US3487558A

US3487558A - Teaching machine toy having oral stimuli and oral reinforcers

Info

Publication number: US3487558A
Application number: US650669A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael E Golden; John H Goetz; James F Munday; John W Ryan; John G Tomkinson
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1967-07-03
Filing date: 1967-07-03
Publication date: 1970-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-06
Also published as: GB1200964A; DE1772780A1; FR1575970A

Description

Jan. 6, 1970 M. E. GOLDEN ET AL TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filed July 5.

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3 M a M 3 1970 M. E. GOLDEN ET-AL ,487,558

TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORGERS Filed July 5. 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 6, 1970 M. E. GOLDEN ETAL 3,487,558

TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filed July 5, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Arvin/r025 MICHAEL E GOLDEN J'OA A/ GOETZ JAMES F MU/VO/I JOfl/V [4/ PYA/V JOHN G. TOM/(lA/SO/V or 0% M I 1775051;

Jam 6, 9 M. E. GOLDEN ETAL 3,487,558

TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filed July 5, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 /A/ VIM)?! M/C/MEZ E GOLDEN JOHN H. @0572 JAMES F MU/VDAY JOHN W RYAN JOHN GVTOMM/V-SON ITTdP/Vi/S 0& wrw

Jan. 6, 1970 M. E. GOLDEN E'I'AL 3,487,558

TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filed July 5, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 MENMW .M W MP2. PW F T um W MWMWW MN $Q Qvww MJMWW NW\\Q\\\RSRA Q N\\ R Q\ w Jan. 6, 1970 M. E. GOLDEN ET AL 3,487,558

TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filed July 5, 196'? s Sheets-Sheet e Alvarrvr:

MIC/445A E GOLDEN JOHN 6 60.672 JZMES FMUA/OAY JOHN W, Pm/V & 1

11111.6 1970 M. E. GOLDEN ETAL 87,558

TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filed Jul 5, 1967 a Shets-Sheet v Ava-#702: M/CA/AEL 7 GOLDEN JOHN H 607Z JAMES F MONDAY JOHN M EVA/V qw/A/ G TOMK/NSON Jan. 6, 1970 M.- E. GOLDEN ETA'L 3,487,558

TEAcHI-NG MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Filled July 5, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet R /A/V/V7'F5 MICHAEL E. GOLDEN JOHN H. GOETZ JAMES F. MU/VDAY \TOH/V IM PyA/V JOHN G. TOMKl/VSO/V tar/7% MM United States Patent 3,487,558 TEACHING MACHINE TOY HAVING ORAL STIMULI AND ORAL REINFORCERS Michael E. Golden, Los Angeles, John H. Goetz, Sherman Oaks, James F. Munday, South Gate, John W. Ryan, Los Angeles, and John G. Tomkiuson, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif., assiguors to Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,669

Int. Cl. G09b 7/02 U.S. Cl. 35-9 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Graphic stimuli at least one of which constitutes an appropriate response to oral stimuli recorded on a phonograph record positionable in apparatus capable of playing the record to ask a question when energized. The graphic stimuli comprise pictures and are provided with an aperture adjacent each picture so that the question may be answered by probing an aperture. If the correct aperture is selected, a continuation of the record groove containing the question plays a positive reinforcement. If an incorrect aperture is selected, the tone arm is positioned at another record groove which plays a negative reinforcement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention is set forth in two parts.

Field of the invention The present invention pertains generally to the field of teaching machine toys and more particularly to a simple, inexpensive toy teaching machine having oral stimuli and oral reinforcers provided on recorded-message carrier means.

Description of the prior art Simple, inexpensive toy teaching machines are known. Such machines include a stimulus in the form of a question, a response in the form of some manipulative action on the part of a child-user and a reinforcer inthe form of a bell, a light, a printed card or the like. If the machine is designed for preschool children who do not read, the stimulus-question is implicit. For example, when a cat comes into view in a window, the child may select a correct answer by pushing a button having another picture of a cat on it. Reinforcement then comes by either having yet another picture of a cat come into view in a window or by having a bell ring or a light flash.

Other prior art machines are designed for children who can read. These machines are capable of asking questions explicitly by displaying them on written cards. Answers may be reinforced by having the machine display another written card or by means of bells or lights.

These prior art machines do have certain disadvantages.

One disadvantage resides in the fact that the correct answer is usually in the same position on the machine so that a child may readily memorize this position and get a correct answer without mastering the question on the replaceable card or the changeable program.

Another disadvantage resides in the fact that prior art machines typically have but a single correct answer for a particular question causing the child to rapidly lose interest in the machine because he receives mostly negative reinforcements when he first uses the machine by virtue of the fact that each question has several incorrect answer and only one correct answer.

3,487,558 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 ice SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of toy teaching machines, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful toy teaching machine no subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having oral stimuli and oral reinforcers especially designed for teaching preschool children rapidly and efficiently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy teaching machine which includes a recorded-message carrier means comprising first sound track means having an oral, discriminative stimulus recorded thereon, a second sound track means having a positive, oral reinforcer recorded thereon and third sound track means having a negative oral reinforcer recorded thereon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toy of the type described which includes predetermined stimuli which is both oral and graphic.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a teaching machine which includes feedback means for giving a user of the device a new, oral, discriminative stimulus following an oral reinforcer.

According to the present invention, a simple, inexpensive toy teaching machine having oral stimuli and oral reinforcers is provided. The toy includes sound reproducing means for reproducing recorded sounds. The sound reproducing means includes a sound pickup means in the form of a phonograph tone arm positionable on a recorded-message carrier means to pick up sounds recorded thereon.

The machine also includes a recorded-message carrier means including first sound track means having an oral, discriminative stimulus recorded thereon, second sound track means having a first oral reinforcer recorded thereon and a third sound track means having a second oral reinforcer recorded thereon. The oral, discriminative stimulus may be in the form of a question or an instruction to a child-user of the machine. The first oral reinforcer may comprise a positive reinforcement for informing the child-user of the appropriateness of his response to predetermined stimuli comprising both the oral, discriminative stimulus and a graphic stimulus. The second oral reinforcer constitutes (1) a negative reinforcement for informing the child-user of the inappropriateness of his response to the predetermined stimuli and (2) a new and perhaps more explicit discriminative stimulus to assist the child in making an appropriate response when the same question is presented again.

The toy also includes means for presenting the graphic stimulus in the form of a plurality of graphic portions including at least one appropriate response and at least one inappropriate response through which the child-user responds to the oral, discriminative stimulus by making a response involving discrimination including the selection of at least one of the graphic portions. The means for presenting the graphic stimulus may comprise a jacket for the recorded-message carrier means which may conveniently comprise a phonograph record. The jacket is positionable on the teaching machine and includes an aperture adjacent each graphic portion. These apertures may be probed by a sensng means for sensing a suitable response.

The machine also includes means responsive to the sensing means for causing the pickup means to pick up the sounds from one of the oral reinforcers. These responsive means comprise a first connecting means connecting the pickup means to the second sound track when the user senses an appropriate response and second connecting means connecting the pickup means to the third sound track when the user senses an inappropriate response.

. The features of the present invention which are believed'to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy teaching machine constituting a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, plan view of the machine of FIGURE 1 with the top panel thereof broken away to show internal construction and with the electrical circuits thereof shown somewhat schematically;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the machine of FIGURE 1 with portions of the top and side panels thereof broken away to show internal construction;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, partial perspective view showing details of construction of an indexing mechanism used in the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional View taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, partial cross-section view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, plan view of a recordedmessage carrier used in the machine of FIGURE 1 with parts broken away to show an electrical switch and its associated actuating mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the recorded-message carrier of FIGURE 7 schematically showing a plurality of sound tracks provided thereon;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, with parts broken away to show internal construction, of a machine constituting a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is an exploded, schematic view showing an electrical circuit and a recorded-message carrier used in the machine shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view, with parts broken away to show internal construction, of a teaching machine constituting a third embodiment .of the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 1212 of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIGURE 11;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1-8, a simple, inexpensive toy teaching machine constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a sound reproducing means 12 for reproducing sounds recorded on a recorded-message carrier means 14. The recordedmessage carrier means 14 may have one or more sound bands provided thereon and is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as being provided with three

sound bands

16, 18 and 20. The sound band 16 is shown schematically in FIGURE 8 as being representative of all three sound bands and includes first, second and third sound track means 22, 24, and 26.

The hird sound track means 26 cons u es a c n inuation of the first track means 22 forming a composite track means which is interleaved with the second track means 24. The first track means 22 has an oral, discriminative stimulus recorded thereon having a point of beginning 28 at the outer periphery of sound band 16 and a terminus 30 lying 180 around sound band 16 from the point of beginning 28. The terminus 30 also constitutes the point of beginning for the third sound track means 26 which, in-turn, has a terminus 32 lying on the inner periphery of sound band 16 180 away from the terminus 30 radially inwardly from the point of beginning 28. The second sound track means 24 has a first oral reinforcer recorded thereon for informing a user of toy 10 of the appropriateness of his response to predetermined stimuli and has a point of beginning 34 positioned on the outer periphery of sound band 16 180 away from the point of beginning 28 and radially outwardly from the terminus 30. The third sound track means 26 has a second oral reinforcer recorded thereon for informing the user of the toy 10 of the inappropriateness of his response to the predetermined stimuli. This predetermined stimuli comprises the oral, discriminative stimulus recorded on the first sound track means 22 and a graphic stimulus 36 printed on a page 38 of a book 40 having two additional pages 42 and 44. The

pages

38, 42 and 44 each have a different graphic stimulus which is appropriate for the oral stimulus recorded on a sound track 22 for only one of the

sound bands

16, 18 and 20. The graphic stimulus 36 may have a plurality of portions, such as the four

portions

46, 48, 50 and 52 shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation. The graphic portions include at least one appropriate response and at least one inappropriate response to the oral, discriminative stimulus recorded on an applicable first sound track means 22. The

graphic portions

46, 48, 50 and 52 constitute means through which the user of toy 10 responds to the oral, discriminative stimulus by making a response involving discrimination including the selection of at least one of the graphic portions. This selection may be made with a sensing means 54 having a probe 56 engageable in an aperture 58 provided in book 40 adjacent each portion of the graphic stimulus 3-6.

The toy 10 also includes a means, generally designated 60, which is responsive to the sensing means 54 for causing a suitable pickup means 62 to pick up the sounds from one of the oral reinforcers. The responsive means 60 comprises a first energizing means 64 operatively associating the pickup means 62 with the second sound track 24 when the user senses an appropriate response and a second energizing means 66 (FIGURE 2) operatively associating the pickup means 62 with the third sound track 26 when the user senses an inappropriate response.

The pickup means 62 forms part of the sound reproducing means 12 and includes a tone arm 68 having a first end 70 pivotally connected to an indexing arm 72 and a second end 74 which carries a depending phonograph needle 76 and an upstanding cylindrical member 78. Sonic vibrations from the needle 76 are transmitted to a speaker cone 80 throughthe cylindrical member 78 and a similar cylindrical member- 82 carried by the speaker cone 80. The speaker cone 80 is carried by a swingable lever 84 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends 86 and 88 by a pivot pin 89 connecting lever 84 to a bracket 90 carried by the indexing arm 72. The cylindrical member 82 is biased into engagement with the cylindrical member 78 by a compression spring 92 having a first end 94 hearing against indexing arm 72 and a second end 96 bearing against the end 86 of lever 84. The spring 92 also maintains the needle 76 in proper engagement with the recorded-message carrier means 14 and may be overcome by a first lifting lever 98 which forms part of the responsive means 60 and which includes a curved end 100 extending over recorded-message carrier means 14 and a straight end 102 extending under the end 88 of lever 84. The spring 92 may also be overcome by a second lifting lever 104 having a first end 106 positioned under end 88 of lever 84 and a second end 108 extending into operative association with a slot 110 provided in an actuating button 112. The first lifting lever 98 is pivotally connected to a bracket 114 by a pivot pin 116 and is swung to lift lever 84 when a plate 118 (forming part of the responsive means 60) is depressed by probe 56. The bracket 114 is afiixed to an upstanding member 119 having a first end 120 affixed to the indexing arm 72 and a second end 122 supporting a first end 123 of an arcuate member 124 having a second end 126 supported by an upstanding member 128 carried by the indexing arm 72. The second lifting lever 104 is swingably mounted on indexing arm 72 by a pivot pin 130 having its ends engaged in a pair of upstanding lu-

gs

132, 134 which are carried by the indexing arm 72. When lever 84 is lifted, a return spring 136 (forming part of the first energizing means 64) swings tone arm 68 in a counterclockwise direction about its mounting pin 138, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to position needle 76 over the outer periphery of whichever sound band is beneath indexing arm 72. This will position needle 76 to play either the first sound track means 22 or the second sound track means 24, depending on the rotated position of the recorded-message carrier means 14. The actuating button 112 is associated wth means to be hereinafter described in detail which preclude the playing of recorded-message carrier means 14 unless starting point 28 of sound track means 22 is in position under needle 76. Plate 118 and lifting lever 98 are operatively associated with means to be hereinafter described which prevent playing of recorded-message carrier means 14 unless starting point 34 of sound track means 24 is in playing position beneath needle 76 when it is returned by swinging lever 98 to lift speaker cone 80 from tone arm 68.

The toy includes a housing 140 having a bottom wall 142, a pair of

end walls

144, 146, a pair of

side walls

148, 150 and a top wall 152. The top wall 152 is provided with a rectangular opening 154 which may be closed by a removable, top panel 156 which may be sup ported in opening 154 by a peripheral ledge 158. The panel 118 is supported in housing 140 by a pair of

arms

160, 162 each having an end 164 pivotally connected to bottom wall 142 by a pivot pin 166 and a bracket 168. The other end 170 of each

arm

160, 162 is provided with an elongated slot 172 receiving an associated crank finger 174 carried by a crank 176 rotatably connected to bottom wall 142 by a pair of bushings 178, 180. The weight of plate 118 is relieved from lifting lever 98 by a compression spring 182 having a first end 184 seated on a cylindrical boss 186 provided on bottom wall 142 and an upper end 188 seated on a cylindrical boss 190 depending from plate 118.

A template 192 is reciprocally mounted in housing 140 between top panel 156 and plate 118 on a pair of parallel ways 194, 196 (FIGURE 3) extending inwardly from

side walls

150, 148, respectively. The template 192 is provided with a plurality of apertures 198 through which access may be had to plate 118 by probe 56, providing an aperture 58 in book 40 is aligned with an aperture 198 in template 192. This alignment may be controlled by sliding plate 192 with respect to book 40 so that

different apertures

198 and 58 will come into play for each page of book 40, thereby minimizing the likelihood that a child-user of toy 10 will memorize the location of apertures 58 which constitute an appropriate response to the oral stimulus recorded on sound track means 22. Thus, the appropriateness of a particular response will be attested to by the fact that probe 56 passes through an aperture 58 and an aperture 198 and engages plate 118. The template 192 is connected to the arcuate member 124 by a link 200 so that template 192 will be repositioned each time index arm 72 is indexed for the purpose of positioning needle 76 over a different sound band.

Referring now more in particular to FIGURES 4 and 5, the indexing arm 72 includes a first end 202 which carries a depending cup 204 having an encompassing side wall 206 and a closed bottom wall 208 rotatably received in a cup 210 which is affixed to bottom wall 142 for swingably mounting arm 72 in housing 140. The end 202 also carries an upstanding post 212 which is spaced from the

brackets

132, 134 for supporting a plate 214 in which actuating button 112 is mounted. The button 112 includes a cylindrical portion 216 which extends into cup 204 and which carries a plate 218 receiving the upper end 220 of a compression spring 222 having a lower end 224 bearing against bottom wall 208. The spring 222 constitutes a return spring for button 112 biasing its flange 111 into engagement with plate 214. The arm 72 also includes a second end 226 which carries a finger 228 supporting end 226 on an arcuate, toothed rack 230 having a plurality of indexing teeth 232 provided thereon. The teeth 232 are engageable by an indexing finger 234 swingably mounted on end 226 by a pivot pin 236 for indexing end 226 of arm 72 one tooth to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, in the direction of arrow 238 each time finger 234 is swung in a counterclockwise direction by an actuating rod 240. The rod 240 includes a first end 242 which is connected to finger 234 and a second end 244 which is connected to one end 245 of a bellcrank 246 having another end 247 pivotally connected to end 202 of arm 72 by a pivot pin 248. A frusto-conical member 250 is provided on actuating button 112 for swinging bellcrank 246 about pivot pin 248 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to pull finger 234 through its indexing operation when button 112 is depressed. However, member 250 will not engage bellcrank 246 when button 112 is depressed unless a trigger 252 is first actuated to release bellcrank 246 permitting it to move to a position where it is engageable by member 250.

The trigger 252 includes a first end 254 which is pivotally connected to end 202 of arm 72 by a pin 256 and a second end 258 which is biased downwardly toward arm 72 by a spring 260 having a body portion 262 encompassing pin 130, a first arm 264 bearing against plate 214 and a second arm 266 bearing against end 258 of trigger 252. Trigger 252 includes a lip 268 which is engaged by bellcrank 246 when end 258 of trigger 252 is in its downwardly-biased position under the influence of spring 260. Lip 268 may be lifted out of engagement with bellcrank 246 by a rod 270 having a first end 272 extending through an aperture 274 provided in trigger 252, an intermediate portion 275 teetered in a bracket 276 and a looped end 278 extending beneath an actuating member 280 (FIGURE 3) carried by plate 118. The actuating member 280 depresses looped end 278 each time plate 118 is depressed causing rod 270 to teeter in bracket 276 so that end 272 of rod 270 will lift lip 268 out of engagement with crank 246 permitting it to move to a position where it is engageable by member 250 when button 112 is depressed. Crank 246 is pulled to this position through rod 240- and finger 234 by a spring 282 having one end 284 (FIGURE 2) connected to finger 234 and another end 286 connected to arm 72 for indexing finger 234 one tooth to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, each time trigger 252 is lifted by rod 270.

Arm 72 is automatically returned to a point of beginning after being indexed past the last tooth 288 (FIG- URE 4) by a return spring 290 having one end 292 connected to a lug 294 affixed to bottom wall 142 of housing and a second end 296 connected to a lug 298 carried by arm 72. When finger 234 is indexed past tooth 288, finger 234 rides up onto a wire bail 299 carried by a bridge 300 supported above bottom wall 142 by a pair of

posts

302, 304, The bridge 300 includes an arcuate top wall 306 which is provided with an opening 308 adapted to receive finger 228 when it is lifted by indexing finger 234 riding up onto bail 299. The

fingers

228 and 234 then ride across wall 306 to a slot 310 provided therein and pass downwardly through slot 310 onto end 312 of arcuate member 230. A stop member 314 is mounted on top wall 306 and extends above slot 310 to prevent

fingers

228 and 234 from moving past slot 310. The indexing arm 72 is provided with an elongated slot 316 (FIGURE 3) through which needle 76 extends into engagement with recorded-rnessage carrier means 14.

Referring now more in particular to FIGURES 2-5, the recorded-message carrier means 14 may conveniently comprise a phonograph record of the disc type and may be rotated by a turntable 320 rotatably mounted in housing 140 on a spindle 322 which is afiixed to bottom wall 142. The turntable 320 is provided with a peripheral groove 324 receiving a belt 326 trained about a pulley 328 aflixed to an output shaft 330 on an electric motor 332 (FIGURE 2) which is provided in housing 140 for supplying power to rotate turntable 320. Motor 332 is supported from bottom wall 142 by a rectangular box 334 and receives electric current from a plurality of dry cells 336 through a first lead 338, which is connected directly to the dry cells 336, and a second lead 340, which is connected to dry cells 336 through a switching arrangement indicated generally at 342 in FIGURE 2.

The switching arrangement 342 includes a first switch 344 which is carried by indexing arm 72 and which will now be described in connection with FIGURE 6. The switch 344 is connected to arm 72 by a dielectric bracket 346 and includes a fixed contact 348 extending upwardly from bracket 346 adjacent a flexible contact 350 having an offset portion 352. The flexible contact 350 may be sprung into engagement with the fixed contact 348 by a toggle 354 pivotally connected to a post 356 (upstanding from arm 72) by a pivot pin 358. The toggle 354 includes a first end 360 which is engaged by lifting lever 104 when button 112 is depressed to lift speaker cone 80. This rotates toggle 354 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, causing a finger 362 (pivotally connected to end 364 of toggle 354 by a pivot pin 366) to engage offset portion 352 of contact 350. This engagement rotates finger 362 about its pivot pin 366 preventing finger 362 from flexing contact 350 into engagement with contact 348, A light return spring 368 then rotates finger 362 in a clockwise direction until the end 370 of finger 362 engages a hub 372 carried by toggle 354. When button 112 is released, lifting lever 104 is raised from end 360 of toggle 354 permitting it to rotate in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of a spring 374 having a body portion 376 encompassing pin 358, a first arm 378 engaging a stop member 380 carried by post 356 and a second arm 382 engaging pin 366. This counter clockwise rotation brings finger 362 into engagement with offset portion 352 of contact 350. Since hub 372 prevents finger 362 from rotating, finger 362 will flex contact 350 into engagement with contact 348 completing a circuit through a first electrical lead 384, which is connected to contact 348, and a second electrical lead 386, which is connected to contact 350. As is shown schematically in FIGURE 2, the lead 386 is connected to an end 388 of lead 340 which, in turn, is connected to a fixed contact 390 on a switch 392. The lead 384 is connected to a lead 394 which, in turn, is fixed to a movable contact 396 on switch 392.

' The switch 392, which will now be described in connection with FIGURE 7, automatically deenergizes motor 332 after turntable 320 has made 4% revolutions. The switch 392 is aflixed to bottom wall 142 of housing 140 beneath turntable 320 adjacent a large-diameter gear 398 which is rotatably supported by bottom Wall 142 and which is driven by a pinion gear 400 carried by spindle 322. The gear 398 carries a depending pin 402 adapted to engage a switch-actuating lever 404 having a first end 406 pivotally connected to bottom wall 142 by a pin 408 and a second end 410 biased into engagement with contact 3. 6 by a spring 412 having a body portion 414 encompassing pin 408, a first arm 416 engaging a fixed pin 418 and a second arm 419 engaging lever 404. Pin 402 swings lever 404 to a switch-opening position each time pinion gear 400 completes 4 /2 revolutions.

Switches

344 and 392 are included in parallel circuits so that motor 332 may be energized by closing switch 344 when switch 392 is open. Rotation of turntable 320 then moves pin 402 out of engagement with lever 404 permitting spring 412 to swing lever 404 to a switch-closing position.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, the switch arrangement 342 also includes a third switch 420 which is mounted inside the sensing means 54. The sensing means 54 includes a cylindrical, hollow housing 422 having an encompassing side wall 424, an open bottom 426 and a closed top wall 428. The probe 56 is reciprocally mounted in the housing 422 in a dielectric bushing 430 which closes open end 426. Probe 56 includes a cylindrical circuitclosing member 432 engageable with a pair of fixed

contacts

434, 436 to close switch 420 when probe 56 is moved in the direction of an arrow 438 against the bias of a spring 440 having one end 442 bearing against top wall 428 and another end 44 bearing against the cylindrical portion of probe 56. The spring 440 is stronger than the spring 182 (FIGURE 3) which supports plate 118 so that probe 56 may depress plate 118 without closing switch 420.

The switching arrangement 342 also includes a first interlock or switch 446 (FIGURES 2 and 4) having a fixed contact 448 and a movable contact 450. The movable contact 450 lies in the path of travel of a cam 452 depending from turntable 320. The contacts 448, 450 are aflixed to bottom wall 142 in such a position that cam 452 will open switch 446 by engaging movable contact 450 to take switch 420 out of the circuit to motor 332 whenever beginning point 28 of sound track 22 is in playing position under needle 76 so that the user of toy 10 cannot obtain an oral stimulus by sensing with probe 56. The switch 446 takes switch 420 out of the circuit by connecting fixed contact 448 to lead 340 by a lead 454 and by connecting movable contact 450 to contact 434 by a lead 456. The contact 436 in switch 420 is connected to a lead 457 by a lead 458. The lead 457 has a first end 460 connected to the dry cells 336 and a second end 462 connected to a fixed contact 464 forming part of a second interlock 466 having a movable contact 468. Movable contact 468 may be engaged by cam 452 for taking switch 344 out of the circuit to motor 332 whenever beginning point 34 of sound track means 24 is under the starting position of needle 76 so that the user of toy 10 cannot obtain an oral reinforcer by pushing button 112. Switch 344 is taken out of the circuit to motor 332 by a lead 470 having one end 472 connected to movable contact 468 and a second end 474 connected to lead 384 from switch 344. Thus, the button 112 is effective to obtain only oral stimuli and the sensing means 54 is effective to obtain only oral reinforcers.

The top wall or plate 156 carries a speaker grill 476 (FIGURES 1 and 5) and is provided with an aperture 478 through which the button 112 extends. The top wall 156 also carries a guide means 480 having a pair of side rails 482, 484 and an end rail 486 facilitating the proper positioning of book 40 on top panel 156. The guide means 480 may be aflixed to top panel 156 by suitable fastening means, such as the screws shown at 488.

Operation of the toy 10 will now be described. Assuming that the toy 10 has been preconditioned so that indexing arm 72 is over sound band 16 and turntable 320 has been rotated to a position where beginning point 28 for sound track means 22 is in a position to receive needle 76 after it has been returned to its position over the outer periphery of sound band 16. In this position of the turntable 320, the cam 452 will have opened switch 466 taking sensing means 54 out of the circuit to motor 332. Thus, probing with probe 56 will be ineffective. Page 38 of book 40 may then be positioned within guide means 480. Button 112 may then be depressed swinging the second lifting lever 104 about its pivot pin to lift speaker 80 off of tone arm 68 so that it may be swung into position over beginning point 28 by return spring 136. When button 112 is released, it will be returned to its raised position by spring 222 causing finger 362 to close switch 344 completing a circuit to motor 332. Turntable 320 is then rotated 4 /2 revolutions while sound reproducing means 12 reproduces a suitable oral stimulus. This stimulus may be in the form of a question such as, Where is the dog?.

Switch 392 Will then be opened breaking the circuit to motor 332 so that turntable will come to rest with the beginning point 34 of sound track means 24 lying beneath the starting point for needle 76 when it is again returned to the outer periphery of sound band 16. However, since tone arm 68 has not been returned, needle 76 is still at the end of sound track means 22. This is also the beginning point 30 for the second oral reinforcer. At this position of turntable 320, cam 452 opens switch 466 taking switch 344 out of the circuit to motor 332 so that the child-user cannot energize motor 332 by pushing button 112 before he answers the question just asked. The childuser may energize motor 332, however, by using sensing means 54 to probe for an answer to the question. The child-user may select the graphic portion 46 of graphic stimulus 36 by inserting probe 56 in the aperture 58 lying immediately adjacent graphic portion 46. Since this graphic portion is a picture of a dog, the aperture 58 associated therewith is aligned with an aperture 198 in template 192 so that probe 56 will penetrate to plate 118. Since spring 440 in sensing means 54 is stronger than spring 182, plate 118 will be depressed before switch 420 in sensing means 54 is closed. Depressing of plate 118 causes lifting lever 98 to'lift speaker 80 permitting tone arm 68 to return needle 76 to the outer periphery of sound band 16. As plate 118 is depressed, actuating means 280 depresses looped end 278 of rod 270 causing it to teeter in bracket 276 and lift trigger 252 out of engagement with bellcrank 246. Spring 282 then indexes finger 234 causing rod 240 to pull bellcrank 246 into position where it will be engaged by member 250 the next time button 112 is depressed.

Continued downward pushing on sensing means 54 after plate 118 has been depressed causes probe 56 to overcome spring 440 so that switch 420 is closed completing a circuit to motor 332. Since turntable 320 rotated 4 /2 turns while asking the question, beginning point 34 of sound track means 24 will be in position under needle 76 so that rotation of turntable 320 by motor 332 will cause the sound reproducing means 14 to reproduce the first oral reinforcer informing the child-user of the appropriateness of his response. For example, the oral reinforcer may comprise a suitable statement such as, Thats right. You are a good child. This message requires 4 /2 rotations of turntable 320 so that pin 402 will swing lever 404 to a switch-opening position at this time for deenergizing motor 332. Since turntable 320 rotated 4 /2 turns, cam 452 has taken sensing means 54 out of the circuit to motor 332 and needle 76 is resting at ending point 32 on sound track means 24. Button 112 may now be depressed so that member 250 will index arm 72 into position over sound band 18. This also lifts speaker 80 so that tone arm 68 will be returned to the outer periphery of sound band 18. The child-user may then position page 44 within guide means 480 and release button 112 so that switch 344 will close energizing motor 332 starting the next cycle of operation. It should be noted that the

pages

38, 42 and 44 may be provided with a plurality of correct responses to a particular question so that child-user has more chances of receiving an appropriate response. It has been found that preschool children soon become discouraged if they do not obtain appropriate responses more often than inappropriate responses when they first start using the toy 10. As the children advance, the number of correct responses may be reduced. It should also be noted that the oral reinforcer informing the user of the appropriateness of his response may also instruct him to insert a new page from book 40 in guide means 480.

If the child-user responds to the question, Where is the dog? by inserting probe 56 into one of the other apertures 58, the probe 56 will not pass through an aperture 198 in template 192. Thus, plate 118 will not be depressed so that arm 72 will not be indexed the next time button 112 is depressed. Nor will tone arm 68 be returned. Therefore, needle 76 will remain on track means 22 at point 30, which is also the beginning point of the second oral reinforcer. Pressing probe 56 against template 192 overcomes spring 440 in sensing means 54 so that switch 420 will be closed completing a circuit to motor 332 for rotating turntable 320 to reproduce a suitable oral reinforcer informing the child-user of the inappropriateness of his response to the predetermined stimuli comprising the oral, discriminative stimulus in the form of the question, Where is the dog? and the graphic stimulus 36. This second oral reinforcer may consist of a suitable statement, such as, No. That is wrong. This recorded message may also include feedback means for giving the child-user a new oral, discriminative stimulus following the oral reinforcer. For example, this new oral, discriminative stimulus may include additional information for aiding the child-user in making appropriate responses when he operates the machine on a subsequent cycle. In any event, the child-user will be informed to try again by pushing button 112 returning tone arm 68 to the outer periphery of sound band 16. Since turntable 320 rotated 4 /2 times to ask the question and 4 /2 times giving the oral reinforcer, starting point 28 of track means 22 will again be in position under needle 76 so that the question will be asked again.

Although the element 112 has been referred to herein as comprising an actuating button, the button 112 and the elements actuated thereby may be considered as a first response means actuatable by a child-user to connect the pickup means 62 to the recorded-message carrier means 14.

Referring now more in particular to FIGURES 9 and 10, a simple inexpensive toy teaching machine constituting a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10a, is identical to the toy 10 except that the switch 392 is replaced by a double throw switch 392a, a switch 500 has been added, the recorded-message carrier means 14 has been replaced by a recorded-message carrier means 14a, the first and second lifting levers 98 and 104 have been eliminated and the electrical circuit has been revised so that the motor 332 will be reversed when the child-user probes an inappropriate response.

The recordedmessage carrier means 14a may comprise a disc-type phonograph record and may be provided with a plurality of sound bands, like the one shown at 16a in FIGURE 10. It should be noted that although the presently preferred embodiments of this invention utilize mechanical records and sound pick-up, the invention may be utilized with equivalent known records and pick-ups, such as electromagnetic systems. The sound band 16a includes a first sound track means 22a having a beginning point 28a on the outer periphery of sound band 16a, a second sound track means 24a having a point of beginning 3411 corresponding to the ending point for the sound track means 22a and a third sound track means 26a,using the point of beginning 34a as its point of be ginning and having an ending point corresponding to the point of beginning 28a for sound track means 22a. The sound track means 22a and 24a may be played by rotating recorded-message carrier means 14a in a clockwise direc tion, as indicated by arrow 502 in FIGURE 10, and the sound track means 26a may be played by rotating recorded-message carrier means 14a in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 504. Rotation of recordedmessage carrier means 14a in a clockwise direction will be sometimes referred to as rotation in a forward direction and rotation in a counterclockwise direction will be sometimes referred to as rotation in a reverse direction. Thus, the sound track means 24a constitutes a continuation of the sound track means 22a and the sound track means 26a is interleaved with sound track means 22a and 24a having a point of beginning corresponding to the ending point of the sound track means 22a and the beginning point of the sound track means 24a and an ending point at the periphery of sound band 16a at point 28a corresponding to the beginning point for sound track means 22a. Recorded-message carrier means 14a also includes a lead-in groove 506 for leading the needle 76 into sound track means 26a when recorded-message carrier means 14a is reversed after having come to rest with needle 76 resting on point 34a. This arrangement of sound track means 22a, 24a and 26a eliminates the need for returning needle 76 to the outer periphery of sound band 16a to play a response to the question asked by sound track means 22a.

The switch 392a includes a pair of

arms

508, 510 which are connected to a hub member' 512 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted in housing 140 on a pivot pin 514. The arm 508 carries a pair of electrical contacts 515, 516 and may be moved to a switch-closing position by a solenoid 518 having an armature 520 connected to arm 508. The arm 508 may be swung to a switch-opening position by the pin 402 provided on gear 398, described in connection with the first embodiment. The gear 398 is driven by a pinion gear 400a connected to turntable spindle 322, as in the previous embodiment. However, the pinion 400a has a different number of teeth than the pinion 400 so that pin 402 on gear 398 will open switch 392a after 4 complete revolutions. The switch arm 510 also carries a pair of contacts, as shown at 522, 524 and is swung to a switch-closing position by a solenoid 526 having an armature 528 connected to arm 510. Arm 510 is adapted to be engaged by pin 402 for opening switch 392a after gear 398 has been rotated four revolutions in the direction of arrow 504. A spring clip 529 is mounted adjacent the free end 530 of each arm to prevent them from floating to a switch-closing position.

The contacts 515, 516 are adapted to close on

contacts

532, 534, respectively, for connecting motor 332 in a circuit to dry cell means 336 in such a manner that motor 332 will rotate turntable 320 in a forward direction. This circuit includes a lead 536 having an end 538 connected to motor 332 and another end 539 connected to contact 534, a lead 540 having a first end 542 connected to contact 532 and a second end 544 connected to motor 332, a lead 546 having a first end 548 connected to contact 515 and a second end 550 connected to the negative side of dry cell means 336 and a lead 552 having a first end 554 connected to contact 516 and a second end 556 connected to the positive side of dry cell means 336.

The

contacts

522 and 524 on arm 510 are engageable with

contacts

558 and 560, respectively, for connecting motor 332 in a circuit to dry cell means 336 in such a manner that motor 332 will rotate turntable 320 in a reverse direction. This circuit includes a first lead 562 having a first end 564 connected to contact 560 and a second end 566 connected to motor 332 through end 538 of lead 536, a second lead 568 having a first end 570 connected to contact 558 and a second end 572 connected to motor 332 through end 544 of lead 540, a third lead 574 having a first end 576 connected to contact 524 and a second end 578 connected to the negative side of dry cell means 336 through lead 546 and a fourth lead 580 having a first end 582 connected to contact 522 and a second end 584 connected to the positive side of dry cell means 336 through lead 552.

The switch 500 includes a movable contact 586 which is carried by the actuator means 280 on plate 118 for engagement With a fixed contact 588 when plate 118 is depressed by probing a correct answer with probe 56 on sen ing me ns 54. The contact 586 is connected to lead 546 by a lead 590 and the contact 588 is connected to solenoid 518 by lead 592. The solenoid 518 is also connected to lead 552 by a lead 594. The switch 344 is connected to the lead 590 by a lead 596 and to the lead 592 by a lead 598 so that solenoid 518 will be energized to swing arm 508 to a switch-closing position when switch 344 is closed, thereby completing a circuit to motor 332 through

contacts

515, 516, 532 and 534.

The sensing means 54 includes the switch 420 described in connection with the first embodiment and has its contact 434 connected to solenoid 526 by a lead 600 and its contact 436 connected to lead 546 by a lead 602. Solenoid 526 is connected to lead 552 by a lead 604. This arrangement places switch 420 in a circuit to dry cell means 336 in such a manner that solenoid 526 is energized to move arm 510 to a switch-closing position when switch 420 is closed by probing an incorrect answer. Motor 332 then rotates in a reverse direction.

The manipulative steps for operating the second embodiment of the present invention are the same as those for operating the first embodiment. For example, a childuser may position book 40 within guide means 480 on top panel 156 of housing and push button 112. This completes a circuit to motor 332 for rotating it in a forward direction so that a question will be asked. The child-user answers the question by probing an aperture 58 in book 40. If the child-user selects the correct answer, probe 56 passes through aperture 198 in template 192 and depresses plate 118 without closing switch 420 because spring 440 in sensing means 54 is stronger than spring 182 under plate 118. Depressing of plate 118 closes switch 500 again energizing motor 332 to rotate in a forward direction so that the question is answered by a continuation of the sound track carrying the question.

If the child-user selects an incorrect answer, probe 56 engages template 192 so that switch 420 is closed. This energizes motor 332 for rotation in a reverse direction causing needle 76 to follow lead-in groove 506 into sound track means 26a. The second oral reinforcer (constituting a negative reinforcement) is then reproduced by the sound reproducing means 12 informing the user of the inappropriateness of his response to the predetermined stimuli comprising the oral, discriminative stimulus and the graphic stimulus.

Referring now more in particular to FIGURES 11-13, a simple, inexpensive toy teaching machine constituting a third embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10b, is substantially the same as the toy 10 constituting the first embodiment of the present invention except that the housing 140 is replaced by a housing 14% having a modified top plate 156b, the indexing arm 72 is replaced by a modified indexing arm 72b, the reciprocable template 192 is eliminated and the mechanism for indexing the arm 72b is replaced by an indexing means 608 which positions indexing arm 72b on a modified indexing rack 2301) in accordance with a notch 610 provided in a card 612 which replaces book 40.

The modified plate 156b is provided with a plurality of apertures 198b permitting probe 56 on sensing means 54 to engage plate 118 when probe 56 is inserted into an aperture 58b in card 612 which is aligned with an aperture 198b. The card 612 may be positioned Within a guide means 480]) which replaces the guide means 480 and which includes a pair of stops 614, 616 engageable by the forward edge 618 of card 612 for locating notch 610 with respect to indexing means 608.

Indexing means 608 includes a finger 620 which is reciprocally mounted in an elongated slot 622 provided in top plate 156b and which includes a first end 624 connecting finger 620 to arcuate member 124 on indexing arm 72b. The finger 620 also includes an end 626 which is bottomed out in notch 610 in card 612 by a spring 628 having a first end 630 connected to finger 620 and a second end 632 connected to a tab 634 depending from top plate 156b. The notch 610 in card 612 has a depth such that indexing arm 7212 will be positioned over the sound 13

bands

16, 18 or 20 which is related to card 612 when finger 620 is bottomed out in notch 610.

A child-user may position a card 612 in guide means 48017. This automatically positions indexing arm 72b over the appropriate sound band. The child-user may then depress button 112 energizing motor 332 for rotating turntable 320 4 /2 turns so that sound reproducing means 12 will reproduce the oral, discriminative stimulus recorded on recorded-message carrier mean 14.

The child-user reacts to this stimulus by inserting probe 56 in. an aperture 58b. If the correct aperture 58b is selected, probe 56 also passes through aperture 198b into contact with plate 118 depressing it. This swings lifting lever 98 about pin 116 returning needle 76 in the manner described in connection with the first embodiment. A circuit is then completed through sensing means 54 in the manner described in connection with the embodiment to again energize motor 332 for rotating turntable 320 4V2 revolutions to play the first oral reinforcer.

If the child-user selects an incorrect answer, probe 56 will engage top plate 156b closing a circuit to motor 332 without first returning the needle 76 so that the second reinforcer will be played, as more fully described in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention.

While the particular toy teaching machine herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it isto be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy teaching machine having oral stimuli and oral reinforcers, comprising:

(A) means for reproducing recorded sounds, said sound reproducing means including means positionable adjacent a recorded-message carrier means to pick up sounds recorded thereon in a selected sound band;

(B) recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of sound bands thereon, each sound band comprising:

(a) first sound track means having an oral, discriminative stimulus recorded thereon;

(b) second sound track means having a first oral reinforcer recorded thereon for informing a user of said toy of the appropriateness of his response to predetermined stimuli; and

(c) third sound track means having a second oral reinforcer recorded thereon for informing said user of the inappropriateness of his response to said predetermined stimuli;

(C) means removably positioned on said machine adjacent sensing means thereon and presenting a graphic stimulus having a plurality of graphic portions relating to said selected sound band and selection means adjacent each graphic portion, at least one of said selection means comprising an appropriate response and at least one an inappropriate response, said graphic stimulus and said oral stimulus comprising said predetermined stimuli;

(D) said sensing means being arranged for sensing selection of at least one of said selection means; and

(E) means responsive to said sensing means for causing said pick-up means to pick up the sounds from one of said oral reinforcers of said selected sound band, said responsive means comprising:

(a) first energizing means operatively associating said pick-up means with said second sound track means when said user makes an appropriate response; and

(b) second energizing means operatively associating said pick-up means with said third sound track means when said user makes an inappropriate response.

2. A teaching machine as stated in claim 1 including a first response means actuatable by said user to connect said pick-,up means to said first sound track means.

3. A teaching machine as stated in claim 1 including an electric motor for driving said recorded-message carrier means.

4. -A teaching machine as stated in claim 1 wherein said recorded-message carrier means comprises a disctype phonograph record.

5. YA teaching machine as stated in claim 3 wherein said presenting means includes card means having said graphic portions displayed thereon in the form of pictures, said card means provided with an aperture adjacent each picture, said sensing means including probe means insertable .through said apertures, said energizing means including switch means actuatable by said probe means for energizing said motor.

6. teaching machine as stated in claim 5 wherein said recorded-message carrier means comprises a disctype phonograph record, wherein said first sound track means has a point of beginning adjacent the outer periphery of said record, wherein said third sound track means constitutes a continuation of said first sound track means, wherein said second sound track means is interleaved with said first sound track means and has a point of beginning adjacent the periphery of said record around said periphery from said point of beginning for said first sound track means, wherein said sound pick-up means includes a phonograph needle engageable with said sound track means, wherein said teaching machine includes means for deenergizing said motor each time it rotates said record a predetermined number of revolutions followed by a half revolution, wherein said probe means is reciprocally mounted in said sensing means, said probe means having a depressed position Where it engages a switch for completing a circuit to said motor, said probe means being biased to an extended position by a spring means exerting a predetermined force on said probe means and wherein said first and second energizing means comprise:

return spring means connected to said pick-up means for returning said needle to the outer periphery of said record when said needle is lifted out of engagement with said record, whereby said needle will be positioned adjacent said starting point for said second sound track means;

lifting lever means operatively associated with said pick-up means for lifting said needle out of engagement with said record; plate means operatively associated with said lifting lever for actuating said lifting lever to lift said needle, said plate means being positioned under said apertures in the path of travel of said probe means;

compression spring means supporting said plate means, whereby said plate means may be depressed when engaged by said probe means, said compression spring means being compressed with less force than that required to overcome said spring in said sensing means; and

template means positioned between said apertures and said plate means, said template means being provided with a template opening which is aligned with the aperture in said card means corresponding to an appropriate response to said oral stimulus, whereby said probe means will pass through said template means into engagement with said plate means when an appropriate response is made and will be obstructed by said template means when an inappropriate response is made.

7. A teaching machine as stated in claim 5 wherein said motor is reversible, wherein said third sound track means is interleaved with said first and second sound track means, said second sound track means constituting 15 a continuation of said first sound track means, wherein said record includes lead-in groove means connecting the common ending point for said first sound track means and the beginning point for said second sound track means with the beginning point of said third sound track means, whereby said third sound track means may be played by reversing the direction of rotation of said record and wherein said first and second energizing means comprise: first electrical switch means connected to said motor for rotating said record in a first direction to play said second sound track means; means connected to said first electrical switch means for closing it only when an appropriate response is made; and second switch means connected to said probe means for reversing said electric motor only when an inappropriate response is made.

8. A teaching machine as stated in claim 6 wherein said phonograph record is provided with a plurality of sound bands each having said first, second and third sound track meansprovided thereon, wherein said sound reproducing means; is mounted on a swingable indexing arm and wherein said machine includes means for indexing said arm to position said soundreproducing means adjacent predetermined sound bands.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,255,536 6/1966 Livingston 35-9 3,376,657 4/1968 Dorsett 35-9 3,408,749 11/ 1968 Brudner 359 W. H. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner