The present invention relates to an educational device and includes a plurality of movable plates that simulate a shoe to provide not only play value, but is also educational in purpose in teaching the lacing and tying of shoelaces.
Educational devices that also have play value are commonly available for use and instruction of children, and these prior known devices have taken various forms, depending upon the purpose in the teaching aspect thereof. Prior to the instant invention, some efforts have been made to provide educational devices that incorporate the configuration of a shoe, wherein the simulated shoe also included a provision for teaching the lacing and tying of shoelaces on the shoe, thereby enabling a child to conveniently practice the technique of shoelace tying at a relatively early age. Such an educational device as known heretofore is illustrated by way of example in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 142,670; and, as shown in this patent, a book comprising front and back covers and a plurality of pages are formed in a design that simulates a shoe. However, the play value of this prior known educational device and others similar thereto had limited interest for the child and was constructed in such a way as to be easily abused by a child in the use thereof.
Although the prior known educational devices did have some educational and play value and in some instances accomplished the purpose intended, they were usually not constructed or formed in a way to retain the interest of a child; and, since such articles did not impart a realistic effect to the article being portrayed, the child usually quickly lost interest after a short period of use and play thereof.