US2496810A

US2496810A - Educational link

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Publication number: US2496810A
Application number: US715457A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph A Nerrie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-12-11
Filing date: 1946-12-11
Publication date: 1950-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1967-02-07

Description

Feb m w@ R. A. NERRIE 2,496,819

EDUCATIONAL LINK Filed Dec. l1, 1946 Z7 'l 2f y Mv ZZ Z3 7 V22 xNvEN'TOR gw 28 RALPH A. NERE/E f' f5 6, 5.2% ff Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDUCATIONAL LINK Ralph Nen-ie, Fayson Lake, Butler, N. J. Application 'December 11, 194s, serial No. 715,457

This invention relates to educational devices or toys and, in particular, to the provision of such a new and improved device or toy vby means of which each of the letters of the alphabet as well as numerals, symbols, etc., may be quite closely simulated or represented by children of letterlearning ages, thereby combining education with entertainment and amusement.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide such a new and improved 'device which is capable of simulating letters, numerals, and symbols with curved legs or branches, and with both curved and straight legs or branches, substantially as closely as letters, numerals, and symbols with straight legs or' branches only. y

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device which is of simple, sturdy construction and capable of cheap production in widely varying materials. I l

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device or toy which incorporates plural complementary, relatively movable sections or members which are capable of being selectively arranged, by units, to simulate either straightedged or curved-edged legs or branches as parts of various letters, numerals or symbols, and the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear from the following description and vthe accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of one preferred form of my device extended to illustrate the members thereof and the manner in which they are connected;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. l with the parts collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a view, in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken through one joint, along the plane indicated by the line 4--4 in Fig. 2, and showing the details of the connection provided between two adjacent m'ain members and an intervening auxiliary member, the spacing therebetween being exaggerated in the interest of clear disclosure;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device with the parts in position for forming the letter `B, a letter having both straight and curved legs, portions, or branches;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the device with the parts in position for forming the letter L, a

2 Claims. (Cl. 35--71) letter havingonly straight or straight-edged legs or branches; and y Fig. '7 is a plan View of the device with th parts in position for forming the letter C,'a letter having only curved or curved-edged legs or branches.

The illustrative embodiment of invention shown in Figs. 1-7 comprises a plurality of elongated, similar main members or sections I D, II, I2, I3, I4, I5 and I6 pivotally' connected in substantial end-to-'end relation, as hereinafter described in detail, to form an articulated elongated structure of whicheach of these members or sections IIl-IS is a constituent section or part.

At each .joint between vthe ends of adjacent members Ill- I6 one of a `plurality of4 similar auxiliary members of sections I'I, I8, I9, 20, 2l and 22 is pivotally secured between the end portions of the adjacent main portions ory sections I0--I6."Another, similar, auxiliary member or section 1,3 is plvotally secured to the outer end portion of the main member or section I6 at one end ofthe main structure'. AThe main member or section Ill at the opposite end of the main structure is, preferably, for vthe sake of appearance, un-aperture'd at its outer end, being' otherwise similar in every respect to each of the other members or sections II-I6. f

As shown in Fig. 4, the vpivotal connection between the respective main and auxiliary members at each joint may be accomplished by means of similar aligned apertures, 24 in each end portion. A hollow rivet,eyelet, or grommet 25 extends through `each set of apertures 24 and clampingly secures the pivotally connected end portions closelyv together to create the desired degree of frictional resistance to relative pivotal movement therebetween. Of course, such other known connecting means may be substituted as is most appropriate to the particular material from which the main and auxiliary members or sections are formed.

Each of the main members o1' sections I--IB has a straight side edge and a curved side edge;.

the auxiliary members or sections I1-23 each also have one straight side edge and one curved or arcuate side edge, the curved or arcuate side edges of the main and auxiliary members or sections being converse, i. e. concave in one case and convex in the other. Preferably, they are substantially concentric as shown in Figs. 5 and '7.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the side edges of the main members or sections III-I6 are designated 26 and 21, the edges 26 being straight and the edges 21 being curved and concave. The side edges of the auxiliary members or sections I1--23 are designated 28 and 29, the edges 28 being straight and the opposite edges 29 being curved and convex. If desired, the curved edges of the main members or sections may be made convex and the curved edges of the auxiliary members or sections made concave.

Since the auxiliary members I1-23 are pivotally connected between adjacent main members lll-I6, the entire structure may be collapsed or folded in jack-knife relation as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In such position the straight sides `215 and 28 of the main and auxiliary members or appeal to their imitative capacities.

sections (see l0 and I1, Fig. 2) form the side portions of the outline to define a straight leg or branch of a letter such as the capital Lv shown in Fig. 6.

By swinging the auxiliary member I1 counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 2, the

arcuate edges

21 and 29 may be made to dene the side edges of a curved or arcuate branch or leg of a letter such as the capital C shown in Fig. 7.

An important feature of the invention which greatly simplifies and cheapens the manufacture thereof is the fact that each of the auxiliary members or sections |1-23 is identical, and, with the exception of the optional omission of the aperture 24 at one end of one main member or section (I0, Fig. 1), the same is also true of the main members or sections Ill-I6; the rivets,

eyelets or grommets 25 are likewise identical. Thus the device is made up of a plurality of each of three parts, namely main members or sections and auxiliary members or sections, both of which may readily and cheaply die cut from any sheet material such as non-metallic plastic sheeting, metal, wood, paper or composition, and the attaching elements 25 which are cheap and readily procurable and attachable commercial products.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the fact that each set or pair of complementary members, such as main member I3 and auxiliary member 20, may selectively be positioned with their straight edges 2B and 28 outwardly to form a straight or straight-edged leg or branch as shown in Fig. 6, or with their curved or

arcuate edges

21 and 29 outwardly to form a curved or curved-edged leg or branch as shown in Fig. '1. While the curved edges 21 of the main members ID--IS may be omitted, it is preferred that these edges be curved for closest possible simulation of the smooth continuous delineating or defining outer edges of letters, numerals or symbols, etc., which are comprised either partly or entirely of curved legs, branches or portions. See, for instance, the capital B, Fig. 5 and the It is, of course, to be understood that the above u description is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modications as are included Within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an educational device of the class described, a jointed elongated body comprising a plurality of main strip members pivotally connected in series, and a plurality of auxiliary strip members each free at one end and having common pivotal connection with adjacent main strip members at their other ends, said main strip members and said auxiliary strip members each having one curved side edge and one straight side edge, each of said auxiliary strip members being selectively adjustable angularly with respect to an adjacent main strip member to form therewith a section with its side edges defined either by said straight edges or said curved edges.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the curved side edges of said auxiliary strip members are concentric with respect to the curved side edges of cooperating adjacent main strip members in predetermined positions of relative adjustment with respect thereto.

RALPH A. NERRIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,541,004 Taylor June 9, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,408 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1911 123,615 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1919