- Patent Number:
5,076,793
- Appl. No:
07/418,153
- Application Filed:
October 06, 1989
- نبذة مختصرة :
A fractal mathematics learning kit includes a plurality of boards each in the shape of an equilateral triangle having defined thereon a pattern of ten smaller equilateral triangles, and a plurality of manipulative elements made of one or more connected equilateral triangles which are attached to the equilateral triangles defined on the boards. A set of tokens thick enough to stand on an edge and comprising combinations of equilateral triangles to represent numbers is also included. Also included in the kit is a mat defining rows and columns of fractal representations of numbers by which various mathematical operations can be understood. A set of nesting pyramids of graduated sizes representing numbers of magnitudes generally corresponding to the sizes is also provided, as are pyramids of different sizes which can be stacked through the use of trays and transparent covers. The kit includes a work book and a user's manual.
- Inventors:
Aghevli, Behrouz B. (Falls Church, VA); Aghevli, Shahine B. (Falls Church, VA)
- Claim:
We claim
- Claim:
1. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
at least one primary element having a first surface in the shape of an equilateral triangle, said surface having ten attachment areas arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern and non-attachment areas, said attachment areas being visibly different from said non-attachment areas; and
- Claim:
a first set of manipulative elements attachable to said attachment areas, said manipulative elements each including at least one basic equilateral triangular unit, and at least one of said manipulative elements comprising a plurality of said basic equilateral triangular units connected to one another in a predetermined pattern having an axis of symmetry.
- Claim:
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first set includes a manipulative element composed of one basic equilateral triangular unit, and manipulative elements composed of two through ten basic equilateral triangular units in predetermined patterns for representing the numbers 2 through 10.
- Claim:
3. The kit of claim 2, wherein said set further includes a manipulative element composed of five of said basic equilateral triangular units connected in an alternate predetermined pattern different from the previously recited predetermined pattern of five basic equilateral triangular units for representing the number 5.
- Claim:
4. The kit of claim 2, wherein said primary element has a side on which is defined a pattern of equilateral triangular shapes, the shapes of the manipulative elements representing the numbers 1 through 10 being included in said pattern.
- Claim:
5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the manipulative element representing each number is colored differently from the manipulative elements representing all other numbers.
- Claim:
6. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the manipulative elements of said first set have side walls, and said elements representing numbers greater than 1 further have elongate elements connecting the side walls of adjacent basic equilateral triangular units.
- Claim:
7. The kit of claim 2, wherein each combination of two of said manipulative elements of said first set which has ten equilateral triangular units defines the outline of said first surface of a primary element.
- Claim:
8. The kit of claim 1, wherein each said manipulative element has an axis of symmetry.
- Claim:
9. The kit of claim 1, wherein each basic equilateral triangular unit of each manipulative element has apices pointing in the same directions as the apices of any other basic equilateral triangular units in said manipulative element.
- Claim:
10. The kit of claim 1, wherein there are twelve primary elements.
- Claim:
11. The kit of claim 1, wherein said attachment areas comprise compartments defined on said primary elements.
- Claim:
12. The kit of claim 1, further comprising means for releasably securing said manipulative elements to said attachment areas.
- Claim:
13. The kit of claim 12, wherein said releasable securing means is magnetic.
- Claim:
14. The kit of claim 12, wherein said releasable securing means comprises hook-and-look fasteners.
- Claim:
15. The kit of claim 12, wherein said means for releasably securing comprises a well in each of said attachment areas and a stem projecting from each of said manipulative elements.
- Claim:
16. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a second set of manipulative elements, each element of said second set being smaller than the elements of said first set.
- Claim:
17. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first set of manipulative elements further includes basic unit triangles each having one of the numbers zero to nine marked thereon.
- Claim:
18. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first set of manipulative elements further includes basic unit triangles each representing a mathematical operation.
- Claim:
19. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first set of manipulative elements further includes basic unit triangles representing mathematical equality and basic unit triangles representing mathematical inequality.
- Claim:
20. The kit of claim wherein each of said manipulative elements representing an even number has a first surface texture, and each of said manipulative elements representing an odd number has a second surface texture different from said first surface texture.
- Claim:
21. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a work book for instructing the user in the application and use of the Fractal elements in performing mathematical operations.
- Claim:
22. The kit of claim 21, further comprising a user's manual for instructing the user how to employ the illustrations of the work book and the Fractal elements to learn various mathematical concepts.
- Claim:
23. The kit of claim 1, wherein any combination of said manipulative elements which has ten equilateral triangular units and which coincides with said attachment areas defines the outline of said first surface of a primary element.
- Claim:
24. The kit of claim 1, wherein said primary element has a plurality of surfaces each having the shape of an equilateral triangle.
- Claim:
25. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pyramids.
- Claim:
26. The kit of claim 25, further comprising means for stacking a plurality of said pyramids to define a larger pyramid.
- Claim:
27. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
at least one primary element having a first surface in the shape of an equilateral triangle, said surface having ten attachment areas arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern and non-attachment areas, said attachment areas being visibly different from said non-attachment areas;
- Claim:
a first set of manipulative elements attachable to said attachment areas, said manipulative elements each including at least one basic equilateral triangular unit;
- Claim:
a plurality of pyramids; and
- Claim:
means for stacking a plurality of said pyramids to define a larger pyramid, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of trays of different sizes.
- Claim:
28. The kit of claim 1, wherein each said attachment area has the shape of an equilateral triangle having sides parallel to the sides of the equilateral triangle defined by the primary element.
- Claim:
29. The kit of claim 28, wherein there are six of said non-attachment areas each defining an equilateral triangle inverted with respect to the equilateral triangles defined by each attachment area, the attachment areas and non-attachment areas being in a symmetric arrangement and covering substantially the entire first surface of the primary element.
- Claim:
30. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
a first set of manipulative elements attachable to said attachment areas, said manipulative elements each including at least one basic equilateral triangular unit; and
- Claim:
means for releasably connecting said basic equilateral triangular units to one another in predetermined patterns to form manipulative elements for representing the numbers 2 through 10.
- Claim:
31. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
a first set of manipulative elements attachable to said attachment areas, said manipulative elements each including at least one basic equilateral triangular unit
- Claim:
wherein said primary element has a second surface having ten areas arranged in the equilateral triangular pattern in which said attachment areas are arranged, said ten areas comprising the fractal representation of the number ten, and six complementary areas within the arrangement of said ten areas and defined by said ten areas.
- Claim:
32. The kit of claim 31, wherein said primary element has first and second opposite sides, each said first surface being defined on said first side and each said second surface being defined on said second side.
- Claim:
33. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
wherein the manipulative elements of said first set have ridges and said primary element has three side walls each having a dovetail groove for receiving the ridges of the manipulative elements, and said kit further includes a second set of manipulative elements having the same size as the manipulative elements of said first set, each of the manipulative elements of said second set having dovetail grooves for receiving the ridges of the manipulative elements of said first set.
- Claim:
34. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
means for releasably securing said manipulative elements to said attachment areas
- Claim:
wherein said means for releasably securing comprises a well in each of said attachment areas and a stem projecting from each of said manipulative elements, and wherein each primary element further has a groove extending between adjacent wells, said stems being movable through said grooves.
- Claim:
35. The kit of claim 34, wherein the end of each stem distal to the manipulative element defines a head of resilient material and each said well includes a top portion having a first cross sectional area and a bottom portion having a second cross sectional area larger than said first cross sectional area, said head having a third cross sectional area larger than said first cross sectional area but smaller than said second cross sectional area.
- Claim:
36. A kit of fractal elements for learning mathematical concepts comprising
- Claim:
wherein each of said attachment areas is comprised of ten attachment subareas arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern.
- Current U.S. Class:
434/196; 434/195; 434/211; 273/157R; 273DIG30
- Current International Class:
G09B 100
- Patent References Cited:
234247 November 1880 Classen
384195 June 1888 Duryea
846485 March 1907 Lfitch
895114 August 1908 Scrutchin
1573358 February 1926 Ross
2663096 December 1953 McCurdy
3002295 October 1961 Armstrong
3125814 March 1964 Walcuk
3452454 July 1969 Easton et al.
3608906 September 1971 Odler
4177581 December 1979 Walker
4382794 May 1983 Preus
4504234 March 1985 Jarvis
4515370 May 1985 Garcia
4548585 October 1985 Kelly
4585419 April 1986 Rinaldelli
4699385 October 1987 Bifulco
4902021 February 1990 Burroughs
4913436 April 1990 Li
- Primary Examiner:
Apley, Richard J.
- Assistant Examiner:
Doyle, J.
- Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Lane, Aitken & McCann
- الرقم المعرف:
edspgr.05076793
Processing Request
No Comments.