Devices with push button-type mechanism and methods for using said devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device having a push button-type mechanism and also relates to methods for using such devices. The push button-type mechanism to be used has at least two variable positions that can be changed by the user to mark the occurrence of an event. The device is useful for teaching or learning as well as for meeting non-educational needs such as filling household grocery lists, recipes, miscellaneous lists, and work status sheets in the manufacturing and service industries. The device may be contained on pages of a book and/or cards and/or a plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a preferred flash card embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the preferred flash card embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a preferred embodiment of a push button-type mechanism useful in the present invention.

FIG. 4A depicts the preferred embodiment of push button-type mechanism of FIG. 3 with the button in position 1.

FIG. 4B depicts the preferred embodiment of push button-type mechanism of FIG. 3 with the button in position 2.

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of a preferred book embodiment of the present invention having a push button-type mechanism.

FIG. 6 depicts an exploded view of a page depicted in FIG. 5 including a preferred embodiment of the push button-type mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts another preferred book embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts another view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein flash cards comprising the push button-type mechanism of the present invention are provided with a book.

FIG. 9 depicts another view of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the present invention wherein the mechanism is used with a flat surfaced device and a checklist.

Claims

1. A deck of flash cards wherein at least one card comprises: a front;a back;at least one mechanism on said front or back of the card;said mechanism having at least one button operable between two variable positions.

2. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanism is between said front and back and wherein said button may be accessed through at least one window on said front or back.

3. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanism is comprised of plastic and said buttons are reversible protrusions in said plastic.

4. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 3 wherein said buttons are circular in shape and the two variable positions are convex and concave.

5. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 1 wherein each mechanism comprises from about 1 to about 10 buttons.

6. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said front or back comprises text or graphics related to the number of buttons.

7. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 6 wherein the subject matter of said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of math, reading, sorting, matching, pattern recognition, cooking and the calendar.

8. A deck of flash cards as defined in claim 6 wherein said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of words and pictures.

9. A book comprising: a front cover;a back cover;at least one leaf between said front cover and back cover;a binding;wherein at least one of said leaf is comprised of: at least one push button mechanism;said push button mechanism having at least one button with two variable positions.

10. A book defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanism is located between a top side of the leaf and a bottom side of the leaf and where said button may be accessed through at least one window on said top side or bottom side.

11. A book as defined in claim 9 wherein said mechanism is comprised of plastic and said buttons are reversible protrusions in said plastic.

12. A book as defined in claim 11 wherein said buttons are circular in shape and the two variable positions are convex and concave.

13. A book as defined in claim 9 wherein said book comprises from about 1 to about 10 leaves.

14. A book as defined in claim 9 wherein each mechanism comprises from about 1 to about 10 buttons.

15. A book as defined in claim 9 wherein at least one said side comprises text or graphics related to the number of buttons.

16. A book as defined in claim 15 wherein the subject matter of said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of math, reading, sorting, matching, pattern recognition, cooking and the calendar.

17. A book as defined in claim 9 further comprising a compartment to contain media.

18. A book as in claim 17 wherein said compartment is removably attached to a cover of the book.

19. A book as defined in claim 15 wherein said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of words and pictures.

20. A book comprising: a front cover;a back cover;at least one leaf between said front cover and said back cover;a binding; anda compartment attached to said bookwherein in said compartment there is contained at least one manipulative device comprising a front; a back; at least one mechanism; said mechanism having at least one button operable between two variable positions.

21. A book as in claim 20 wherein said manipulative device is a flash card or plate.

22. A book as defined in claim 20 wherein said mechanism is between said front and back and wherein said button may be accessed through at least one window on said front or back.

23. A book as in defined in claim 20 wherein said mechanism is comprised of plastic and said button is a reversible protrusion in said plastic.

24. A book as defined in claim 20 wherein said button is circular in shape and the two variable positions are convex and concave.

25. A book as in claim 20 wherein at least one said front or back comprises text or graphics related to the number of buttons.

26. A book as defined in claim 25 wherein the subject matter of said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of math, reading, sorting, matching, pattern recognition, cooking and the calendar.

27. A book as defined in claim 25 wherein said text or graphics represents words or pictures.

28. A flat surfaced device comprising: a front;a back;at least one mechanism on said front or back of the flat surface of the device;said mechanism having at least one button operable between two variable positions.

29. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 28 wherein said mechanism is between said front and back and wherein said button may be accessed through at least one window on said front or back.

30. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 28 wherein said mechanism is comprised of plastic and said button is a reversible protrusion in said plastic.

31. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 30 wherein said button is circular in shape and the two variable positions are convex and concave.

32. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 28 wherein each mechanism comprises from about 1 to about 10 buttons.

33. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 28 wherein at least one of said front or back comprises text or graphics related to the number of buttons.

34. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 33 wherein the subject matter of said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of groceries, cooking ingredients, and manufacturing parts.

35. A flat surfaced device as defined in claim 33 wherein said text or graphics represents words or pictures.

36. A method of teaching an educational subject comprising the steps of: providing a student with a manipulative device comprising: a front;a back;at least one mechanism having at least one button operable between two variable positions;providing the student with graphics on said manipulative device;having the student change the position of said button to mark the occurrence of at least one event related to said graphics.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the educational subject is at least one member selected from the group consisting of math, reading, sorting, matching, pattern recognition, cooking and the calendar.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the manipulative device comprises at least one page of a book.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the manipulative device comprises at least one flash card.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the manipulative device comprises a plate.

41. A method of marking an occurrence comprising the steps of: providing a user with a manipulative device comprising: a front;a back;at least one mechanism having at least one button operable between two variable positions;providing the user with graphics on said manipulative device;having the user change the position of said button to mark the occurrence of at least one event related to said graphics.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the manipulative device comprises at least one page of a book.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the manipulative device comprises at least one flash card.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the manipulative device comprises a plate.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the subject matter of said text or graphics represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of groceries, cooking ingredients, and manufacturing parts.