US2740206A

US2740206A - Educational blackboard

Info

Publication number: US2740206A
Application number: US320755A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schatz Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-11-15
Filing date: 1952-11-15
Publication date: 1956-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-04-03

Description

April 1955 J. SCHATZ EDUCATIONAL BLACKBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1952 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH SCHATZ 3 l 4 P I l V 51\ N P RsTUv X 6 mo uvn nxv z alv JKbMNOPQRS dKL NOPQRSTU BY FIG. 2

April 3, 1956 J. SCHATZ EDUCATIONAL BLACKBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. JOSEPH SCHAT ATTORNEY 3Y1 .1.] %4 5. FLFLFLFLFLFIFLFLFLFL m FBGDEFGH JKLMNOPQR TUVWXYZ 234567690 3241 G United States Fatent 1 2,740,206 EDUCATIONAL BLACKBOARD Joseph Schatz, Malden, Mass. Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,755 3 Claims. (Cl. 35-62) The present invention relates to an improvement for an educational blackboard, described in my prior issue Patent No. 2,494,362, and in particular to the operating means and the construction and assembly of the device as a whole.

In the present device as in the prior patent, words may be spelled out by letters. In the present invention, however, the columns of letters in all cases are turned by a single crank, selection of the column being controlled by sliding an indicator directly under the column in front of the black-board instead of manipulating each column from the rear or from some other position.

Further and other advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from the description in the specification set forth below when taken in connection with the drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a part of the invention with the black-board forming the cover and window openings removed.

Figure 2 shows a respective view of the invention as seen from the front and side.

Figure 3 shows a detail substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a view of the column of letters on a tape laid out flat.

Figure 5 shows a view of a further tape upon which illustrations may be placed also developed and shown in a flat view.

Figure 6 shows a section taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figures 7 shows a perspective view of a detail of the operating mechanism for carrying and turning the tapes upon which the letters are displayed.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a detail of the operating mechanism for carrying and turning the tapes upon which the letters are displayed.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a detail of the operating mechanism for carrying and turning the tape upon which the figure is displayed, and,

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the mechanism for manually turning the selected top columns of the device.

In the arrangement indicated in the figures, Figure 2 shows an easel black-board 1 which comprises a front frame 2, which has two side supporting uprights 3 and 4 and other cross member supports which include a top cap member 5 and lower cross supports 6, as well as cross supports 7 and S, which together with the side mem bers 3 and 4 define a central frame which contains all the movable letters and illustrated drawings which will be described later.

Between the cross support 8 at the bottom of the blackboard frame and the lower support 6, there is provided an adjustable table element 9 which is pivoted at its top end by pivoting

links

10 and 11 secured on either side of the upri ht frame elements 3 and 4. Towards the outer end of the table element, at the sides, are pairs of pivoting

links

12 and 13 which are linked together and may be unfolded to alignment 180 so that the table may be substantially horizontal when in an open position. The easel frame is collapsible since the back supporting frame piece 13' is pivoted at each side of the front section of the easel to the beams 3 and 4 respectively by means of the pivoting bracket 14 towards the top end 2,740,206 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 2 of the easel. A pair of pivoted folding fingers 15 and 16 extending from the side frame beams 3 and 4 to the side supports 17 of the frame support 13' support the whole stand in an upright position. The child may sit in front of the black-board, using the table 9 as a writing board, and he may put his feet upon the cross support or beam 6. This brings him close enough to the board to operate the crank handle lltl which turns a rod 19 (see Figure l) for changing any of the letters in the window openings 20, in the black-board 21 as will be more fully explained below.

The space behind the black-board 21, between the up right frame members 3 and 4, is provided with a vertical partition 22 which serves to support one of the ends of each of the

rods

23 and 24 which carry the strip or tape 25 (see Figure 5) upon which are illustrations of animals, scenes and drawings of any desired description. This strip is formed as an endless belt over the

rollers

26 and 27 and the lower roller 26 has the rod 24 projecting through the side beam or frame arms 4 at the end of.

which there is attached a knob 28 for turning the roller. The roller is preferably provided with a frictional surface and the endless belt is stretched tightly enough so that when the knob 28 is turned any desired picture 29 or figure may be aligned in the window opening 30. Mounted on the top cross supporting member 5 on its inner face and hanging downward, are two

right angle brackets

31 and 32, which are secured on the under-face of the cross beam 5 and which carry in their vertical depending elements, a rod 33. This rod 33 carries a series of rolls 34 (see Figure 8) which are slid over the rods 31 and may be each rotated independently on the rod 31. If necessary a small washer may be added at one end of the array so that there is no longitudinal motion of the rolls along the rod 33. Any other means may be used to keep the rolls 34 in substantially the same posi-- tion on the shaft or rod 33. The rolls 34 may be of material which is self lubricating and should easily turn on the shaft 33. The rolls 34 have two

flange members

35 and 36 which are spaced apart on the roll 34 a distance equal to the width of the tape 37 carrying the letters or any other desired insignia. The tape 37, when made up and mounted, is in the form of an endless belt and passes over the roller 34 between the

flanges

35 and 36. The roll 34 has an end extension or collar 38 which spaces the roll from the next roll for proper alignment of the various columns. If desired the elements 38 may be independent of the rest of the roll and simply act as a washer between two successive rolls. At the lower end of the opening in which the letters and illustrations are carried, there is provided an opening housing 39 (see Figure 10), which includes a base plate 40 with two mounting screws or bolts passing through the holes 41 in side flanges 42 of the base plate. The housing is formed with a back upwardly extending wall 43 and

end walls

44 and 45 and a front wall 46 joined in a rectangular frame and securely attached to the base wall or plate 40. The front wall 46 has a slot 47 running its whole length providing an opening from the surface of the bottom 40 to the edge of the front wall 46. In the lower edge 48 of the front wall 46, there are provided a series of recesses 49 for aligning the operating mechanism, as will be presently described.

A fixed shaft or rod 50 is secured between the

end walls

44, and 45, and these carry a series of rollers 51 (see Figures 7 and 10), which at one end have a spur gear 52 and near the other end a flange 53 so that the tape 37 may be received on the roller 51 between the spur gear 52 and the flange 53. An end collar 54 extending from the other end of the flange 53 serves as a spacing member between successive rollers in the same 3 manner as described in.,.connection with the roller 34 of Fis s .7.

The various rollers 51 each carrying the spur gears 52 have the same spacing alignment as the rollers 34 on the shaft 33. Each'roller 51 with its spur gear 52 is fixed in place in any suitable manner as by packing the rollers one opposite the other with the end washers between the end walls on the shaft 50, or the shaft 50 may have a slightly punched oifset to prevent the rollers from moving longitudinally on the shaft 50. The rollers however are free to turn on the shaft 50 and for this purpose may be a material formed with a self lubricating hearing.

The

upright end walls

44 and 45 also carry the rod 19 which is journalled in the

side walls

44 and 45 and may be turned by means of a turning crank 18. The rod 19 in the section 55 within the bearing support may be made with a square cross section so that the sleeve 56 which slides over the section 55 may turn with it when the handle 18 is turned. This sleeve has fixed on its outer side the gear 57 which is in position to mesh with the gear 52 and turn any of the rolls 51. The flange 53 is smaller than the gear 52 so that the gear 57 may be moved longitudinally along the shaft 55 but engage in any of the gears 52. This is accomplished by means of a plate 58 which has a slot 59 through it just the width of the gear 57 and sufiiciently long to permit the gear to be rotated with the sleeve 56 through the slot. The plate 58 is held upward against the sleeve 56 by means of a bowed spring 60 the ends of which rest freely near the forward edge of the plate 40 of the housing or frame, in which the whole operating mechanism is supported. It will be evident therefore that the plate 58 may be moved lengthwise along the slot 48 for engaging the gear 57 with the corresponding gear 52 of any of the rolls. In moving the plate 58 along the slot, the handle end 61 of the plate 58 is bent downward against the action of the spring 60 to first depress the upwardly projecting boss or finger 62 which is shaped to engage in any of the slots 49 for fixing the gear 57 in its proper position. When finger 62 engages in the slot or recesses 49, the gear 57 is properly aligned with one of the gears 52. The sleeve 56 is suificiently long to prevent any wobble in the gear 57 and the member 62 will align the two gears to mesh in the same plane so that by turning the handle 18, the roll 51 is properly rotated. The tape 37 is formed in an endless fashion about the

rollers

51 and 34 and tensioned sufficiently so that rotation of the rod 18 will easily move the tape from one position to another.

Behind the window opening for the series of tapes, there is a plate 63, which is held by the side angle brackets 64 to the side uprights 3 and 4. The plate 63 may have two end extending flanges 65 so that the tape will slide freely over the face of the plate and be presented close to the window opening so that there will be no difliculty of seeing letters or insignia, from any angle.

In the operation of the device, the child simply sets the handle 61 of the indicator in vertical alignment with any one of the window openings 20. This is done by pressing the handle 61 down and then moving it along until it comes into the notch 49 which is in alignment with the desired window opening. Cranking the handle 18, then the desired letter may be brought in position in front of the window. The handle 28 may also be turned to bring the desired figure in the window 30. For associating words with figures, a drawing of a kitten, for instance, may be displayed in the window, when the word kitten is supplied in the letters.

The device is also usable as a desk for the child or as a black-board, simply by lowering the table member 9 into the same plane as the side supports 3 and 4.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A writing board device comprising a comparatively flat hollow rectangular casing having a front wall with window openings therethrough, a pair of parallel shafts ssrss o n ed. O tpn and. ott m o ai can; ing behind said front wall a plurality of pairs of feed rollers rotatably mounted on said shafts in transverse alignment, an endless tape supported on each pair of rollers, the rollers on one of said shafts each having a similar spur gear secured thereto, a third shaft positioned parallel to the shaft with the spur gears thereon, means for rotating said third shaft a pinion slidable on said third shaft and rotatable therewith, and means for aligning and holding said pinion in mesh with any of said spur gears including a slot in said casing parallel to said shafts having a series of transversely spaced notches aligned with said spur gears, a lever extending through said slot and pivotally embracing said pinion, and spring means urging said lever towards said notches, whereby said lever may be manually moved to and held in any selected notch to engage the pinion with a selected spur gear.

2. A writing board device comprising a comparatively flat hollow rectangular casing having a front wall with window openings .therethrough, a pair of parallel shafts respectively mounted on the top and bottom of said casing behind said front wall a plurality of pairs of feed rollers rotatably .mounted on said shafts in transverse alignment, an endless tape supported on each pair of rollers, the rollers on one of said shafts each having a similar spur gear secured thereto a third shaft positioned parallel to the shaft with the spur gears thereon, means for rotating said third shaft a pinion slidable on said third shaft and rotatable therewith, and means for aligning and holding said pinion in mesh with any of said spur gears, comprising a plate member having a slot therein with the sides thereof adjacent the sides of said pinion, means providing a slot longitudinally of said third shaft along which said plate member may be moved, said plate member having a handle extended in front of the front wall of the board whereby said plate member may be selectively positioned for intermeshing said pinion with any one of said spur gears.

3. A writing board device comprising a comparatively fiat hollow rectangular casing having a frontwall with window openings therethrough, a pair of parallel shafts respectively mounted on the top and bottom of said casing behind said front walla plurality of pairs of feed rollers rotatably mounted on said shafts in transverse alignment, an endless tape supported on each pair of rollers, the rollers on one of said shafts each having a similar spur gear secured thereto, a third shaft positioned parallel to the shaft with the spur gears thereon, means for rotating said third shaft a pinion slidable on said third shaft and rotatable therewith, and means for aligning and holding said pinion in mesh with any of said spur gears comprising a plate member having a slot therein with the sides thereof embracing the sides of saidpinion, means providing a slot longitudinally of; said third shaft with recesses associated one with each of said spur gears along which slot said plate member may be moved, said plate member having a handlecx tending in front of the front wall of the board and a finger adapted to engage any one of said recesses, and spring means for retaining said finger in any one of said recesses wherebysaid plate member may be selectively positioned for intermeshing said pinion with any one of said spur gears.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,758 Skinner Feb. 20, 1866 1,674,553 Jones June 19, 1928 2,494,362 Schatz Ian. 10, 1950 2,575,866 H. A. De Valle-Arizpe Nov. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 32,073 Holland Feb. 15, 1934