US 4,065,858 AGranted

Instructional apparatus with elastic sheet

OwnerJames Richard Harteinventor

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Abstract

Instructional apparatus employs a holding mechanism which has depressions in its upper surface of either one depth or different depths. A printed format containing pre-punched openings representing answer selections is disposed over the upper surface, and some or all of the openings are aligned with corresponding depressions. Sandwiched between the printed format and the upper surface is a highly elastic sheet of rubber-like material. The user pushes a rounded tip stylus through the selected opening and thence into the elastic sheet, and the degree of penetration by the stylus through the upper surface down into an underlying depression or hole indicates the correctness of the response and provides instantaneous feedback. Upon withdrawal of the stylus the elastic sheet returns to its former shape with no deformation; thus the apparatus may be used by many students without replacing formats or other used components.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An instructional apparatus comprising:

a holding mechanism provided with an upper surface having
a plurality of holes therein of substantial depth;
a printed format having openings therethrough indicating
answer choices,
said mechanism having means engageable with said format for holding the same on said upper surface in overlying relationship thereto with at least certain of said openings in alignment with corresponding holes in said upper surface, said openings and said holes being adapted to receive a stylus, finger or the like used by a student to make answer selections;
a sheet of rubber-like material sandwiched between said format and said upper surface and having a normal, planar disposition, said sheet being capable of substantial deflection into an individual hole when said stylus, finger or the like is inserted thereinto through the corresponding aligned opening;
and
means maintaining said sheet in a taut, resilient condition over said holes in the surface whereby, upon removal of pressure applied to the sheet by the stylus, finger or the like, the rubber-like material at the opening springs back to return said sheet to its normal disposition with no permanent deformation, the quality of resistance thus presented providing an instantaneous response feedback.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.