US2689416A - Hand tachistoscope - Google Patents

Description

S p 1954 J. STOYANOFF HAND TACHISTOSCOPE Filed Nov. 8, 1952 even this month FIG.3.

- INVENTOR. LOUIS J. STOYANQFF WWW A TORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND TACHISTOSGOPE Louis J. Stoyanofi, Brentwood, Mo. Application Nov-ember 8, 1952, Serial No. 319,531

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for aiding in rapid reading training and consists particularly in a novel hand operated tachistoscope.

A tachistoscope is a type of reading training device which causes rapid, momentary exposure to view of a figure, word, number, or the like to test and train the users ability to perceive the nature and/or meaning of the matter viewed under such conditions. However, most rapid reading training devices are too complicated and expensive for use by individual students and, thus, require the formation of classes. According to my present invention, which avoids this difficulty, an effective, simple, and inexpensive tachistoscope is constructed of a pack of laterally resilient leaves or cards, bound at one end and free at the other, with provision for ready insertion of a marked card intermediately in the pack, the unit being adapted for rapid, momentary exposure of the marked card when the pack is flexed and the cards serially released or flipped at their free ends.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bound pack of cards lying face down and ready for insertion of a marked card.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a stack of marked cards which may be consecutively inserted intermediately into the bound pack of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the front face of the bound pack, portions being broken away to illustrate the structure for receiving and positioning an inserted card.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the bound pack with a different card insert in position and being flipped in the normal manner of usage.

The novel tachistoscopic device consists of a pack of cards l, stapled together at one end, as at t, and individually free at the other. Intermediately of the pack, at the bound end, there is provided a cut-off card or spacer 9, also stapled at 83, which provides a recess [0 for reception of a marked, unbound card to complete the tachistoscope. A free edge of one of the bound cards, adjacent recess It, is provided with a distinctive marking E i to facilitate location of the recess and insertion of the marked card thereinto. Fig. 3 shows an unbound card carrying a tachistoscopic legend properly inserted within the recess ID with its inner edge abutting spacer 9. This card extends slightly beyond the flush side edges of the bound pack, as indicated at I2, to facilitate withdrawal of the marked card preparatory to insertion of another. All of the free ends l3 of the bound and unbound cards are flush in the operative assembly.

In the use of the device, the bound pack, with the cards on opposite sides of recess l0 slightly flexed outwardly so as to take a set, as indicated in Fig. i, is laid face down on a surface or grasped in this position by the user. A stack of marked, unbound cards [4 is then placed face down adjacent the end of the bound card pack, as in Fig. 2. The marked cards may then be inserted, one at a time, in the recess provided therefor. Thereupon,

the pack is turned with face up, gripped at the stapled end, and the free ends of the cards flexed laterally, as in Figs. 4 and 5, and then serially released from under the grip of the thumb, for instance, to rapidly and momentarily expose the upper faces of the cards, including the marked, unbound card. As shown in Fig. 4, one or more 01 the bound cards may be provided with warning markings, as at l5, while the remaining bound cards, including those intervening between warning markings and the marked, unbound card will be blank.

Upon flipping the cards, the effect will be to momentarily expose to view the warning symbols and then the marking or legend which it is sought to impress upon the mind of the observer. Figs. 4 and 5 show a diiferent unbound card, bearing a number, inserted within the bound pack. The student may indefinitely vary the tachistoscopic exposures and, thus, train himself in rapid perception, as is necessary in reading training. According to the procedure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the user will not have a previous view of the particular card inserted within the pack. Of course, the rapidity with which the cards are flipped determines the duration of the exposure of the tachistoscopic marking. Also, the length of exposure may be increased by providing'a plurality of identically marked card inserts.

The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. A tachistoscope comprising a pack of laterally resilient cards bound at one end and individually free and substantially flush at the other, there being a bound spacer between a pair of adjacent cards providing a recess, and an unbound card slidable in said recess and bearing a mark on one face, corresponding faces of the adjacent, bound cards being blank whereby said marked face may be exposed momentarily upon flexing and serial flipping of the cards.

2. A tachistoscope as described in claim 1 in which the end of one of the cards adjacent said recess bears a distinct marking to facilitate location of said recess for insertion of said unbound card thereinto.

3. A tachistoscope as described in claim 1 in which said bound cards present flush sides and ends, said unbound card, when fully inserted in said recess projecting slightly beyond the side edges of the bound cards to facilitate removal thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,699 Keen May 14, 1907 865,593 Jenkins Sept. 10, 1907 1,869,522 Stader Aug. 2, 1932 2,252,725 Peck Aug. 19, 1941

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