10, another regions 20, a third regions 30, and a fourth regions 40 and so on. The conductive regions within each group are interconnected by narrow conductive tracks laid on the sheet.

The second sheet (1Figure 3) comprises two conductive areas 50, 51 which are connected in series with the light and sound generating means, and which are connected to the respective terminals of a battery power source, not shown.

It will be understood that if two of the regions on the first sheet are pressed into contact with the second sheet, a circuit will be made if the two regions are- connected as part of the same group, and if one of the regions contacts one of the two areas on the second sheet, and the other region contacts the second area on the second sheet. The light will be illuminated and the sound generating means operated.

Figure 4 illustrates a simple game sheet that can be used with this embodiment. The game sheet is located on the playing surface 2 and comprises a clock face with numerals 1W10 removed, and numbers 1-10 by the side of the clock face.

tach blank numeral on the clock face and each number by the side of the clock are provided with marked pressing points 60. The child's task is to identify which numbers go where on the clock face and this is achieved by pressing on the pcin.ts 60 of the number and the appropriate location on the clock face. The points 60 are located so thatvif the child chooses correctly the previously described conditions are met for the circuit to be completed and for the light to be illuminated and the sound generating means to be operated.

Figures 2 and 3 are approximately full size and it will be scen that the conductive regions on the first sheet are of the order of 1 cm2. This size is considered optimum in being small enough to enable a large number of regions to be provided which gives the toy flexibility, while being large enough that a child can easily locate and press upon them.

To avoid accidental connections being made a spacer sheet may be located between the first and second sheets. The spacer sheet (not shown) may comprise a sheet of nonconductive material having a plurality of apertures corresponding in size and location to the conductive regions of the first sheet.

The pseudo-random distribution of the connected conductive regions, and the large number of such regions, provides a large number of 'pairs' of regions that are connected.

This gives a lot of flexibility in the design of the game cards and the location of the 'correct answers' ensuring that a child does not recognize the positions of correct answers by rote.

It should also be appreciated that the designations 'first sheet' and 'second sheet' are somewhat arbitrary, and which sheet is laid above the other, and pressed into contact with the other, is not important providing the conductive surfaces of the two sheets face each other.

Claims

C LA J MS

1. A toy comprising a playing surface divided into a plurality of regions, light and/or sound generating means, and means whereby simultaneous pressure applied to selected pairs of said regions will cause operation of said light and/or sound generating means.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is disposed beneath said playing surface a first sheet of material comprising a plurality of regions of conductive mateiial, preselected ones of said regions being electrically inter-connected, and a second sheet of material having two conductive areas thereon, said two conductive areas being connected to respective poles of a power source and to said light and/or sou generating means.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second sheets are separated by a spacer sheet.

4. A toy as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spacer sheet c3rnprises a sheet of nonconductive material having a plurality Ct' apertures corresponding in size and number to said region 3f said first sheet.

5. A toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.