NON-NUMERICAL CLOCK

Abstract: A device for showing the time, and timing activities, comprising an electronic timepiece (1) with a time indicator and a timeplanner, in which time and associated, planned activity are indicated, the time indicator consisting of symbols which can be activated and deactivated on a signal from the timepiece. The symbols are arranged in groups (3) of symbols, each containing an hour symbol and at least one, preferably three or more, minute symbols (5), each indicating part of the time up to the next hour, each group (3) of symbols being arranged to shine in a colour distinguishing the group (3) of symbols from other groups (3) of symbols.

Description: In planning time-dependent activities for children and mentally disabled persons, a timeplanner is used, in which the activity and hours are visualized. The timeplanner may be anything from a board in a common room to a separate sheet of paper for each person. Several special timepieces are known, which are to help children and mentally disabled persons to understand time, and are to be of help to care persons in the planning of activities for the day. From patent document WO 88/00364 is known an electronic timepiece, in which a period of time is represented in a two- colour row of lights. Time passed is represented by lights in a first colour, and remaining time by a second colour. Thus, the row of lights is divided into two areas of different colours, the length of one area increasing and the length of the second area decreasing. In the same way as an hourglass, such a two-colour row of lights is not very useful in the planning of activities for the day. US 4,752,919 discloses an electronic timepiece with two digital hour indicators. The first hour indicator shows the current hour value, and the second hour indicator shows the next hour value. If the time is 11:25, the first hour indicator indicates 11 and the second hour indicator indicates 12. Between the hour indicators is placed a minute indicator, for example in the form of a row of lights, in which light spots are switched on as time passes. Even if this known timepiece can be suitable for displaying the hour, it is not suitable for planning time-dependent activities. If the time is 11:25, the row of lights may possibly help a mentally disabled person understand that the time is approximately half-way between 11 and 12 o'clock, but the timepiece does not contribute to the understanding of time- dependent activities planned for later in the day. GB 2 281 420 A discloses an electronic timepiece in which the hour is shown as a combination of shining of different colours . The instrument is suitable for providing a decorative effect for displays, buildings and other things, but it is unsuitable for helping persons who do not understand an ordinary timepiece, and who have no normal conception of time. US 5,526,327 discloses an electronic timepiece, in which shining fields of different forms are switched on and off to indicate the hour and time passing. A circular face, which is lit up gradually in concentric circles from its centre, or in which the circular face is lit up sector by sector, is an example of such surfaces. The instrument may certainly be both decorative and entertaining, but it is unsuitable for helping persons who do not understand a normal timepiece, and who are without normal perception of time. None of the known instruments are of any particular help to persons who do not understand a normal timepiece, and who are without normal perception of time. Even if known instruments have alternative ways of displaying the hour, they do not provide any basis for connecting time to activities in a way that children below a certain level of maturity, and mentally disabled persons can understand. The object of the invention is to provide a timepiece which may help children, mentally disabled persons and others see connections between time and planned activities. The object is realised through the features appearing from the following description and the subsequent Claims. A timepiece according to the invention shows the time by means of a small number of symbols, which are arranged in alternating groups, and are repeated periodically. A group of symbols may, for example, relate to an hour, the symbols belonging to a particular period/group being shown in a colour different from that of the corresponding symbols of another period/group. It is also a feature of the invention that the timepiece shows several periods at the same time, so that it will be easier to understand the connection between symbols for the current hour and a later (coming) hour. The timepiece may with advantage be used with a timeplanner, in which time-dependent activities are marked with symbols and colours corresponding to those of the timepiece. The colours may be chosen so that they imply early morning, daytime, evening and possibly night. A timepiece according to the invention distinguishes itself from known timepieces through the time indicator itself, and may be realised through known timepiece mechanisms, including electronic timepieces. Timepiece mechanisms and electronic timepieces are well-known to a person skilled in the art and are therefore not described in further detail. The invention will be described in further detail in the following, by means of an exemplary embodiment, and reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a time indicator for an electronic timepiece; Fig. 2 shows a card with symbols for time-dependent activities ; Fig. 3 shows a wristwatch. In Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 identifies an electronic timepiece with a row 2 of symbols with shining symbols arranged to be switched on an off on a signal from the electronic timepiece 1. The row 2 of symbols is divided into twelve groups 3 of symbols, each representing an hour and being identified by an hour symbol 4. The first hour symbol 4 is a triangle, the second hour symbol 4 is a rectangle, and the third hour symbol 4 is a circle. The fourth, fifth and sixth hour symbols 4 are also a triangle, a rectangle and a circle, respectively, but in colours different from those of the first, second and third hour symbols. Between each hour symbol, the row 2 of symbols is provided with three minute symbols 5, which can be switched on and off on a signal from the clock 1. Each minute symbol 5 indicates fifteen minutes of time passed. The minute symbols 5 are preferably shown in the same colour as the hour symbol 4 , to which they belong. The pattern is repeated periodically in colours differing, for example, every three hours. This means that a first group comprising the first three hour symbols with associated minute symbols are shown in a first colour. The symbols of a second group comprising the next three hour symbols with associated minute symbols, may have the same shapes as the symbols of the first group, but in a different colour. The hour can be indicated in that only symbols of the group 3 of symbols that concerns the current hour, is shining. The hour can also be indicated by the symbols being switched on successively, so that an increasing part of row 2 of symbols is shining. A night symbol 6 is switched on to indicate night. The row 2 of symbols may optionally be active also at night, together with the night symbol 6. The timepiece 1 may be provided with a circular sector symbol 17 as described below. The timepiece 1 may further be provided with numerical symbols 7 to indicate the time as in a common digital timepiece. The numerical symbols 7 are primarily of help to care persons, but may also have an educational effect and help some users learn to understand a digital timepiece. The timepiece 1 is provided, in a known manner, with operating means not shown, in order to allow setting to correct time. By means of only three different hour symbols 4 and four colours, the timepiece 1 may unambiguously indicate one out of twelve hours. By means of three minute symbols 5 arranged to each hour symbol, a time resolution of fifteen minutes is achieved, which is sufficient for most purposes. The display may contain a further sector symbol 17 formed by a circular hour symbol, divided into three sectors, each arranged to be filled gradually with colour or hatching. Each sector represents part of the time between two symbols 4,5. With fifteen minutes between each symbol 4,5 and three sectors, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the first sector is filled gradually during the first five minutes after an hour symbol 4 was switched on. A second and a third sector are then filled successively. As the next symbol 4,5 is switched on, all the sectors are cleared, and the process is repeated. In Fig. 1 the numerical symbol 7 indicates that the time is twenty minutes past twelve. Based on the fact that the first hour symbol 4 in the row 2 of symbols has been assigned the hour value 7, active (shining) symbols 8 and 17 also indicate the same time, namely twenty minutes past twelve. The timepiece 1 may with advantage hang on a wall in the home and/or in an institution, and be used together with a timeplanner which shows activities planned and the relevant hour. The timeplanner may be a board placed on the wall in an institution. Each user may also have his/her own book or one or more cards 9, see Fig. 2, in which activities are specified with activity symbols 11 and possible writing, and are timed by a coloured symbol, which can also be found on the timepiece 1. An hour symbol 4 alone indicates the full hour. A minute symbol 5 in addition to the hour symbol 4 indicates fifteen minutes past the full hour, two minute symbols 5 indicates thirty minutes past the full hour and three light spots 5 indicates forty-five minutes past the full hour. In addition the hour 12 may with advantage be indicated in numbers, to help care persons. This may also have an educational effect on some users. The card 9, which is shown in Fig. 2, is made with figures for the hour 12, fifteen minutes past twelve, and a circular hour symbol and a minute symbol of the same colour as the shining and active symbol 8 on the timepiece 1. Within the scope of the invention, the timepiece 1 in Fig. 1 may be embodied in several ways, both as regards size and configuration. The symbols may for example be placed along the periphery of a circular dial, and the size of the timepiece may be such that it may be carried as a wristwatch. A preferred embodiment of a wristwatch 13 is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the wristwatch 13 is provided with a display 14 arranged to display several graphic symbols. A symbol field 15 contains twelve groups 3 of symbols corresponding to those of the timepiece in Fig. 1, but where the groups 3 of symbols are arranged in four rows , each with three groups 3 of symbols . A group 3 of symbols thus consists of an hour symbol 4 and three minute symbols 5. Like the timepiece in Fig. 1, the display 14 also contains numerical symbols 7 for the hour, and a night symbol 6. NON-NUMERICAL CLOCK The invention relates to a device for indicating time and timing activities, especially for persons who do not understand a normal timepiece. Normally developed children learn to read a normal timepiece, and to time activities, when they are between six and eight years old, whereas others never learn how to read a timepiece and understand time. Means have been developed to help children and others to understand time, read a timepiece and time activities. Some means have pedagogic purposes, whereas others are meant to help persons who are not able to learn how to read a timepiece, or who have difficulties in understanding time. Known means for indicating time may roughly be divided into two types, namely a first type indicating the hour, and a second type indicating how much time has passed and/or how much time is left of a predetermined period of time. Some devices fall under both types. C L A I M S 1. A device for displaying time and timing activities, comprising an electronic timepiece (1) with a time indicator, and a timeplanner, in which time and associated, planned activity are stated, the time indicator consisting of symbols, which can be activated and deactivated on a signal from the timepiece, c h ar a c t e r i z e d i n that the symbols are arranged in groups (3) of symbols, each containing a time symbol and at least one, preferably three or more, minute symbols (5), each indicating part of the time until the next hour, each group (3) of symbols being arranged to shine in a colour distinguishing the group (3) of symbols from other groups ( 3 ) of symbols . 2. A device according to claim 1, c h ar ac ter i z e d in that hour symbols ( 4 ) are repeated once for each colour. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r ac te r i z ed i that the timeplanner exhibits a symbol (11) for a planned activity together with a time symbol (10) which may be recognized on the timepiece (1), and constitutes an entire, or part of a group of the groups (3) of symbols on the timepiece ( 1 ) . 4. A device according to claim 3, c har ac ter i z ed i n that the timeplanner comprises a card (9) for each activity.

Claims: Ordinary timepieces with dials and hands indicate the time by means of the positions of the hands. Even if it is common for the dial to be provided with signs and numerals for hour, these are strictly speaking not necessary for a person who has learnt how to read a timepiece. Timepieces may relatively easily be used to visualize periods of time, time passed and time left, without this having to be related to specific points of time. Thus, timepieces with hands and dials belong to both of the types mentioned. 0 Digital timepieces indicate the time by means of numbersymbols, whose value changes over time. Digital timepieces belong to the first of the two types mentioned, and alone they do not provide any basis for understanding periods of time, time passed and time left. Digital s timepieces require that the user understands figures and preferably can do calculations with numerical systems with the basic figures ten, twelve, twenty-four and sixty. It is reasonable to believe that the use of digital timepieces requires a greater degree of maturity than timepieces with o hands and dials do. The hourglass, in which finely ground sand or corresponding matter runs from an upper into a lower transparent container through a transparent channel, is a simple and well-known instrument, which belongs to the second of the two types 5 mentioned. An hourglass indicates the relationship between time passed and time left of a period. The running sand visualizes moreover that time changes. An approximately corresponding effect is achieved by means of a second hand in a timepiece with hands and a dial. In digital timepieces a o similar effect is achieved by introducing second figures. It is also known to have an indicator flashing once per second.

Inventors: SLINNING TOR, SLINNING, TOR
Applicants: SLINNING TOR, SLINNING, TOR
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G04C19
IPC codes: G04G9