Base--Ten Blocks Employing Single, Attachable Blocks of One Color Row of Ten Blocks of Different Color

The present invention relates to a learning aid, in particular to blocks which can be joined to teach arithmetic to children.

In the past, various blocks were used for teaching arithmetic to young children. These blocks were sometimes supplied in multiples of ten and as such were called decimal or base-ten blocks. (Learning the base-ten system is of extreme importance nowadays because virtually all computer systems are designed around such a system.) The blocks were joinable in rows, flats, arrays, cubes etc. The blocks included mating bosses and recesses and other joining means for holding the blocks together so that the child using them could be taught to add, subtract etc., by joining and removing the blocks in such rows, arrays, etc. However, these joining means left much to be desired: they soon wore or came apart easily. This resulted in the blocks frequently falling apart. The children using the blocks thus became frustrated and thus switched their minds from concentrating and learning to reassembling the blocks. Frequently the reassembled blocks fell apart again, further frustrating the child and sometimes reducing the child to tears.

This produced a number of unwanted effects. First the frustrated child lost concentration and missed part of the teacher's instruction. Second, if other children were present, e.g., in a class, they began to notice the frustrated child and became concerned and lost concentration also. This caused the teaching eposode to become a shambles.

An additional problem with base-ten blocks was the difficulty in distinguishing between those blocks representing tens, hundreds, and thousands. This was a serious drawback and handicapped effective teaching and learning, especially where children were concerned.

An additional complicating factor occurred because some blocks were made in different colors, with the colors being jumbled. I.e., individual blocks were made in many colors. While a profusion of colors on a single block might exite and interest a child, such colors detracted from the child's ability to concentrate. Furthermore the blocks had no means for teaching arithmetic.

Some examples of blocks made of rubber plastic or other suitable materials, designed to teach arithmetic to young children, are as follows:

E. E. Tompkins, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,545, dated Aug. 28, 1934, shows toy building blocks made of rubber. These, however, fall far short of being suitable for teaching arithmetic because the blocks are imitations of clay bricks and half bricks (bats), such that, although a child might learn basic bricklaying with them, they are unsuited for teaching base-ten arithmetic.

P. La Grutta, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,833, dated Feb. 28, 1961, shows a plastic block assembly. However these blocks are again suitable only for building and not for teaching arithmetic.

A French patent, 1,263,113, dated 1961, to Est. Vulliermes, shows interlocking blocks with numbers attached for teaching arithmetic to children. However these blocks do not use or teach the base-ten system.

H. W. and E. E. Morgan, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,792, dated Jun. 25, 1963, shows blocks with holes therethrough for assembling onto pegs to shows tangible examples of arithmetic to children. However again no reference is made to the base-ten system. Also different colors are suggested for each different unit from one to ten, which tends to confuse a child attempting to learn the base-ten system.

K. Zysset, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,493, dated Mar. 24, 1966, shows a building block toy set. However, again no reference is made to the base-ten-blocks, or to teaching arithmetic to children.

H. E. Stassen, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,986, dated Dec. 10, 1968, shows a visual aid for arithmetic. Gov. Stassen's system is similar to that of the French patent, i.e., numbers are placed on blocks representing the number of units involved. Again this system differs from and is unsuitable for teaching the base-ten system.

H. Hasel et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,531, dated Mar. 2, 1971, shows mating blocks having beaded studs and resilient sidewalls. These building blocks have four mating projections at each half-block end, corresponding to each half-block end of an adjacent block. These projections fit into indents on the inside of the resilient sides of the adjacent block for the purpose of block building. These blocks are similar to those of the Tomkins patent and are merely models of clay building bricks. While they can be used to teach various bricklaying techniques, they make no reference to and are not suitable for the base-ten system.

Glassman, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,667, dated Oct. 23, 1973, shows an educational arithmetic manipulative toy. It employs blocks which have holes drilled in them to fit over pegs attached to other blocks. Again no reference is made to and these blocks are not suitable, for the base-ten system.

Y. Chatani, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,221, dated Dec. 15, 1981, shows block members having interior interlocking means for use by children in toy block constructions. Again these blocks are similar to those of Hasel and Tomkins. They provide a model of clay building bricks, perhaps useful in teaching bricklaying, but again no reference is made to any base-ten blocks system for teaching arithmetic.

J. H. Walker, in U.S. Pat. No. 744,850, dated 1956, shows blocks for the education and recreation of children. The blocks have a hole therethrough for passing a cord, if desired. A projection is also provided to fit into a recess in a hollow or solid adjacent cube. No mention is made for any use in base-ten block system.

As stated, none of the references above show base-ten block for teaching arithmetic to young children. Moreover none have any effective, reliable means for holding the blocks together and allowing them to be separated repeatedly. Also none provide any means to facilitate understanding the base-ten system. Also when previous blocks were mated, there was a lack of harmony between single units and integral combinations of units in mixed assemblies of the blocks. I.e., end blocks in multiple rows or arrays of mated blocks often overlapped or did not align properly. Lastly, no means was provided for distinguishing between blocks representing, units, tens, hundreds, and thousands.

Accordingly one object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a set of base-ten blocks which fit firmly together and do not fall apart. Other objects are to provide a set of such blocks which can be repeatedly separated and joined without failure, which do not cause children using them frustration and loss of concentration while learning, and which facilitate learning and distinguishing the units, tens, hundreds, and thousands in the base-ten system. Further objects are to provide blocks in colors which will assist in teaching arithmetic in a clear and understandable way to children, to provide a set of such blocks which will snap together in any desired arrangement, and to provide a set of blocks which align when assembled in rows, arrays, etc. Additional objects and advantages are to facilitate teaching children arithmetic, to make it enjoyable, and to provide a comfortable climate where the children's class will stay united in learning. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuring description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a single block in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the block of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the block of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of two blocks interlocked together.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of six blocks interlocked together.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of an integral ten-unit row of blocks.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the ten-unit row.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single block.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a ten unit row.

FIG. 11 is a perspective exploded view of ten rows.

FIG. 12 is a side view of ten rows assembled to form a flat.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a "flat" (100 blocks).

FIG. 14 is a perspective exploded view of ten flats.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of ten flats forming a 1,000-cube array.

19 single block

21 side

27 boss

28 lead-in edge

29 curved side

31 corners

33 recess

35 straight sides

37 row

39 end units

41 boss

42 thick wall

43A and 43B integral units

45 end wall

47 flat

49 corner units

53 1000 block cube

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a single block 19 used in the base-ten block or cube system of my invention. Block 19 has four sides 21, each of which measures 1 cm (0.375") by 1 cm square (FIGS. 1-6, 9, and 10). An integral boss or projection 27 extends up from the top of the block. Boss 27 is 8 mm (0.312") wide, 8 mm (0.312") deep and 2 mm (0.125") high, about 1/5 the height of the block, and has slightly curved (bowed-out) sides 29 and rounded lead-in edges 28. Sides 29 bow out about 0.5 mm (0.0312"). Boss 27 also has rounded corners 31 (FIG. 2).

In use, boss 27 is inserted into open end or recess aperture 33 (FIG. 4) in the bottom of an identical block. Sides 35 of open end 33 are straight, as shown clearly in FIG. 3. Thus when boss 27, is inserted into straight sided recess 33, sides 29 and 35 will each distort; the total of both distortions will be about 0.5 mm, as shown in the sectional view (FIG. 5). This forced distortion forms a vise-like force or interferece grip between recess 33 and boss 27 so as to hold the adjacent mated blocks (top to bottom) firmly together. This is because the vise-like grip occurs on all sides of each connection. When a plurality of blocks 19 are joined together (top boss 27 of each being plugged into bottom recess 33 of the next), a row of blocks will be created, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. The cubes or blocks of the row will not fall apart during normal handling due to the aforedescribed grip.

Rounded lead-in edges 28 (FIG. 1) of boss 27 facilitate the insertion of boss 27 (with bowed sides 29) into recess 33 (with straight sides 35).

When inserted, bowed sides 29 will distort sides 35, which is made of suitable deformable plastic, or any other suitable material. As the deformation of sides 35 is the means for holding the blocks together when assembled, pressure is required during insertion. However this pressure is easily accomplished by any child old enough to learn arithmetic by the base-ten system.

Single blocks (FIG. 1) preferably are made transparent with a colored tint of a first or "A" color as indicated in FIG. 2. The "A" color may, e.g., be blue, for reasons to be described. The blocks preferably are made of plastic which is slightly deformable.

Side wall 21 of each of blocks 19 (FIGS. 1-6 and 9) is 2 mm thick. However, when placed side by side with another block, the combined thickness of two such walls 35 is 4 mm. When a plurality of blocks are molded or glued together side-to-side as shown in FIG. 7, a pre-assembled wall will be provided. The wall between adjacent blocks is made of a double or 4 mm thickness. However each end wall is made with a single, or 2 mm, thickness. This will prevent jamming or misalignment problems when two rows or multiple single blocks, placed end-to-end (not shown) are mated with a single, longer pre-assembled row. Also, it will prevent misalignment when a single block 19 (FIG. 1) is plugged into the end block of a row 37 (FIG. 7).

When a row of blocks is molded as shown at 37 (FIGS. 7 or 11), each representing ten units, only the end blocks 39 have a boss 41 and a corrosponding bottom recess (not shown). The wall thickness between integral or glued blocks 43A and 43B, shown clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, is twice the thickness of a unit wall, i.e., 2.times.2=4 mm. However, as stated, the end wall 45, (FIG. 7, 8, and 11) remains at half this, or a 2 mm thickness.

A flat 47 (FIG. 13) is an integrally molded combination of ten rows 37 (FIG. 12). However, only the four corner blocks 49 have bosses 41 and corresponding recesses (not shown). Again, the wall thickness between adjacent blocks in any row (horizontal or vertical) is twice the wall thickness of the end walls of that row.

When ten flats 47 (FIG. 14) are assembled face-to-face as shown in FIG. 15, a 1,000 unit cube 59 is formed.

Single blocks 19 (FIG. 1) and rows 37 (FIG. 11) preferably are made of transparent plastic tinted different colors, e.g. blue and red (designated "A" and "B" colors in FIGS. 1 and 10).

Flats of 100 blocks (FIG. 12) are made transparent but with a different or "C" tint, e.g. green, light blue, etc. as indicated in FIG. 12. And cubes of 1000 blocks (FIG. 15) are transparent with a still different, or "D" tint, e.g. purple, as indicated.

A child is especially aware of differences in color, and learns colors at home and in pre-school classes. Children enjoy connecting colors to various objects. Children feel happy to connect something they already know with something they are learning, and they thus soon becomes comfortable with the colored blocks.

In operation, the child is taught to assemble units or blocks 19 end-to-end (FIG. 10) until ten are assembled. This elementary operation can be used to teach the child to count. The child can easily be taught to assemble ten blocks by adding blocks to the row until its length equals that of a preassembled row 37 (FIG. 11).

Once the child has learned to count to and assemble a row of ten blocks, he or she can exchange it for preassembled row 37, which has the same value (ten). The row has a different color from the individual blocks so that the child can readily be taught to multiply or add (as well as divide or subtract) by associating multiples of one color with a single unit of another color, e.g. "ten blues equal one red," etc. This enables the child to become familiar with the decimal or base-ten system. Then the child is taught to assemble ten rows 37 (FIG. 11) together, to assemble a flat (not shown) of 100 blocks. The child can be taught to recognize and count to 100 by comparison with preassembled flat 47 (FIG. 13). At the same time the child can be taught basic multiplication and subtraction by visualizing that ten strips of ten equal 100 (10.times.10=100 and subtracting rows, e.g., 100-10=90.

Once the child assembles a flat of 100 blocks, he or she can exchange it for preassembled flat 47 (FIG. 13) which has the same value. Again, each row of ten should have a different color than the flat, so that the child can learn the multiple color association, e.g. "ten reds equal one green" or "one hundred blues equal one green," etc.

Then the child is taught, in the same manner as before, to assemble ten flats 47 (FIG. 15) to provide an assembled cube; this can then be exchanged for a preassembled cube (FIG. 16), which has the same value (1000 units). Thus the child's knowledge will now have been expanded to understand, count up to, add, and multiply up to 1000.

Each flat of 100 should have a different color from the cube, so that the child can learn the mutiple association, e.g. "ten reds equal one purple."

As indicated, this process enables the child to learn the fundamentals of the base-ten system, including the technique of multiplication: 10.times.1=10, 10.times.10=100, 10.times.100=1000, etc. Also the child can be taught subtraction by comparson, take-away strategy, or noting differences, as well as addition by building-on, and division and multiplication by building arrays, etc. The color associations and combinations greatly facilitate this process.

In addition, the transparency of the blocks enhances understanding by enabling the child to see through the color of foreground (front or top) blocks to discern the color of rear blocks in any assembly and to easily visualize that additional single blocks, rows of blocks, or flats of blocks are joined behind the foreground blocks to make up the numbered array.

Thus the reader will see that I have provided a base-ten block system for teaching arithematic to young children. This system has many advantages over prior-art systems. These are: the boss is made with slightly curved sides, so that when inserted into the aperture at the opposite end of another unit which has straight sides, the mating walls will distort so that a very strong clamping force will hold both together. This grip will occur on all four sides between the boss of one block and the aperture of the adjoining unit. This ability to maintain pressure is due to the distortable property of the material used and its ability to remember its original shape (square with straight sides) and to return to that shape after the boss, (which has curved sides) is withdrawn.

The wall thickness of single blocks is 2 mm. However, where multiple blocks are molded integrally together, the wall thickness is increased to 4 mm, so as to correspond in length to multiple single blocks of the same number of units. This prevents jamming when the integral row is mated with a row of single blocks or with two shorter rows, placed end-to-end.

Single blocks are made of one color, rows are made of a different color, flats are made of a third color, and cubes of a fourth color. This provides a valuable association and mnemonic aid during the teaching of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, etc.)

While the above description contains many specificities, the reader should not construe these limitations on the scope of the invention but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision that many other possible variations are within its scope. For example skilled artisans will readily be able to change the materials, dimensions and sizes of the various embodiments, such as by making the parts of wood, metal, or rubber, making them larger, smaller, thicker or thinner, or with other colors. The boss can be made longer and its sides can be made with more or less curvature. The blocks can be made opaque, or the boss and aperture can be made octagonal instead of the sides the boss bulging, the inside surfaces of the recess can be convex (bulging in toward the center apex of the block) and the boss sides flat, or both the side surfaces of the boss and recess can be made to bulge, or any combination of the two can be used. While this system has been designed and is very instructive to children, it can also be used to teach arithmetic to adult "innumerates", i.e., adults who are arithmerically illiterate. While the blocks have been shown as being assemblable in decimal or base-ten system, they can be fabricated according to other numbering systems, such as the quintile, octal, hexadecimal, etc.

Accordingly the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given.