Education and demonstration – Religion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-11-27
Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Religion
C434S317000, C428S003000, C446S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322369
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an entertaining device for teaching Christian principles by rote. More specifically, the invention relates to an electronic teaching toy for reproducing prestored biblical stories and verses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many devices have been used over time for educating young children on various topics, ideologies, and theories. Many of these devices include a telephone handset, or other simulative hand held article for a child user to pretend to talk on the phone while learning. In addition, many of these devices have pre-recorded messages, songs, alphabets, numbers, etc. that the child listens to in order to learn. The prior art has many representative devices for telephone structures, learning devices, and entertaining devices.
Some examples are U.S. Pat. No. Des. 291,989 issued Sep. 22, 1987, to Roach, shows a praying hands telephone handset cradle. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 318,306 issued Jul. 16, 1991, to Cheung, shows an electronic toy having a telephone handset. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 321,186 issued Oct. 29, 1991, to Blinn et al., shows a telephone set in the form of a hand. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 387,056 issued Dec. 2, 1997, to Yoneyama, shows a business telephone set. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 392,321 issued Mar. 17, 1998, to Chan, shows a toy teaching device. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 397,338 issued Aug. 25, 1998, to Gray, shows a cellular telephone in the form of a hand. U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,179 issued Jun. 22, 1976, to Bennett, discloses a telephone teaching system that utilizes a functioning telephone to educate children in various areas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,196 issued Apr. 24, 1984, to Gonet, discloses an electronic hand held bible. U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,652 issued Jan. 15, 1985, to Mike, discloses an inspirational teaching apparatus having a display of an inspirational symbol and a printed message appearing while an audio track reads the message. U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,054 issued Feb. 10, 1987, to Wada, discloses a children's picture book having a telephone dial therein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,188 issued Jan. 17, 1995, to Tomellini, discloses an audio playback device having a telephone handset and a plurality of images. Upon selecting an image, the device plays an audio recording of the image as if speaking through the handset.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,610 issued Jul. 18, 1995, to Godfrey et al., discloses an educational device for accelerating learning in recognition, language acquisition, awareness, cause and effect, and association. U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,177 issued Sep. 12, 1995, to Naylor, discloses a biblical educational board game for teaching biblical knowledge in the context of three biblical characteristics of humankind, as presented in the Bible. U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,484 issued Dec. 12, 1995, to Lemelle, discloses a doll for teaching children how to dial the emergency number (typically ‘911’) by disposing a simulated telephone in the chest of the doll. The telephone also includes an audio tape for instructing the child as to what to do. U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,508 issued Mar. 11, 1997, to Wingate, discloses a toy telephone having audio and visual outputs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,748 issued Sep. 8, 1998, to Maddrell et al., discloses an electronic book having visual indicia on the leaves of the book. Upon pressing the indicia, an audible sound is produced related to the indicia. U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,985 issued Nov. 3, 1998, to Campanella, discloses a children's game device that allows a child to interactively participate with an electronic storybook by drawing characters and recording the child's voice. U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,869 issued Jul. 20, 1999, to Haas, discloses a devotional and learning device emulating a scroll. Individual frames of the scroll display scripture passages, prayers, quotations, etc.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a Christian learning tool for developing Christian principles is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Since the time of Moses, “The Ten Commandments” have been revered by generations of people as God's supreme law for humankind. These ten instructions from God are the foundation of morality. Additionally, Jesus gave us ways to achieve happiness and receive God's promise. These ways are described in the “Beatitudes.” Yet these guidelines for living have been the source of controversy, labeled as politically incorrect and offensive to those who do not share the Judeo-Christian belief system. As we approach the 21st century, our moral ambiguity has led to a morass of drug and alcohol addiction, violence, murder, and lawlessness that seems insurmountable. Even our schools, as evidenced by the numerous massacres around the United States and the world in recent months, are no longer safe havens for learning and development, but are now halls of fear, marked by gun detectors, security guards, and hidden cameras. For many, the situation seems hopeless. We must, however, remember that God sent his son Jesus to overcome the world, and with him we have hope. Our faith in God is our shield against evil, and His Word our weapon.
In keeping with God's ordinance to teach our children His commandments, we have, with God's help, designed an innovative Christian learning tool that makes it easy for young children (typically, ages 2-5 years old) to learn “The Ten Commandments,” “The Beatitudes,” and other Bible verses. This toy will expose children at an early age to important biblical principles at the push of a button. This tool is also intended to be a fun alternative to TV or video games, as children discover themselves and their purpose in the world through lending their ears and their hearts to God.
Children need to know that God is completely approachable and always available to hear what they want to tell him. The instant invention is an educational and entertaining device that lets children know that they can talk to God and that God speaks to them through His Word and will always help and guide them. The simulated telephone concept implies that God is easy to talk to and hearing His Word can be as simple as pressing a button. Children will naturally gravitate to this simulated telephone. It also serves as a tool for teaching young children how to count. Parents will be encouraged to observe and assist their children in learning and understanding Bible verses, which are spoken from prestored memory banks in the device.
This Christian educational device will aid parents and educators in teaching children the Word of God diligently in their homes, schools, churches, synagogues, and other places of worship or activity. This easy-to-use Christian educational device will also encourage and support closeness and bonding between parents and their children as parents talk with their children about what the Bible verses mean. Understanding the verses of the Bible is the key ingredient to understanding Christian principles. The Christian learning tool of the present invention provides an avenue for parents to engage in important discussions with their children.
The device has a base in the shape of an open Bible. A flesh colored simulated receiver, shaped like praying hands, rests on the left side of the base, and is tethered to the base. Surrounding the simulated receiver are the words ‘FAITH’, ‘PEACE’, ‘LOVE’, and ‘JOY’ displayed in child-like handwritten font. The right side of the base has twelve buttons having numerals or symbols imprinted thereon. The buttons are in a standard telephone arrangement, however, unlike a conventional telephone, the number ‘0’ is replaced by the number ‘10’. In addition, the asterisk or star symbol is replaced with a ‘Star of Bethlehem’ icon. Likewise, the pound sign is replaced with a cross icon. When depressed, the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ button will actuate the device to replay the birth story of Jesus. Similarly, when the cross button is depressed, the device will replay the death and resurrection story of Jesus.
Below the twe
Patterson Derek X.
Patterson Yetta L.
Litman Richard C.
Muir D. Neal
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