Interval timer

• US 5,253,228 A
• Filed: 02/10/1992
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Truett, Brett B.
• Original Assignee: Truett, Brett B.
• Inventors: Truett, Brett B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/833,554
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 368/76, 368/79, 368/82-84, 368/223-232, 368/239-242
• US Class Current: 368/82
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/00 Structural details; Housings constructional details of radio-controlled time-pieces, e.g. antennas G04R60/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/04 by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes G04G9/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09018 Rigid curved substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10689 Leaded Integrated Circuit [IC] package, e.g. dual-in-line [DIL]

Abstract

An electronic interval timer in which a cylindrical shell having five rows of LEDs mounted at spaced intervals from top to bottom, formed every 72° about the circumference simulates an hourglass timer. Timer and control circuits are connected to select a desired time interval and to illuminate the LEDs and turn off successive rings in proportion to the time remaining in the selected interval at any given time after actuation. An audible buzzer is also provided as are interrupt and reset capabilities.

Claims

1. An interval timer for indicating passage of a preselected time period for use in timing activities to be accomplished within a designated interval which comprises:

a cylindrical outer housing having a plurality of vertical rows of spaced apart small holes, and a top and bottom;

a cylindrical inner housing sized to fit within said outer housing;

a thin flexible printed circuit board adapted to be rolled into a cylinder to fit between said inner and outer housing;

a plurality of rows of spaced apart LED'"'"'s mounted on said thin flexible PCB to correspond to said holes in said outer housing so that they will project through said holes when assembled between said inner and outer housings; and

said printed circuit board being rolled into a cylinder and positioned inside said outer housing with said LED'"'"'s extending through said holes and said cylindrical inner housing being positioned within said cylindrical printed circuit board to secure it within said outer housing;

circuit and control means mounted in said inner housing and operatively connected to said thin flexible PCB for generating a selected time interval and actuating sequentially selected LEDs in said plurality of rows of LEDs;

so as to visually indicate the time remaining in a selected time interval upon actuation of the timer.

2. An interval timer according to claim 1 wherein said rows of spaced apart small holes are all equally spaced from top to bottom to form "rings" of holes positioned about said outer housing from top to bottom so that by turning on all LEDs in said holes and sequentially turning off the top ring of LEDs in proportion to the time remaining in a selected time interval a visual representation of the time remaining in the interval is presented.

3. An interval timer according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of vertical rows of holes and LEDs comprises five rows of 15 holes and LEDs each, equally spaced about the circumference of said outer housing.

4. An interval timer according to claim 1 including voice signal means for audibly indicating passage of selected time intervals.

5. An interval timer for indicating passage of a preselected time period for use in timing activities to be accomplished within a designated interval which comprises:

a body member, comprising a vertical, outer housing, and having an external surface and an internal space for operating components for a timer;

a plurality of indicator means for indicating the percentage of elapsed time in a preselected time interval comprising at least three vertical rows of spaced apart visual annunciators evenly positioned about a perimeter of said housing so as to be visible through an angle of at least 180°

;

electronic circuit means for actuating selected visual annunciators in said plurality of indicator means in a desired sequence;

control means for turning said electronic circuit means on and off and for selecting a predetermined sequence of actuation; and

interval selector means connected to said electronic circuit means for establishing said preselected time interval.

6. An interval timer according to claim 5 including sound annunciator means operatively connected to said interval timer for auidbly indicating time in the selected interval.

7. An interval timer according to claim 5 wherein said vertical outer cylindrical housing has at least three vertical rows of spaced apertures corresponding to said vertical rows of visual annunciators;

an inner cylindrical PCB having a plurality of visual annunciators thereon, positioned to project through said apertures when said PCB is mounted inside said cylindrical housing;

circuit means for sequentially interconnecting certain of said visual annunciators on said cylindrical PCB;

an inner cylindrical housing sized to hold said cylindrical PCB in position in said cylindrical housing when inserted therein;

top and bottom members for closing said cylindrical outer housing;

microprocessor means mounted within said inner cylindrical housing and operatively connected to said visual annunciators; and

battery means mounted within said inner housing for operating the interval timer.

8. An interval timer according to claim 5 wherein said electronic circuit means comprises:

switching means operatively connected to said vertical rows of visual annunciators for progressively actuating individual annunciators of each row at intervals proportional to the elapsed time of the selected time interval;

so that the time remaining in a selected interval is visually displayed in graphic form.

9. An interval timer according to claim 8 wherein said rows of visual annunciators comprise a series of lights positioned one on top of the other at spaced intervals;

and said electronic circuit means includes means for sequentially turning on and off each light in each row in a top to bottom sweep upon initial turning on of the interval timer and then upon starting of the timing cycle, turning on all the lights and progressively turning off the top "ring" of lights around the body member at intervals proportional to the time remaining until all the lights are extinguished indicating expiration of a selected time interval.

10. An interval timer according to claim 7 wherein said cylindrical PCB comprises:

a thin, flexible, printed circuit board member;

a plurality of electrical conductor runs formed on a first side of said printed circuit board member;

a plurality of electrical conductor members formed on a second side of said flexible printed circuit board member;

said plurality of visual annunciator elements being mounted on said first side of said board member and connected to selected conductor runs on said first side;

so that when said board is rolled into a cylinder it will fit inside said cylindrical outer housing in operative relation therewith with said visual annunciators visible through said apertures.