1. An article of educational equipment horizontally traversed by a human comprising:
a) a straight track comprising:
i) two elongated, rigid, rectangular rails each rail of substantially equal dimensions comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,
ii) each rail comprising elements located in whole or part at its interior side used to effect connections with steps, and
iii) multiple steps each readily detachable with a geometrically shaped colored footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly placed length-wise in an element located in whole or part at the interior side of each rectangular rail, and while connected to each rail incapable of rotating or shifting horizontally, serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed parallel relationship to each other, and of substantially the same height;
b) an arced track comprising:
i) two oblong, rigid, arced rails each rail of substantially equal height and width comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,
ii) each rail comprising elements located in whole or part at its interior side used to effect connections with steps, and
iii) multiple steps each readily detachable with a geometrically shaped colored footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly placed length-wise in an element located in whole or part at the interior side of each rectangular rail, and while connected to each rail incapable of rotating or shifting horizontally, serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other, and of substantially the same height;
c) a curved track comprising:
i) two oblong, rigid, curved rails each rail of substantially equal height and width comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,
ii) each rail comprising elements located in whole or part at its interior side used to effect connections with steps, and
iii) multiple steps each readily detachable with a geometrically shaped colored footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly placed length-wise in an element located in whole or part at the interior side of each rectangular rail, and while connected to each rail incapable of rotating or shifting horizontally, serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other, and of substantially the same height;
whereby said straight, arced, and curved tracks exclude obstructions thereby allowing contiguous connection between two or more straight, arced, or curved tracks.
2. The article of educational equipment of claim 1 wherein said tracks, straight, arced, or curved, comprising rails, rectangular, arced, or curved, which comprise elements located in whole or part at the interior side of each rail used to effect a connection with a step said elements in a pattern permitting the height of the steps to be varied.
3. The article of educational equipment claim 1 further including an anti-tip device on which a straight track is assembled and positioned, said anti-tip device comprising
a) an elongated, rectangular planar surface lying between and under the rectangular rails of a straight track and extending out from the exterior sides of each rail, and
b) two elongated work holder areas each work holder area bordered by two elongated work stop abutments into which a rectangular rail is inserted the abutment adjacent to the exterior side of a rail is higher than the interior side abutment and the exterior side abutment comprises rectangular shaped elements into or through which steps are inserted during the process of assembling a straight track.
4. The article of educational equipment of claim 1 further including a distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, diamond, hexagon, or octagon, comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
5. The article of educational equipment of claim 1 further including an apparatus in the shape of a figure eight lying on its side comprising a straight track or tracks, an arced track or tracks, or a curved track or tracks, or a combination of two or more tracks, whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of a centrally located distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a diamond or octagon, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
6. The article of educational equipment of claim 5 further including a column of straight tracks longitudinally intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of said distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
7. The article of educational equipment of claim 6 further including a row of straight tracks laterally intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of the distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
8. The article of educational equipment claim 1 further including an apparatus in the shape of a circle enclosing a plus sign comprising one or more arced tracks in the shape of a circle and one or more straight tracks in the shape of a plus sign whereby the tracks, arced or straight, are contiguously connected to one another or connected to another track, arced or straight, with the aid of one or more distinct end couplers, each in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, located at the center of the plus sign and located at the ends of the plus sign intersecting and connecting with the circle, thereby bridging non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
9. An article of educational equipment horizontally traversed by a walking human comprising:
a) a straight track comprising:
i) two elongated, rigid, rectangular rails each rail of substantially equal dimensions, comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks,
ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly affixed at the interior side of each rectangular rail serving to hold the rails in a fixed parallel relationship to each other;
b) an arced track comprising:
i) two arced oblong, rigid, arced rails each rail of substantially equal height and width comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks, and
ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length and diametrically affixed length-wise at the interior side of each arced rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;
c) a curved track comprising:
i) two curved oblong, rigid, curved rails each rail of substantially equal height and width, comprising elements used to effect a connection with a contiguous rail of another track, straight, arced, or curved, or used to effect a connection with a contiguous distinct end coupler comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks, and
ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length and diametrically or otherwise affixed length-wise at the interior side of each curved rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;
whereby said straight, arced, and curved tracks exclude obstructions thereby allowing contiguous connection between two or more straight, arced, or curved tracks.
10. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including an anti-tip device on which a straight track is positioned serving to protect the track against tipping, said anti-tip device comprising
a) an elongated, rectangular planar surface lying between and under the rectangular rails and extending out from the exterior sides of each rail, and
b) two work holder areas each work holder area bordered by two elongated work stop abutments the abutment adjacent to the exterior side of a rail is higher than the interior side abutment into which each affixed rail of a straight track is positioned.
11. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including a distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, diamond, hexagon, or octagon, comprising elements used to effect connections with contiguous rails of two or more tracks, straight, arced, or curved, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
12. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including an apparatus in the shape of a figure eight lying on its side comprising a straight track or tracks, an arced track or tracks, or a curved track or tracks, or a combination of two or more tracks, whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of a centrally located distinct end coupler, in the shape of a polygon, including a diamond or octagon, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
13. The article of educational equipment of claim 12 further including a column of straight tracks intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of said distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
14. The article of educational equipment of claim 13 further including a row of straight rows laterally intersecting said apparatus at its center whereby the tracks are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to one another with the aid of the distinct end coupler, thereby bridging the non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
15. The article of educational equipment of claim 9 further including an apparatus in the shape of a circle enclosing a plus sign comprising one or more arced tracks in the shape of a circle and one or more straight tracks in the shape of a plus sign whereby the tracks, arced or straight, are either contiguously connected to one another or connected to another track, arced or straight, with the aid of one or more distinct end couplers, in the shape of a polygon, including a rectangle, located at the center of the plus sign and located at the ends of the plus sign intersecting and connecting with the circle, thereby bridging non-contiguous ends of the tracks.
16. An article of educational equipment horizontally traversed by a human comprising:
a) a straight track comprising:
i) two elongated, rigid, rectangular rails each rail of substantially equal dimensions, and
ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length, perpendicularly affixed at the interior side of each rectangular rail serving to hold the rails in a fixed parallel relationship to each other;
b) an arced track comprising:
i) two arced oblong, rigid, arced rails each rail of substantially equal height and width, and
ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length, and diametrically affixed length-wise at the interior side of each arced rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;
c) a curved track comprising:
i) two curved oblong, rigid, curved rails each rail of substantially equal height and width, and
ii) multiple rungs each rung with a colored, geometrically shaped footing, of substantially equal length and diametrically or otherwise affixed length-wise at the interior side of each curved rail serving to hold the directly opposing rails in a fixed equidistant relationship to each other;
whereby said straight, arced, and curved tracks exclude obstructions thereby allowing contiguous connection between two or more straight, arced, or curved tracks.
17. The article of educational equipment of claim 16 further including an apparatus in the shape of a figure eight lying on its side comprising a straight track or tracks, an arced track or tracks, or a curved track or tracks, or a combination of two or more tracks, whereby the tracks may be joined to one another.
18. The article of educational equipment of claim 16 further including an apparatus comprising two non-contiguous sets of connected arced and curved tracks each set in the shape of a horseshoe located on the left and right sides of the design the open ends of each horseshoe shaped set of tracks located directly opposite and laterally positioned to one another and two non-contiguous straight tracks centrally located on the upper and lower sides of the design directly opposite and longitudinally positioned to one another, all of the horseshoe shaped sets of tracks and straight tracks border an octagon shaped open area in the middle of the design.
19. The article of educational equipment of claim 18 further including two straight tracks one laterally and centrally positioned within and abutting or lying at the interior sides of a set of horseshoe shaped tracks and the other similarly positioned within the opposing set of horseshoe shaped tracks, all of the horseshoe shaped sets of tracks, inclusive of said partially enclosed laterally positioned straight tracks, and longitudinally positioned straight tracks border an octagon shaped open area in the middle of the design.
20. The article of educational equipment of claim 16 further including an apparatus in the shape of a circle enclosing a plus sign comprising one or more arced tracks in the shape of a circle and one or more straight tracks in the shape of a plus sign, whereby tracks may be joined to one another.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A locking device for a movable member in a chair, comprising:
a support member comprising a support base on an upper end of a column of the chair to support a seat and a backrest of the chair;
a shaft, the movable member comprising a pivoting member for turning around the shaft together with the backrest pivotally mounted to the support base with the shaft;
the movable member is mounted to the support member to move in one direction, a plurality of engagement holes being formed in the support member;
a lock pin provided on the movable member to selectively engage in one or more of the plurality of engagement holes in a locked position and to disengage from the one or more of the plurality of engagement holes in an unlocking position to lock the backrest at a tilting angle;
an operating member;
an actuating member moved by the operating member between a pre-locking position and a pre-unlocking position;
an urging unit comprising a first compression spring for urging the lock pin toward the locked position when the actuating member is in the pre-locking position, and a second compression spring for urging the lock pin toward the unlocking position when the actuating member is in the pre-unlocking position;
a torsion spring for urging the backrest to return to an upright position, the pivoting member comprising a spring-receiving member receiving the torsion spring;
a Bowden cable which comprises an outer tube including a wire, the actuating member comprising a wire end of the wire, the operating member is operable for actuating the wire end and the operating member comprises an operating lever pivotally mounted to the support base, another end of the wire being coupled to the operating lever; and
the lock pin slides through a slider, the first compression spring and the second compression spring being in an elongate groove formed in the spring-receiving member, the slider having a hole in which the wire end engages, the wire end operated by the operating lever moving the lock pin via the slider to engage in the one or more of the plurality of engagement holes in the locked position.
2. A locking device for a movable member in a chair, comprising:
a support member comprising a support base on an upper end of a column of the chair to support a seat and a backrest of the chair;
a shaft the movable member comprising a pivoting member for turning around the shaft together with the backrest pivotally mounted to the support base with the shaft;
the movable member is mounted to the support member to move in one direction, a plurality of engagement holes being formed in the support member;
a lock pin provided on the movable member to selectively engage in one or more of the plurality of engagement holes in a locked position and to disengage from the one or more of the plurality of engagement holes in an unlocking position to lock the backrest at a tilting angle;
an operating member;
an actuating member moved by the operating member between a pre-locking position and a pre-unlocking position;
an urging unit comprising a first compression spring for urging the lock pin toward the locked position when the actuating member is in the pre-locking position, and a second compression spring for urging the lock pin toward the unlocking position when the actuating member is in the pre-unlocking position;
a torsion spring for urging the backrest to return to an upright position, the pivoting member comprising a spring-receiving member receiving the torsion spring;
a Bowden cable which comprises an outer tube including a wire, the actuating member comprising a wire end of the wire, the operating member is operable for actuating the wire end and the operating member comprises an operating lever pivotally mounted to the support base, another end of the wire being coupled to the operating lever; and
the support base comprises a bearing member having a smaller-diameter axial hole having a recess, and a bearing portion which has a larger-diameter axial hole larger in diameter than the smaller-diameter axial hole, the larger-diameter axial hole having an opening, both of the larger-diameter axial hole and the smaller-diameter axial holes being axially aligned with each other and spaced from each other, an external diameter of an operating shaft of the operating lever being almost equal in diameter to the larger-diameter axial hole, a smaller-diameter shaft being formed on the end of the operating shaft, a thinner portion smaller than the opening being formed on the operating shaft, a projection being formed on the outer circumferential surface of the smaller-diameter shaft to fit in the recess, the bearing portion which has the smaller-diameter axial hole being held between the end face of the operating shaft and the projection to bear the smaller-diameter shaft with the smaller-diameter axial hole, the operating shaft being borne by the larger-diameter axial hole.