US2656617A - Educational toy - Google Patents

Description

F. R. COMPOSTO Oct. 27, 1953 EDUCATIONAL TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15 1950 o oi "will!!!" 0 az F'Q- 3 7 .lml lmil' -FIG. 1

Oct. 27, 1953 F R COMPOSTO 2,656,617

EDUCATIONAL TOY Filed Dec. 15. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- minim as Milli I00 III/IJIIII y Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDUCATIONAL Frank R. Compos'to, BrooklynfN. Y. Application-December 15, 1:950, Se1-MNo. 200,9U7

29 Claims. :1

lhis inventionirelates to atoy or game requiring the "selection and arrangement :of certain blocks 'or other indicia in answer to a question, which may be expressedorally, or in writing'pictor'ially, or graphically. 7 It relates to an educational toy of the kind disclosed in my United States'Patent No. 2,505,230, issued April 25, 1950, and comprises certain modifications anddevelopmerits of the device disclosed in that patent.

"The'toy orgam'e disclosed in that patent complises'a nuniberor cards each having a series of groups of holes, each 'group comprising a combination representi-nga particular letter or nomoral, and a number of indicia bearing blocks having projecting "therefrom combinations of pins,- =disposed similarly to .the respective combinations of holes in said cards. In operating the toy the user places 'a card on a support surface; selects blocks bearing indic'ia'which'he believes spells a "word or answers a problem presented by said card and endeavors to insert the pins of said blocks in the appropriate holes in the card. Whenthe wrong select-ion ismade this is evident at once since onlythe pins of a correctly selected block will enter the holes comprising a particular combination of holes in the card, with the result that the block cannot be fully seated and will remain elevated above other -blocks correctly selected for 'other combinations of holes "in the card. The fact that a wrong selection may be thus indicated, even before the 'playerha's finished selecting th blocks bearing the letters, numeralsor other indic'i'a he thinks are required to answer the question, allowing the player "to correct mistakes as they occur and'before he has finished spelling awo rd or giving an answer to a problem, dilutes the-elem'ontof suspense which is brought to its climax by a signal; such 'as the lighting of-a light or the sounding of "a buzzer when all the blocks have been correctly chosen and their pins inserted in the corresponding groups or combinations of holes in the card. when a block has been correctly selected and ositioned its lower surface Will be in contact with the card or with a guide platepreferably provided above -the support surface and having groups of 7 holes at least equal in number to the groups of holes in the card placed between it and the support surface and each group comprising holes :I'or all the different combination's or pins on said blocks.

Each zbl'ock has one electrically conductive pin which, when the block is properly positioned closes a gap an ielrectriccincuitrfor actuating the signalling'means. The gaDs in-the circuit are equal-to the numberiof groupsofiholeswith which the cards are provided andwhen :the block for eachpgroup-ofholes have been correctly selected and positioned all the-gaps in the circuit will be completed by and through said conductive pins and the-signallingimeans will beactuated.

An objector thisiinvention is to prolong and increase the element of suspense by providing means whereby =-the;p1ayer remains uninformed as to the correctness orincorrectness of his selections until he has selected "and positioned all of the blocks she believes are required to answer the question.

Another object of the invention is to provide means torrmasking the combinatlonszof 'holes ina card until :a g-player has completed his :selection and positioningofx-blocks, together with means .for unmasking'all Jot-said combinations of holes simultaneously urging said blocks to fully seat them.

Anothercbject of the invention is to provide a toy of the kind described-above comprising an electric signaling circuit in whichthefmme and blocks, including all of their :pins may be "made of electrically non-conductive material, such for example as plastic.

Another object of "the invention is to provide means for completing the signalling circuit "of the toy even though the question and answer :require "the'selection and positioning of less blocks than the maximum number i. e. less than the number of gaps in the electric circuit.

.nnother object or the invention is to provide a devicecof the liescrlibed'kind adapted for use in connection with :a "question and answer contest cnizuittcted befonc i'an audience, as for example on atelevisionprogram.

Other objects of "the inventionwillbe in part obviousiorin partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in'the features of construction, combinations of elements, sman gements of and in the several steps and rrelaticn "and order of each of said steps to one or more of the others thereof, all aswill be pointed out "in "the followingdescription, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthe'tollowing claims.

Th invention will best be understood if the following description readin connection with vthedrandngs, in which,

Figure "l is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of an'embodiment bfm-y invention l i'gure I is a tragmentary'plan view of-a "portion: ofthe support surface s'howmg it Mtn-arpattemof holes;

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a pair of slots replacing all but the center hole the pattern of holes shown in Figure 1-;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a first form of said contactors closed by an electrically non-conductive pin;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a block having a metal pin projecting therefrom and a conductor connected to said pin;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the means shown in Figure 8, partly in cross section;

Figure 10 i a plan-view of a card with thirteen block receiving spaces, only eight of which have combinations of holes therein, the other five each having a single hole similarly positioned;

Figure 11 shows a guide plate having thirteen block receiving groups of holes, seven of which are covered with indicia'bearing blocks and an eighth covered with a block of the kind shown in Figures 8 and 9; V

Figure 12 is aside elevational, partlyschematic view, showing the electric circuit of my device, with blocks seated on a guide plate as indicated in Figure 11, and with the circuit completed through signalling means even though all of the block receiving spaces of the device are not filled;

Figure 13 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for use in conducting a contest before an audience, as for example, in a television program;

Figure 14 is a cross section of the embodiment shown in Figure 13, taken on line i i-l4 of Figure 13; p

V Figure 15 is a cross sectional view taken on the line i 5 iii of Figure 14, and looking in the direc tion of the arrows;

FigurelB is a perspective view of a masking plate forming part of theembodiment shown in Figures 13-22; V

Figure 1'? is a diagrammatic view of the circuit of the embodiment of Figures 13-22 closed to indicate an incorrect answer has been given;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit of the embodiment of Figures 13-22 closed to indicate a correct answer has been given;

Figure lQ is-a fragmentary plan view showing one position of the masking plate relative to the guide plate;

Figure 20 is a View similar to Figure 19 but V showing anotherv position of the masking plate relative to the guide plate; Figure vZlis a cross :section of Figure'19, taken on line 2 i2l and Figure 22 is a cross sectionof Figure 20, taken 7 on line 2222.

, The words.card and block are used broadly,

to include respectively any member having there-.

in combinations of holes, and any member hearing pins positioned for insertion through holes in the card. The umeral l8 indicates-a box-like closure having a supportisuriace l2, apertured or cut away for the pins of blocks to. be! de crib Thus for example surface l2 may comprise five similar groups of holes, one of which is shown in Figure 1 each group including holes positioned similarly to all combinations of holes in card 21;; or it may comprise the slots I3, see Figure 1 which are long enough to include all of the holes 70 of Figure 1 Desirably a guide plate I4 i provided, positioned above said support surface 52, as for example by means of the spacing members l6 and I8 and pins 29 and 22. Supported on surface [2 is a card 24 which ccacts with indicia and pin bearing blocks to answer a question. The question may for example, be written on the reverse side of the card. As shown in Figure 4, card 24 may comprise a card punched with five groups of holes, the holes shown being disposed similarly to the pins of blocks bearing letters to spell the word think i. e. to answer the question how to spell the word think. As shown each combination of holes comprises a large hole C centrally and similarly disposed for each group of holes and two smaller holes K the position of one or both of which varies in each'of the said five groups of holes.

Interposed between question card 24 and the guide plate I i is a masking card which may take the form 26 shown in Figure 2 in which slots 30 are provided extending inwardly from, and at right angles to, one lateral margin of the card. or the masking card may take the form 26*, shown in Fi ure 3, wherein a long slot 32 is provided extending from one end nearly the full length of the card along its longitudinal mid-line. When placed above the card 24 either masking card 25 or masking card 26' covers the holes K in card 24 leaving exposed only the large central holes C which are aligned vertically with the slots (it respectively of 25 or the slot 82 of 28?. I In Figure 5 one of the indicia bearing blocks 28 is shown in inverted position.- Projecting from it are the smaller pins 34 adapted to fit into holes K of card 24, and the larger, centrally disposed pin 35 adapted to fit in the holes C. This block, including its larger central pin 35 as well as its key positioning pins 34 may be formed of non-conductive material, such for example as any of a wide variety of plastic materials and nevertheless employed to close a gap in an electric circuit for signalling whether or not a question has been correctly answered by the indicia of the selected blocks.

As shown in Figure l electrically conductive strips 38, corrprising part of the electric circuit shown fully in Figure 12, are mounted within the box-like member H3 in abutting relation, as for example on the under surface of the support member 49 depending from the underside of the upper or support surface E2 of member'i c. Strips 38 are shown'on an enlarged scale in Figure 6 and are there illustrated provided with the screw holes 42 to facilitate their being mounted on said support member it; One end, Q6, of each strip is bent down substantially at right angles while the other end is substantially hook shape whereby the adjacent ends of members 38 although norangles to portion 52 and overlapping, although normally spaced from, the end of .the iadioiningstripds. The end M atone strips. and the portion liflrof zthetopposed end of the :ladinining strip thus extendin opposed, substantially pa allel relation fcrmingspaceszorwchannels aligned with the holes C of a card properly positionedon surface it of said box-like member :10. 3nd and end portion d8 eachbent. intermediate the ends so that they have the high points and 50 respectively narrowing the space between them. When :a pin 36 is inserted into this. space it contacts said high points and spreads the opposed stripends apartthusiorcing and M into contact with the end portion 54 of the opposed contactor thereby closingthe circuitbetween the adjoining member til. :fIhus whena card :26 has been positioned on surface .12 of member iii and blocks bearing the properindicia have been positioned over each :of the groups .of holes in card 24, all of the .pins of the blocks will bealigned with holes in the card and the blocks can-be fully seated. When fully seated the pins .36 of the blocks williproject into said spaces or channels thus completing said electric circuit by closing all the gaps in it thereby actuating lamp ili or a bell or buzzer 58 to signal the correct selection and insertiomin each of the groups of holes provided in card 24, of blocks bearing indicia answering the posed question.

In practice, inorder to prevent the user from seeing the pattern of the holes of each group in the card, and thus be able to select a block on the basis of the disposition of its pins rather than for the indicia borne by the block, I prefer to insert one of the masking cards 26 or 26 over the question card 2%, and the blocks which the player believes bear the indicia for answering the question are selected and placed in position with the long center pins 36 extending through the slots 39 or the slot 32 of the cards 26 or 26* as the case may be, part way into holes C in the card 2 1. No indication is given as to whether each selection is correctly made, and the player does not know whether his selection are correct untilhehasselected allot the letters or numerals or other indicia which he believes are necessary for answering the question i. e.- spelling the word or answering the problem asked. He then pulls out the masking card Z t or 26 in the direction made possible by its slots 30 or respectively, and if the blocks have been correctly selected they may then be fully seated themselves and the key positioning pins 3'4 will enter the smaller holes Kof card 2 and the large pins 36 f the blocks will enter the vlarger holes C and extend into the said spaces or channels thereby closing all the "gaps in the circuit and causing the actuation of the signal.

In Figure 8 a block 69 is shownwhich differs from the block 2b in that its longest pin, 62, is electrically conductive. 'Thebody of block 60 and its key positioning pins 84 maybe made of non conducting material, such for example as plastic; Pin 52, as shown in Figure 9, is embedded in the body of block (it and also embedded in the body of the block in contact with 'pin 62 is the uncovcred end portion of the core 66 of a shunting lead 68. Block 6i! and its shunting lead 68 are used to complete the circuit shown in Figure 12 even though all of thecontactors comprised by the overlapping ends of strips 33 have not been closed.

Thus for example in Figure 1'0 a punched card is shown comprising thirteen sectionswi-th one or more holestherein. The first seven sections reading strum the left are punctured iorblocks bearing the lettersL, I, .N, C, .O, L, .N, and thus when theaproper blocks have been selected and their pins inserted through card 70 they will spell the word !Lincoln. .If this is the correct answer to :acuestion which has been asked, it would be necessaryyusing blocks with the long non-conductive pinssuc'h as pin 36 of block 28, to insert blank blocks in'each'of the six sections of card to beyond "the section covered by the blockwith the letter in order to complete the electrical circuit shown in Figure l2and actuate the lamp 55 orthe buzzer .58. However, using block 60 it is only necessary, as showninFigure 11, to position it over theteighthgroup of hole in'the guide plate 12, with its electrically conductive center pin liZ extending through the card H1 and closing thealigned, overlapping adjacent ends of .contactor strips 38 and to connect the free .end of lead 68 to the lead 14. The five contactors which are:under thefivespaces of cards it at its extreme right as viewed by the reader, and alignedwith the holes 0 in said spaces respectively, are thus shunted out and the circuit completed without them.

By means or the block 6H and shunting lead 68 cards having different numbers of groups of holes can be used in the same device. Thus a card having from one to thirteen groups of holes may be used with a support Surface and guide plate able to take a card with thirteen groups of holes, 'and without having to insert a pin 36 through the holes 0 of all of the unused groups of holes, althoughblank blocks without a shunting lead with a central pin, 62, and key positioningp'ins 'tdmay be provided for this purpose.

In Figures 13-22 an embodiment of the inven tion is shown which is particularly adapted for con-ducting a spelling or other question contest before an audience, as for example in a television show. According to this embodiment a frame 88 is provided comprising the support sur face -82 across which may be fed a strip at hav ing therein a series of groups of combinations of holes and therefore constituting a plurality of cards such as 2-4, or 16, joined end. to end. As shown rolls 86 and 83 are shown supported from opposite lateral margins of frame 88 by brackets -90 and 92,-and strip 84 may be fed from one roll to the other to present a series of groups of hole combinations on said surface 82. Said surface is cut away or slotted with slots 34 as shown in Figures 21-and '22 to permit the pins of blocks '96, "which may be similar to blocks 28 and iii), to be inserted through "holes in the cards comprising strip 64.

In frame "80, front of, and beyond strip 36, windows '98 and are provided labelled Right and Wrong and means are provided for illuminating one orthe other of said u indows, as will be explained.

Bositicned over the surface for example on spacing members Hi2 and its is the guide plate 1 35 which may hesimllar to guide plate II-shown in figure 11. interposed between surface 32 and said guide plate I05, as for example on a. slideway profldecl by the angle members Hi8 and H0, is the masking member or plate H2 having the projections H4 and I i6 extending from tts ends respectively and comprising the upturned ends H5 and 123 respectively. The masking member has a series of patterns of holes I I 9 thereinwhic'h may 'besimilar to the patterns of "holes shown in guide plate l2 (Figure 11) except that "the central hole in each pattern is elongated forming a slot IZI at least as long as twice the diameter of the holes I It.

Projecting up from frame 85, in the near side of surface 82, are the brackets I22 and H4 and pivoted to said brackets are the arms I26 and 52$ supporting between them the cross piece I33 having on its surface, which is its inner surface when closed, the facing strip of resilient material U52, which desirably may be foam rubber or the like. Cross piece it?) and facing strip I32 may be swung through approximately 180 from the open position shown in Figure 13 to the closed position shown in Figures 14 and 15. A

handle its is provided by which cross piece I30 and facing strip i522 may be swung to closed position on top of blocks 35 positioned. on guide plate lilll, or swung to open position. Said handie is more or less Z-shaped and has a finger 53% which projects downwardly from handle I34 when the assembly of which it is a part is in closed position. In this position finger Hi contacts closes apush button switch I33 of an electric circuit shown in Figures 17 and 18. The arms and E23 are angled so that facing strip 532, 1. be broug, 3 into contact substantially simultaneously with the tops of all the blocks 95, selected positioned on guide plate I65.

Blocks so each comprise the key positioning its. to pins of block t (Figure 5) and a longer pin as similar to pin of block 28. When properly selected, according to their indicia, and'positioned on the guide plate H35 these pins are aligned with holes in the card on the support surface 32. However, with masking member H2 in the position indicated in Figures l9 21 the positioning pin lilo will strike the surface of said member between holes M 3 therein. the large pins will extend only part way through slots l and be located at the right end of slots as viewed bythe reader in Figure 3.9. When the masking member is moved from its position in Figure 19 to its position in Figure 20 its holes H9 will become aligned with the key positioning holes in the card and the pin l lo will enter said holes, parcularly since pressed down by strip I32, allowing the longer pins to close all the circuit gaps M22, as shown in Figure 18, thus causing finger 36 to close push button switch I38 and actuating relay are closing the circuit through lamp its behind the window labelled Plight, through th buzzer Hi8.

If,.l:1owever, a vrong block has been selected, as for example one bearing the letter A in place of the cot tratedin rugures l3 and 14, the block bearing the wrong indicia cannot be properly seated even after the maskingplate has been moved to ineffective position. When the facing strip I32 and its assembly is swung to press all the blocks to fully seated position, and the masking plate has been moved to inefiective position as shown in Figure 22, fingerlfiii will depressand close,

a; letter O to spell horse, as illus-.

push button switch I323 but since the circuit 'gap M2 will not be closed by the long pin on the wrong blo which as illustrated is the one bearing the indicium is, actuated. Accordingly a circuit will be closed through lamp lfillbehind the window labelled Wrong, and the circuit through lamp I46 and buzzer M8 will remain open.

Secured on one end of cross member l 30 is an angled contact m mber I52 positioned so that as the assembly of which cross member 138 isa part is swung to closed position it will strike relay I ls will not be the end portion N8 of the projection M4 on the masking member and move it from masking to ineffective position, thus making this clearing movement accomplished automatically with the closing of the assembly of which the facing strip I32 is a part.

By the means disclosed herein the element of suspense is sustained until a contestant has comnumbers of combinations of holes may be em ployed and a signalling circuit nevertheless actuated. And the device has the further advantage that substantially all parts of may be manufactured of plastic thus facilitating large scale production.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a method and apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments might be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In an educational toy, a card supporting surface, a plurality of cards each provided with a plurality of groups of punched holes comprising each a plurality of holes disposed in a distinctive space pattern representative of a particular indicium and a single aperture uniformly positioned in all the groups, said groups of holes on each card being arranged in a predetermined order to represent a sequence of indicia forming the answer to the problem posed by the particular card and each card being separately positionable on said supporting surface, signalling means including an electric circuit having an electrical conductor provided with a plurality of normally open electrical contact elements in se gaging pin receivable in a said aperture and a plurality of code pins disposed in a space pattern corresponding to the group of holes representative of like indicium on said cards and'reeeivable therein, said contact pin being operable to engage and connect said'contact elements when said code pins project into said holes, and a withdrawable card-like shield member superimposable over a said card to cover all the holes therein except said apertures whereby said shield may be withdrawn after all the selected blocks have been assembled with their contact pins engaged in said apertures to allow all properly'selected blocks to be concurrently seated by their. code pinswith their contact pins in. engagement merits.

answer? 2. In an educational toy,- a card supporting surface, a pluralityof cards each provided with a plurality of: groups of punched holes each group comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a distinctive spacepattern representative of a particular indicium'; and a hole to receivaacontact engaging pin, said groups of holes on each card being arranged in a predetermined order to represent a sequence of indicia forming the answer to the problem posed by the particular card and each said being separately position able on said supporting surface, indicia bearing blocks each having pins-projecting therefrom ineluding a plurality of code pins dis-posed in a space pattern corresponding to the group ofholes representative of like indiciuin on saidcards and receivable therein, and a contact engaging pin, a withdrawab'le card-like shield member sup'erimposable over a said card to cover the indicium representing holes therein leaving uncoveredsaid holes for said contact engaging pins respectively, whereby said shield may be withdrawn after all the selected blocks have been assembled above said member with their contact engaging pin's extending into the said holes" provided for them in the card seated on said supportin surface, and signalling means rendered operative by said contact pinsactuable when said member is withdrawn: permitting thecode pins of the blocks forming the answer to the problem posed by said card to enter the holes of the card comprising corresponding space patterns.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 in which said member is slotted in alignment with the con tact engaging pin hole of each group of holes in said card, and said contact engaging pin in each block is longer than its other pins to extend through said slot in said member and into the said contact engaging pin hole in the card while said member is positioned to cover the indicium representing holes in the said card.

4. In an educational toy, a card supporting surface, a plurality of cards each provided with a plurality of groups of punched holes comprising each a plurality of holes disposed in a distinctive space pattern representative of a particular indicium and a single aperture uniformly positioned in all the groups, said groups of holes on each card bein arranged in a predetermined order to represent a sequence of indicia forming the answer to the problem posed by the particular card and each card being separately positionable on said supporting surface, signalling means including an electric circuit having an electrical conductor provided with a plurality of normally open electrical contact elements in series, each of said contact elements being supported by said surface in registry with the said apertures on said cards, indicia bearing blocks having each projecting therefrom a contact engaging pin receivable in a said aperture and a plurality of code pins disposed in a space pattern corresponding to the group of holes representative of like indicium on said cards and receivable therein, said contact pin being operable to engage and connect said contact elements when said code pins project into said holes, a withdraw able card-like shield member superimposable over a said card to cover all the holes therein except said apertures whereby said shield may be withdrawn after all the selected blocks have been assembled with their contact pins engaged in said apertures to allow all properly selected blocks to be concurrently seated by their code 10 pine: with their contact pins in engagement with and connecting their: respective contact elements'; and means to press down simultaneously on all blochs' positioned above said cardafter the holes therein are uncovered by said shield member.

5. The: device claimed" in" claim 4- including means carried-by said block pressing means to actuate said shieldmember to move-and uncover said holes in said 'card.

d. In an educational toy, a card supporting surfaceya plurality of cards each provided with a plurality of groups of: punched holescornp'ris mg each a plurality of holes disposed in: a distinctive space pattern representative or a particular indic'ium and a single aperture uniformly positioned 'in allvthe' groups, said groups of holes oneach card being arrangedin a predetermined order-to represent a sequence of indicia forming the answer to the problem posed by thepdr'tlcular card and each card being: separately posi tionable on said supporting surface, signalling means: including; an electric circuit having an electrical conductor providedwith a plurality. of

Y normally opert electrical contact elements in series; each of said contact elements being sup ported by said: surface iii-registry with the said apertures on said cards iridicia bearing. blocks having, each projecting therefrom a contact-Lengaging pin receivable in a said aperture and a plurality of code pins disposed in a space pattern corresponding to the group of holes representative of like indicium on said cards and receivable therein, said contact pin being operable to engage and connect said contact elements when said code pins project into said holes, and a member positionable over said card to cover said code pin holes, said member being movable to uncover said code pin holes in the card after blocks have been positioned above said card and member, allowing said code pins of properly positioned blocks to enter said holes in the card, said member being perforate and movable from a position in which its perforations are not aligned with holes in the card to a position in which its perforations are aligned with holes in the card.

7. In an educational toy, a card supporting surface, a plurality of cards each provided With a plurality of groups of punched holes comprising each a plurality of holes disposed in a distinctive space pattern representative of a particular indicium and a single aperture uniformly positioned in all the groups, said groups of holes on each card being arranged in a predetermined order to represent a sequence of indicia forming the answer to the problem posed by the particular card and each card being separately positionable on said supporting surface, signalling means including an electric circuit having an electrical conductor provided with a plurality of normally open electrical contact elements in series, each of said contact elements being supported by said surface in registry with the said apertures on said cards, indicia bearing blocks having each projecting therefrom a contact engaging pin receivable in a said aperture and a plurality of code pins disposed in a space pattern corresponding to the group of holes representative of like indicium on said cards and receivable therein, said contact pin being operable to engage and connect said contact elements when said code pins project into said holes, and a member positionable over said card to cover said code pin holes, said member being movable to blocks have been positioned above said card and member, allowing said code pinslof properly positioned blocks to enter said holes in the card, and a member hinged to said means for supporting a card and movable into position to simultaneously urge toward the card all the blocks positioned above said card after movement of said member to uncover holes in the card.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 including means carried by said hinged member coactive with said member to move it from hole covering to hole uncovering position.

9. In an educational toy, a card supporting surface, a plurality of cards each provided with a plurality of groups of punched holes comprising each a plurality of holes disposed in a distinctive space pattern representative of a particular indicium and a single aperture uniformly positioned in all the groups, said groups of holes on each card being arranged in a predetermined order to represent a sequence of indicia forming the answer to the problem posed by the particular card and each card being separately positionable on said supporting surface, signalling means including an electric circuit having an electrical conductor provided with a plurality of normally open electrical contact elements in series, each of said contact elements being supported by said surface in registry with the said apertures on said cards, indicia bearing blocks having each projecting therefrom a contact engaging pin receivable in a said aperture and a plurality of code pins disposed in a space pattern corresponding to the group of holes representative of like indicium on said cards and receivable therein, said contact pin being operable to engage and connect said contact elements when said code pins project into saidholes, and a member positionable over said card to cover said code pin holes, said member being movable to uncover said code pin holes in the card after blocks have been positioned above said card and member, allowing said code pins of properly positioned blocks to enter said holes in the card, and means for moving said card step by step across said means for supporting the card.

FRANK R. COMPOST'Q.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,505,230 Composto Apr. 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 569,331 Great Britain May 17, 1945 616,055 Great Britain Jan. '14, 1949

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