Educational tracks and apparatuses

• US 7,070,541 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cynthia Anne Hess, Larry Eugene Hess, Stephen Joseph Madigan, Winifred Jean Madigan
• Original Assignee: Cynthia Anne Hess, Larry Eugene Hess, Stephen Joseph Madigan, Winifred Jean Madigan
• Inventors: Hess, Larry Eugene, Madigan, Stephen Joseph, Madigan, Winifred Jean, Hess, Cynthia Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewin, Allana
• Application Number:
  US10/824,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 482 35- 37, 434/247, 434/255, 472/12, 472/36, 472/137, 238/10.R, 238/10.E, 238/10.F, 238/367, 273/440, 273/444, 273/449, 104/DIG.1, 104/60, 105/1.4, 105/1.5, 446/446
• US Class Current: 482/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0464 Walk exercisers without moving parts with movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/22 Foot obstacles for skipping , e.g. horizontally-rotating obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/03 Athletic drills or obstacles for sport training, other than foot obstacles for skipping

Abstract

An educational apparatus is traversed horizontally for the purpose of increasing learning capabilities is pictured. The apparatus is in the design of a figure eight lying on its side longitudinally and laterally intersected at its center by a column and row of straight tracks 30. The apparatus is comprised of tracks, straight 30, arced 40, and curved 50, contiguously connected to one another and an octagon shaped distinct end coupler 96 used as a bridge to connect the non-contiguous ends of tracks, straight 30, arced 40, and curved 50. The distinct end coupler 96 is located in the center of the apparatus. The distinct end coupler 96 is not only a structure used to connect the non-contiguous ends of tracks but also a station from which a human receives instruction prior to traversing the apparatus and a portal used by a walking human to traverse from track to track in the proper direction and sequence, important for basic brain processing methods. The apparatus is designed to be traversed by a human in specific patterns in order to promote, foster, and facilitate the development of brain functions controlling balance, coordination, spatial awareness, and vestibular function thereby increasing learning capabilities. As a result of traversing the apparatus in specific patterns, the human brain will process alphabetic and numeric symbols more efficiently. This is especially important in the development of early childhood learners. The educational importance for the invention is based upon brain research findings that support the link of sensory motor development and increased learning capacity.

Claims

1. An article of educational equipment horizontally traversed by a human comprising:

a) a straight track comprising;

i) two elongated, rigid, rectangular rails each rail of substantially equal dimensions comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,

ii) each rail comprising elements located in whole or part at its interior side used to effect connections with steps, and

iii) multiple steps each readily detachable with a geometrically shaped colored footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly placed length-wise in an element located in whole or part at the interior side of each rectangular rail, and while connected to each rail incapable of rotating or shifting horizontally, serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed parallel relationship to each other, and of substantially the same height;

b) an arced track comprising;

i) two oblong, rigid, arced rails each rail of substantially equal height and width comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,

ii) each rail comprising elements located in whole or part at its interior side used to effect connections with steps, and

iii) multiple steps each readily detachable with a geometrically shaped colored footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly placed length-wise in an element located in whole or part at the interior side of each rectangular rail, and while connected to each rail incapable of rotating or shifting horizontally, serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other, and of substantially the same height;

c) a curved track comprising;

i) two oblong, rigid, curved rails each rail of substantially equal height and width comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,

ii) each rail comprising elements located in whole or part at its interior side used to effect connections with steps, and

iii) multiple steps each readily detachable with a geometrically shaped colored footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly placed length-wise in an element located in whole or part at the interior side of each rectangular rail, and while connected to each rail incapable of rotating or shifting horizontally, serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other, and of substantially the same height;

whereby said straight, arced, and curved tracks exclude obstructions thereby allowing contiguous connection between two or more straight, arced, or curved tracks.

2. The article of educational equipment of claim 1 wherein said tracks, straight, arced, or curved, comprising rails, rectangular, arced, or curved, which comprise elements located in whole or part at the interior side of each rail used to effect a connection with a step said elements in a pattern permitting the height of the steps to be varied.

3. The article of educational equipment claim 1 further including an anti-tip device on which a straight track is assembled and positioned, said anti-tip device comprising

a) an elongated, rectangular planar surface lying between and under the rectangular rails of a straight track and extending out from the exterior sides of each rail, and

b) two elongated work holder areas each work holder area bordered by two elongated work stop abutments into which a rectangular rail is inserted the abutment adjacent to the exterior side of a rail is higher than the interior side abutment and the exterior side abutment comprises rectangular shaped elements into or through which steps are inserted during the process of assembling a straight track.

4. The article of educational equipment of claim 1 further including a distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, diamond, hexagon, or octagon, comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

5. The article of educational equipment of claim 1 further including an apparatus in the shape of a figure eight lying on its side comprising a straight track or tracks, an arced track or tracks, or a curved track or tracks, or a combination of two or more tracks, whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of a centrally located distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a diamond or octagon, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

6. The article of educational equipment of claim 5 further including a column of straight tracks longitudinally intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of said distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

7. The article of educational equipment of claim 6 further including a row of straight tracks laterally intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of the distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

8. The article of educational equipment claim 1 further including an apparatus in the shape of a circle enclosing a plus sign comprising one or more arced tracks in the shape of a circle and one or more straight tracks in the shape of a plus sign whereby the tracks, arced or straight, are contiguously connected to one another or connected to another track, arced or straight, with the aid of one or more distinct end couplers, each in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, located at the center of the plus sign and located at the ends of the plus sign intersecting and connecting with the circle, thereby bridging non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

9. An article of educational equipment horizontally traversed by a walking human comprising:

a) a straight track comprising;

i) two elongated, rigid, rectangular rails each rail of substantially equal dimensions, comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,

ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly affixed at the interior side of each rectangular rail serving to hold the rails in a fixed parallel relationship to each other;

b) an arced track comprising;

i) two arced oblong, rigid, arced rails each rail of substantially equal height and width comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks, and

ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length and diametrically affixed length-wise at the interior side of each arced rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;

c) a curved track comprising;

i) two curved oblong, rigid, curved rails each rail of substantially equal height and width, comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks, and

ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length and diametrically or otherwise affixed length-wise at the interior side of each curved rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;

whereby said straight, arced, and curved tracks exclude obstructions thereby allowing contiguous connection between two or more straight, arced, or curved tracks.

10. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including an anti-tip device on which a straight track is positioned serving to protect the track against tipping, said anti-tip device comprising

a) an elongated, rectangular planar surface lying between and under the rectangular rails and extending out from the exterior sides of each rail, and

b) two work holder areas each work holder area bordered by two elongated work stop abutments the abutment adjacent to the exterior side of a rail is higher than the interior side abutment into which each affixed rail of a straight track is positioned.

11. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including a distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, diamond, hexagon, or octagon, comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

12. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including an apparatus in the shape of a figure eight lying on its side comprising a straight track or tracks, an arced track or tracks, or a curved track or tracks, or a combination of two or more tracks, whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of a centrally located distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a diamond or octagon, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

13. The article of educational equipment of claim 12 further including a column of straight tracks intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of said distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

14. The article of educational equipment of claim 13 further including a row of straight rows laterally intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of the distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

15. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including an apparatus in the shape of a circle enclosing a plus sign comprising one or more arced tracks in the shape of a circle and one or more straight tracks in the shape of a plus sign whereby the tracks, arced or straight, are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to another track, arced or straight, with the aid of one or more distinct end couplers, in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, located at the center of the plus sign and located at the ends of the plus sign intersecting and connecting with the circle, thereby bridging non-contiguous ends of the tracks.

16. An article of educational equipment horizontally traversed by a human comprising:

a) a straight track comprising;

i) two elongated, rigid, rectangular rails each rail of substantially equal dimensions, and

ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly affixed at the interior side of each rectangular rail serving to hold the rails in a fixed parallel relationship to each other;

b) an arced track comprising;

i) two arced oblong, rigid, arced rails each rail of substantially equal height and width, and

ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length, and diametrically affixed length-wise at the interior side of each arced rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;

c) a curved track comprising;

i) two curved oblong, rigid, curved rails each rail of substantially equal height and width, and

ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length and diametrically or otherwise affixed length-wise at the interior side of each curved rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;

whereby said straight, arced, and curved tracks exclude obstructions thereby allowing contiguous connection between two or more straight, arced, or curved tracks.

17. The article of educational equipment of claim 16 further including an apparatus in the shape of a figure eight lying on its side comprising a straight track or tracks, an arced track or tracks, or a curved track or tracks, or a combination of two or more tracks, whereby the tracks may be joined to one another.

18. The article of educational equipment of claim 16 further including an apparatus comprising two non-contiguous sets of connected arced and curved tracks each set in the shape of a horseshoe located on the left and right sides of the design the open ends of each horseshoe shaped set of tracks located directly opposite and laterally positioned to one another and two non-contiguous straight tracks centrally located on the upper and lower sides of the design directly opposite and longitudinally positioned to one another, all of the horseshoe shaped sets of tracks and straight tracks border an octagon shaped open area in the middle of the design.

19. The article of educational equipment of claim 18 further including two straight tracks one laterally and centrally positioned within and abutting or lying at the interior sides of a set of horseshoe shaped tracks and the other similarly positioned within the opposing set of horseshoe shaped tracks, all of the horseshoe shaped sets of tracks, inclusive of said partially enclosed laterally positioned straight tracks, and longitudinally positioned straight tracks border an octagon shaped open area in the middle of the design.

20. The article of educational equipment of claim 16 further including an apparatus in the shape of a circle enclosing a plus sign comprising one or more arced tracks in the shape of a circle and one or more straight tracks in the shape of a plus sign, whereby tracks may be joined to one another.