Timer and display device

• US 20060050616A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Brock
• Original Assignee: Steve Brock
• Inventors: Brock, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 45/0076 Decoration of the case and of parts thereof, e.g. as a method of manufacture thereof specially shaped G04B45/0061, G04B45/0069; decoration with inscriptions and pictures G04B45/0084; construction of the hands G04B19/042; decoration by adding extra pieces to the clockwork G04B47/04; colouring by treatment of the surface, e.g. by oxidation C25D

Abstract

A display device for displaying an event and method for monitoring and displaying a time interval related to a non-displayed past event and/or a non-displayed future event. A displayed event of a person or event is displayed on a support member, such as a frame or plaque. A timer is provided to calculate an accumulating time interval and/or a reducing time interval. The accumulating time interval measures the current elapsed time from a non-displayed past event. The reducing time interval measures the time remaining from a current time to a non-displayed future event. The time intervals are displayed on a timer display that is disposed adjacent the displayed event to remind an observer of the time to a non-displayed future event and/or of the time from a non-displayed past event.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

(a) a displayed event;

(b) a timer being programmable to calculate an accumulating time interval and/or a reducing time interval, said accumulating time interval measures an increase in time from a non-displayed past event to current time, said reducing time interval measures a decrease in time from current time to a non-displayed future event;

(c) a timer display to display said accumulating time interval and/or said reducing time interval; and

(d) a support member for supporting said timer display adjacent said displayed event.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein said support member is a picture frame.

3. The display device of claim 1 wherein said displayed event is displayed via a video monitor.

4. The display device of claim 1 wherein said support member is disposed adjacent a second support member to resemble an interlockable puzzle piece.

5. The display device of claim 4 wherein said support member is capable of interlocking with another puzzle piece shaped device.

6. The display device of claim 1 wherein the non-displayed past event is a date of birth.

7. The display device of claim 1 wherein the non-displayed future event is the date of an eighteenth birthday.

8. A display device comprising:

(a) a displayed past event;

(b) a timer being programmable to calculate an accumulating time interval and a reducing time interval, said accumulating time interval measures an increase in time from a non-displayed past event to current time, said reducing time interval measures a decrease in time from current time to a non-displayed future event;

(c) a timer display to display said accumulating time interval and said reducing time interval; and

(d) a support member for supporting said timer display adjacent said displayed event.

9. The display device of claim 8 wherein said support member is a picture frame.

10. The display device of claim 8 wherein said displayed event is displayed via a video monitor.

11. The display device of claim 8 wherein said support member is shaped like a puzzle piece.

12. The display device of claim 11 wherein said support member is disposed adjacent a second support member to resemble an interlockable puzzle piece.

13. The display device of claim 8 wherein the non-displayed past event is a date of birth.

14. The display device of claim 8 wherein the non-displayed future event is the date of an eighteenth birthday.

15-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method of measuring and monitoring time intervals related to a non-displayed past event and a non-displayed future event comprising the steps of:

displaying an event;

inputting a first date corresponding to a non-displayed past event;

inputting a second date corresponding to a present time;

calculating a third date corresponding to the non-displayed future event;

calculating the time interval from the non-displayed past event to said present time;

calculating the time interval remaining from the present time to the non-displayed future event; and

concurrently displaying the calculated time interval from the non-displayed past event to said present time and the calculated time interval remaining from the present time to the non-displayed future event with the displayed event.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of displaying an event is performed in a picture frame.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said picture frame is shaped like a puzzle piece.

25. A method of measuring and monitoring a time interval related to a non-displayed past event comprising the steps of:

displaying an event;

inputting a first date corresponding to a non-displayed past event;

inputting a second date corresponding to a present time;

calculating the time interval from the non-displayed past event to said present time; and

displaying the calculated time interval from the non-displayed past event to said present time with the displayed event.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of displaying an event is performed in a picture frame.

27. A method of measuring and monitoring a time interval related to a non-displayed future event comprising the steps of:

displaying an event;

inputting a first date corresponding to a non-displayed future event;

inputting a second date corresponding to a present time;

calculating the time interval from the non-displayed future event to said present time; and

displaying the calculated time interval from the non-displayed future event to said present time with the displayed event.