BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the below-referenced accompanying Drawing(s). Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the Drawing(s).
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bear head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bear head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an opposing side elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bear head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front cut-away enlarged view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bear head portrayal, wherein the book is being opened, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bear head portrayal, wherein the book has been opened, wherein a page of the book is shown, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a lamb head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a tiger head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a kitten head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bunny head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, the apparatus comprising a book and a blanket attached to the book, wherein the book comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a puppy head portrayal, wherein the book comprises a front cover and a back cover, and wherein the front cover comprises a face and the back cover comprises a pair of ears, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for a method of fabricating an apparatus for teaching and encouraging reading in a young child, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for a method of teaching and encouraging reading in a young child by way of a teaching and encouraging apparatus, in accordance with the present invention.
MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, wherein the book 12 comprises a front cover 12A, a back cover 12B, and at least one page 12C, the blanket 14 may be attached at a lower portion of the back cover 12B, wherein the blanket 14 visually functions as a portrayal of an animal body. The book 12 preferably comprises an approximate diameter in a preferable range of approximately 6.5 inches. A young child may play with, and become emotionally attached to, the apparatus 10. The portrayal of the animal head in the present invention comprises any animal head and is not limited to the examples as herein shown and described. The at least one page 12C preferably comprises approximately 8 pages. The blanket 14 preferably comprises an area in a range of approximately 12″× approximately 12″, although a larger or a smaller area is also within the scope of the present invention. The blanket 14 may comprise at least one feature such as at least one color (not shown), at least one print (not shown), and at least one blanket binding (not shown).
FIG. 2 illustrates, in a side elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 10 may further comprise a closure 16 for maintaining the book 12 in a closed position when the book 12 is not in use. The closure 16 may comprise a cloth strip and at least one fastener 16, the at least one fastener 16 being attached to the cloth strip.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in an opposing side elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, in accordance with the present invention. The book 12 may further comprise a book binding 20, wherein the book binding 20 may be reinforced to withstand the rigors of child's play.
FIG. 4 illustrates, in a front cut-away enlarged view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, in accordance with the present invention. The at least one fastener 16 comprises a hook and loop fastener 16A, such as Velcro®, by example only, for facilitating manipulation by a young child (not shown). The at least one fastener 16 can be any fastening structure which has characteristics which are safe for children and is resistant to swallowing by a child. Also, the front cover 12A may optionally comprise a reinforcement stitching 13.
FIG. 5 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, in accordance with the present invention. The book 12 comprises a portrayal of an animal head disposed on the front cover 12A, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bear head portrayal, by example only, and wherein the front cover 12A, in particular, comprises a portrayal of an animal face and the back cover 12B, in particular, comprises a pair of ears 18, in accordance with the present invention. The front cover 12A is opened to display opposing pages, wherein the at least one page 12C comprises a plurality of pages, i.e., a left page and a right page, wherein the left page may comprise literary matter and the right page may comprise illustrative matter, or vice versa. The literary matter may comprise text regarding a story or a story line. The illustrative matter comprises a feature, such as at least one illustration relating the story or the story line and the animal face having an alternate expression, by example only. Also, the at least one page 12C may comprise a combination of literary matter and illustrative matter.
FIG. 6 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, wherein the book 12 comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a lamb head portrayal, by example only, wherein the book 12 comprises a front cover 12A and a back cover 12B, and wherein the front cover 12A comprises a face and the back cover 12B comprises a pair of ears 18, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, wherein the book 12 comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a tiger head portrayal, by example only, wherein the book 12 comprises a front cover 12A and a back cover 12B, and wherein the front cover 12A comprises a face and the back cover 12B comprises a pair of ears 18, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, wherein the book 12 comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a kitten head portrayal, by example only, wherein the book 12 comprises a front cover 12A and a back cover 12B, and wherein the front cover 12A comprises a face and the back cover 12B comprises a pair of ears 18, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, wherein the book 12 comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a bunny head portrayal, by example only, wherein the book 12 comprises a front cover 12A and a back cover 12B, and wherein the front cover 12A comprises a face and the back cover 12B comprises a pair of ears 18, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates, in a front elevation view, a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 comprising a book 12 and a blanket 14 attached to the book 12, wherein the book 12 comprises a portrayal of an animal head, wherein the animal head portrayal comprises a puppy head portrayal, by example only, wherein the book 12 comprises a front cover 12A and a back cover 12B, and wherein the front cover 12A comprises a face and the back cover 12B comprises a pair of ears 18, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates, in a flowchart, a method Ml of fabricating an apparatus 10 for teaching and encouraging reading in a young child, in accordance with the present invention. The method M1 of fabricating the present apparatus generally comprises the steps of: providing a book 12, as indicated by block 1001; providing a blanket 14, as indicated by block 1002; and attaching the blanket 14 to the book 12, as indicated by block 1003, wherein the book 12 providing step 1001 comprises providing a huggable toy, e.g., having a nap and/or a cushioning feature, providing literary matter that appeals to a young child, and providing illustrative matter that appeals to a young child, wherein the blanket 14 providing step 1002 comprises providing a snuggly blanket, e.g., having a nap and/or a cushioning feature, wherein the attaching step 1003 comprises permanently attaching the blanket 14 to the book 12, wherein the literary matter providing step comprises providing at least one element such as a story and a story line, wherein the illustrative matter comprises at least one illustration, thereby providing the young child with oft-sought surrogate comfort and affection, and thereby seizing a learning opportunity for the young child, in accordance with the present invention. The book providing step 1001 may further comprise providing a huggable toy, wherein the huggable toy providing step comprises providing an element such as an animal head and an animal face.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for a method M2 of teaching and encouraging reading in a young child by way of a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10, in accordance with the present invention. The method M2 of teaching and encouraging reading in a young child by way of a teaching and encouraging apparatus 10 generally comprises the steps of: carrying the apparatus by the young child throughout the day, as indicated by block 2001; and taking the apparatus to bed by the young child as a nightly ritual, as indicated by block 2002. The carrying and the taking steps may each comprise the steps of opening, reading, and closing the book 12.
Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.
Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, various changes and modifications in form, material, and fabrication material detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention industrially applies scholastic and home-schooling industries. In particular, the present invention industrially applies to apparatuses and methods for encouraging young children to read. More particularly, the present invention industrially applies to literary and illustrative apparatuses, and methods, for encouraging young children to read. Even more particularly, the present invention industrially applies to literary and illustrative apparatuses, having a comforting feature, and methods for encouraging young children to read.
Patent Application
20070287137
