Education and demonstration – Language – Spelling – phonics – word recognition – or sentence formation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-01-23
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Language
Spelling, phonics, word recognition, or sentence formation
C434S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176704
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, in general, to a learning toy and, more particularly, to a learning toy that can be used by children or adults who have learning disabilities in order to assist them in developing reading skills through recognition of shapes, colors and forms.
BACKGROUND ART
There are many learning toys specifically designed to improve the reading skills of children. Such toys typically, however, do not utilize the concept of design or pattern formation which can be readily extended to recognizing specific letters and words. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,159 (Tehan) discloses apparatus for teaching reading and spelling skills by using a plurality of visual indicator members which represent vowels and consonants. The visual indicator members are selectively placed together to form different words. Such an approach is too advanced for pre-school children and adults who have learning disabilities since they can form designs, but not words.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,016 (White) discloses an educational toy which is also a puzzle. The toy comprises three sets of cubes which are color coded allowing the cubes to be assembled in a particular order. The cubes define horizontal and three vertical planes of decreasing size and are colored so as to define a pair of matching patterns in each of the planes. As such, the toy disclosed in this patent is rather complex in nature and cannot be readily used by a pre-school child or persons who have learning disabilities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,888 (Louez) discloses a novelty item having a geometric shape wherein the surface of the item is divided into a plurality of areas having approximately the same configuration. The color of any one area on the item and the color of its adjacent areas are spectrally related having an angular spacing on the color wheel corresponding to the angular spacing between the normals to each of the areas and which pass through the center of the item. As such, the novelty item disclosed in this patent is rather complex in nature and cannot be readily used as a learning toy by pre-schoolers or adults who have learning disabilities.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,028 (Abrahamsen) discloses a word building game utilizing blocks having the same letter on its oppositely disposed sides. The objective of the game is to create words horizontally and vertically on a board. Words created in the horizontal direction will be displayed “oppositely” on the opposite side of the board, whereas words spelled in the vertical direction will be shown the same on both sides of the board. Here again, the game disclosed in this patent requires the formation of words which is impossible for pre-school children and adults who have learning disabilities.
In view of the lack of learning toys utilizing the concept of design or pattern formation and which can be readily used by pre-schoolers and adults who have learning disabilities, it has become desirable to develop such a learning toy based upon the aforementioned concept.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the problems associated with the prior art learning toys and other problems by providing a learning toy based upon the concept of design or pattern formation. As such, the toy is comprised of a plurality of blocks which form an array in a tray that has a Plexiglas or transparent bottom. Each block is painted with the primary colors of blue, red, yellow and white on four of its sides while the fifth side of the block is painted blue and yellow with the boundary therebetween being on a diagonal across the side of the block and the sixth side of the block is painted red and white with the boundary therebetween being on a diagonal across the side of the block. When the blocks are placed in the tray and arranged to form a design or pattern, a juxtaposition of dark and light colors is created, i.e., the design or pattern formed on the top surfaces of the blocks is “opposite” to the design or pattern formed on the bottom surfaces of the blocks and viewed through the Plexiglas or transparent bottom surface of the tray.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2524548 (1950-10-01), Speirs
patent: 3427028 (1969-02-01), Abrahamsen
patent: 3464145 (1969-09-01), Martin
patent: 4021939 (1977-05-01), May
patent: 4308016 (1981-12-01), White
patent: 4335879 (1982-06-01), Wiskur
patent: 4521197 (1985-06-01), Lumpkins
patent: 4796888 (1989-01-01), Louez
patent: 5108291 (1992-04-01), Kuo
patent: 5487668 (1996-01-01), Oyen et al.
patent: 5567159 (1996-10-01), Tehan
Hudak James A.
Rimell Sam
LandOfFree
Children's learning toy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Children's learning toy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Children's learning toy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2465044