Event clock

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6416216
  • Patent Number
    6,416,216
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 11, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 9, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Roskoski; Bernard
    Agents
    • Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Abstract
The present invention provides a convenient, effective, and interactive system to aid children or others in managing and understanding the concept of time and in remembering scheduled events. The present event clock visually demonstrates the time during which at least one predetermined event is scheduled to occur. Generally, the event clock includes a timing mechanism, an indicator operatively connected to the timing mechanism, and at least one (and preferably several) event marker(s). Each event marker visually symbolizes (through pictures, words, or otherwise) a scheduled event and is disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator provides a signal during the time the event is scheduled to occur.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to clocks and visual aids for use in time management, teaching time concepts, organization, and scheduling.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Many people have difficulty keeping track of time and managing their schedules. This is especially true of children, who may not be able to understand the concept of time, read a clock, or keep track of how long daily activities take. Accordingly, parents are often forced to encourage children constantly to hurry or remind them repeatedly about upcoming events. Such constant reminders are tedious for parents and frustrating to children, who usually prefer not to be told what to do. Additionally, such reminders do not support or increase the child's understanding of time.




Because smaller children (and some adults) cannot tell time, traditional clocks are ineffective aids to help them manage their time and schedules. Calendars or other planners that keep track of scheduled events according to the time and date they are to occur are ineffective for similar reasons. Moreover, most children are easily distracted and have little sense for the concept of how long activities take. As such, even children who can tell time are unlikely to check a calendar, remember specific times for scheduled events or even remember to look at a clock when engaged in daily activities. Thus, children have difficulty transitioning from one activity to another (i.e., understanding the progress of a current activity and preparing for the next one).




What is needed is a system to visually aid in teaching the concept of time, managing time, and remembering scheduled events that can be used by children and others who have difficulty keeping track of time using traditional clocks or planners.




What is needed is a system to visually aid in managing time and remembering scheduled events that is interactive and interesting to children and others.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a convenient, effective, and interactive system to aid children or others for both managing time and remembering scheduled events. The present event clock visually demonstrates the time during which at least one predetermined event is scheduled to occur. Generally, the event clock includes a timing mechanism, an indicator operatively connected to the timing mechanism, and at least one event marker. The event marker is disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator provides a signal during the time the event is scheduled to occur.




Preferably, the event clock is provided with numerous event markers that are removably affixed to the face of the event clock and can be rearranged depending on the individual user's schedule. In addition, the indicator preferably provides a signal that also demonstrates the passage of time during the scheduled event (such as a pointer sweeping across the event marker). Each event marker visually symbolizes (through pictures, words, or otherwise) a scheduled event. During the scheduled time, the indicator signals (such as by pointing at the appropriate event marker) that the particular event is scheduled to occur.




The present invention has several advantages over typical clocks. For example, a child or other user need not be able to tell time or remember a schedule to use the present invention. Rather, the present invention signals the user directly at the time of a scheduled event and visually demonstrates the passage of time during a scheduled event. In fact, the event clock of the present invention provides parents an opportunity to teach children about timekeeping and scheduling while also allowing children to keep track of their own schedules in the interim.




The present event clock is also interactive and interesting to children. Children (either alone or with the help of an adult) can arrange and rearrange appropriate event markers on the front face of the event clock to correspond to changing schedules. The event markers can be made from a variety of materials and removably affixed to the front face of the event clock by any number of means, including magnets, Velcro, snaps, etc. In addition, scheduled events can be depicted on the event markers in a variety of ways. Premade event markers depicting certain events can be purchased along with the event clock, and/or markers can be hand-made or altered with decals, markers, paints, etc. to personalize the event clock. Further, several event markers can be used to signal a single event (such as by having multiple consecutive event markers of the same color). Extra event markers can be stored within the event clock itself, and the event clock preferably includes a handle and finger holes so that it is easily portable by a child or other user.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an isometric view illustrating one embodiment of the event clock of the present invention and its associated stand.





FIG. 2

is a left-side elevation of the event clock and associated stand illustrated in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an isometric, partially-exploded view of the event clock illustrated in

FIG. 1

without its associated stand.





FIG. 4

is an isometric view of the associated stand illustrated in

FIG. 1

without the event clock of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is an isometric view looking at the rear of the clock and associated stand illustrated in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 6

is an enlarged section taken along line


6





6


of

FIG. 1

with rear access doors illustrated in an open position with dashed lines.





FIG. 7

is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is an isometric view of the invention as illustrated in

FIG. 7

but being rotated 90 degrees to stand on its end.





FIG. 9

is a front elevation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 10

is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of

FIG. 7

with parts broken away for clarity.





FIG. 11

is a section taken along line


11





11


of FIG.


10


.





FIG. 12

is a section taken along line


12





12


of FIG.


9


.





FIG. 13

is a section taken along line


13





13


of FIG.


9


.





FIG. 14

is a section taken along line


14





14


of FIG.


9


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The event clock


5


of the present invention provides a versatile visual aid for children or others who need help with understanding the concept of time or remembering scheduled events. The present event clock


5


visually demonstrates the time during which at least one predetermined event is scheduled to occur and includes a timing mechanism


10


, an indicator


15


operatively connected to the timing mechanism


10


, and at least one event marker


20


. The event marker


20


is disposed in relation to the indicator


15


such that the indicator


15


signals during the scheduled time that the particular event is to occur. Preferably, the event clock is provided with numerous event markers


20


that are removably affixed to the front face


25


of the event clock


5


and can be rearranged depending on the individual user's schedule.




Event markers


20


visually symbolize (through pictures, words, or otherwise) a scheduled event. Depending on a the length of a scheduled event, a group of event markers


20


can represent a single event. For example, three red event markers placed in succession may represent the time allotted for a single event even though only the middle event marker


20


includes a visual depiction of the event. At the scheduled time the indicator


15


signals (such as by pointing at the beginning of the appropriate event marker(s)


20


) that the particular event is scheduled to begin at that time. Then, during the allotted time for that event, indicator


15


signals the progression of time by sweeping across the appropriate event marker(s). Among other things, the shape of the event clock


5


, orientation and nature of the event markers


20


, method of signaling by the indicator


15


, and type and speed of the timing mechanism


10


employed are all variable without departing from the scope of the present invention.





FIGS. 1-6

illustrate various isometric views of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The event clock


5


has a hollow housing


30


with radial reinforcing ribs


35


, an internal structure


40


for supporting the timing mechanism


10


, a substantially round front face


25


, a substantially round back face


45


composed of two access doors


50


&


55


, and a peripheral wall


60


. The event clock


5


is also provided with a stand


65


in which the housing


30


can be cradled. As shown most clearly in

FIGS. 2 and 4

, the stand


65


provides a stable base for the housing; however, as shown in

FIG. 3

, the housing


30


is preferably formed with a squared-off base


70


such that it can stand independently as well. The event clock


5


is also provided with a handle


75


and finger holes


80


for portability. Around the periphery of the front face


25


and surrounding the indicator


15


, event markers


20


including event symbols


85


are affixed to the front face


25


to symbolize scheduled events. As shown in

FIG. 3

, the event markers


20


are disposed in event marker slots


90


, which are preferably provided as depressions in the front face


25


of housing


30


. The indicator


15


is fixed to a timing mechanism


10


through an indicator axle


95


. The timing mechanism


10


drives the indicator axle


95


and the indicator


15


so that they rotate in unison at a constant speed. Optionally, the event clock


5


also includes a start button


100


and a stop button


105


to control the rotation of the indicator axle


95


.




As seen most clearly in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the timing mechanism


10


includes a set wheel


110


, an on/off switch


115


, and a battery


120


. The back face


45


of the event clock


5


is formed by a top access door


50


and a bottom access door


55


, which are mounted with a hinge


125


to diametrically aligned, horizontally disposed ones of the reinforcing ribs


35


so that each access door


50


&


55


can be pivoted into an open position (shown in dashed lines in

FIG. 6

) to provide access to event marker storage slots


130


. The access door grips


135


are provided as holes in each of the top and bottom access doors


50


&


55


.




In operation, the event clock


5


pictured in

FIGS. 1-6

works as follows. The timing mechanism


10


drives the indicator axle


95


to rotate at a constant speed. The indicator


15


, which is connected to the indicator axle


95


, thus sweeps around the front face


25


of event clock


5


, pointing sequentially to the series of event markers


20


positioned around the perimeter of the front face


25


. The battery


120


provides power to the timing mechanism


10


when the switch


115


is in the “on” position. Optionally, the event clock


5


can be provided with the start button


100


and the stop button


105


as alternative means of controlling power to the timing mechanism


10


. Otherwise, the indicator


15


sweeps around the front face


25


whenever the switch


115


is in the “on” position.




The event markers


20


are affixed in the event marker slots


90


around the perimeter of the front face


25


of housing


30


. The event markers


20


can be held in place by a variety of means, including, without limitation, Velcro®, magnets, snaps, tongue-in-groove connectors, etc. Preferably, however, the event markers


20


are removably affixed to the front face


25


of housing


30


such that the event markers


20


can be moved to different positions around the front face


25


depending on when the event symbolized by that event marker


20


is scheduled to occur. This visual depiction of scheduled events can be used as an aid in both remembering scheduled events and in teaching the concept of time.




For example, one use for the event clock


5


is to help a child through his morning routine. An event marker


20


might symbolize breakfast time for the child by including an event symbol


85


that is a picture of a cereal bowl. The next consecutive event marker


20


might include an event symbol


85


that is a picture of a toothbrush. Another event marker


20


might then include an event symbol


85


that is a picture of a school bus. In this manner, the child can look at the event clock


5


during breakfast and see (by how far the indicator


15


has progressed across the cereal-bowl event marker


20


) approximately how much longer he has before he must start brushing his teeth, etc. If the child's morning routine varies for some reason from day to day, the event markers


20


can be exchanged and/or moved to different positions around the front face


25


to accommodate those variations in time. Similarly, a school teacher can use the present invention to visually demonstrate how long particular activities will take during the school day.




The size and placement of the event markers


20


will depend on several variables including the speed of the timing mechanism


10


and the precision with which it is desired to mark scheduled events. For example, if the timing mechanism


10


is a typical clock motor, such that the indicator


15


sweeps around the front face


25


of the housing


30


once every hour (like the minute hand on a clock), then putting twelve event markers


20


around the perimeter of the front face


25


of the housing


30


will allow the user to mark up to one event per five minutes. Similarly, six event markers


20


of twice the size illustrated could be used to mark scheduled events every ten minutes.




In addition, it is anticipated that not every five minutes, ten minutes, or other time period will be marked by a scheduled event. Therefore, blank event markers


20


(with no event symbols


85


) are provided to place in event marker slots


90


where no event is scheduled. Moreover, it is recognized that some events will take longer than others. The present event clock


5


can be adapted to account for these variations in event duration. For example, assume that the size of the event markers


20


and speed of the timing mechanism


10


driving indicator


15


are such that each event marker


20


represents five minutes. If a particular event is scheduled to last fifteen minutes, three event markers


20


bearing the same event symbol


85


can be used. Or three event markers of the same color, only one of which bears an event symbol


85


, can be used to depict the fifteen minute duration for that event. Other manners of depicting events of varying duration using the present event clock


5


will be evident to those skilled in the art.




Importantly, the event clock


5


of the present invention is not limited to using typical clock mechanisms. Rather, any motor capable of driving the indicator axle


95


at a constant speed may be used, including a motor that would cause the indicator


15


to turn at a faster or slower rate than a typical clock. In fact, the timing mechanism


10


can comprise a variable-speed motor having different settings to accommodate different applications of the present invention. For example, if the user wishes to depict events that occur over a two-hour period of time, the timing mechanism might be set to complete one rotation every two hours (i.e., half the speed of a typical clock motor driving the minute hand on a clock).




In some settings, it will be preferred that a typical clock timing mechanism


10


is employed because it will make it easier for the user of the event clock


5


to determine where to position event markers


20


for scheduled events. In addition, employing a typical clock timing mechanism


10


will facilitate using the event clock


5


to teach children to tell time on a traditional clock. The indicator


15


will act just as the minute hand on a traditional clock. In addition, using event markers


20


that represent standard time increments (such as five minutes each) helps give children a perspective on how long an hour, or half hour, etc. takes to pass. As such, the event clock


5


of the present invention provides a perfect opportunity for parents and/or teachers to teach children how to tell time and accurately schedule and transition between events within particular time periods.




The event markers


20


may be constructed from any suitable material, including plastic, fabrics, etc. The most suitable material for an event marker


20


in a particular embodiment will depend, in part, on the means by which the event marker


20


is to be affixed to the front face of the housing. For example, if the event markers


20


are to be held in place by Velcro®, plastic event markers


20


will not work (unless a separate strip of Velcro® is attached to the event marker


20


).




In addition, depending on how a user is to depict or symbolize scheduled events on the event marker


20


, different materials should be employed. Some event markers


20


might be prefabricated with event symbols


85


already on them; however, the event clock


5


is made more interactive and interesting to children if event symbols


85


can be added to event markers


20


by the user. For example, a user may wish to identify scheduled events on an event marker


20


using a decal affixed to the event marker


20


, in which case the surface of the event marker


20


should be suitable to receive such decals. In other embodiments, however, a user may wish to draw directly on an event marker


20


, in which case the event marker


20


should be made of a material that would accept ink or paint without smearing. In fact, if erasable ink and a reusable surface were provided, the event markers


20


need not even be detachable. In that event, the event markers


20


could be provided simply as immovable sections of the front face


25


and the user could draw and/or redraw event symbols


85


in the appropriate section(s). It is preferred, however, that the event markers


20


be removably affixed to the front face


25


so they can be moved without having to redraw the event symbol(s)


85


every time the user's schedule changes. The options are innumerable for attaching the event markers


20


and for creating event symbols


85


thereon, and the examples set forth herein are not limiting to the scope of the invention.




As shown most clearly in

FIG. 3

, the event clock


5


of the present invention is preferably made portable by the addition of a handle


75


to the peripheral wall


60


, and optionally, finger holes


80


. This is so that a child or other user can carry the event clock


5


of the present invention as they play or do other activities around the house or elsewhere. The handle


75


can be formed as an integral part of the housing


30


or attached to the housing


30


by any suitable means. The squared-off base


70


of the housing


30


allows the event clock


5


to stand upright whether or not cradled in the stand


65


. However, as is shown in

FIG. 4

, the stand


65


provides a more stable base for the event clock


5


when it is cradled inside. The stand


65


, itself, can be constructed in any of a variety of ways. The particular construction depicted in

FIG. 4

is merely exemplary.




The stand


65


illustrated in

FIG. 4

has an inner cavity


140


that is open at the top and adapted to receive the squared-off base


70


of the event clock. It is preferred that the base


70


of the event clock fit fairly snugly within the inner cavity


140


to prevent tipping, but it should not fit so tightly as to impede the easy placement and removal of the event clock


5


within the stand


65


. The walls of the stand


65


are shorter near the longitudinal center


145


of the stand to permit full view of the front face


25


of the event clock


5


when cradled by the stand


65


. The longitudinal ends


150


of the stand


65


, however, are higher and include side walls


155


that slope outwardly from top to bottom to provide greater stability.




It is anticipated that a typical user will purchase or create a significant number of event markers


20


, but not use all of those event markers


20


at the same time. As such, the event clock


5


of the present invention provides storage for additional event markers


20


. As shown in FIG.


5


, and as mentioned previously, the event clock


5


of the present invention includes top and bottom access doors


50


&


55


that define the back face


45


of the event clock


5


. These access doors


50


&


55


provide entry to the event marker storage slots


130


, which preferably correspond in shape and orientation to the event marker slots


90


on the front face


25


of the event clock


5


. The storage slots are formed by the reinforcing ribs


35


that extend between the front and back faces


25


&


45


of the housing


30


and that emanate radially outwardly from the timing mechanism


10


to the peripheral wall


60


of the housing


30


. Access door grips


135


are also preferably provided for ease of access to the event marker storage slots


130


. The top and bottom access doors


50


&


55


may be secured shut by any reasonable closure, including, as shown, a Velcro® closure


160


.





FIG. 6

illustrates a cross-sectional view of the event clock


5


along line


6





6


of FIG.


1


. As shown in

FIG. 6

, the housing


30


preferably fits snugly within the stand


65


to discourage the event clock


5


from tipping. Event markers


20


fit within the event marker slots


90


formed within the housing


30


and are removably affixed there in the manner previously discussed. In the particular embodiment shown, decals


165


are provided on the face of the event markers


20


to illustrate scheduled events; however, as discussed, events can be, depicted on the event markers numerable other ways.




As clearly shown in

FIG. 6

, the indicator


15


is fixed to the indicator axle


95


, which is driven at a constant speed by the timing mechanism


10


. The indicator


15


preferably rotates within a protective indicator case


170


so that children or other users do not accidentally break it. markers must be changed because the indicator


15


will have rotated fully around the front face


25


. Because the indicator in this embodiment moves linearly, the problem of an indicator


205


retracing its path after a set period of time is avoided.





FIG. 8

illustrates the event clock


200


of

FIG. 7

set on its end. This arrangement includes all of the same elements as the embodiment shown in

FIG. 7

; however, in this arrangement the event markers


230


are oriented to be most easily seen when the housing


210


is vertically disposed.





FIGS. 9-14

illustrate in greater detail the operation of the embodiments shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

.

FIGS. 9-14

are specifically directed to details of the event clock


200


as shown in

FIG. 7

, but it will be appreciated that the arrangement shown in

FIG. 8

will operate in essentially the same manner.





FIG. 9

illustrates in greater detail the front face


215


of the event clock


200


. Event markers


230


are disposed in event marker slots


235


in the same manner as described in relation to

FIGS. 1-6

. Again, these event markers


230


can be created in any of the variety of manners or from the variety of materials previously described. In addition, as previously discussed, the number of event markers


230


provided on the front face


215


can be varied depending on the speed at which the indicator


205


moves, the number of events desired to be marked, and the total time period to be scheduled. The front face


215


is also provided with a view window


225


through which the indicator


205


can be seen. In addition, the set knob


240


protrudes out from the front face


215


and can be used to control manually the position of the indicator


205


. The orientation of the indicator


15


can be set or reset by the set wheel


110


on the back of the timing mechanism. However, optionally, the indicator case


170


can be eliminated, and the user can reset the indicator


15


directly simply by rotating it to its desired position. The indicator


15


can be set to start at any position so long as event markers


20


are placed in appropriate event marker slots


90


so that the indicator


15


sweeps across the appropriate event markers


20


during scheduled times.





FIG. 7

illustrates another preferred embodiment of the event clock


200


of the present invention. In this embodiment, the indicator


205


moves along a linear, rather than circular, path. A housing


210


is provided with substantially rectangular front and back faces


215


&


220


. An indicator is visible through a view window


225


, which is provided in the front face


215


of housing


210


. Event markers


230


are disposed in linearly aligned event marker slots


235


positioned adjacent the view window


225


. The indicator


205


can be moved to any starting position via a set knob


240


. When activated, the indicator


205


in this embodiment moves at a constant speed from left to right (as oriented in FIG.


7


), thereby pointing to a series of event markers


230


symbolizing scheduled events. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 7

, the event markers


230


are oriented so as to be most easily seen when the housing


210


is horizontally disposed.




This embodiment is particularly useful when it is desired to depict events over a nonstandard period of time. As discussed, if a typical clock motor is used in the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 1-6

, events can only be depicted over a one-hour span before the event





FIG. 10

illustrates a partial cut-away view of the bottom face


245


of the event clock


200


shown in FIG.


9


. As shown, the event clock is preferably provided with several batteries


250


, which power a timing mechanism


260


enclosed within the housing


210


. As described further herein, the timing mechanism


260


drives the movement of the indicator


205


.





FIG. 11

is a cross-section of the event clock


200


along line


11





11


of FIG.


10


. As shown, the indicator


205


is supported by an indicator support


265


, which is attached to a flexible indicator line


270


(or cord). The indicator line


270


is looped around a set knob wheel


275


, which is driven by the same set knob axle


280


as the set knob


240


, and a return wheel


285


, which is connected to a separate return wheel axle


290


. The ends of the indicator line


270


are connected by a spring


295


, which provides tension on the indicator line


270


. In addition, as shown more clearly in

FIGS. 12 and 14

, each of the set knob wheel


275


and the return wheel


285


include a groove in its outer wall. Both wheels


275


&


285


are preferably constructed to be thicker at their perimeters to provide sufficient space in which to create the grooves


300


. The indicator line


270


sits within these grooves


300


and is held in place by the tension on the indicator line


270


created by the spring


295


. The flexible indicator line


270


can be made from any suitable material, including a nylon line with a plastic coating similar to fly-fishing line.




As shown in

FIG. 13

, the indicator line


270


is threaded through a guide


305


in the back of the indicator support


265


. The indicator support


265


is connected to the indicator line


270


by any suitable means, such as crimping or adhesive. The indicator support


265


thus moves in conjunction with the indicator line


270


. In addition, the internal walls of the event clock housing are preferably constructed to create top and bottom stabilizing ridges


310


&


315


. These stabilizing ridges


310


&


315


, in conjunction with the view window


225


, physically preclude the indicator support


265


and the indicator


205


from unwanted rotation that might otherwise cause the indicator


205


to be difficult to see through the view window


225


. In addition, it is preferred that the internal walls of the event clock housing be constructed to create a storage area


320


, accessible by a storage door


325


, suitable for storing extra event markers


230


. The particular placement of elements within the event clock housing


210


is subject to numerous design choices and should not be limiting of the present invention.




The event clock


200


shown in

FIG. 11

also includes a stop


330


, which physically impedes movement of the indicator support


265


beyond the stop


330


in the direction of the timing mechanism


260


. On the other end of the event clock


200


, a switch


335


impedes the movement of the indicator support


265


in the direction of the return wheel


285


and cuts off power from the batteries


250


to the timing mechanism


260


whenever the indicator support


265


contacts the switch


335


.




In operation, power is provided to the timing mechanism


260


by batteries


250


whenever the indicator support


265


is not in contact with the switch


335


. When provided with power, the timing mechanism


260


drives the set knob axle


280


to rotate at a constant speed. The set knob axle


280


is fixedly connected to both the set knob


240


and the set knob wheel


275


. As the set knob wheel


275


rotates at a constant speed, the indicator line


270


is pulled around within the groove


300


of the set knob wheel


275


, thereby causing the indicator support


265


and the indicator


205


to move linearly. The movement of the indicator line


270


also causes the return wheel


285


to rotate in the same direction as the set knob wheel


275


. The return wheel


285


is fixedly connected to a return wheel axle


290


, which freely rotates within a chamber


340


. It does not matter which direction the timing mechanism


260


causes the indicator


205


to move; however, it is preferred that the indicator


205


move left-to-right (towards the return wheel


285


) as most users would expect movement in that direction.




As the indicator


205


moves linearly towards the return wheel


285


, it points sequentially to the event markers


230


positioned on the front face


215


of the event clock


200


. Here again, the event markers


230


should be positioned relative to the starting point of the indicator


205


such that the indicator


205


sweeps across the event marker


230


during the time scheduled for the event symbolized by that event marker


230


. In addition, as described in relation to the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-6

, a variable-speed timing mechanism


260


can be used to accommodate variations in the time period a user wishes to schedule using the present invention. When the indicator


205


reaches the end of the view window


225


, the indicator support


265


contacts the switch


335


, which causes power to the timing mechanism


260


to be cut off, thereby stopping the movement of the indicator


205


. At that point, or at any point during the operation of the event clock


200


, the indicator


205


can be reset to a desired position by manually turning the set knob


240


.




Turning the set knob


240


simultaneously turns the set knob axle


280


and the set knob wheel


275


, thereby causing the indicator


205


to move linearly. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 9

, turning the set knob


240


in the direction of the arrow will cause the indicator


205


to move linearly from right to left, thereby allowing a reset of the indicator


205


after it has run to the end of the view window


225


. Once contact between the set knob indicator


265


and the switch


335


is broken, the timing mechanism


260


will again be activated. In some instances, a user may wish to move the indicator


205


ahead rather than back. For that reason, it is preferred that a timing mechanism


260


is used that is geared to allow manual rotation of the set knob axle


280


in either direction.




It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the exact configuration of the event clock described herein can be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in lieu of or in addition to the pointing indicator depicted in the figures, one of ordinary skill in the art could also use a series of lights positioned behind the event markers


20


to indicate the time for scheduled events. If the event markers


20


and the front face of the housing are translucent, such lights could be positioned behind each event marker


20


slot to back-light the event markers


20


at the appropriate times for scheduled events. In addition, in the embodiments illustrated in

FIGS. 7-14

, one of ordinary skill in the art could devise an “automatic return” mechanism to cause the indicator to return to its starting point when the indicator reached the end of the view window. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited except by the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An event clock for visually demonstrating the time during which at least one predetermined event is scheduled to occur, comprising:an indicator; a timing mechanism including a variable-speed motor, operatively connected to the indicator and adapted to control the indicator for at least a particular duration of time; and at least a first event marker, visually symbolizing a first event scheduled to occur during a first preset time and disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator signals during the first preset time that the first scheduled event is to occur; wherein the particular duration of time during which the timing mechanism controls the indicator is longer than the first preset time.
  • 2. The event clock of claim 1, further comprising: a housing having a first face to which at least the first event marker is affixed.
  • 3. The event clock of claim 2, wherein the first face is substantially round.
  • 4. The event clock of claim 2, wherein the first face is substantially rectangular.
  • 5. The event clock of claim 2, wherein at least the first event marker is removably affixed to the first face of the housing and can be reaffixed in different positions on the first face of the housing depending on the particular time during which the first scheduled event is to occur.
  • 6. The event clock of claim 1, wherein the indicator signals the progression of time during which a scheduled event is to occur by sweeping across the event marker symbolizing that scheduled event.
  • 7. The event clock of claim 2, further comprising:a handle, connected to the housing, to facilitate carrying of the event clock.
  • 8. The event clock of claim 2, further comprising:a stand adapted to receive the housing and maintain the event clock in an upright position.
  • 9. The event clock of claim 3, wherein the indicator is juxtaposed with the first face and at least part of the indicator moves along a substantially circular path.
  • 10. The event clock of claim 4, wherein the indicator is juxtaposed with the first face and the indicator moves along a substantially linear path.
  • 11. The event clock of claim 2, further comprising:at least a second event marker, symbolizing a second event scheduled for a second preset time, affixed to the first face and disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator signals during the second preset time that the second scheduled event is to occur.
  • 12. The event clock of claim 11, wherein both the first and second event markers are removably affixed to the first face of the housing and can be reaffixed in different positions on the first face of the housing depending on the first and second preset times the first and second scheduled events are to occur.
  • 13. The event clock of claim 2, wherein the housing includes at least one compartment in which additional event markers can be stored.
  • 14. The event clock in claim 1, wherein said at least a first event marker can be adapted to represent events of varying time lengths.
  • 15. An event clock for visually demonstrating the time during which at least two predetermined events are scheduled to occur, comprising:a timing mechanism including a variable-speed motor; an indicator, operatively connected to the timing mechanism; a first event marker, visually symbolizing a first event scheduled for a first preset time and disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator signals during the first preset time that the first scheduled event is to occur; and a second event marker, visually symbolizing a second event scheduled for a second preset time and disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator signals during the second preset time that the second scheduled event is to occur; wherein the second event marker is disposed so as to be visible even during the first preset time.
  • 16. The event clock of claim 15, wherein the first and second event markers are disposed in relation to the indicator such that the indicator automatically signals that the second scheduled event is to occur after signaling that the first scheduled event is to occur.
  • 17. The event clock of claim 15, further comprising a housing having a front face, wherein the first and second event markers are removably affixed to the front face of the housing and can be reaffixed in different positions on the first face of the housing depending on the preset times during which the first and second scheduled events are to occur.
  • 18. The event clock of claim 15, wherein the indicator signals the progression of time during which a scheduled event is to occur by sweeping across the event marker symbolizing that scheduled event.
  • 19. The event clock in claim 15, wherein said first event marker and said second event marker can be adapted to represent events of varying time lengths.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
2305283 Theilkas Dec 1942 A
D146757 Webb May 1947 S
2647330 Ford Aug 1953 A
2853804 Bengeyfield Sep 1958 A
3967389 Brooks Jul 1976 A
4124945 Totten Nov 1978 A
4208870 Cullom Jun 1980 A
5044961 Bruskewitz Sep 1991 A