GB2191125A - Instructional apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a base (2), and a manually rotatable spindle (6) mounted above the base and movable in an axial direction towards the base. An arm (10) is connected fixedly to the spindle without gearing to cause rotation of the spindle. Tool means e.g. a hole punch (1), drill, screwdriver, glue gun, soldering iron, disc cutter in a transverse arm, or a hot wire cutter is detachably fixed to the end of the spindle adjacent the base for operating on material placed on the base when the spindle is manually moved either rotationally or longitudinally. The apparatus is intended as a teaching aid for children or handicapped adults. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Instructional apparatus The present invention relates to an instructional apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to an apparatusforteaching students basic manual skills.

The basic manual skills may be learnt from the apparatus ofthe present invention are such as hole punching, drilling, cutting, positioning, screwing, and the like. The apparatus is intended for use by comparatively young children or possibly by handicapped people. For such purposes, the apparatus must be robust, simple to operate and able to provide a degree of certainty to the operation being carried out.

Simple hand drills are known butuserequirescar- eful positioning ofthe drill. Furthermore, such hand drills generally have a bevel gear arrangementto increase the speed of the drill with respect to the speed of rotation ofthe operating handle. Forsmall children, this makes them difficult to use. In the case of electric drills, it is known to provide drill stands for them. This allows a degree of certainty in operation butthetool is not really suitable for use byyoung children due to its high speed of operation and the possibility ofinjuryto the children.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, robust apparatus which will enable the student to carry out simple manual tasks without excessive risk of injury.

According to the present invention there is provided an instructional apparatus comprising a base, a manually rotatable spindle mounted above the base and movable in an axial direction towards the base, manual means connected fixedly to the spindle without gearing to cause rotation of the spindle, and tool means detachably fixed to the end of the spindle adjacent the base for operating on material placed on the base when the spindle is manually moved either rotationally or longitudinally.

Preferably the tool means comprises one of a selection of implements held in a chuck or other holding means attached to the spindle, which implements may be a punch, a drill, a screw-driver, a cutting blade mountd to an arm for rotation with the spindle at a predetermined distance from the spindle to cut a disc of predetermined radius, a glue-gun, a soldering iron, a hot wire cutter or the like.

In one embodiment the spindle is mounted in one position relative to the base in which case the base may be provided with a metal insertforcooperation with the tool means carried by the spindle.

In another embodiment the spindle is mounted for movement in a plane transverse to the base and may be rotated and/or moved axially in any position on said plane.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation of an apparatus elm be odying the invention; Figure2 is a plan view of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus; Figure4showsa disc cutting tool for usewith the apparatus; and Figure 5is a plan view of a template for attachment to the base.

Referring nowtothedrawings, Figures 1-3 show the apparatus set up for use with a hole punch 1. The apparatus comprises a base 2 covered with a working surface 3 which is preferably scratch resistant or at least replaceable if scratched. Mounted to the base is a curved arm 4 preferably of metal, although other materials may be used. The arm 4 is curved so that its end remote from the base 2 is above the base in approximately central position thereof. The end carries a shorttube5through which passes a spindle6 in such a manner as to be guided byte tube 5 but an easy sliding fittherein.

The spindle 6 is surrounded by a collar7 lockable to the spindle by means of a knurled nut 8. The posi tionofthecollar7 may be set so that the spindle and the punch carried thereby cannot descend below a certain point. The upper end of the spindle is fixed to a handle 9 by means of a cranked arm 10.The manner of attachment of the arm 1 Oto the spindle 6 is such that there is a planar surface above the spindle whereby downward manual pressure can be exerted on the spindle. The length of the cranked arm loins such asto give a mechanical advantage of 20:1 over a drill of8mm diameter.

Atthe other end of the spindle 6 is fixed a Jacobs chuck 11 having a capacity of taking an 8mm diametes drill or punch. The punch 1 may be replaced buy a drill bit of any size less than or equal to 8mm by use of a standard chuck key. At the point of the base 2 below the punch 1, there is provided a metal insert (not shown) having an aperture dimensioned to cooperate with the punch 1. The insert may be removable for replacement by other inserts having dif ferent diameter apertures. An additional insert may be provided which is not flus with the surface ofthe base 2 but which stands up to provideadiscon which may be located material to be worked on.

The punch or drill may be replaced by othertools.

As an example, a disc cutter is shown in Figure 4. A boss 12 is mountable in the chuck 11 and is provided with an axial extension 13 adapted to fit within the insert. Slidablethrough the boss in a direction transverse to the axis ofthe spindle is a bar 1 4which can be locked in position in the boss 12 so that one end is a predetermined distance from the axis ofthe spindle. Said end of the rod 14 carries a blade holder 15 bearing a replaceable blade adapted to cut a material placed on the base.

To operate the apparatus, a sheet of material is placed on the base beneath the tool. The material may be accurately positioned by means offences (not shown) fixed to the surface 3 of the base. In orderto position thefences,the surface3 may be provided with upstanding dowels, or alternatively dowel holes. For certain purposes, atemplatesuch as shown in Figure 5 may be used, which template has an array of pin locating holes.The appropriate tool is placed in the chuck 11 while the spindle is held clear of the base by means of locking collar 7. If the chosen tool is a punch, the apparatus is used simply by un locking the collar 7 and pushing down the spindle by means of pressure on the uppersurfaceofcrankarm 10. Asingle hole may be made orthe material may be moved in stages across the base to punch a series of holes. If the chosen tool is a drill, the spindle is lowered until the end ofthe drill is in contact with the material and the spindle is rotated by means of handle 9 and crank arm 10. Similarly, if the chosen tool is the disc cutter, the spindle is lowered until the blade is in contact with the material when the spindle is again rotated to cut a disc from the material of whatever radius is chosen.

In an alternative embodiment, the arm 4 carries a rail extending parallel to the base.Thetube5is mountedtoacarriage movable along the rail sothat the spindle and the tool carried may be used at any point of the base beneath the beam. Preferably, the tube 5 may be locked in any desired position along the beam. In this embodiment, it is preferred for there to be two arms 4, one at or adjacent each end of the beam.

In either embodiment, the tube 5may be lockably rotatable aboutthe end of the arm 4so that on vertical operations may be carried out in a simple controlled manner.

The apparatus is intended for use with such materials as paper, plastics sheet, card, aluminium and other metal foils or wood. In the simplerversions, there is no need for vertical alignment of the tool. A fence, which may optionally be marked with dimensions, may be attached to the base and the material moved along the fence. A series of operations may then be carried out at easily determined points on the material. By use of a template as shown in Figure 5, patterns of holes may be made orcomplicated shapes cut. The apparatus is simple enough and safe enough to allow its use by children to instruct them in the basic manual skills, e.g. drilling and punching.

Acompressionspring (notshown)maybeprov- idedbelowthecollar7sothatwhen manualpressure is released, the tool is moved automatically clear of the material.

Figure 5 shows a template which may replace or be laid over the work surface 3. The template is located on the base by means of holes 17 engaging dowels projecting from the base 2. 18 denotes the hole where the punch 1 or drill etc. operates. Two or more of a series of apertures 19 may be selectively chosen in which to locate dowels projecting from a fence.

Apertures 19 are equidistantly spaced along three straight lines to allow flexibility in positioning ofthe fence.

Other apertures 20 are provided for punching or drilling holes spaced around a disc cut by the disc cutter or otherwise provided. A centre hole ofthe disc is located over an appropriate one oftemplate apertures 21 and held rotatably by a dowel pin. A hole is then made at 18. The disc may be rotated about its centre at an aperture 21 until the hole aligns with an aperture 20. A dowel pin is inserted and a second hole made at 18. The process continues until the desired number of holes have been made.

Depending on the choice oftemplate aperture 20 or 19, the disc may be given 4,6,8,12 or24 holes.A child is thereby taught the need for precision and howthis may be obtained by the use of a simpletemplate.

Claims (12)

1. An instructional apparatus comprising a base, a manually rotatable spindle mounted above the base and movable in an axial direction towards the base, manual means connected fixedlytothe spindle without gearing to cause rotation of the spindle, and tool means detachably fixed to the end ofthe spindle adjacent the base for operating on material placed on the base when the spindle is manually moved either rotationally or longitudinally.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool means comprises one of a selection of implements held in a chuck or other holding means attached to the spindle.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein thetool means comprises a punch.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein thetool means comprises a drill.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tool means comprises a screw-driver.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tool means comprises a cutting blade mounted to an arm for rotation with the spindle art a pred etermined distancefrom the spindleto cut a discof predetermined radius.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tool means comprises a glue-gun.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein thetool means comprises a soldering iron.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tool means comprises a hot wire cutter.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the spindle is mounted in one position relative to the base in which casethe base may be provided with a metal insertforcooperation with the tool means carried by the spindle.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the spindle is mounted for movement in a plane transverse to the base and may be rotated and/or moved axially in any position on said plane.

12. An instructional apparatus substantially as described herewith with reference to the accompanying drawings.