Word isolating educational tool

Abstract

An educational device and method in which a user can learn the pronunciation and meaning of words using a word isolator with a window and a slide. The word isolator is placed over the unfamiliar word. The slide is manipulated to expose only a portion of the word at a time, thereby helping the user break down and identify the unfamiliar word.

1 . A word isolator device comprising: 
 a thin, elongated base portion having a medially disposed aperture therethrough to define a viewing window through said base portion and to permit observation from a point above said base portion through said aperture of a location below said base portion,    a thin, elongated slide member sized and dimensioned to substantially fully occlude said viewing window when positioned in general alignment with said viewing window,    said slide member including at least one flange projecting therefrom,    said base portion and said slide member being positionable and complementarily engageable when said flange is folded to engage a portion of said base member to permit slidable movement therebetween between a first position in which the viewing window is substantially fully occluded by said slide member and a second position in which the viewing window is substantially fully unoccluded by said slide member, said viewing member being partially occluded at intermediate positions,    said engaged base portion and slide member being positionable to rest upon a generally flat surface to encompass within the outline of said viewing window text appearing on said generally flat surface and to uncover the text encompassed within the outline of the viewing window in a direction to allow exposure of the text as it is written as said slide member is slidably moved relative to said base portion from said first position to said second position.    
   
   
       2 . The word isolator device of  claim 1  wherein 
 said base portion comprises a sheet-like member folded over on to itself to define upper and lower portions and an intermediate slot therebetween, said upper portion at least partially overlapping said lower portion, said upper and lower portions each including an elongated opening therein, said elongated openings being generally sized and aligned with one another to form said aperture through said base portion and to permit observation from a point above said upper portion through said aligned openings of a location below said lower portion,    said slide member is sized and dimensioned to fit within said intermediate slot of said base portion and to be slidably movable therein to substantially fully occlude said viewing window when in a first position, to substantially fully expose said viewing window when in a second position, and to partially occlude said viewing window when intermediate said first and second positions.    
   
   
       3 . The word isolator of  claim 2  wherein said lower portion includes an outer surface, said outer surface being adapted to abuttingly engage a generally flat surface when said base portion is rested thereon.  
   
   
       4 . A word isolator device comprising: 
 a thin, elongated base portion having a medially disposed aperture therethrough to define a viewing window through said base portion and to permit observation from a point above said base portion through said aperture of a location below said base portion,    said base member including at least one flange projecting therefrom,    a thin, elongated slide member sized and dimensioned to substantially fully occlude said viewing window when positioned in general alignment with said viewing window,    said base portion and said slide member being positionable and complementarily engageable when said flange is folded to engage a portion of said slide member to permit slidable movement therebetween between a first position in which the viewing window is substantially fully occluded by said slide member and a second position in which the viewing window is substantially fully unoccluded by said slide member, said viewing member being partially occluded at intermediate positions,    said engaged base portion and slide member being positionable to rest upon a generally flat surface to encompass within the outline of said viewing window text appearing on said generally flat surface and to uncover the text encompassed within the outline of the viewing window in a direction to allow exposure of the text as it is written as said slide member is slidably moved relative to said base portion from said first position to said second position.    
   
   
       5 . An educational tool comprising: 
 a base portion including an aperture,    a slide portion sized to substantially occlude the aperature including at least one flange projecting therefrom,    said at least one flange foldably engageable with said base portion to create a moveable relationship between said base portion and said slide portion,    said base portion positionable to rest on a surface including text with characters so the aperture isolates at least some portion of text,    said slide portion moveable from a position substantially occluding the aperture and concealing the text isolated by the aperture in the in a direction to expose individual characters of text until all the characters of the text are exposed.    
   
   
       6 . The educational tool of  claim 5  wherein the individual characters of text appear substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       7 . The educational tool of  claim 5  wherein the individual characters of text appear substantially vertical.  
   
   
       8 . The educational tool of  claim 5  wherein the base portion and slide portion are made of a material with a thickness rating in the range of approximately 16-150 lbs.  
   
   
       9 . The educational tool of  claim 5  wherein the base portion and slide portion are made of plastic.