Incentive device

May 22, 1962

R. W. HOLMES

INCENTIVE DEVICE

Filed June 10, 1960

3,035,355

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3,035,355

Patented May 22, 1962

United States Patent Office

3,035,355 INCENTIVE DEVICE

Royal W. Holmes, 42 Russell· St, Jewett City, Conn. Filed June 10,1960, Ser. No. 35,366

Claims. (Cl. 35—23).

The present invention relates to a device for indicating progress of events and particularly to a device for encouraging children to carry out their daily chores.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet effective means for indicating the accomplishment of events.

More specifically, the device of the present invention has particular utility in encouraging children to perform their daily chores and to save money earned by the accomplishment of these chores.

In carrying out the invention, a board is provided with a plurality of vertical channels having an open end into which a coin or the like token may be inserted. The channel is provided with removable stop means capable of supporting the coins in a plurality of positions. The board adjacent each position is provided with indicia designating a chore to be carried out. When the chore is completed, the stop is removed so that the coin can progress along the channel and upon the completion of the last chore and the removal of the last stop the coin is freed from the channel whereupon it is released from the channel and may be then inserted into a savings compartment or miscellaneous compartment provided on the board. Also provided on the board is means for storing the stops so that they can be available for insertion into the board. Preferably, a longitudinal channel is provided for each day of the week. However, the arrangement and number of the channels can be varied as required.

While the device of the present invention is particularly useful in encouraging the performance of chores by children, it may also be used for other purposes, such as indicating the operations on a workpiece or the progress of work through a factory, since the front wall of the channel is transparent and progress of the token through the channel can be readily viewed.

The device of the present invention is simple in construction and easy to operate even by young children and is effective in encouraging children in the performance of their chores and to saving and budgeting of money received for the chores.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the channels showing the coin and stop in position.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along lines 4—4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one form of stop.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6—6 of FIG. 3.

While the device of the present invention may be used for various purposes, such as the indication of progress of work through a plant or the progress of operations on a piece of work, it is herein illustrated as being applied to a device for encouraging children to perform their chores and to aid and encourage them in saving the money earned by such performance of their chores.

As shown in the drawings, the device of the present invention comprises a base 10 having secured to the face thereof a plurality of vertically disposed coin-receiving guide means 11 in spaced relation across the board.

While the guide means may include flanges for overlying the edges of the coin to guide it in its movement, it is at present preferred to form it as a closed channel 12. The number and spacing of the channels can vary as 5 required. In the illustrated form of the invention there are shown seven channels providing a channel for each day in the week.

Though the channels 12 can be formed by separate U-shaped strips secured to the base, they are herein il10 lustrated as being interconnected into a single member 12α formed from a continuous sheet of plastic material which is preferably transparent and which is bent or molded to form the U-shaped channels 12 at spaced intervals thereacross. The portion 126 of the member dis15 posed between the channels is secured to the base, as shown in FIG. 6, so that the vase closes the channels. The channels are open at each end and are of a depth, as shown in FIG. 4; that they will receive a single coin 13 edgewise in the channel and are of a width that they 20 will accommodate coins of various denominations. If desired, a token may be used in lieu of a coin. The channels, being transparent, permit the progression of the token or coin along the channel by gravity to be readily viewed.

The channels, at spaced intervals along their length, are provided with a removable stop means for supporting the coins in predetermined stop positions. While the stop means may take various forms, in the herein illustrated preferred form of the invention it comprises a 30 stop member 14 having a finger piece 15 provided with a pair of spaced pins 16 projecting therefrom and adapted to extend through a pair of apertures 17 in the channel and into the aligned apertures 18 in the base. Preferably, the pins are spaced so that they will intercept and 35 support coins of various denominations as they are positioned in the channel.

Adjacent each stop position albhg the channel there is provided suitable indicia 19 indicating the chore to be performed. While the indicia can be mounted in the 40 usual metal clips so as to be removable and replaceable therefrom and can be placed along each of the channels, in the illustrated form of the invention, it is formed on a strip overlying the surface of the member adjacent the first channel. The indicia, as indicated in FIG. 1, sets forth the chores for the day.

A trough 20' is positioned below the channels to receive the coin when it is freed from the lower end of the channel upon completion of the last chore and removal of the last stop member.

To encourage thrift in the child, the base is provided with one or more receptacles for the coins. As shown, there is a receptacle 21 for savings and a receptacle 22 for miscellaneous funds into which the coin may be placed when it is removed from the trough.

₅ If desired, means can be provided on the base to store the stop members when they are removed from the channels. This may take many forms. As herein illustrated, the means comprises a container 23 secured on the base into which the stops may be placed as they are removed.

When in use, a. coin is inserted in the upper end of each ^U channel and engages the first stop in a position adjacent “brush teeth.” After the child has brushed his teeth, the stop is removed and is deposited in the container 23 secured to the front of the base. Upon removal of the stop - the coin will drop by gravity to be supported on the next ° stop adjacent the indicia representing the next chore which is “make bed.” Similarly, after the bed is made the child removes the stop and the coin drops to the stop adjacent the position indicating “feed dog.” This is repeated until the last stop adjacent “brush teeth” at the end of the day ^U is reached. When the last chore is completed, the stop is removed and the coin will be freed and will drop into the

3,035,355 trough 20 extending across the bottom below the member whereupon the child can remove the coin and place it in the container marked “savings” if it is to be placed subsequently in a savings bank or in “miscellaneous” if it is to be used to purchase miscellaneous items.

It will be seen that the device is simple to operate and can be attractive for use by children even of very young age.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.