GB2218562A

GB2218562A - Audio-visual teaching aids

Info

Publication number: GB2218562A
Application number: GB8810952A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chun-Seng Tsai
Original assignee: TSAI CHUN SENG
Current assignee: TSAI CHUN SENG
Priority date: 1988-05-09
Filing date: 1988-05-09
Publication date: 1989-11-15
Also published as: GB8810952D0

Abstract

An audio-visual teaching aid includes a set of cards 4 selectively insertable into a multi-track audio tape player. A right-angled corner 4a of each of the cards 4 can close a power switch 5, and an indent 4b, the position of which distinguishes the cards 4 from one another, allows only one of a set of switches 3 to remain closed so that only an associated one of a set of magnetic heads will play an associated one of the sound tracks. The cards 4 and the sound tracks may be pre-printed and pre-recorded, and both the cards 4 and the sound tracks may be replaceable to widen the teaching possibilities of the teaching aid. <IMAGE>

Description

TEACHING AIDS The present invention relates generally to teaching aids, and is more particularly concerned with teaching aids capable of use by children as an audio/visual spur to learning, the use of such teaching aids by the children themselves being thought to provide a further stimulus to learning.

According to the present invention, a teaching aid capable of use by children as an audio/visual spur to learning comprises: a multiple set of magnetic tape sound tracks, a multiple set of magnetic heads each associated with a respective one of said sound tracks, a multiple set of switches each associated with a respective one of said magnetic heads, and a multiple set of removable cards, wherein each of said cards is visually distinct and differently shaped to cause or permit operation of a selected one of said switches and thereby play a selected one of said sound tracks through said associated magnetic head and audio circuitry.

The cards can display any words, pictures or other data as appropriate, being adaptable to either basic or advanced teaching. Similarly, the sound tracks can reproduce, for example, nursery rhyme songs, foreign language speech or explanatory lectures as appropriate.

Insertion of a particular card will cause the associated sound track to be played, either repetitively or just once depending on the internal circuitry of the teaching aid.

It will be appreciated that the teaching aid of the present invention can be of simple construction allowing both simple and convenient operation.

Preferably, the sound tracks are pre-recorded.

Alternatively, the teaching aid may be arranged to permit a user to record the sound tracks and decide the contents of the matching cards. In either case, the sound tracks are preferably replaceable so that additional data can be available at any time as required by the user.

The switches may be resiliently deformable spring-finger switches. Each of the switches may remain open, that is to say a broken circuit, until its spring-finger is resiliently deformed to close the switch. Alternatively, each of the switches may be closed until one of the cards is inserted to open all but one of the switches which is in alignment with a slot or indent in the card.

A power switch may be responsive to insertion of one of the cards to activate the sound track playing which is de-activated when the card is removed. In other words, insertion of a card automatically causes a sound track to be played. The cards may be shaped so that each would be of generally rectangular outline if three of its corners were not bevelled so that only its remaining corner can cause or permit operation of the power switch. In other words, a sound track will only be played if a card is inserted in the correct attitude.

Preferably, the sound tracks, the magnetic heads and the switches are usually hidden from view in a housing having over-hanging flanges defining a channel open at one end for guiding insertion and removal of the cards.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a teaching aid; Figure 2 shows a multiple set of magnetic tape sound tracks movable past a multiple set of magnetic heads; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the teaching aid with part of the housing having been cut away to expose parts which are normally hidden; Figures 4a and 4b are enlarged fragmentary plan views- of the parts exposed in Figure 3, showing the effect of insertion of any one of the cards; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 4b; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the entire teaching aid.

With reference to Figure 1, a teaching aid in accordance with the present invention is shown as a schematic block diagram. A magnetic tape 1 is movable as a continuous revolving loop past a magnetic head assembly 2. The magnetic tape 1 includes different sound tracks, each of which can be played by a corresponding magnetic head in the magnetic head assembly 2. The particular magnetic head to become operable is dependent upon operation of switches 3 which are controlled by insertion of a card 4. There is a multiple set of the cards 4, each of which causes or permits operation of a different one of the switches 3. Insertion of the card 4 also closes a power switch 5, whereupon the chosen sound track is played through conventional audio circuitry 6.

As shown in more detail in Figure 2, the magnetic tape 1 in fact includes a multiple set of magnetic tape sound tracks la, and the magnetic head assembly 2 in fact includes a multiple set of magnetic heads 2a each associated with a respective one of said sound tracks la.

The teaching aid of the present invention is shown more fully in Figure 3, which illustrates that the card 4 is insertable into and removable from a housing 7.

The card 4 will usually include pre-printed data such as the letters and pictures indicated by way of example in Figure 6. However, it is possible for the multiple set of cards 4 and their associated multiple set of sound tracks la to be initially blank, ready to receive information to be added by a user such as a teacher.

Pushing a card 4 into the housing 7 causes a movable contact of the power switch 5 to be resiliently deformed into abutment with a stationary contact of the power switch 5. This activates the sound track playing.

To ensure that a sound track la will only be played if a card 4 is inserted in the correct attitude, it will be noted that three of the corners of the otherwise generally rectangular card 4 have been cut off. The remaining corner 4a, at the top left of Figures 3 and 6, has not been bevelled and is thus the only corner that can close the power switch 5.

The sound track la to be played depends on the location of an indent 4b in the leading edge of the card 4. Each of the cards 4 is differently shaped by virtue of its indent 4b being in a different location. Each of the possible locations of the indent 4b is in alignment with a respective one of the switches 3.

As shown in more detail in Figures 4a and 4b, each of the switches 3 includes a resiliently deformable spring-finger 3b which is normally in abutment with a stationary common contact 3a. Inserting one of the cards 4 opens all of the switches 3 apart from that in alignment with its indent 4b. In the initial position, therefore, as shown in Figure 4a, all of the spring-fingers 3b are in abutment with the common contact 3a whereas movable contact 5a of the power switch 5 is spaced from its associated stationary contact 5b. Upon the card 4 being inserted, as shown in Figure 4b, its corner 4a closes the power switch 5 and its indent 4b allows only one of the switches 3 to remain closed. The leading edge of the card 4 is thus clamped, between all but one of the spring-fingers 3b and the common contact 3a, as shown in Figure 5. The clamping force is sufficient to maintain the movable contact 5a in abutment with the stationary contact 5b so that the power switch 5 is not inadvertently opened.

It will be appreciated that each of the switches 3 is associated with a respective one of the magnetic heads 2a. Thus, each of the cards 4 will play a different one of the sound tracks la. When the card 4 is removed, playing of the chosen sound track la will cease.

The housing 7 includes over-hanging flanges 8 defining a channel open at one end, the right hand end as shown in Figure 6, for guiding insertion and removal of the cards 4.

Claims

1. A teaching aid, capable of use by children as an audio/visual spur to learning, comprising: a multiple set of magnetic tape sound tracks, a multiple set of magnetic heads each associated with a respective one of said sound tracks, a multiple set of switches each associated with a respective one of said magnetic heads, and a multiple set of removable cards, wherein each of said cards is visually distinct and differently shaped to cause or permit operation of a selected one of said switches and thereby play a selected one of said sound tracks through said associated magnetic head and audio circuitry.

2. A teaching aid according to claim 1, in which the sound tracks are pre-recorded.

3. A teaching aid according to either preceding claim, in which the switches are resiliently deformable spring-finger switches.

4. A teaching aid according to claim 3, in which each of the switches is closed until one of the cards is inserted to open all but one of the switches which is in alignment with a slot or indent in the card.

5. A teaching aid according to any preceding claim, in which a power switch is responsive to insertion of one of the cards to activate the sound track playing which is de-activated when the card is removed.

6. A teaching aid according to claim 5, in which each of the cards would be of generally rectangular outline if three of its corners were not bevelled so that only its remaining corner can cause of permit operation of the power switch.

7. A teaching aid according to any preceding claim, in which the sound tracks are replaceable.

8. A teaching aid according to any preceding claim, in which the sound tracks, the magnetic heads and the switches are usually hidden from view in a housing having over-hanging flanges defining a channel open at one end for guiding insertion and removal of the cards.

9. A teaching aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.