US2521235A - Device for training children to overcome fear of darkness - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 5, 1950 c. M. LERTZMAN DEVICE FOR TRAINING CHILDREN T0 OVERCOMB EAR 0F DARKNESS Flled Apnl 12, 1949 gwuqm fo'n CARL M. LERTZMAN ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED DEVICE FOR TRAINING CHILDREN T OVERICOME FEAR OF DARKNESS *Carl M. Lertzman, Hollywood, Calif.

Application April 12, 1949, Serial No. 86,987

' This invention relates to educational devices and more particularly to a device for training children to overcome fear of darkness.

It is an object of my invention to provide in combination a conventional type of wall switch and a conventional type of music box in proximity to each other so as to lend a high degree of attraction for children; to the end that a child will be strongly tempted to go into a darkened room without an accompanying adult and switch the light on, thus overcoming his natural fear of darkness.

'It is another object of my invention to construct the combination as a unitary item in such a manner that it can be easily installed in a conventional wall receptacle as customarily used in lighting installations.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a co-action between the switch and the music box for the purpose of automatically causing the music box to play when the switch is thrown to the "on position.

Additional objects and features of my invention will be apparent from the detailed disclosure which now follows taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of my novel combination as installed, partially in section, and

Figure 2 is a front view of the structure.

In attaining the objects of my invention I utilize a conventional switch plate of common design on which is mounted a music box of the spring power type and a toggle switch.

With reference to the drawing my combination comprises a face plate It fastened as by screws I l to a conventional receptacle I2 in a 'well known manner. The face plate carries at its rear, a music box [3 for example, as shown in the patent to Darche No. 2,321,365 of June 8, 1943, secured thereto in any suitable manner (not shown). A winding knob l5, which is understood to be attached to the winding shaft (not shown) of the music box is disposed exteriorly Of the plate. A pair of diametrically opposed ears iii, are carried by knob Hi. The knob and ears may be integrally molded of bright colored plastic in order to enhance the appearance of the device. Ordinarily the music box is maintained in a wound up condition but is prevented from playing except when the light in the room is turned on by means of a switch 20.

Switch 20 is of conventional construction and is carried by plate It, and will be understood to be wired into the lighting circuit so as to control 8 Claims. (Cl. 842) stalled, such connections being made in the usual manner. handle 22, so oriented that when thrown to the upward or ofi position it is disposed at least partially in the arcuate path of the ears I8 of the music box winding knob. This condition is illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 2; thus when the switch is in the off position the music box is rendered inoperative upon engagement of one or the other of the ears l8 with lever 22, since rotation of knob i5 is necessary for the box to play, which rotation cannot continue beyond the point where either ear l8 abuts the switch handle. When, however, lever 22 is thrown to the on position there is no impediment in the path of ears l8 and accordingly knob l5 and its associated shaft are permitted to rotate and music is then audible, emanating from the wall which acts effectively as a sounding board to amplify the sound amplitude to a surprising degree.

While it is not essential that the co-action between the switch lever and the winding knob be provided in order to obtain the basic effect of my invention, so doing lends an additional attractiveness to a timid child. Ordinarily without such co-action, however, a child may be induced to go into a darkened room and switch on the light in order to have an opportunity to play with the music box. In some cases a child may be induced to go into a darkened room and actually wind up the music box in order to hear it play before switching on the light. A further aspect of the combination resides in training .a child to locate the light switch in the dark by having an adult go into the room and wind up the music box so that the sound therefrom will guide the child to the switch, thus making an interesting game in the course of training a child in self -reliance.

While I regard my invention as bein primarily a child training device in that it can be used to induce timid children to venture into darkened rooms by virtue of the temptation to play with a music box directly mounted in close proximity to a wall switch, the device is by no means limited to that aspect. In view of its novelty and high entertainment value my combination can be used in other suitable ways, for example, in conjunction with a bar for serving drinks as frequently found installed in homes. Whereas in the case of a childs room, the music box would play some appropriate juvenile tune or lullaby, when used in conjunction with a bar or other adult contrivance an appropriate drinking song may be the lights in the room in which my device is inprovided.

The switch is provided with a toggle It will be appreciated that many changes may be made and various forms of the invention constructed without departing from the spirit of this disclosure, and accordingly I do not seek to be limited to the specific illustrations given herein except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An educational device comprising a Wall switch face plate, a music box disposed rearwardly of said plate so as to be concealed in a wall when said plate is mounted for use, and a switch mechanism mounted on said face plate, said music box having a winding handle disposed forwardly of said plate and said switch having a control handle disposed exteriorly of said plate.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, including means operative between said switch mechanism and said music box for maintaining said music box in non-operating condition when saidswitch control handle is in a predetermined position.

' -3. .A'deviceas set forth in claim 1, wherein said winding handle is provided with ear means, said switch control handle comprising a movable member engageable by said ear means when said controlhandleis in off position.

4. A device as set .forth in claim 1, wherein said winding handle and switch handle comprise means which are mutually engageable to render said music box non-operative when said switch handle is in off position, said means being disengaged when said switch handle is inon position.

5. An educational device comprising a wall switch .face plate, a music box disposed rearwardly "of said plate .so as to be concealed 'in a wall when said plate is mounted thereon, and a switch mechanism mounted .on said face plate, said music box havinga winding handle disposed exteriorly of said plate, wherein said winding handle and switch handle comprise means which 4 are mutually engageable to render said music box non-operative when said switch handle is in off position and being disengaged when said switch handle is in on position, said means comprising a plurality of cars integrally carried by said winding handle.

6. An educational device comprising a wall switch face plate, a music box secured thereto and carried thereby and a switch mechanism mounted thereon, said music box having a winding handle disposed so as to be accessible exteri-* orly of the plate.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6, including a control handle for said switch and means intermediate said control handle and said winding handle for rendering said winding handle substantially inoperative when said control handle is in "ofP position.

8. An educational device comprising a. wall switch plate, a music boxicarried thereby, a switch carried thereby, and means intermediate said music box and said switch for rendering said music box operative when said switch is in the on position.

CARL M. .LER'IlZMA'N.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,770 Kayan Nov. 5, 1929 2,252,288 Kind .Aug. 12, 1941 2,321,365 Darche June 8, 1943 2,333,787 De Hofimann Nov.-.9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 626,839 France May 21, 1927

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