US5219289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mathematical teaching aid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-06-10
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Granted: 1993-06-15
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Expires: 2012-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A mathematical teaching aid or game comprising a background grid having components and subcomponents each positioned within individual cells of the grid so that many mathematical arrangements and concepts can be displayed. Each component has a face color from a set of colors and contains on its face the outline of a geometric shape from a set of geometric shapes. Each component represents a unique pairing of color and shape outline. Each subcomponent has a shape congruent to the shape outline from the set of shapes and matches exactly one component with respect to color and shape outline. The components are mounted upon the grid cells and the subcomponents can be mounted upon either a grid cell or upon a corresponding shape outline. Various arrangements of components and subcomponents on the grid can be made to illustrate numerous mathematical principles from elementary to advanced: shape/color recognition and matching; concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication; factoring composite numbers; squaring numbers; factoring quadratics; distinguishing between prime and composite numbers; identifying factors common to composite numbers.
Inventors
- 👤 Patricia K. Derr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:22
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B1/00; G09B1/02; G09B1/04; G09B1/06; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/04; G09B23/00; G09B23/02; A63F2003/00996; A63F3/0457; A63F2003/046; A63F3/00173; A63F3/00574; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/0666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A mathematical teaching aid comprising a background grid having at least nine individual grid cells arranged in a matrix; said mathematical teaching aid further comprising at least three components each attachable to any cell of the background grid and each being of a separate color, and each of said components further having an outer face surface with a separate geometric shape outlined on such outer face surface; and at least three subcomponents each being only one of the separate colors of said components and having a geometric shape at least similar to only one of the separate geometric shapes outlined on said component outer face surface, each of said subcomponents being attachable at said outer face surface of any component with a geometric shape outline similar to the geometric shape of said subcomponent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mathematical teaching aid comprising a background grid having at least nine individual grid cells arranged in a matrix; said mathematical teaching aid further comprising at least three components each attachable to any cell of the background grid and each being of a separate color, and each of said components further having an outer face surface with a separate geometric shape outlined on such outer face surface; and at least three subcomponents each being only one of the separate colors of said components and having a geometric shape at least similar to only one of the separate geometric shapes outlined on said component outer face surface, each of said subcomponents being attachable at said outer face surface of any component with a geometric shape outline similar to the geometric shape of said subcomponent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
176 words
A mathematical teaching aid comprising a background grid having at least nine individual grid cells arranged in a matrix; at least three removable and replaceable components having an outer peripheral shape and each attachable to any grid cell of the grid, each of said removable and replaceable components having a separate and distinct coloration and an outer surface and further having a separate and distinct shape which is visibly outlined on said outer surface and being in area less than that of the area of the outer peripheral shape; at least three subcomponents, each of said subcomponents having a separate and distinct coloration corresponding to only one of the separate and distinct colorations of said components and each of said subcomponents having a separate and distinct shape similar to only one of the separate and distinct shapes outlined on said outer surface of said components, any of said subcomponents being removeably and replaceably fitted to any component having a separate and distinct shape outline which is similar to the separate and distinct shape of the subcomponent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
176 words
A mathematical teaching aid comprising a background grid having at least nine individual grid cells arranged in a matrix; at least three removable and replaceable components having an outer peripheral shape and each attachable to any grid cell of the grid, each of said removable and replaceable components having a separate and distinct coloration and an outer surface and further having a separate and distinct shape which is visibly outlined on said outer surface and being in area less than that of the area of the outer peripheral shape; at least three subcomponents, each of said subcomponents having a separate and distinct coloration corresponding to only one of the separate and distinct colorations of said components and each of said subcomponents having a separate and distinct shape similar to only one of the separate and distinct shapes outlined on said outer surface of said components, any of said subcomponents being removeably and replaceably fitted to any component having a separate and distinct shape outline which is similar to the separate and distinct shape of the subcomponent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the subcomponents are each attachable to any grid cell without the presence of a removeable and replaceable component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein said separate and distinct shape outlined on the component is formed as a cavity in said outer surface of said component, the separate and distinct shape of said subcomponent nesting within the said cavity so that the subcomponent at least partially fits into the component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein said visably outlined separate and distinct shape contains the center of said outer peripheral shape of said component and the separate and distinct shape of said subcomponent being congruent to said outlined shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein a pair consisting of any one of said components and the corresponding one of said subcomponents are attachable to any grid cell by means of a reusable fastener consisting of two fabric sides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 6 wherein said pair has similarity of outer surface shape outline of said component and said shape of said subcomponent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein a pair consisting of any of said components and the corresponding one of said subcomponent are attachable to any grid cell by means of reusable adhesive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 8 wherein said pair has similarity of outer surface shape outline of said component and said shape of said subcomponent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein a pair consisting of the corresponding one of said components and any one of said subcomponents are attachable to any grid cell by means of magnetic materials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 10 wherein said pair has similarity of outer surface shape outline of said component and said shape of said subcomponent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the said grid cells are arranged in rows and columns to form a square.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the number of said separate and distinct shapes of said subcomponents equals the number of separate and distinct colorations of said subcomponents.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the number of separate and distinct colorations of said components and of said subcomponents are equal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 14 wherein the number of said separate and distinct shapes outlined on the outer surface of said components equals the number of separate and distinct shapes of said subcomponents and further equals the number of separate and distinct subcomponent colorations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the number of subcomponent shapes equals the number of component colors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
87 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 1 wherein every possible pairing of said separate and distinct corresponding colorations and said separate and distinct corresponding shapes is found in exactly one component and exactly one subcomponent thereby visually demonstrating mathematically that the set of all components represents the cross-product of the set of said colorations and the set of said shapes and that the set of all subcomponents are in one-to-one correspondence with the set of all components with respect to a unique pairing of coloration and shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein there are an equal number of components and grid cells.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the background grid, components, and subcomponents are constructed on a video screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the background grid, components, and subcomponents are projected on a screen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 2 wherein the number of components is greater than three and the number of subcomponents is greater than three and there being recurrences of at least some of said separate and distinct corresponding colorations and of at least some of said separate and distinct similar shapes but there being only one possible pairing of component and subcomponent with both having the same corresponding coloration and both having similar shape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
The mathematical teaching aid of claim 1 wherein the number of components is greater than three and the number of subcomponents is greater than three and there being recurrences of at least some of said component and subcomponent colors and of at least some of the geometric shapes of said component outer face outlines and said subcomponents but there being only one possible pairing of component and subcomponent with both having the same color and both having similar geometric shapes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-14 | 1996-12-14 | 1997-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-14 | 2000-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-14 | 2004-12-14 | 2005-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |