Abstract:
A children&#39;s timer device for assisting children in determining the difference between waking time and sleeping time is provided. The device comprises a housing having a viewing opening and a viewing cylinder rotatably mounted within the housing. The viewing cylinder has at least a first scenic image and a second scenic image with each scenic image alternatingly viewable through the viewing opening in the housing. A clock mechanism sets a predetermined time period for viewing at least the first scenic image wherein upon rotation of the viewing cylinder to display only the first scenic image through the viewing opening, the entire first scenic image remains viewable through the viewing opening for the duration of the predetermined time period such that upon expiration of the predetermined time period, the viewing cylinder begins rotation and rotates until only the second scenic image is viewable through the viewing opening.

Description:
The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Serial No. 60/103,348, filed on Oct. 7, 1998, entitled “Children&#39;s Clock Device for Indicating Waking Time and Sleeping Time”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a timer device for children and, more particularly, it relates to a children&#39;s timer device for indicating waking time and sleeping time in an easy and understandable manner. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As a child grows, the child begins to learn that there is a certain time in the morning that he or she should be rising from bed which is generally at the same time or after the time the parents arise. Any time before the rising time, the child learns that he or she should remain in bed until the appropriate time. Unfortunately, depending on the time of year, the child&#39;s rising time may or may not coincide with the rising of the sun which only serves to confuse the child. 
     In the past, many different types of clocks have been invented for a user to determine the time of day or night. Prior art clocks, however, generally do not provide any direct information to an observer, especially a child, as to whether it is daylight (rise time) or nighttime (sleep time). A young child is not able to observe a typical prior art clock to quickly determine whether it is time to get up or time to remain in bed. 
     There have been unsuccessful attempts in the prior art to have a simple clock device for assisting the child or others. The Cash, U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,002, describes a clock having a housing which contains two internal disks and a motor for rotation of those disks on a shaft. An hour disk is provided having a shaded region representing night and an unshaded region representing day. The clock of the Cash patent merely indicates the hour of the day by pointing to a number on the disk face, and also graphically represents the amount of time from and to the previous and next sunrise or sunset. Due to the complexity of the clock and the multitude of moving numbers, nothing in the Cash patent&#39;s clock assists a small child in determining whether it is time to rise or time to remain in bed. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a children&#39;s timer device which assists a child in easily determining whether it is time to rise or time to remain in bed. Additionally, a need exists for a children&#39;s timer device which indicates waking time and sleeping time in an easy and understandable manner. Furthermore, there exists a need for a children&#39;s timer device which helps parents get a complete night&#39;s sleep by teaching the child to remain in his or her room until an appropriate time. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a children&#39;s timer device for assisting children in determining the difference between waking time and sleeping time. The device comprises a housing having a viewing opening and a viewing cylinder rotatably mounted within the housing. The viewing cylinder has at least a first scenic image and a second scenic image with each scenic image alternatingly viewable through the viewing opening in the housing. Clock means are provided for setting a predetermined time period for viewing at least the first scenic image wherein upon rotation of the viewing cylinder to display only the first scenic image through the viewing opening, the entire first scenic image remains viewable through the viewing opening for the duration of the predetermined time period such that upon expiration of the predetermined time period, the viewing cylinder begins rotation and rotates until only the second scenic image is viewable through the viewing opening. 
     The present invention further includes a method for assisting children in determining the difference between waking time and sleeping time. The method comprises providing a housing, forming a viewing opening in the housing, providing a viewing cylinder having at least a first scenic image and a second scenic image, rotatably mounting the viewing cylinder within the housing such that each scenic image is alternatingly viewable through the opening in the housing, rotatably positioning the viewing cylinder until only the first scenic image is viewable through the opening, providing clock means for setting a predetermined time period for viewing the first scenic image, and automatically rotating the viewing cylinder to display only the second scenic image upon expiration of the predetermined time period upon expiration of the predetermined time period. 
     The present invention still further includes a timer device. The timer device comprises a substantially cylindrical enclosure having a closed end, an open end, and a substantially circular side wall. A viewing opening is formed in the side wall between the closed end and the open end. A viewing cylinder is rotatably mounted within the enclosure with the viewing cylinder having at least a first scenic image and a second scenic image and each scenic image alternatingly viewable through the viewing opening in the enclosure. A base plate is releasably secured to the open end of the enclosure, the base plate positionable on a surface. Clock means are mounted on the base plate for setting a predetermined time period for viewing at least the first scenic image such that the entire first scenic image remains viewable through the viewing opening for only the duration of the predetermined time period whereupon the viewing cylinder rotates until only the second scenic image is viewable through the viewing opening. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate complete preferred embodiments of the present invention according to the best modes presently devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a children&#39;s timer device for indicating waking time and sleeping time constructed in accordance with the present invention which indicates to a child that it is time to rise; 
     FIG. 2 is another side view illustrating the children&#39;s timer device for indicating waking time and sleeping time constructed in accordance with the present invention which indicates to a child that it is time to remain in bed; 
     FIG. 3 is bottom view illustrating a base for the children&#39;s timer device for indicating waking time and sleeping time constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A—A in FIG. 3 illustrating the children&#39;s timer device for indicating waking time and sleeping time constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a children&#39;s timer device, indicated generally at  10 , for indicating waking time (see FIG. 1) and sleeping time (see FIG.  2 ). The timer device  10  of the present invention is designed and shaped to be positioned on a positioning surface (not shown), such as a shelf, dresser, or bedside table, for viewing by a young child from his or her bed (not shown) such that the child can easily view the timer device  10  to determine if he or she should remain in bed or if it is time to get out of bed, as will be described further below. 
     The timer device  10 , as illustrated in FIG. 1, has a base plate  14  having a top surface  16  and a bottom surface  18  and a substantially cylindrical housing  18  having an wall  20 , an open end  22 , and a closed end  24 . The open end  22  of the housing  18  is preferably releasably mounted to the top surface  14  of the base plate  12  by a plurality of threaded screws  26  or the like, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The plurality of screws  26  extend completely through the base plate  12  from the bottom surface  16  to the top surface  14  and into the wall  20  of the housing  18  to accomplish the releasable mounting of the open end  22  of the housing  18  to the top surface  14  of the base plate  12 . While the housing  18  has been described as being releasably secured to the top surface  14  of the base plate  12  by a plurality of screws  26 , it is within the scope of the invention to releasably mount the open end  22  of the housing  18  to the top surface  14  the base plate  12  with other types of fastening mechanisms including, but not limited to, nuts and bolts, etc. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the timer device  10  preferably has a plurality of resilient bumpers  28  mounted on the bottom surface  16  of the base plate  12 . The resilient bumpers  28  tend to inhibit the bottom surface  16  of the base plate  12  of timer device  10  from sliding on or scarring the shelf, dresser, or bedside table on which the timer device  10  is positioned. Furthermore, the resilient bumpers  28  position the bottom surface  16  above the positioning surface to protect a clock timing mechanism  30 , as described further below. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, the timer device  10  of the present invention further includes a substantially translucent viewing cylinder  32  rotatable within the housing  18  powered by a motor  34  in front of a light source  36 . The motor  34  can be either a DC motor powered by a battery (not shown) or a plurality of batteries (not shown) or an AC motor powered by a standard electrical wall outlet (not shown). While the timer device  10  of the present invention has been described as being powered by a DC motor or an AC motor, it is within the scope of the present invention to power the timer device  10  by other means including, but not limited to, solar powered motors, etc. 
     The viewing cylinder  32  preferably has at least one graphic illustration of a daytime scene  38 , as illustrated in FIG. 1, and at least one graphic illustration of a nighttime scene  40 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . As the viewing cylinder  32  rotates in front of the light source  36 , the light source  36  illuminates either the daytime scene  38  on the viewing cylinder  32  or the nighttime scene  40  on the viewing cylinder  32  depending on the rotational position of the viewing cylinder  32  in the housing  18 . Preferably, the light source  36  is a standard low-watt light bulb powered by the same power source as the motor  34 , although other types of light sources are within the scope of the present invention. 
     In addition to the graphic illustrations, i.e., the daytime scene  38  and the nighttime scene  40 , on the viewing cylinder  32 , the daytime scene  38  and the nighttime scene  40  can be specially colored to further aid the child in determining wake/sleep time. For instance, the daytime scene  38  can be illuminated with a red background and the nighttime scene  40  can be illuminated with a blue background. This can be accomplished with a translucent screen (not shown) with these colors coated on the translucent screen or the colors can be coated directly on the viewing cylinder. The colored daytime scene  38  and the nighttime scene  40  serves as a varied colored nightlight and, more importantly, as an immediate wake/sleep time indicator, especially when viewed from across a room. With the colored scenes, the child need not understand numbers, hands of a clock, or hands pointing to one of potentially twelve pictures associated with the numbers. Recognition by the child is immediate and simple by means of color for either the daytime scene  38  or the nighttime scene  40 . 
     The housing  18  of the timer device  10  includes an open viewing aperture  18  formed in the housing  18  with the viewing cylinder  32  rotating between the light source  36  and the viewing aperture  42 . The viewing aperture  32  is sized and shaped for viewing the daytime scene  38  on the viewing cylinder  32  and the nighttime scene  40  on the viewing cylinder  32  by the child or others. A transparent glass or plastic barrier window can be preferably positioned within the viewing aperture  42  to inhibit young children from reaching through the viewing aperture  42  to touch the viewing cylinder  32 . Actual operation of the timer device  10  of the present invention will be described in further detail below. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, the timer device  10  further includes a stationary opaque back plate  44  securely positioned behind the light source  36  opposite the viewing cylinder  32 . The back plate  44  is preferably mounted to the base plate  44  within the housing  18  and inhibits a child or other from viewing the internal workings, i.e., the motor  34 , etc., of the timer device  10  through the viewing aperture  42  and the viewing cylinder  32 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, the timer device  10  also includes the clock timing mechanism  30 , as briefly mentioned above, mounted to the base plate  12  and electrically connected to the viewing cylinder  32 . The clock timing mechanism  30  has a display  46  for displaying the amount of time programmed by the parents or guardians, and a plurality of depressible buttons  48  for setting the clock timing mechanism  30  for the amount of time the nighttime scene  40  of the viewing cylinder  32  will be displayed through the viewing aperture  42  of the housing  18 . The clock timing mechanism  30  is programmable to set the amount of time the nighttime scene  40  is displayed, as will be described further below, before rotating back to display the daytime scene  38  on the viewing cylinder  32  through the viewing aperture  42  of the housing  18 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, the timer device  10  of the present invention further includes a first depressible button or switch  50  for powering the motor  34  and a second depressible button or switch  52  for starting the clock timing device  30  and rotating the viewing cylinder  32  to display the nighttime scene  40 . It should be noted that while the timer device  10  of the present invention has been described as having a first and second depressible button  50  and  52 , other embodiments, including having only one button for starting the motor  34  and starting the clock timing device  10  are within the scope of the present invention. 
     The operation of the timer device  10  of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. In operation of the timer device  10  of the present invention, the parents or guardians of the child first determine the amount of time for which the nighttime scene  40  on the viewing cylinder  32  will be displayed and for which the child should remain in bed. The parents or guardians can then program the clock timing mechanism  30  for the determined amount of time for which the nighttime scene  40  will be displayed. For instance, if the parents or guardians determine that the child should remain in bed for ten (10) hours during the night, then the parents or guardians program the clock timing mechanism  30  to display the nighttime scene  40  for ten (10) hours. The parents or guardians then depress the first button  50  to power the motor  34 . Next, the parents or guardians depress the second button  52  to begin the clock timing mechanism  30  and rotate the viewing cylinder  32  to display the nighttime scene  40 . At the end of the ten (10) hours, the viewing cylinder  32  will rotate to display the daytime scene  38  through the viewing aperture  42  in the housing  18  thereby indicating to the child that he or she is permitted to rise. 
     Furthermore, while the timer device  10  has been described as being set by depressible buttons  50 ,  52  and powered by a motor  34 , it is within the scope of the present invention to set and power the timer device  10  by a variety of means including, but not limited to, a wind-up mechanism with key or knob to set the wind-up mechanism, digital programming, alphanumeric key pads, etc. 
     It should be noted that the inventor of the present application understands that depending on the time the child is put to bed, the amount of time for which the child should remain in bed may differ from night to night. Therefore, the clock timing mechanism  30  of the timer device  10  of the present invention is easily programmable to allow for the parents or guardians to change or adjust the amount of time for which the nighttime scene  40  will be displayed through the viewing aperture  42  and for which the child should remain in bed or for teaching the child to remain in their bedroom without waking others. 
     The timer device  10  of the present invention is a novel and useful invention for teaching children about when to rise from their beds in the morning. Except during a brief rotation period from the nighttime scene  40  to the daytime scene  38  at the time of the child&#39;s appropriate rising time, only the nighttime scene  40  on the viewing cylinder  32  is illuminated. This inhibits the child&#39;s confusion which could occur when a part of both the daytime scene  38  and the nighttime scene  40  are illuminated. Furthermore, the timer device  10  of the present invention such that the timer device  10  can be used as a night light for comforting children in the dark. 
     The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.