GB2478958A

GB2478958A - A set of n seperable members

Info

Publication number: GB2478958A
Application number: GB1004987A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wasif Hasani
Original assignee: ZULFIQAR MOHAMMED
Current assignee: ZULFIQAR MOHAMMED
Priority date: 2010-03-25
Filing date: 2010-03-25
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-25
Also published as: GB2478958B; GB201004987D0

Abstract

In a set of n separable members 2 for arrangement in a sequence, each member fits together with the next member in the sequence, and each member has an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence. In the embodiment the members are ten blocks with the indicia one to ten which may be stacked one on top of the other in the sequence. The members are configured such that, when they are arranged in the sequence, each of the second to the (n-1) members has a first feature 24 and a second feature 28. The first feature 24 of each member corresponds to the second feature 26 of the member which follows it in the sequence. The features may be a colour or a raised part to fit into a recessed part.

Description

A Set of n Separable Members The invention relates to a set of n separable members, particularly for arrangement in a sequence.

Learning to count or learning the alphabet is an important element in a child's education. Toy building blocks are known, each block having, for example, a number on one of its surfaces. The blocks can be arranged in sequence to give a visual representation of the sequence to be remembered. However, in order to arrange the blocks in the correct order, the child must already know the sequence. The child could, in fact, put the blocks in the wrong sequence, and, without intervention from another person, would receive no indication that the blocks had been put in the incorrect order.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of n separable members for arrangement in a sequence, each member fitting together with the next member in the sequence, each member having an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence, the members being configured such that, when they are arranged in the sequence, each of the second to the (n-if' members has a first feature and a second feature, the first feature of each member corresponding to the second feature of the member which follows it in the sequence.

As there is a correspondence between the first feature and the second feature when the members are arranged in the correct sequence, a user is given, each time he adds a new member to the sequence, an indication whether the new member is the correct next member in the sequence, by means other than the sequence he is trying to learn. The user does not necessarily consciously recognise the indication, but the correspondence will in this case help to establish a subconscious indication of the new member.

The first feature of a member may be its indicium and the second feature may be a mirror image of the indicium of the preceding member in the sequence. Thus, there are corresponding patterns on consecutive members in the sequence, which, when aligned, indicate that the members have been arranged in the correct order.

Preferably, the indicia of the members are configured so that they do not have any axes of symmetry. Thus, alignment of the first and second features also indicates that the members have been placed in the correct orientation.

The first feature may be a raised or recessed version of the indicium and the second feature may be a recessed or raised version, respectively, of the mirror image of the indicium of the preceding member in the sequence, the first and second features being configured such that the two members of which they are a part can be arranged such that they fit together via the first and second features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of n separable members for arrangement in a sequence, each member having an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence, the indicium being raised or recessed into a surface of the member, each member, optionally except the first in the sequence, also bearing the preceding indicium of the sequence recessed or raised respectively on another surface of the member, so that the members can be fitted together in the sequence, each raised indicium on one member fitting into a corresponding recess in the next.

The first feature may be a raised version of the indicium and the second feature may be a recessed version of the mirror image of the indicium of the previous member in the sequence.

The fact that the members can fit together makes it more apparent to the user if the members have been arranged in the wrong order, as it will not be possible to fit the members together if they are in the wrong order. It also has the advantage of improving the stability when the members are arranged in a vertical stack, as the members will have to be arranged with their centres of gravity substantially aligned in order to fit together. Further, where the indicia do not have any symmetry, it will prevent the members being oriented wrongly.

Each of the second to the (n-l)th members may include a further representation of the indicium. The further representation may be positioned on the member such that it is visible to the user when the member is arranged in sequence fitted together with another member. Thus, representations of the indicia are still visible to the user, even when the members are fitted together so that the primary indicium is hidden from view.

The indicium may be a numeral. Preferably, the sequence is a sequence of consecutive numbers, and more preferably, the sequence is the numbers one to ten.

Thus numeric sequences can be leant.

The indicium may be a letter. Thus alphabetic sequences, for example the alphabet from A to Z, can be leant.

For each of the second to the (ni)th members, the first feature may be a primary first feature and the second feature may be a primary second feature, and each of the second to (n-if' members may further have a secondary first feature and a secondary second feature, the secondary first feature corresponding to the secondary second feature of the member which follows it in the sequence.

Therefore, each member would have two indicators of whether the members have been correctly arranged in sequence.

Each member may have a first part and a second part, and the secondary first feature may be an element of the appearance of the surface of the first part, and the secondaiy second feature may be an element of the appearance of the surface of the second part.

Preferably, the element of appearance is colour. The first part may be the first feature. The second part may be the surface which includes the second feature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of n separable members for arrangement in a sequence, each member fitting together with the next member in the sequence, wherein each of the second to the (n-i)th members comprises an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence and a first part and a second part, an element of appearance of the surface of the first part being different from the corresponding element of appearance of the surface of the second part, the element of appearance of the surface of the first part being the same as that of the element of appearance of the surface of the second part of the member which follows it in the sequence.

Therefore, as there is a correspondence in the appearance of the surface between the first feature and the second feature when the members are arranged in the correct sequence, a user is given, each time he adds a new member to the sequence, an indication whether the new member is the correct next member in the sequence, by means other than the sequence he is trying to lean.

The user does not necessarily consciously recognise the indication, but the correspondence will in this case help to establish a subconscious indication of the new member.

The first part may be the indicium and the second part may be a part of the member other than the indicium. Therefore, the user is given an indication of whether the members have been placed in the correct order, when he looks at the indicia.

The element of the appearance of the surface in relation to the first and second features may be colour. Therefore, the correspondence of the features is provided in a simple manner.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a set of n separable numbers for arrangement in a sequence, each member fitting together with the next member in the sequence, each member including a coloured portion which matches the colour of a coloured portion of the block with which it is to be fitted together.

Preferably the matching coloured portions face or contact each other when the members are fitted together correctly in the sequence.

The further representation of the indicium may be different from the first indicium. Where the indicium is a number n the further indicium may be a group of n elements. The elements may be dots. The dots provide a further way of determining the identity of the indicia for a user who is not familiar with the numerals.

The elements may be arranged in groups of up to five in the same format as on the face of a die. The number of elements is therefore easy to recognise by the pattern the elements form.

Where the indicia is a letter, the further indicia may be a pictorial representation of a word starting with that letter. The representation thus provides a further way of determining the identity of the indicia for a user who is not familiar with the letters.

The second part may be the whole of the surface of the member, not including any indicia.

Each member may have at least two flat faces. Preferably, the flat faces are opposite one another and more preferably each member is a cube. The members can therefore be easily arranged next to each other, and stacked on one another.

Preferably, the members of the set can fit together in sequence to form an upright stack.

Each first feature is preferably unique in the set of members. Each secondary first feature is preferably unique in the set of members. Therefore, the members can be arranged in only one sequence.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the following drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the set of blocks of the embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is first when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the first feature; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is second when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 3, showing the first feature; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is third when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 5, showing the first feature; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is fourth when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 7, showing the first feature; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is fifth when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 9, showing the first feature; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is sixth when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 11, showing the first feature; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is seventh when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 13, showing the first feature; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is eighth when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 15, showing the first feature; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is ninth when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 17, showing the first feature; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 1 which is tenth when the blocks are arranged in sequence, the view showing the second feature; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the block of Fig. 19, showing the first feature; and Fig 21 is a perspective view showing the XXX blocks fitted together in sequence.

The set of members in the embodiment in Fig. 1 comprises ten members as shown in Figs. 2 to 20, each member being a cubic block 1-10. The blocks 1-10 can be arranged in a stack in sequence, as shown in Fig. 21. Each block 1-10 has six faces, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22. The face 12 is uppermost when the blocks are arranged in the sequence. The face 14 is opposite the face 12 and is thus the lower face when the blocks are arranged in the sequence.

Each upper face 12 of each block 1-10 has a first feature 24 which is a raised number. The raised number 24 stands proud of the face 12 and acts as an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence. Thus, block 1 has a raised number "1", block 2 has a raised number "2", block 3 has a raised number "3", and so forth. The upper face of the number 24 is flat and parallel to the face 12. The sides of the number 24 are perpendicular to the face 12 and hence are vertical when the block 1 is arranged as in Fig. 2.

Each lower face 14 of each block 2-10 has a second feature 26 which is a recess in the same shape as the raised number 24 on the upper face 12 of the block which is the previous block in the sequence. Thus, the second feature 26 is shaped as a mirror image of the raised number 24 of the block which is the previous block in the sequence. For example, the block 2 has on its lower face 14 a recess 26 which is the same shape as the raised number "1" of the block 1 and is thus a minor image number "1", the block 3 has on its lower face 14 a recess 26 in the shape of the raised number "2" of block 2 and is thus a minor image number "2", and so forth.

Each recess 26 is slightly larger than the raised number 24 on the previous block, and thus the feature 24 which it corresponds with can fit inside the recess 26 so that the blocks fit together. In this way, it is possible to link all the blocks 1-10 in a stack as shown in Fig. 21. As each block 1-10 has a different raised number 24, there is only one possible sequence in which the blocks 1-10 can be fitted together to form the stack.

For each block 1-10, the side face 16, which is positioned adjacent the base of the raised number 24 when the raised number 24 is viewed in its normal orientation, has a further representation 28 of the raised number 24, but in recessed form and the correct way around, in other words not in mirror image like the recess 26 in the lower face 14.

When each block is positioned with its lower face 14 downwards, the face 22 which is anticlockwise of the face 16 has a collection of dots 30 of a number the same as the raised number 24 on that block e.g. the block 5, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, has a raised number "5" and five dots 30. The collection of dots 30 is a further indicium of the position of that block in the sequence. The dots 30 are arranged in groups of up to five, arranged in the same manner as found on the face of a die.

For each block 1-10, the flat surfaces of the block, and the recess 26, are one colour, and the raised number 24, the further representation 28 of the number 24, and the dots 30, are a different colour. Further, for each block 1-10, the raised number 24, the further representation 28 of the number 24, and the dots 30 are all the same colour as the surface colour of the block which is the next block in the sequence.

Thus, when a user, for example a child learning to count, wants to arrange the blocks in the correct sequence order, that is, so the indicia 24, 28 are arranged from one to ten, he is aided in the arrangement of the blocks by the fact that each of the blocks 2-9 can fit to only one other particular block from the set via its upper face 12 and to only one other particular block from the set via its lower face 14, as all of the first features 24 are different from each other and all of the second features 26 are different from each other. Therefore, the blocks cannot be fitted together in the wrong sequence.

Further, the fact that there is a link between the colour of the indicia 24, 28, 30 of one block and the colour of the surface of the next block in the sequence provides another indication of how the blocks should be arranged to form the correct sequence.

Thus, the colour of the indicia 24, 28, 30 can be seen also as a "first feature", which corresponds with the colour of the surface of the following block, which can be seen also as a "second feature".

The fact that there are two numeral indicia 24, 28 means that even when the blocks are interlinked so that the first feature 24 is hidden from the user's view, the number relating to the position of the block in the sequence is visible.

The dots 30 provide a further reinforcement of the position of the block 1-10 in the sequence, and also provide a means for the user to determine the position of the block in the sequence if they are not familiar with the shape of the numeral 24, 28 used. The fact that the dots 30 are arranged in groups allows the user to quickly determine the number of dots present. The grouping of the dots in groups of up to five reinforces decimal grouping of numbers. The fact that the dots 30 are grouped as on the face of a die means that it may not be necessary for the user to physically count the number of dots 30 to determine how many are present, but rather the user can just recognise the pattern in which the dots 30 are grouped.

In the above embodiment, each block comprises two colours. However, in another embodiment each block could comprise only one colour, and, further, all the blocks in the set may be the same colour. In such a case the user would not have the colour cue to assist with arranging the blocks in sequence order.

In a further embodiment, the number 24 and its corresponding mirror image number 26 are not raised or recessed, respectively, and instead the user may just rely on aligning these two features. Alternatively, these two features may be raised or recessed such that they allow the blocks to fit together in a snap-fit manner.

In a further embodiment there may be no number on the top face, and also no corresponding image of the number on the bottom face of the next block in the sequence. Therefore, the only indicium of the position of the block in the sequence would be the number on the front face of the block. Therefore, the user would have only the aspect of corresponding colours to assist in correctly arranging the blocks in sequence.

Where only colour is used to reinforce the sequence of the blocks, the first feature and second feature may be different parts of the block to those in the above embodiment. For example, the first feature could be the top half of a block and the second feature could be the bottom half of a block.

Although colour has been used in the above embodiment as the corresponding element of the appearance of the surface of the first feature and second feature, other elements of the appearance of the surface could be used, for example, pattern or texture.

The sequence in the above embodiment is a numeric sequence and thus the blocks have numbers on them. It will be obvious to the skilled man that any form of numbering system could be used, or further that other sequences, for example, alphabetic sequences, could be used for the set.

The dots in the above embodiment which provide a further indicium of the position of the block in the sequence could be groups of other elements, for example, pictures of objects, and of course could be grouped in any way. Or, alternatively, the numeral could be represented in another numbering system, for example the corresponding numeral in the Roman writing system.

Where the sequence is an alphabetic sequence, and therefore each block has an indicium which is a letter, the further indicia may be, for example, a pictorial representation of a word beginning with that letter.

In the embodiment above, there are ten blocks, but it will be apparent to the skilled man that the set could contain more or fewer than ten blocks.

Claims

Claims 1. A set of n separable members for arrangement in a sequence, each member fitting together with the next member in the sequence, each member having an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence, the members being configured such that, when they are arranged in the sequence, each of the second to the (n-1)t members has a first feature and a second feature, the first feature of each member corresponding to the second feature of the member which follows it in the sequence.
2. A set according to claim 1, wherein the first feature is a raised or recessed version of the indicium and the second feature is a recessed or raised version, respectively, of the mirror image of the indicium of the preceding member in the sequence, the first and second features being configured such that the two members of which they are a part can be arranged such that they fit together via the first and second features.
3. A set according to claim 2, wherein the first feature is a raised version of the indicium and the second feature is a recessed version of the mirror image of the indicium of the previous member of the sequence.
4. A set according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein for each of the second to the (n-if' members the first feature is a primary first feature and the second feature is a primary second feature, each of the second to (fl1)th members further having a secondary first feature and a secondary second feature, the secondary first feature corresponding to the secondary second feature of the member which follows it in the sequence.
5. A set according to claim 4, wherein each member has a first part and a second part and the secondary first feature is an element of the appearance of the surface of the first part, and the secondary second feature is an element of the appearance of the surface of the second part.
6. A set according to claim 5, wherein the element of appearance is colour.
7. A set according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the first part is the first feature.
8. A set according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the second part is the surface which includes the second feature.
9. A set of n separable members for arrangement in a sequence, each member fitting together with the next member in the sequence, wherein each of the second to the (fl1)th members comprises an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence and a first part and a second part, an element of appearance of the surface of the first part being different from the corresponding element of appearance of the surface of the second part, the element of appearance of the first part being the same as that of the element of appearance of the second part of the member which follows it in the sequence.
10. A set according to claim 9, wherein the first part is the indicium and the second part is a part of the member other than the indicium.
11. A set according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the element of the appearance of the surface in relation to the first and second features is colour.
12. A set according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicium is a numeral.
13. A set according to claim 12, wherein the sequence is a sequence of consecutive numbers.
14. A set according to claim 13, wherein the sequence is the numbers one to ten.
15. A set according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the second to the (n-if' members includes a further representation of the indicium.
16. A set according to claim 15, wherein the further representation is positioned on the member such that it is visible to the user when the member is arranged in sequence fitted together with another member.
17. A set according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the further representation of the indicium is different from the first indicium.
18. A set according to claim 17, wherein, where the indicium is a number n, the further indicium is a group of n elements.
19. A set according to claim 18, wherein the elements are dots.
20. A set according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the elements are arranged in groups of up to five in the same format as on the face of a die.
21. A set according to any preceding claim, wherein each member has at least two flat faces.
22. A set according to claim 21, wherein the flat surfaces are opposite one another.
23. A set according to any preceding claim, wherein each member is a cube.
24. A set according to any preceding claim, wherein the members of the set can fit together in sequence to form an upright stack.
25. A set according to any preceding claim, wherein each first feature is unique in the set of members.
26. A set substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 1 to 21.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Ctaims 1. A set of n separable members for arrangement in a sequence, each member fitting together with the next member in the sequence, each member having an indicium of the position of the member in the sequence, the members being configured such that, when they are arranged in the sequence, each of the second to the (nl)th members has a first feature and a second feature, the first feature of each member corresponding to the second feature of the member which follows it in the sequence, the first feature being a raised or recessed version of the indicium and the second feature being a recessed or raised version, respectively, of the mirror image of the indicium of the preceding member in the sequence, the first and second features being configured such that the two members of which they are a part can be arranged such that they fit together via the first and second features. o is2. A set according to claim 1, wherein the first feature is a raised version of the indicium and the second feature is a recessed version of the mirror image of the indicium of the previous member of the sequence.3. A set according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein for each of the second to the (n-if' members the first feature is a primary first feature and the second feature is a primary second feature, each of the second to (n-i)th members further having a secondaiy first feature and a secondary second feature, the secondary first feature corresponding to the secondary second feature of the member which follows it in the sequence.4. A set according to claim 3, wherein each member has a first part and a second part and the secondary first feature is an element of the appearance of the surface of the first part, and the secondary second feature is an element of the appearance of the surface of the second part.5. A set according to claim 4, wherein the element of appearance is colour.6. A set according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the first part is the first feature.7. A set according to claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the second part is the surface which includes the second feature.8. A set substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 1 to 21. Co (\J