Educational blocks

• US 4,802,854 A
• Filed: 04/25/1988
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pauline D. Davis
• Original Assignee: Pauline D. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Pauline D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/185,898
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 434/159, 434/160, 434/161, 434/172, 446/124, 446/127
• US Class Current: 434/159
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0098 Word or number games A63F3/0415, A63F3/0421, A63F3/0423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00

Abstract

A novel set of large letters of the alphabet and numbers with tracks for their support and combination is provided for manufacture as both an educational and a creative plaything.

Claims

1. A set of educational letters and/or numerals comprising a plurality of relatively thin blocks of uniform thickness, each in the shape of a letter of the alphabet or numeral and having extended lower portions, and

a main support track having a longitudinal groove in its upper face of substantially the same width as the thickness of each block, for snug reception of said extended lower portions or other edge portions of the blocks, and

one or more auxiliary support tracks of shorter length but having similar grooves, whereby blocks can be supported individually and one block can be stacked on top of another in any desired orientation.

2. A set as in claim 1, wherein the main track has one or more further grooves intersecting the longitudinal groove transversely.

3. A set as in claim 2, wherein the angles between the further grooves and the longitudinal groove are other than right angles.

4. A set as in claim 1, wherein the auxilliary support tracks have grooves in opposite faces.

5. A set as in claim 1, wherein the blocks are of wood.

6. A set as in claim 5, further comprising sandpaper for smoothing the surfaces and edges of the blocks and tracks, and wherein at least one of said auxiliary support tracks has a rounded outer edge and an edge at an acute angle to facilitate its use as a sanding block for inside edge portions of various blocks.