EDUCATIONAL DEVICE AND METHOD

Summary of the Invention (cont'd)


and each ellipsoidal element being characterized by a second connector hole such that when a third ellipsoidal element is gravity stacked against first and second ellipsoidal elements that have optionally been connected along their common axis connector holes, and all orientation marks on the three ellipsoidal elements are correctly oriented in the same direction, and said third ellipsoidal element is gravity stacked so that it touches the first ellipsoidal element at one point and the second ellipsoidal element at one point and the gravity tray at one point, the centerline of the aforementioned second connector hole passes through the centerpoint of the third ellipsoidal element and the centerpoint of the first ellipsoidal element, thus enabling the third ellipsoidal element to optionally be connected to the first ellipsoidal element using their second connector holes and the aforementioned special torsion spring friction coupler;

and each ellipsoidal element being characterized by a third connector hole such that when a third ellipsoidal element is optionally connected to a first ellipsoidal element along their second connector holes, and the first ellipsoidal element is optionally connected to a second ellipsoidal element along their common axis connector holes on the gravity tray as aforementioned, the centerline of the third connector holes passes through the centerpoints of the third ellipsoidal element and the second ellipsoidal element in such a manner that the third ellipsoidal element optionally may be connected to the second ellipsoidal element using their third connector holes and aforementioned torsion spring friction device;

and each ellipsoidal element being characterized by a fourth connector hole such that when a fourth ellipsoidal element is gravity stacked on top of optionally connected first three ellipsoidal elements, with it's common axis orientation mark in the same direction as the common axis orientation marks of the first three ellipsoidal elements, with all triangular orientation marks in the up position, the centerline of the fourth connector hole passes through the centerpoints of the fourth ellipsoidal element and the third ellipsoidal element in such a manner that the fourth ellipsoidal element optionally may be connected to the third ellipsoidal element using their fourth connector holes and aforementioned torsion spring friction device;

and each ellipsoidal element being characterized by a fifth connector hole such that when a fourth ellipsoidal element is gravity stacked on top of optionally connected first three ellipsoidal elements, with it's common axis orientation mark in the same direction as the common axis orientation marks of the first three ellipsoidal elements, with all triangular orientation marks in the up position, the centerline of the fifth connector hole passes through the centerpoints of the fourth ellipsoidal element and the first ellipsoidal element in such a manner that the fourth ellipsoidal element optionally may be connected to the first ellipsoidal element using their fifth connector holes and aforementioned torsion spring friction device;

and each ellipsoidal element being characterized by a sixth connector hole such that when a fourth ellipsoidal element is gravity stacked on top of optionally connected first three ellipsoidal elements, with it's common axis orientation mark in the same direction as the common axis orientation marks of the first three ellipsoidal elements, with all triangular orientation marks in the up position, the centerline of the sixth connector hole passes through the centerpoints of the fourth ellipsoidal element and the second ellipsoidal element in such a manner that the fourth ellipsoidal element optionally may be connected to the second ellipsoidal element using their sixth connector holes and aforementioned torsion spring friction device;

and each ellipsoidal element being characterized by a rectangular orientation mark or square mark or indicia indicating the up position of the ellipsoidal element when gravity stacked in the pyramidal or one-half octahedral configuration by optionally connecting the common axis connecting holes of the first and second ellipsoidal elements after being gravity stacked on the gravity tray, and further optionally connecting the common axis connecting holes of the third and fourth ellipsoidal elements that have also been gravity stacked on the gravity tray, and further optionally connecting the fourth connecting holes of the first and third ellipsoidal elements after rotating their triangular orientation marks toward the front wall of the gravity tray so that their rectangular orientation marks are in the up position, and further optionally connecting the fourth connecting holes of the second and fourth ellipsoidal elements after rotating their triangular orientation marks toward the front wall of the gravity tray so that their rectangular orientation marks are in the up position;


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