TELLING TIME RULER

Abstract

Applicant has disclosed a method and apparatus for teaching young students how to tell time on an analog clock. In a preferred method embodiment, Applicant's invention comprises: inserting a ruler with twelve hinged sections (each containing indicia representing five intervals) into a substantially straight recessed channel in a first base; sliding hour, minute and second hands, located in a parallel thinner recessed channel in the base, along the twelve sections to help the student conceptualize minutes, hours and seconds; removing the ruler from the first base; pivoting each hinged section until the ruler's ends meet, whereupon the ruler's outer edge substantially forms a circle; placing the substantially circular ruler into a correspondingly shaped recess in a second base; and rotating hour, minute and second hands, about a pin in the second base, and around the pivoted sections to help the student conceptualize how to tell time on an analog clock.

Claims

1. A tool for teaching time telling comprising: a. a ruler with twelve sections wherein: i. contiguous sections are connected by hinges; and ii. the ruler is substantially straight; b. a first base having a substantially straight first recessed channel into which the ruler is removably inserted; and c. at least one slidable pointer is located in a second recessed channel in the first base, wherein the second channel is parallel to the first channel.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising: a. a second base having a recess into which the ruler can be removably inserted, wherein an outer edge of the ruler substantially forms a circle when the ruler is inserted into the recess; and b. at least one rotatable pointer attached to a pivot pin in the second base, wherein the ruler surrounds the least one rotatable pivot pin, when the ruler is inserted into the recess.

3. The tool in claim 1 wherein each of the twelve sections contains indicia representing five intervals.

4. A tool for teaching time telling comprising: a. a ruler with twelve sections wherein: i. contiguous sections are connected by hinges; and ii. the ruler is substantially straight; b. a first base to which the ruler is removably attached; and c. at least one slidable pointer is located in a recessed channel in the first base, wherein the channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ruler.

5. The tool of claim 4 further comprising: a. a second base to which the ruler can be removably attached, wherein an outer edge of the ruler substantially forms a circle when the ruler is attached to the second base; and b. at least one rotatable pointer attached to a pivot pin in the second base, wherein the ruler surrounds the at least one rotatable pivot pin when the ruler is attached to the second base.

6. The tool in claim 4, wherein each of the twelve sections contains indicia representing five intervals.

7. A method of teaching time telling comprising: a. inserting a ruler with twelve sections into a first channel of a first base wherein: i. contiguous sections of the ruler are connected by hinges; and ii. the ruler is substantially straight; and b. sliding at least one pointer in a second channel in the first base along the longitudinal axis of the ruler.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the following steps: a. removing the ruler from the first base; b. pivoting the hinged sections of the ruler so that the outer edge of the ruler substantially forms a circle; c. after step b, inserting the ruler into a correspondingly shaped second channel in a second base; and d. rotating at least one pointer on a pivot pin mounted in the second base, wherein the ruler surrounds the pivot pin.

9. The ruler in claim 8, wherein each of the twelve sections contains indicia representing five intervals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The above objects and other advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent upon reading the following description and drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the Telling Time Ruler in a straight position, and an underlying first base with a similarly shaped recessed channel;

[0017] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the preferred Telling Time Ruler in the straight position inserted into the recessed channel of the first base;

[0018] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a single hinged section of the Telling Time Ruler;

[0019] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the Telling Time Ruler, with its outside edge in a substantially circular position, and an underlying second base with a similarly shaped recess;

[0020] FIG. 5 depicts an alternate embodiment in which the Telling Time Ruler, while in the substantially circular position, is inserted into and removably attached to the recess of the second base;

[0021] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the alternate embodiment showing the Telling Time Ruler in the straight position with the Velcro strip on the bottom surface and the first base with a mating Velcro strip;

[0022] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the Telling Time Ruler in the straight position attached to the first base by Velcro;

[0023] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of the Telling Time Ruler in the substantially circular position with the Velcro strip on the bottom surface and the second base with the opposing half of the Velcro strip; and

[0024] FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of the Telling Time Ruler in the substantially circular position attached to the second base by Velcro.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Applicant has invented a teaching tool 100, and a related method, to help teach young students (e.g., 6-7 years old): how to tell time on an analog clock; and how to measure increments of time.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-5, the teaching tool 100 comprises: a one-foot ruler 102 (nicknamed the Telling Time Ruler) with twelve sections 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e, 104f, 104g, 104h, 104i, 104j, 104k, 104l, (see FIG. 4) with contiguous individual sections (e.g., 104a, 104b and 104c) hinged (e.g., 106a, 106bsee FIG. 3); a first base 108 having a substantially straight recessed channel 110 into which the straight or straightened ruler 102 can be inserted; three slidable pointers 112, 114, 115 housed in a slot 116 (i.e., a thinner recessed channel) in the first base 108, which is parallel to channel 110; and, a second base 118 having a recess 120 into which the same ruler 102 can be inserted, at another time, after the ruler sections 104a-104l have been pivoted so that an outer edge 122 of the ruler 102 substantially forms a circle; and three rotatable pointers (i.e., hour hand 124, minute hand 126, and second hand 128) mounted on a pivot pin 129, wherein the ruler 102 surrounds the pivot pin 129 after the ruler is inserted into the recess 120.

[0027] There are twelve integers (1 through 12), one per ruler section (e.g., 104a, 104b and 104c). Each ruler section is broken down into fifths, represented by four identical vertical lines and a longer vertical line for the next integer. See, e.g., the lines at 130 in FIG. 3.

[0028] The students are taught first how to tell time when the Telling Time Ruler 102 is straight. The ruler 102 is placed or inserted into the recessed channel 110 of the first base 108. Preferably the channel 110 is correspondingly shaped like the straight ruler 102 including the hinges. See FIGS. 1 and 2. The base 108 also has: indicianamely five-minute intervals (e.g., at 132) up to sixty minutesinscribed above the stored ruler 102; and the slot 116, which is longitudinal. Slot 116in which the three pointers (i.e., an hour hand 112, a longer minute hand 114, and a thinnest and longest second hand 115) slideis also parallel to and below the stored ruler 102. The students learn to count time from one point to another point, on the straight ruler 102, using the slidable hour, minute and second hands 112, 114, 115.

[0029] Once this concept is mastered, the ruler 102 is lifted up from the first base 108; the ruler sections 104a-104l are pivoted, via the hinges (e.g., 106a, 106b), so that the outer edge 122 of the ruler 102 is substantially circular; and the circular ruler (see FIG. 4) is laid into a similarly shaped recess 120 of the second, preferably circular, base 118 (see FIG. 5). When laid into the recess 120, the so-called circular ruler 102 surrounds hour, minute and second hands 124, 126, 128 which are pinned (see pin 129) onto the center of the second base 118 (see FIG. 5). Then the students learn the concept of telling the hour, minute, and second while focusing on a clock like ruler.

[0030] The same integers and vertical lines (e.g., at 130) in the ruler 102 can be used to teach the students about the concept of seconds, after the students have learned about minutes and hours.

[0031] Though not shown in the drawings, the integers on ruler 102 and base 108 can be color-coded to help the students understand which numbers to read. Similarly, the slidable pointers 112, 114, 115 and 124, 126, 128 can be color-coded. For example, blue can be used for the hour pointers 112, 124 and numbers 1-12 on 100; red can be used for the minute pointers 114, 126 and numbers 1-60 on 108; and green can be used for the second hands 115, 128.

[0032] FIGS. 6-8 depict an alternate embodiment 200 of the telling time tool. Like parts in FIGS. 1-5 have been designated by the prefix 200. For example, the slot 116 of FIGS. 1-5 is represented as 216 in FIGS. 6-8.

[0033] In this alternate embodiment 200, the Telling Time Ruler 202 is attached to underlying first and second bases 208, 218 by Velcro fasteners (e.g., multiple Velcro strips such as 234a on the back of the twelve sections 204a-204l of the Time Telling Ruler 202, the single straight strip 235 on the first base 208, and the circular strip 236 on the second base 218) instead of the ruler being inserted into recessed channels.

[0034] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that obvious structural modifications could be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, though not preferred, there could be two rulers rather than one involved: a straight non-hinged ruler could be permanently affixed to a base, like first base 108, having indicia (e.g., five-minute/five-second intervals) and slidable hour, minute and second hands, like 112, 114, 115; and a hinged ruler permanently affixed to a circular base, like second base 118, having pinned hour, minute and second hands, like 124, 126, 128. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the appended claims rather than the foregoing claims to determine the scope of the invention.