Abstract:
A method and system for assisting memory includes first and second rings for encircling a human finger and a ring holder having a first end and a second end connectable to form a closed loop, wherein the rings are threaded onto the ring holder and wherein the first end and the second end are separable from each other for removing at least one of the rings. A method of assisting memory includes determining a task to be remembered, selecting a ring, opening the ring holder, removing a selected ring from the ring holder, closing the ring holder, placing the selected ring on a finger, and viewing the selected ring on the finger for remembering the task. A packaged memory assisting system includes the rings and ring holder and a card, the card having a first slot, the ring holder threaded through the first slot, wherein the ring holder is closed for preventing the rings from falling off the ring holder.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates generally to a memory assisting device. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and a system of using a wearable memory assisting device. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Remembering important tasks throughout the day can be a challenge when so many other daily events are taking place. The practice of providing one self with a memory assisting device can sometimes alleviate the need to actually remember what needs to be done. 
   One method of assisting memory which may have been used in the past was to tie a string around one&#39;s finger. While visible throughout the day, the ability to tie a string around one&#39;s own finger is virtually impossible and requires the assistance of a second person. Also, providing such a string requires the user to first find a string and cut it to the appropriate length. String, typically made of cloth fibers, can also get quite dirty during the day and wet and soggy when hands are washed. Furthermore, because the string needs to be tied, such a string can be bulky and chaffing. Thus, tying a string around one&#39;s finger has some considerable disadvantages. 
   The practice of making a list on a piece of paper can be helpful to some. The paper list, however, must be placed somewhere where it will not be lost, such as a pocket. When hidden in a pocket, the user may forget to consult the list, and therefore its use as a memory assisting device is negated. Such paper lists may also be easily torn and ruined, and not usable day after day. Some people may find the use of a handheld computerized organizer helpful. While more durable and versatile than a paper list, such organizers can be very expensive and again the user must remember to consult the organizer at critical times in order for the organizer to be of value in memory assistance. If lost, all of the user&#39;s personal information is gone and available to the person who locates the organizer, which can create a potentially dangerous situation. Thus, paper lists and computerized organizers have their own set of disadvantages when it comes to memory assistance. 
   SUMMARY 
   The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by a memory assisting system including a first ring for encircling a human finger, a second ring for encircling a human finger, and a ring holder having a first end and a second end connectable to form a closed loop, wherein the first ring and the second ring are threaded onto the ring holder and wherein the first end and the second end are separable from each other for removing at least one of the first ring and second ring. 
   The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are also overcome or alleviated by a method of assisting memory including providing a memory assisting device having a ring holder and a plurality of rings, determining a task to be remembered, selecting a ring from the plurality of rings, opening the ring holder, removing a selected ring from the ring holder, closing the ring holder, placing the selected ring on a finger, and viewing the selected ring on the finger for remembering the task. 
   The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are also overcome or alleviated by a packaged memory assisting system including a plurality of rings sized for encircling a human finger, an openable and closable ring holder, the plurality of rings threaded onto the ring holder, and a card, the card having a first slot, the ring holder threaded through the first slot, wherein the ring holder is closed for preventing the rings from falling off the ring holder. 
   Other systems and methods according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems and methods be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
   The above described and other features are exemplified by the following figures and detailed description. 
   DRAWINGS 
   Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGS.: 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a ring of the memory assisting device; 
     FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a set of rings of the memory assisting device; 
     FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a set of rings of the memory assisting device; 
     FIG. 4  shows a top plan view of a ring of the memory assisting device 
     FIGS. 5A-5C  show alternate cross-sectional views of the ring of the memory assisting device of  FIG. 4 , taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
     FIG. 6  shows a side plan view of a ring holder with rings of the memory assisting device; 
     FIG. 7  shows a front perspective view of the ring holder of  FIG. 6 ; 
     FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of a packaging card for the ring holder and rings of the memory assisting device; and, 
     FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of a packaging card for the ring holder and rings of the memory assisting device. 

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a memory assisting device  10  in the shape of a ring  12  is shown. The ring  12  has an inner periphery  14  sized for encircling an average human finger. The inner periphery may have an average diameter in the range of 0.25 to 1.5 inches, however diameters on the outside of this range may also be within the scope of this invention if a larger size is needed for unusually large sized fingers and if smaller sizes are used when the ring  12  is made from expandable material. The ring  12  may be circular shaped as shown in  FIG. 4 , however the ring  12  may also be flexible so that any particular finger shape cross-section may be accommodated. For providing flexibility to the ring  12 , the ring  12  may be made from materials including elastic, rubber, plastic, wire, springs, cloth covered elastic bands, etc., or any other material which would provide flexibility and comfort to the wearer of the memory assisting device  10 . In addition to flexibility, the ring  12  may also be provided with the ability to expand and contract such that fingers of varying sizes may comfortably wear the same ring  12 . Stretchable materials for forming the ring  12  may include elastic, springs, rubber bands, polymers, etc. While specific materials are disclosed, it should be understood that combinations of materials may be utilized, as well as alternate materials not specifically listed. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the memory assisting device  10  may include a set  18  of rings  12 . In the set  18 , while three rings  12  are shown, there may be more or less rings  12  in the set. The set  18  may include rings  12  of differing sizes such that varying finger sizes may be accommodated. As different sized rings  12  are provided, the rings  12  may be made of a non-stretchable material. Alternatively, the different sized rings  12  may be made of stretchable material. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the memory assisting device  10  may include a set  20  of rings  12 . The rings  20  may be the same size as shown, or, alternatively, may be of varying sizes as in set  18 . In the set  20 , at least one ring  12  may have a different coloring or distinguishing feature than the other rings  12 . A distinguishing feature may include a stripe or stripes, notch or notches, pattern, wave, texture, or any other visual or tactile distinguishing characteristic or may be made from a different material. While each ring  12  may be different from the rest, it is also within the scope of this invention to have some rings  12  similar to other rings  12  in the set  20 . By example only, the set  20  may include two black rings and two white rings, or may include a red ring, an orange ring, a yellow ring, and a green ring. A ring  12  with a distinguishing characteristic, whether a color, material, pattern, or tactile identifier, may be assigned a particular task by the wearer of the ring. The user is also able to wear a plurality of rings  12 , where each ring  12  may be assigned a different task as desired. While four rings  12  are shown in set  20 , more or less rings may be present within set  20 . 
   While the ring  12  is ring-shaped in periphery, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a cross-section of ring  12 , taken along line  5 — 5  from  FIG. 4 , may reveal a rectangular shape  50  shown in  FIG. 5A  such that the ring  12  is worn flat against a finger, with a flat inner surface  52  defining the inner periphery  14 , and a flat outer surface  54  defining the outer periphery  16 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the cross-section may be a circular shape  56  with continuous rounded inner and outer surfaces  58 ,  60  that define the inner and outer peripheries  14 ,  16 , respectively. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the cross-section may be a semi-circular shape  62  and have a flat inner surface  64  defining the inner periphery  14  and a rounded outer surface  66  defining the outer periphery  16 . Other cross-sections are also within the scope of the memory assisting device  10 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 6-7 , a ring holder  30  is shown with rings  12 . While three rings  12  are shown on the ring holder  30 , there may be more or less rings  12  at any given time upon the ring holder  30 . The ring holder  30  may include a flexible band  38 . The ring holder  30  may include a first end  32  and a second end  34 . While a band  38  is shown with a rectangular cross-section, any shape band would be within the scope of the invention, including, but not limited to, bands with circular, oval, semicircular, triangular, and other polygonal cross-sections. Also, while a solid band  38  is shown, the ring holder  30  may include any sort of strap that is closeable in a loop, such as a chain link, coil, or any other strap fashionable into a loop. The first end  32  and the second end  34  of the band  38  may be securable together, using a securement device  36 , to form a closed loop. The securement device  36  may be a snap, where snap half  40  is provided adjacent the first end  32  and snap half  42  is provided adjacent the second end  34 . Snap halves  40 ,  42  may include a male portion and a female portion which are joinable together in a secure yet removable connection. Alternatively, the securement device  36  may include hook and loop fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, magnets, clips, watch style belt with holes and an insertable pin, or any other securement device which would provide a removable connection to the closed loop of the ring holder  30 . 
   While a flexible band  38  is shown, it should be understood that the band  38  may be relatively inflexible, such as a key ring, as long as there is at least one location where the rings  12  may be threaded onto the band  38 , and prevented from falling off of the band  38 . In order to accommodate a plurality of rings  12 , the band  38  may have a diameter in the range of 0.75 inches to 6 inches, and more specifically, the band  38  may have a diameter in the range of 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. 
   In use, the ring holder  30  may be opened by disengaging the first end  32  from the second end  34  of the flexible band  38 . The rings  12  may be threaded onto the band  38 , as shown in FIG.  6 . For that purpose, the band  38  or other strap as described above, should have a cross-section which is smaller than an internal cross-section of the rings  12 . For storing the ring holder  30 , the band  38  may be wrapped around any convenient object, such as a purse strap, a key ring, a door knob, a wrist, etc. and secured tightly using a securement device  36  so that the rings  12  are not lost. When one or more tasks for remembering are determined, the user may select a ring or rings from the ring holder  30  and place the ring or rings  12  on the user&#39;s finger or fingers. When the task is completed, the ring  12  may be removed from the finger and replaced on the ring holder  30 . If the ring  12  is lost after removal, replacement rings  12  may be available on the ring holder  30  for the next task to remember. 
   When wrapped around a wrist, the ring holder  30  with rings  12  double as a unique and changeable bracelet, and may be colored and styled accordingly. Also, the rings  12 , while serving the function of a memory assisting device, are worn as rings and therefore may be styled as jewelry. Accordingly, different sets of rings and ring holders may be packaged for different uses and occasions. By example only, holiday sets may be packaged with the colors of the season, such as red, white, and pink for Valentines Day, pink, lilac, baby blue, and light green rings for Easter, red, white, and blue for July 4 th , orange and black for Halloween, and red, green, and gold rings for Christmas. Also by example only, special events may be commemorated with special ring sets, such as white and black for weddings, light colors for expectant parents, and rainbow colors for birthdays. Also by example only, different styles may be packaged for differing tastes, such as sets of fluorescent rings, sets of gold and/or silver rings, sets of neutral colored rings for professionals, and sets of patterned rings or rings with pictures of popular characters for children. While the rings  12  may be designed for special occasions and tastes, so may the ring holder  30 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , for packaging the ring holder  30  and rings  12  for sale, a card  70  made from paperboard, cardboard, laminated backing, plastic or other relatively inexpensive material may be cut in a desired shape for marketing, such as the rectangle shown. The card  70  may include a top end  72  and a bottom end  74 . An aperture  76  may be punched into the card  70  adjacent the top end  72  for hanging the card on a hook. The card  70  may further include a pair of slots  78 ,  80  spaced apart within the card  70  between the aperture  76  and the bottom end  74 . The ring holder  30  may be weaved through the slots  78 ,  80  such that the securement device  36  and the rings  12  are visible from the front  82  of the card  70  for viewing by shoppers. The front  82  of the card  70  may also be used for advertising the memory device  10 . 
     FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of the card  70  which includes a slot  78 , but not the slot  80 . In this embodiment, the amount of material required for the card  70  is less and the assembly of the product onto the card  70  is simplified slightly by only requiring one threading operation of the ring holder  30  onto the card  70 . The card  70  shown in  FIG. 8 , however, provides more room for graphics, identifiers, and other marketing indicia upon the front  82 . 
   While card  70  is shown for packaging the memory assisting device  10  for sale, other styles of cards or packaging setups may be used for preparing the memory assisting device  10  for sale. The particular card or package chosen may be based on intended store and expected consumer, and sized according to space availability. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.