US2481058A - Mathematical game - Google Patents

Description

Set 19491 D. A. ZARLENGO 2,481,05fi

MATHEMATICAL GAME Filed June 2, 1947 i INVEN TOR. yam/22k" fija'rv fo Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE MATHEMATICAL GAME Dominic A. Zarlengo, Denver; Colo.

Appiieati'oirm 2, 1947',- Serlal N0. 751,794

I 5-Cl aims. 1.

This invention relates tea game. more particularly to an educational game for teaching mathematical addition and subtraction to: children.

The principal object of the invention is. to provide a game of this character with which a variety of problems in addition and subtraction may be presented, to which the user endeavors to select the correct answers, and. which will designate mechanically whether the selected answer is correct.

Another object is toprovide a game ct this character in which separate blocks or pieces will be used in setting up the problem. and these pieces will outline a receiving opening for a third answer piece in such a way that only the correct answer piece can be inserted in the receiving opening.

Al still further object is to so construct the device that the various elements of the problem and its answer will be arranged in their: correct relation toa similar written problem, so the child will associate the game problems with conventional written problems.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy; and emcle-ncy. These will become more apparent from the following description.

m the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like nilmetals refer to like partsin all views ofthe drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

form of problem piece used in the improved game;

Fig. 2 illustrates three typical examples of a second form. of problem piece used in the im P Q 'ed game;

Fig. 3 illustrates three typical answer pieces as used therein; 7

Fig. 4 is a face view of a frame for receiving and assembling the problem and answer pieces of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 when demonstrating problems in addition;

Fig. 5 illustrates the same frame arranged to demonstrate problems in subtraction; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the frame of Fig. 5, taken on the line 66, Fig. 5.

The improved game employs two different types of problem pieces and a single type of answer piece, all cut or formed from still sheet material such as heavy cardboard or the like. The pieces are designed to be placed in a flat frame I!) having a recess 25 formed therein, of a depth equaling the thickness of the pieces. The frame may be formed from two thicknesses of cardboard, one forming the cut-out for the recesses 25, and the other forming a backing thereon. It could,

howeverrbe molded from. plastic or other suitable material.

One form of answer piece is shown. in Fig. 1, designated by the numeral ll. Each piece carries a numeral 15, and the pieces are numbered in sequence from. one to nine, or less if preferred. An L-shaped leg I 2 depends from one extremity of each piece I I,v terminating in a foot portion 3t provided with a plurality of protuberances or tongues 14. The pieces H carry the same numorals on both their front and. rear faces, the numeralson the rear face being inverted from the numerals on the front face, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5..

The front faces carry 9, plus sign [6 to designate this face is to be used for problems. in addition, and the rear faces carry a minus sign I! to designate that this face is to be used for problems of subtraction.

The number of tongues M on. each piece corresponds tothe numerical value of the numeral on that piece, that is, the piece carrying the nu-, meral 2 will have two of the tongues l4, and the remaining pieces will have tongues corresponding in number to the value of the numeralthereon- The second form of problem piece is illustrated in Fig. 2, comprising a second flat, problem piece [8' cut away at one corner, as indicated at It, to receive the foot portion 53 of one of the first problem pieces. Each piece l8 carries a numeral as shown at 20 and each is provided along its lower edge with. a plurality of tongues 2t corresponding to and aligning with the tongues I4 Fig. 1 illustrates three. typical exampres of one of. the pieces H. As in the case of the first pieces,

thenumber of tongues 2 lon the second problem pieces I8 corresponds to the value of the nu moral on that piece. The pieces l8 carry the same numerals on their rear faces as on their front faces in inverted relation, similarly to the in connection with answer pieces 22, typical ones oi which. are shown in Fig. 3. Each of the answer blocks 22 carries a numeral such as shown at. 23 which provides. an answer for a given problem. The numerals 23 are repeated on bothfaces of. the pieces 22 in inverted relation. The answer blocks also carry tongues along one edge thereof as indicated. at 24, the number of tongues on each block corresponding to the value of the numeral 23 thereon.

For problems in. addition, the blocks are arranged as shown in Fig. 4, that is, one of the pieces It will be placed in the upper portion of the recess 25, and one of. the pieces [8 will be positioned therebelow fitting the leg l2 and foot l3 of the former. Let us assume that the game is to be used for addition and that the piece II carrying the numeral and one of the pieces I8 carrying the numeral 4 have been selected and placed in the frame It! as shown in Fig. 4. This presents the problem 5+4=? Since the foot of the piece II carrying the numeral 5 contains five of the tongues I4, and the piece I8 carrying the numeral 4 carries four of the tongues 2|, we will have a total of nine tongues aligned along the bottom edge of the two pieces I I and I 8.

The user now selects one of the answer blocks 22 and endeavors to fit it into the socket 25. If

the block carrying the numeral 9 is selected,

it will have nine tongues, corresponding to the nine tonguesof the two problem blocks, so that it will fit snugly into place. No other answer block will fit, however, due to the difference in the totalof the tongues 24.

For problems in subtraction the frame II! is inverted, and the problem and answer blocks are turned over to expose their reverse faces. One of the answer blocks 22, for instance the one bearing the numeral 9, is then placed in the upper portion of the depression 25, and one of the problem blocks I8, for instance the one carrying the numeral 4 is inserted therebelow.

This presents the problem 94=?, and requires the user to select one of the pieces I I carrying the supposed correct answer. Only the piece II carrying the numeral 5 and having five of the tongues It will fit into the remainingtongues 24 of the block 2 2.

The tabs II on their reverse, or subtraction side, carry lines 26 which indicate the problem line, below which the answer is to be inserted, and the front faces of the answer blocks 22 carry a similar line 27, below which the answer in an addition problem is to be inserted. These lines give the user a visual picture of the problem being worked.

While a specific form of the improvement has has been described and illustrated herein, ,it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing. from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An educational game device comprising: a first problem piece; a second problem piece, each problem piece carrying a numeral; devices projecting from each piece, the number of devices projecting from each piece corresponding to the numerical value of the numeral thereon; an answer piece; and projections on said answer piece correspondin in number to the total number of projecting devices on both the problem pieces the projections on said answer piece'inte'rfitting with all of the devices projectingfrom both problem pieces.

2. An educational game device comprising: a first problem piece; a second problem piece, each problem piece carrying a numeral; a projecting portion on the first problem piece partially surrounding the second problem piece so that the lower edges of both pieces will align with each other; and an answer piece havingan upper edge aligning with the aligned edges of the two problem pieces, said edges being irregular, the irregularities of the edges of the problem pieces corresponding and fitting to the irregularities in the edge of th answer piece, said answer piece carrying a numeral forming the answer to the problem presented by the problem pieces.

3. An educational game device comprising: a first problem piece; a second problem piece, each problem piece carrying a numeral; a projecting portion on the first problem piece partially surrounding the second problem piece so that the lower edges of both pieces will align with each other; indentations formed in the aligned edges of each problem piece, the number of indentations in each piece corresponding in numerical value to the numeral thereon; and an answer piece having an upper edge aligning with the aligned edges of the problem pieces, said answer piece having indentations in said upper edge, the number of indentations in the latter edge corresponding to the total number of indentations in the aligned edgesof the problem pieces.

4. A game device comprising: a relatively fiat frame having a shallow depression of uniform depth in its front face; a problem piece fitted into the upper portion of said depression; a downwardly projecting L-shaped foot on said problem piece extendin to the middle of said depression; a second problem piece fitted into said depression and into the L-shaped foot on the first problem piece, the bottom of the second problem piece aligning with the bottom of said foot; and an answer piece fitted into the bottom of said socket below said problem pieces, the adjacent edges of the foot, the second problem piece, and the answer piece being irregular and fitting into eac other.

5. A game device comprising: a relatively flat frame having a shallow depression of uniform depth in its front face; a problem piece fitted into the upper portion of said depression; a downwardly projecting L-shaped foot on said problem piece extending to the middle of said depression; a second problem piece fitted into said depression ,andinto the L-shaped foot on the first problem piece, the bottom of the second problem piece aligning with the bottom of said foot; an answer piece fitted into the bottom of said socket below said problem pieces, the adjacent edges of the foot, the second problem piece, and the answer piece being irregular and fitting into each other; a numeral on each of said pieces; projections on said foot corresponding in number to the numeral on the first front piece; projections on second problem piece corresponding in number to the numeral on that piece; and co-acting projections on the answer piece fitting the projections on the foot and on the second problem piece, there being a numeral on the answer piece forming an answer to the problem presented by the problem pieces and corresponding in numerical value to the number of projections on the answer piece.

DOMINIC A. ZARLENGO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 356,167 Shannon Jan. 18, 1887 1,664,808 Cooper Apr. 3, 1928 1,868,823 Goodrich July 26, 1932 2,317,206 Major Apr. 20, 1943 2,415,342 Donner Feb. 4, 1947

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