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  Three-dimensional periodic tableUSPTO Application #: 20070031799Title: Three-dimensional periodic table Abstract: The invention includes a three dimensional periodic table of the chemical elements and a method of learning about the periodic nature of the elements. Included are several cardboard or paper sheets, each having a plurality of blocks that display information about particular elements. The blocks are arranged in groupings of elements with similar properties, such as the transition Earth metals. Students follow a set of instructions provided with the sheets to cut out the groups, fold along particular lines, and affix tabs together to assemble several three dimensional forms. The students then place the forms on a planar map that indicates where to place each form and indicates how to follow the periods of elements between the forms. (end of abstract)
Agent: Hiscock & Barclay, LLP - Rochester, NY, US Inventor: Michael F. Aldersley USPTO Applicaton #: 20070031799 - Class: 434298000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Education And Demonstration, Science, Chemistry Or Metallurgy The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070031799. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a periodic table of the chemical elements as a tool for learning about the elements. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is generally accepted in physics and chemistry that the universe is made up of a number of stable and less stable elements ranging in progressive units of atomic masses. The periodic law states that the properties of the chemical elements and their compounds are a periodic function of their atomic number. The periodic table is a table of the elements written in sequence in the order of atomic number and arranged in horizontal rows (periods) and vertical columns (groups) to illustrate the occurrence of similarities in the properties of the elements as a periodic function of the sequence. Present versions of the table used in texts have remained essentially unchanged for the past fifty years, except for the addition of new elements. [0003] Every chemistry laboratory and classroom has a periodic table displayed. It can be difficult, however, to engage students to learn about the elements with a conventional periodic table. Also, the significance of the natural grouping of elements shown by the periodic table may be lost on many students, and some heavier elements might be completely ignored. Therefore a periodic table of the elements and a method of learning about the elements that engage students to learn about the elements, including the most unusual of them, and that helps students see the groupings of the elements within the table are needed. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,409, by Roy H. Alexander teaches a three dimensional symbolic representation of the elements with fully grouped families including the Rare Earth series is presented in which the symbolic representations of the elements are arranged contiguously and continuously according to the atomic number. Alexander teaches an arrangement of the elements that includes a single three dimensional form with the elements arranged according to atomic number and without interruption of the atomic number. Therefore a three dimensional representation of the elements with multiple three dimensional forms to be assembled and which challenges a student to thereby encourage learning about the elements is needed. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,876, by Gerson Katz teaches a device for displaying a periodic table of the chemical elements. Katz's table includes four detachable, coaxially mounted cylinders. Each cylinder is divided into an upper cylindrical section and a lower cylindrical section. The sections are also detachably mounted. The upper surfaces of each of the cylindrical sections are marked with discrete sectors containing indicia that denote the chemical elements. The device can also be used to determine n and l numbers of quantum theory for selected elements. An aid that has a transverse surface marked to correspond to the discrete sectors on the upper surfaces of the cylindrical sections is used to determine m.sub.l and m.sub.s numbers of quantum theory for selected elements. A second device for displaying the periodic table of the elements is in the form of four detachable, concentrically mounted spheres. The surface of each of the spheres is divided into an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere. The hemispheres are preferably detachably mounted. The outer surface of each of the hemispheres is marked with discrete sectors containing indicia that denote the chemical elements. The tables taught by Katz do not readily depict the natural groupings of the elements, such as the transition metals and alkaline groups. Further, since the spheres taught by Katz are concentrically mounted, the inner spheres are at least partially concealed by the outer spheres. Therefore an improved three dimensional periodic table that readily displays the natural groupings of the elements and which does not conceal information about any of the elements is needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a three dimensional periodic table of the chemical elements and a method of learning about the periodic nature of the elements. The invention comprises several cardboard or paper sheets, each having a plurality of blocks that display information about particular elements. The blocks are arranged in groupings of elements with similar properties, such as the transition Earth metals. Students follow a set of instructions provided with the sheets to cut out the groups, fold along particular lines, and affix tabs together to assemble several three dimensional forms. The students then place the forms on a planar map that indicates where to place each form and indicates how to follow the periods of elements between the forms. [0007] More particularly, the invention includes a periodic representation of the elements, which comprises a plurality of three-dimensional forms, and a plurality of element representations displayed on each of the forms. Each of the element representations displays information about a particular element and the three dimensional forms are displayed in proximity to each other on a planar map such that all of the forms may be viewed together. [0008] In another form, the invention includes a periodic representation of the elements, which comprises a plurality of planar sheets, a plurality of element representations printed on each of the sheets in one or more groupings, and a plurality of tabs in communication with each of the groupings. [0009] In a further form, the invention includes a kit for assembling a three-dimensional periodic representation of the elements, which comprises a plurality of planar sheets, a plurality of element representations printed on each of the sheets in one or more groupings, a plurality of tabs in communication with each of the groupings, and a set of instructions for cutting out the groupings from the sheets and assembling the groupings into a plurality of three-dimensional forms. [0010] In an even further form, the invention includes a method of teaching a student about the elements. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a plurality of planar sheets, each of which include a plurality of element representations printed thereon in one or more groupings and a plurality of tabs in communication with each of the groupings. A set of instructions is followed for creating a plurality of three-dimensional forms from the sheets. The groupings are cut out from the sheets according to the instructions and assembled into the three-dimensional forms. The student then observes the element representations of common and uncommon elements as well as the groupings of element representations, which display information about elements having similar properties. [0011] An advantage of the present invention is that the three dimensional periodic table and method of learning about the elements engage students to learn about the elements, including the most unusual of them, and helps students see the groupings of the elements within the table. The instant periodic table also displays information about the elements on several three dimensional forms without concealing any of the information. In addition to learning about chemistry, students learn about working in groups and other important life skills. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the three dimensional periodic table of the chemical elements of the present invention; [0014] FIGS. 2-5 are plan views of several planar sheet of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a planar map of FIG. 1; [0016] FIGS. 7-16 are isometric views of the groupings of element representations in various stages of assembly. [0017] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The example set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the three dimensional periodic table of the chemical elements of the present invention. The three dimensional periodic table 10 includes a plurality of element representations 12, arranged in a plurality of groupings 14, which are shown in assembled three dimensional forms in FIG. 1, and a substantially planar map 16. [0019] The element representations 12 are substantially rectangular in shape and include information about the element, such as the atomic number, the chemical symbol, the atomic mass, the element name, the natural state of the element at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and the number of valence electrons. The element representations 12 may also be color-coded to indicate properties of the element. For example, the element representations 12 may be colored according to whether they are metals, metalloids, or non-metals. Alternatively, the element representations 12 may be colored according to the state of matter of the element for a particular temperature and pressure. In a further alternative, the element representations 12 are colored according to the color of the element, the compound, or the flame colors. Even further, the element representations 12 may be colored according to a particular design that is pleasing to the eye or attention grabbing. Certain element representations 12 on the edges of the three dimensional groupings 14, such as those for Carbon (C) and Nitrogen (N), have multiple faces that are angled at about 90.degree. from each other in order to promote the idea that the element representations 12 are three dimensional blocks. Continue reading... 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