GB2291250A

GB2291250A - Word construction apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2291250A
Application number: GB9413793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Mcpherson Gibbons; Garfield Michael Mcfarlane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-08
Filing date: 1994-07-08
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Also published as: GB9413793D0; AU2488795A; CA2153474A1

Abstract

A word construction apparatus comprising a playing area such as a board (1) having three columns of letters (2) in alphabetical order. Adjacent each column of letters (2) is a longitudinal recess (3) in which an individual piece or plurality of pieces (4) may be slid. The pieces (4) are stacked in compartments (5) formed by walls (6) of a container (7) which also houses the board (1) and a number of check sheets (8). The individual pieces (4) comprise rectangular flat pieces of rigid card, wood or plastics material divided into squares with a prefix vowel and a suffix consonant. Each piece has a numeral in its lower right-hand corner which is used to collate a score to make the use of the apparatus competitive. The apparatus further comprises check sheets with possible words and printed sheets to record the words found. <IMAGE>

Description

WORD CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS This invention relates to a word construction apparatus, more particularly, but not exclusively, to an early learning aid to the forming and spelling of words.

Various apparatuses and games based on the use of words and spelling are known in which letters of the alphabet are arranged on a playing surface to form words, however, these do not assist the user in the formation of words using columns of letters in alphabetical order.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a word construction apparatus which is an aid to the learning and construction of words with check lists to assist the formation and recognition of words.

According to the present invention there is provided a word construction apparatus comprising a playing area with at least one column of letters in alphabetical order, a plurality of individual pieces each ing at least hav# one or more letters on its surface, # two letter .inclu ia and combinations vowels ty consonants wherein in use the letter or letters on the individual pieces are juxtaposed with the column of letters of the alphabet on the playing area to form words.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a check sheet of possible words formed by the combination of the letters of the alphabet on the playing area with the letters on the individual pieces.

Conveniently the apparatus may comprise a pre printed sheet containing spaces to record the words found.

In a preferred construction of the word construction apparatus the individual pieces and associated sheets are stored in a container formed with dividing walls to hold the parts of the apparatus in a preselected order.

The playing area may take the form of a rigid board with recessed portions adjacent the column or columns of the letters of the alphabet to provide an aligned groove in which the individual pieces carrying the letter combinations can slide.

The apparatus and container may be made of a compressed board, wood or plastics material.

The associated playing pieces and check sheets may be colour coded for easy selection and use.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the word construction apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the individual pieces bearing the vowels and consonants.

Fig. 3 is a check sheet illustrating possible words formed by the alphabetical columns and the individual pieces.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pre-printed sheet with spaces to record the words found; and Figs. 5a to Sc show three perspective views respectivelyX the playing area in which individual pieces are slid in the recesses of the playing area.

The word construction apparatus comprises a playing area in the form of a board 1, with three columns of letters 2 in alphabetical order. Adjacent each column of letters 2 is a longitudinal recess 3 in which an or individual piece @@ a plurality of pieces 4 may be slid.

The pieces 4 are stacked in compartments 5 formed by walls 6 of a container 7 which also receives the board 1 and check sheets 8. The container may be made of card, wood, plastics or other suitable material.

A plurality of the individual pieces 4 are shown in Fig. 2 comprising rectanguiar flat pieces of a rigid, card, wood or plastics material dividied into squares with a prefix vowel 9 and a suffix consonant 10. Each piece has a numeral 11 in its lower right hand corner which are used to collate a score to bring a co t~tive element to words have been identified.

the word construction exercise, and to check that all possible L The check sheets comprise a sheet 12 (see Fig. 3) showing the layout of possible words to be fumed by the combination of the individual pieces 4 and the columns of letters 2. Each block of words 13 begin with one of the five vowels a to u. The top row 14 of each block having a two letter word while the columns of words below the vowels having a prefix consonant to make up a three letter word 15.

The set of check sheets 16 is made up by a set of five pre-printed sheets one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. The sheet contains a list of columns 17 having a two letter heading 18 formed by a vowel and a consonant, the example, illustrated is for the vowel 'a'. Below the two letters are a number of spaces to record the words formed by combining e.g. the letters 'ab' with the letters of the alphabet on the board 1. It will be apparent that further pre-printed sheets may be provided with further combination of two letters each having one of the vowels, e,i,o,u, as its prefix.

An example of the use of the apparatus is shown by the fragmentary views in Fig. 5a to Sc.

Fig. 5a shows an individual piece bearing the letters "at' being slid in the recesses 3 in the direction of the arrows to align with the left hand column of letters of the alphabet with the piece to form the word "bat'. As each word is formed, it is recorded on the check sheet 16 in the space below the letters "at".

Fig. 5b is a similar fragmentary view to Fig. 5a, but the individual playing piece contains three letters N rag with With the vowel 'e' and with two consonants 'nt'.

This is slid along its recess until it forms a word with the column of letters of the alphabet, i.e. 'bent' which can be recorded in the column headed 'ent' of the check words can be developed.

sheet (not shown). up using rore than three letters, ntore corrple / Finaly the third view Fig. 5c, shows a playing piece with three letters, i.e. two vowels 'ee' and the letter 'd' which when slid in the direction of the arrows and aligned with the letter 'f' of the column of the alphabet makes up the word 'feed' which can be recorded on its respective check sheet.

If the user of the apparatus has difficulty compiling a word reference may be had to the check sheet 12 to locate a suggestion of a word.

To facilitate the ease of use of the apparatus the individual pieces may be colour coded together with the check sheets for quick reference.

One possible colour code would be as follows: Vowels a - blue e - orange i - red o - yellow u - green The blocks of words on the check sheet 12 would be coloured according to the vowel contained in the various boxes, while check sheets 16 would be correspondingly coloured according to their vowels.

It will be understood that the word construction apparatus is suitable for use as an early learning aid or for foreign students learning the English language as well as a competitive spelling game for use by individual users or group learning.

Various modifications may be made to the invention, for example, the individual pieces may be made in a three dimensional form instead of flat strips, in which the cross-section of the piece has multi-facets which each have a letter combination marked on its respective surfaces.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A word construction apparatus comprising a playing area with at least one column of letters in alphabetical order, a plurality of individual pieces each having one or more letters on its surface, at least two letter combinations including a vowel and consonants, wherein in use the letter or letters on the individual pieces are juxtaposed with the column of letters of the alphabet on the playing area to form words.

2. A word construction apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a check sheet of possible words, formed by the combination of the letters of the alphabet on the playing area with the letters on the individual pieces.

3. A word construction apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein it further comprises a pre-printed sheet containing spaces to record the words found.

4. A word construction apparatus as claimed in Claims 2 or 3, wherein the individual pieces and associated sheets are stored in a container formed with dividing walls to hold the parts of the apparatus in a preselected order.

5. A word construction apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the playing area may take the form of a rigid board with recessed portions adjacent the column or columns of the letters of the alphabet to provide an aligned groove in which the individual pieces carrying the letter combinations can slide.

6. A word construction apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the apparatus and container are made of a compressed board.

7. A word construction apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the apparatus and container are made of wood.

8. A word construction apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the apparatus and container are made of a plastics material.

9. A word construction apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 8, wherein the associated playing pieces and check sheets may be colour coded for easy selection and use.

10. A word construction apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.