Musical blocks and clocks

• US 6,271,453 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HACKER, L. LEONARD
• Original Assignee: L Leonard Hacker
• Inventors: Hacker, L. Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH YUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/272,285
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 844/76, 844/70.R, 273/146, 434/171, 434/172, 446/188, 446/193, 446/197, 446/180
• US Class Current: 84/476
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/003 with indication of the keys or strings to be played on instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/04 with sound emitters
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/055 Spint toy, i.e. specifically designed for children, e.g. adapted for smaller fingers or simplified in some way; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces with simplified control features

Abstract

A music education apparatus for teaching musical concepts, comprising note meaning and pitch recognition, music reading, instrument playing, tempo, staccato, degrees of loudness, note duration, rhythm, harmony, chords, trills, the sonic characteristics of different instruments, and music writing. The music education apparatus comprises a block with visual representations on each side designating musical notes, letters representing musical notes, and physical portions on musical instruments, wherein the musical note(s) designated on the other sides are highlighted on the keyboard or other designated physical portion of an instrument. The music education apparatus may also serve as an alarm clock that can be set to sound at a selected time by conventional means, or by light, sound, temperature, or other stimuli. Voice programming may be featured, whereby a word, name, sentence, etc., is spoken or sung when the alarm sounds. Sides of the music education apparatus may designate one note or a combination of notes, and a keyboard or other physical representation of the playing portion of a musical instrument, wherein a key(s) or string(s) is highlighted to correspond to the note(s) designated on the other sides of the block. Upon activation of a music generator contained within the music education apparatus, the pitch(es) of the designated note(s) is sounded. By including the production of harmonics, the sound producer can also produce the sound of a musical instrument. One embodiment features removable and replaceable sides that thereby permit the sounding of different notes, including combinations of notes (trills, etc.), instruments, and songs or other compositions. Electronic sound chips may be used in conjunction with a power source.

Claims

1. A music education apparatus comprising:

a block having at least four enclosing sides comprising musical designations, wherein at least two of the designations;

are different and comprise visual representations of musical indicia (i) of at least one musical note as used in writing music compositions and (ii) the note'"'"'s physical location on a musical instrument; and

wherein the musical indicia on at least two sides correspond to the same at least one musical note,

further comprising a music generator having a reed that is activated by the passage of air through a hole which connects the reed to two sides of the block, wherein the reed is activated by blowing through the hole, and wherein the sound of the music generator corresponds to the musical note depicted on the block.

2. A music education apparatus comprising:

a block having at least four enclosing sides comprising musical designations, wherein at least two of the designations;

are different and comprise visual representations of musical indicia (i) of at least one musical note as used in writing music compositions and (ii) the note'"'"'s physical location on a musical instrument; and

wherein the musical indicia on at least two sides correspond to the same at least one musical note,

further comprising a music generator including an electronic music generator incorporating programmable logic so as to function as an alarm clock, and wherein the sides are removable and replaceable.

3. The music education apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the alarm clock comprises at least one sensor, and the at least one sensor is activated by at least one member of the group consisting of light, sound, and heat.

4. The music education apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the removable and replaceable sides comprise at least one electronic music generator that electronically produces a tone that is substantially identical to the pitch of the at least one note designated on the sides of the block.

5. The music education apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the removable and replaceable sides each comprise an electronic display.

6. The music education apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the electronic display comprises a liquid crystal display.

7. The music education apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the removable and replaceable sides further comprise voice programming.