Toy travel clock

• US 20030082993A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William H. Peters
• Original Assignee: William H. Peters
• Inventors: Peters, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/057,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/484
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/12 Clock-reading

Abstract

The present invention is a toy travel clock that comprises: an input device configured to accept an estimated time of travel between a starting location and a destination; a distance travel calculator configured to compute an estimated distance traveled; and an output device configured to display an indication of the estimated distance traveled. The toy travel clock graphically displays the starting location, the destination, a hypothetical route connecting the starting location to the destination, and the indication of the distance traveled along the hypothetical route.

Claims

1. A toy travel clock comprising:

an input device configured to accept an estimated time of travel between a starting location and a destination;

a distance travel calculator configured to compute an estimated distance traveled; and

an output device configured to display an indication of the estimated distance traveled.

2. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, wherein the output device is configured to graphically display the starting location, the destination, a hypothetical route connecting the starting location to the destination, and the indication of the distance traveled along the hypothetical route.

3. The toy travel clock recited in claim 2, wherein the input device is configured to accept a mode of transportation and the output device is configured to display a graphical representation of the mode of transportation as the indication of the distance traveled.

4. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, wherein the estimated distance traveled is computed by calculating a time traveled by determining a difference between a start time and a current time, and dividing the time traveled by the estimated time of travel between the starting location and the destination to determine a fraction of time traveled that is equal to the estimated distance traveled.

5. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, further comprising a storage module that stores at least one known destination having an associated known total distance and wherein the input device is configured to accept a respective known destination.

6. The toy travel clock recited in claim 5, wherein the known destination is associated with a stored known estimated time of travel between the known starting location and the known destination.

7. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, further comprising a clock display indicating a current time.

8. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, wherein the travel clock is a stand-alone device.

9. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, wherein the travel clock is coupled to a gaming device display.

10. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, wherein the travel clock is coupled to a navigation system display.

11. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, wherein the travel clock is coupled to a video tape player display.

12. The toy travel clock recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio output device.

13. The toy travel clock recited in claim 12, wherein the audio output device outputs preprogrammed stories at designated times based on the estimated time of travel between the starting location and the destination.

14. A method of using a toy travel clock, the method comprising:

a) accepting an estimated time of travel from a starting location to a destination;

b) determining a hypothetical route from the starting location to the destination;

c) graphically displaying the starting location, the destination and the hypothetical route connecting the starting location to the destination;

d) calculating a current position along the hypothetical route; and

e) displaying a graphical symbol representative of a vehicle at the current position along the hypothetical route.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein step (a) comprises:

accepting a selection of a known location that has an associated stored estimated time of travel from the starting location to the destination.

16. The method recited in claim 14, wherein step (a) comprises:

i) accepting a known location that has an associated stored distance from the starting location to the destination;

ii) accepting an estimated speed of travel; and

iii) calculating the estimated time of travel by dividing the associated stored distance from the starting location to the destination by the estimated speed of travel.

17. The method recited in claim 14, wherein step (d) comprises calculating the current position along the hypothetical route by:

i) calculating a difference between a start time and a current time; and

ii) dividing a time traveled by the estimated time of travel between the starting location and the destination to determine a fraction of time traveled that is equal to the estimated distance traveled.

18. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising accepting a mode of transportation, and wherein step (e) comprises displaying a graphical symbol of a vehicle representative of the mode of transportation at the current position along the hypothetical route.