WO1996039649A1

WO1996039649A1 - Daily activity clock

Info

Publication number: WO1996039649A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/009493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald L. Peters
Original assignee: Peters Ronald L
Priority date: 1995-06-06
Filing date: 1996-06-06
Publication date: 1996-12-12
Also published as: AU6261496A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a daily activity clock that includes a number of removably connected activity buttons (22) that enable selective association of a particular activity with a certain time of day. These activity buttons (22) in association with a twenty-four hour clock face (12) may be used as a valuable teaching tool in assisting young children to tell time by associating various times of the day with particular activities with which they are familiar.

Description

DAILY ACTIVITY CLOCK

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to clocks, and more particularly to a clock for uniquely associating daily activities with a particular time of day directly on the clock face. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently existing clocks are generally of the classic twelve- hour structure and include hour, minute and second hand for indicating time. For adults and older children, this type of clock is sufficient to enable them to determine the time of day. However, for very young children, clocks of this type are essentially meaningless. Young children are unable to fully grasp the abstract concept of time from viewing a standard clock, and the hands on the face of the clock have relatively little meaning to them.

Younger children are much more familiar with the particular activities that occur throughout the day rather than with the particular time these activities occur. Thus, clocks associating these activities with specified times throughout the day would be much more meaningful to a younger child than a normal clock. Presently existing methods for associating activities with time on a clock have included the placement of permanently associated pictures around the face of a clock or the use of permanently associated pictures which rotate synchronously with the hands of the clock. These types of clocks, while useful, suffer from the limitation that the pictures associated with the clock are static and unchangeable. Thus, a clock may not be particularly tailored to a specific day or special events which may occur in a young child's life. Furthermore, these types of clocks normally associate the pictures over a broad time period and not with a particular time. Therefore, a need has arisen for a clock designed primarily to give small children a way to see what time it is in relation to their daily activities. The clock should further be able to be specially tailored to any particular day or set of activities which may arise. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems with the daily activity clock. The daily activity clock comprises a clock face defining a number of hours in the day. The particular hour of the day is indicated by an hour hand rotated by clock motor. A plurality of activity buttons enable user to associate a particular activity indicated on the activity button with a time indicated by the clock. The activity buttons are removably connected to the clock and point at a particular time. The removable nature of the button allows a particular activity to be associated with any time period indicated on the clock face. This allows a user to particularly tailor the clock for activities of a child or individual which may change from day to day. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference should be made to the following Detailed Description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a front view of an activity clock of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the activity clock of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly FIGURES 1 and 2, there are illustrated a front view and an exploded perspective view of the daily activity clock of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the clock is used for assisting young children in associating daily activities with a particular time of day. A twenty-four hour clock face 1 2 is used to indicate each hour of the day. The use of a twenty-four hour clock face enables each hour indicated on the clock face to have an activity uniquely associated with it. Thus, if a child had to go to school at 8:00 a.m. and go to bed at 8:00 p.m., he would not be confused by two similar activity buttons pointing at the same hour for activities that obviously occurred at different times of the day. While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with respect to a twenty-four hour clock face, it should be appreciated that a twelve- hour clock face, or a clock face including any number of hour increments, would be equally useful. The clock face 1 2 may also include graphics indicating day and night as shown in FIGURE 1 to further assist the child in associating times with particular events. A clock hand 1 4, preferably shaped in the form of an arm and hand, is mounted to the face of the clock 1 2 to indicate a particular time of day. The clock hand 14 is driven by a clock mechanism 1 6 for a twenty-four hour military clock or twelve hour clock as desired. While the preferred embodiment includes only an hour clock hand to prevent confusion to young children, the minute and second clock hand may be included. The clock mechanism 1 6 is powered by a battery 1 8 or electrical cord (not shown) depending upon the requirements of a particularly situation. The clock face 1 2, clock hand 14 and clock mechanism 1 6 are mounted in a bezel 20 or other means sufficient for mounting the clock face and clock mechanism. The clock face 12 and clock hand 14 are protected by a clear cover 21 enabling the clock face to be viewed while preventing damage to the inner mechanism. However, it should be noted the clear cover 21 is not required and the clock face 1 2 and hand 14 may remain uncovered.

Included with the clock are a plurality of activity buttons 22 for indicating particular activities that may occur throughout the day. The activity buttons 22 include some type of a pictorial or word indicator defining an activity such as: get up, breakfast, lunch, dinner, play time, read a book, bedtime, snack time, nap time, potty, school time, play time, bath time, and a star for special event times. This list is only included to be exemplary of the many possible activities that parents may want to schedule for a young child. Included with the activity buttons may be a number of sticker indicators enabling buttons to be customized as desired. In a preferred embodiment, the activity buttons 22 contain an indicator area 24 for containing the representation of the activity and a pointer for pointing to a particular time of day that the activity will be associated with. Of course, many other configuration for the activity button 22 providing the ability to indicate a particular time on the clock face will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

A number of means for connecting 25 the activity buttons 22 to point at a particular time indicated on the clock face 1 2 are available. Examples of connecting means would include Velcro connectors, metal or plastic snaps, mounting slots or any other means enabling quick and easy connection of the activity buttons 22 to the clock and movement of the buttons between various positions on the clock. In the preferred embodiment, the activity buttons 22 are mounted along the bezel 20 of the activity clock such that the buttons point to a particular time of day. The activity indicated on the activity button is thus uniquely associated with the indicated time of day. Thus, activity button 22a which points to approximately 8:30 a.m. indicates by the school bus that it is time to go to school. Activity button 22b indicates that 2:00 p.m. is time for play, with the play activity being represented by the swing set.

Using the clock, a young child is able to see the location the clock 14 hand is pointing toward and gain some idea of whether it is time or almost time for a particular activity to occur. Thus, a child upon seeing the clock hand in the position indicated by FIGURE 1 would know that it was almost time for his bath as indicated by activity button 22c. The removable nature of the activity buttons allow a child's day to be specifically tailored according to changing activities. Thus, the clock would be equally effective on a school day, weekend day or days during summer or holiday vacations.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, individuals who are on complicated medication schedules throughout the day and may be suffering from some type of memory impairment, may use the clock to indicate the particular times for taking medicines. In this case, the activity buttons 22 would indicate particular medications instead of activities. Thus, this clock would greatly assist elderly or infirm individuals.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the specific embodiments disclosed above may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other strictures for carrying out the purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A daily activity clock comprising: a clock face defining a plurality of hours in a day; an hour hand for pointing at a particular time of day on the clock face; an activity button representing a particular activity; and means for removably connecting the activity button to enable selective association of the activity with a particular time of day.

2. The clock of Claim 1 wherein the clock face defines a twenty-four hour clock.

3. The clock of Claim 1 wherein the clock face defines a twelve hour clock.

4. The clock of Claim 1 wherein the hour hand is shaped as an arm and a hand.

5. The clock of Claim 1 wherein the activity button includes: a pointing indicator for indicating a particular time of day; and an indicator area for containing the representation of an activity.

6. The clock of Claim 5 further including a sticker placed in the activity area, the sticker including a pictorial representation of the particular activity.

7. A daily activity clock comprising: a clock face defining a plurality of hours in a day; an hour hand for point at a particular time of day on the clock face; and a plurality of removably connected activity buttons for selectively associating each of the plurality of activity buttons with a particular time of day, each activity button including a pointing indicator for indicating a particular time of day and indicator area for containing a pictorial representation of an activity.

8. The clock of Claim 7 wherein the clock face defines a twenty-four hour clock.

9. The clock of Claim 7 wherein the clock face defines a twelve hour clock.

10. The clock of Claim 7 wherein the hour hand is shaped as an arm and a hand.

1 1. A daily activity clock comprising: a clock face defining a twenty-four hour day; an hour hand for pointing at a particular time of day on the clock face. an activity button representing a particular activity, the activity button including a pointer for pointing to a particular time of day and an indicator area for containing a pictorial representation of the particular activity; and means for removable connecting the activity buttons to enable selective association of the particular activity with a selected time of day.

12. The clock of Claim 7 wherein the hour hand is shaped as an arm and a hand.

13. The clock of Claim 7 further including a sticker placed in the activity area, the sticker including a pictorial representation of the particular activity.