AP4A

AP4A - Improvements relating to teaching methods and aids.

Info

Publication number: AP4A
Application number: APAP/P/1985/000015A
Authority: AP
Inventors: Noel Ivor Yule
Original assignee: Noel Ivor Yule
Priority date: 1984-10-22
Filing date: 1985-10-22
Publication date: 1987-09-14
Also published as: CN85108265A; EP0181715A1; AP8500015A0; JPS61179484A; AU4893485A; ZA857940B; IN164209B

Abstract

A teaching aid comprising a base having a plurality of spaced parallel ridges which define channels between adjacent ridges, the ridges having an inverted u section and the channel having a corresponding u section and the ridges having sides which bulge outwardly into the adjacent channels; and a plurality of pieces adapted to engage releasably ridges and to be retained on the ridges or in the channels by the bulges. Preferably the pieces clip resiliently onto the ridges.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO TEACHING METHODS AND AIDS

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a teaching aid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a teaching aid comprising a base having a plurality of spaced parallel ridges which define channels between adjacent ridges, the ridges having an inverted U section and the channels having a corresponding U section and the ridges having sides which bulge outwardly into the adjacent channels; and a plurality of pieces adapted to engage releasably ridges and to be retained on the ridges or in the channels by the bulges.

Preferably the pieces clip resiliently onto the ridges.

In one embodiment the channels have spaced holes in their bases and the pieces which are adapted to engage channels have projections adapted to fit into the holes to prevent those pieces from sliding in the channels, with spigot-like projections on their upper surfaces adapted to engage edges of indicia-carrying cards, the cards being retained between the spigot-like projections of adjacent pieces.

Some of the pieces may carry indicia such as letters or numerical on their upper surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a teaching aid according to the invention, with two different kinds of removable pieces;

Figure 2 shows the teaching aid with indicia-bearing elements retained thereon.

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DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the teaching aid has a base 10 which is formed with a number of parallel ridges 12 which have a generally inverted - U section and which are evenly spaced. The ridges 12 define channels 14 between adjacent ridges, the channels 14 having a U section. The walls of the ridges 12 are bowed outwardly and bulge into the channels 14. The base 10 is strengthened by a transverse clip-fit brace 16 which is clipped onto the base 10 over the ridges 12 at either edge of the base 10.

Two different kinds of removable pieces 18 and 20 are shown, which enagage the base 10 by means of resilient lips 22. The short pieces 18 clip over the ridges 12, while the elongate pieces 20 clip into the channels 14. The pieces 18 can slide along the ridges 12.

BAD ORIGINAL

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-2The boL’c-m of trie chint.ck; arc provided with spaced holes into which sp igotsno t snjwn) or, the underside of the pieces 20 fit. The holes in all the channels are aligned, so that the pieces 20 are aliened with other pieces 20 in adjacent channels. Or, the top of each piece 2^!'> is a spigot 26. As shown in figure 2, a raid 28 of stiff rater ini is retained between the spigots 2f of aligned pieces 20 in different channgels. by simply being snapped into position. The surface of the card bears an indicium such as a letter, numerical, picture or the like. Thus, the teaching aid can be used to build up words, numbers or even, for exam; le, a composite picture similar to a jigsaw puzzle.

The pieces 13 can also have letters or numerial on their upper surfaces. The letters or r.umericals can be provided cn removable plastics strips or discs which are retained by clips cn the top of the pieces 18, or simply printed or embossed on the pieces 18.

Claims

1. A teaching aid characterised in that the base has a plurality of spaced parallel ridges which define channels between adjacent ridges; the ridges have an inverted U-section and the channels have a corresponding U-section and the ridges have sides which bulge outwardly into the adjacent channels; and a plurality _f pieces adapted to engage releasably ridges and to be retained on the ridges by the bulges.

2. An aid according to Claim 1 in which the pieces clip resiliently nto ridges.

3. An aid according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the pieces which are adapted to engage ridges are slidable along the ridges.

4. An aid according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the channels have spaced holes in their bases and the pieces which are adapted to engage channels have projections adapted to fit into the holes to prevent those pieces from sliding in the channels, with spigotlike projections on their upper surfaces adapted to engage edges of indieia-carrying cards, the cards being retained between the spigot-like projections of adjacent pieces.

5. An aid according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which at least some of the pieces carry indicia on their upper surfaces.

6. An aid according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the base has an engaging formation on one edge and a complementary engaging formation on an opporsite edge so that two or mere bases can be attached to one another.