Method of improving the function of an hour-glass

• US 20030007423A1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terry Keith Bryant
• Original Assignee: Terry Keith Bryant
• Inventors: Bryant, Terry Keith
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/93
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/06 by flowing-away of a prefixed quantity of fine-granular or liquid materials, e.g. sand-glass, water-clock

Abstract

The method of dramatically speeding up the time it takes for sand, mercury, or water, or other like substances to flow from the upper compartment to the lower compartment of an hour-glass, usually in an hour, but not specifically required in this method, entails the use of a premolded flexible clear polymer, or any component similar, with the same flexibility properties, molded in the basic shape of an hour-glass, in which one can open the flow canal, which is a small hole located in the center of the hour-glass, through the application of pressure directly to the the above said flexible premolded polymer shape. The process of flexing this premolded form will permit the sand to run between the upper and lower compartments of the hour-glass, allowing the above said components to run through a wider and larger area, from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. Thus, making the hour-glass work more efficiently. When in use the flow canal of the hour-glass will stay in the closed position allowing the flow canal to continue to function for measuring the desired time. By pressing on the sides of the premolded shaped hour-glass, made of the flexible material as described herewithin, one can save the time normally involved in waiting for the sand or other substances to fill the lower compartment, as the flow canal will open, allowing those the sand or other substances to flow freely. Thus, by pressing the sides of the above said flexible premolded form, the size of the original flow canal will substantially increase, allowing the lower compartment to be quickly filled and one can begin using the hour-glass immediately, as the hour-glass will return to its original shape when released. Thus, creating the ability for immediate use when using this new improved hour-glass when measuring time; for games, cooking or other endeavors.

Claims

1. A method of dramatically improving the speed in which hour-glass works comprising of the step of:

providing a clear flexible polymer or similar material pre-formed in the shape of an hour-glass which can dramatically increase the time in which the sand or like material can run through the flow canal of the hour-glass in order to fill the desired compartment and allow the user to begin using the hour-glass without having to wait;

applying pressure on the sides of the flexible shape and thus opening the flow canal allowing the sand or like material to pass freely and fill the desired compartment of the hour-glass;

releasing the pressure on the sides of the flexible shape and thus allowing the flow canal and the hour-glass to return to it'"'"'s original shape.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising of pressing on the sides to allow the sand or similar material appropriate for use to run quickly run through the upper compartment of the hour-glass into the lower compartment of the hour-glass.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising of forming an basic or similar shape of an hour-glass comprising of using a flexible clear polymer or substance or similar likeness that has flexibility properties which will allow the basic shape of the hour-glass to flex when pressure is applied to the of appropriate areas;

thus allowing the flow canal located between the upper and lower compartments in which the sand or similar material runs through to open thus well allowing the immediate ability to fill the desired compartment of the hour-glass with the sand or like material;

directly interposing said flexible areas when being pressed will open the flow canal increasing the amount of sand or any appropriate material that can be used in an hour-glass to run freely between the two chambers or compartments of the hour-glass itself.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising of the flexibility of the hour-glass shape when released to return to it'"'"'s original form allowing an immediate use of the hour-glass without delay.