Patent Publication Number: US-6988462-B1

Title: Memory assist device with clips

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates generally to memory assist devices for indicating numbers and more specifically to devices that indicate a floor number for a parking garage. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Devices that assist a person to remember a particular number have been very common for many years. The most common way to remember a number is simply to write the number on a piece of paper. Quite often, however, a person may not have a writing instrument or a piece of paper available to write on. Furthermore, the person may not wish to carry pieces of paper with them and, when they do, they may forget to use them. 
   At the end of a work day, people that park their cars in parking garages often forget where they parked their cars in the morning. As parking garages become more common for large cities and universities and as the working population becomes older, the occurrence of forgetting where a person parked his or her car has become an increasing problem. While there have been other devices directed to solving this problem, these devices have been complex and expensive to manufacture and difficult to use. 
   Thus, there remains a need for a memory assist device that is simple to operate, simple to manufacture, always at hand when driving a car and is versatile in its application. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is for a memory assist device with an indicia field to indicate a number. The memory assist device includes at least two filaments extending between internal walls of the memory assist device to form an indicia field. The memory assist device also includes clips selectively clamped on the filaments to indicate the number. 
   In one embodiment, the memory assist device has a loop portion for attachment to a key chain when using the memory assist device to indicate a floor on which a user has parked his car in a parking garage. In another embodiment, the indicia field of the memory assist device is formed in a key. In yet other embodiments, the memory assist device has a first numerical label to associate a numerical expression with a particular clip. In still other embodiments, the memory assist device has a second numerical label to indicate the position of the clip within the indicia field. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a memory assist device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a memory assist device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the memory assist device of  FIG. 1  with clips positioned on an indicia field of the memory assist device. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a memory assist device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of an indicia field with clips to indicate a number constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of a memory assist device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of a memory assist device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of a clip constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a top view of a clip constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a partial, detailed schematic of a torsion spring of a clip constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 18  is a top view of a memory assist device incorporated into a key constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a top view of a memory assist device incorporated into a key constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings in general, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is a portion of a memory assist device  100  with indicia field  102 . The indicia field  102  comprises a first filament  104 , a second filament  106  and a third filament  108  that extend between internal walls  110 ,  112  of the memory assist device  100 . The memory assist device  100  has a loop portion  114  for attaching the memory assist device  100  to a key chain. 
     FIG. 2  shows a second memory assist device  200  with an indicia field  202 . The indicia field  202  comprises a first rod  204 , a second rod  206 , a third rod  208 , and a fourth rod  210  that extend between internal walls  212 ,  214  of the memory assist device  200 . The memory assist device  200  has a loop portion  216  for attaching the memory assist device  200  to a key chain. 
     FIG. 3  shows the memory assist device of  FIG. 1  with three clips  116  positioned on the three filaments  102 ,  104  and  106 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the clips  116  may be attached to one of the filaments, to two of the filaments, or to all three filaments to indicate a number. When one of the clips  116  is attached to only one of the filaments, the clip  116  is free to rotate about the filament to which it attached. When one of the clips  116  is attached to at least two of the filaments, the clip  116  is restrained from rotation about the filaments. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the clips  116  are attached to all three of the filaments  104 ,  106  and  108 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a memory assist device  300  with an indicia field  302 . The indicia field  302  comprises two filaments  304  and  306  that extend across a space defined between a curved internal wall  308  of the memory assist device  300 . The memory assist device  300  has a loop portion  316  for attaching the memory assist device  300  to a key chain. 
     FIGS. 5–12  show the indicia field  102  of memory device  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . For this embodiment of the invention, any of the three clips  116  are placed on either: (1) the first filament  104  and second filament  106 , or (2) the first filament  104 , the second filament  106  and the third filament  108 . Thus, there are a possible eight position combinations for the clips. 
   The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 5  are in a first position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 6  are shown in a second position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 7  are in a third position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 8  are in a fourth position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 9  are in a fifth position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 10  are in a sixth position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 11  are in a seventh position combination. The clips  116  shown in  FIG. 12  are in an eighth position combination. 
   The different position combinations shown in  FIGS. 5–12  may be converted to a number by at least 2 types of systems, as illustrated by considering the numerical labels in  FIGS. 13 and 14 .  FIG. 13  shows a memory assist device  400  with first numerical label  420  and second numerical label  422 . The first numerical label  420  aligns with each of the three clips  416 . The first numerical label  420  has the numerical expressions “2 0 ,” “2 1 ,” and “2 2 ,” which those skilled in mathematics easily recognize to be equal to values of 1, 2 and 4. 
   At the top of the memory assist device  400  shown in  FIG. 13 , the second numerical label  422  has the integers 0 and 1. For the configuration shown in  FIG. 13 , the clips  416  are positioned at position “111” in the indicia field  402 , which corresponds to the eighth position combination shown in  FIG. 12 . The “111” position denotes the number 1*(2 0 )+1*(2 1 )+1*(2 2 ) which indicates the number 7. A full list of values corresponding to the eight position combinations shown in  FIGS. 5–12  are shown below in Table 1. 
   For this embodiment with the first numerical label  420  has the numerical expressions “2 0 ,” “2 1 ”, and “2 2 ” the memory device  400  may also be a novelty learning item to teach young people to easily recognize Boolean numbers. Because of the widespread use of Boolean numbers in computer programming, the quick recognition of a Boolean number and its equivalent in the decimal system is an important mathematical skill for young people to learn. 
   For a second system of denoting a number of a parking garage floor,  FIG. 14  shows a memory assist device  500  with a first numerical label  520  having the clip numerals 1, 2 and 3. Under this second system, the positions of the clips  516  are denoted as integers 0 or 1, as shown by the second numerical label  522 . The integers 0 or 1 corresponding to a particular clip position is then multiplied by the clip numerals 1, 2 or 3 and then added together to find the number that denotes the parking garage floor on which the user&#39;s car is parked. For the positions of the clips  516  shown in  FIG. 14 , the number indicated is 1*(1)+1*(2)+1*(3)=6. The position of the clips  516  on the indicia field  502  corresponds to the eighth combination shown in  FIG. 12 . Table 1 presents a list of the numbers indicated by the clip positions shown in  FIGS. 5–12  for the second system of denoting numbers. 
   The two systems for indicating numbers using the clips and indicia fields are just two of the possible systems for denoting a parking garage floor. For example, for a system similar to the first system, four clips could be used and the numerical label  420  would have a numeral expression 2 3  on the numerical label. Such a system would then have 16 combinations of positions for the clips. It is easily seen that the numbers of filaments could also be increased to also increase the number of possible combinations of clip positions for the indicia field. Other systems of indicating numbers using clips and indicia fields may also include complete removal of clips from the indicia field. 
   Furthermore, although the memory assist devices  400  and  500  are shown with labels, the memory assist devices may have no labels, as shown in  FIGS. 1–12 , but simply have instructions for how to use the memory assist device. 
   For some embodiments, the clips  416  and  516  may be of different colors to help the user more quickly recognize and differentiate the clip positions in the indicia field. In yet other embodiments, the clip numerals shown on the first numerical labels  420  and  520  may be positioned directly on the clips  416  and  516 . The numerical labels  420 ,  422 ,  520  and  522  may be in the form of a decal attached to the memory assist devices  400  and  500  or may be integrally formed with the memory assist devices  400  and  500 , such as in plastic molds used to make the clips. 
     FIGS. 15–17  show how the clip  116  is constructed. The clip  116  has an upper member  130  and an identically formed lower member  132 , with teeth  134  attached to each of the upper member  130  and lower member  132 . The teeth  134  are spaced to receive the filaments  104 ,  106  and  108  of the indicia field  102 . In one embodiment, the teeth  134  fit snugly about the filaments  104 ,  106 , and  108 . 
   The upper member  130  and the lower member  132  are connected to a torsion spring  136  having an upper spring end  138  and a lower spring end  140 . The upper spring end  138  fits into an upper spring mount  142  and the lower spring end  140  fits into a lower spring mount  144 . One end  146  of the clip  116  has a slightly curved upper member  130  and lower member  132  to facilitate a user moving the clip  116  to an unclamped position. 
   The torsion spring  136  is dimensioned and arranged so that the torsion spring  136  normally biases the upper member  130  against the lower member  132 . As schematically shown in  FIG. 17 , the upper spring end  138  fits into a slot  146  on the upper spring mount  142 . Similarly, the lower spring end  140  fits into a slot (not shown) on the lower spring mount  144 . In  FIG. 17 , the upper member  130  and the lower member  132  have been omitted for clarity in illustrating how the upper spring end  138  and the lower spring end  140  fit into the upper spring mount  142  and the lower spring mount  144 . 
   To move the clip  116  from the clamped position to the unclamped position, a user squeezes the upper member  130  towards the lower member  132  at the clip end  146 . While in the unclamped position, the user can move the clip  116  to the position in an indicia field to indicate the desired number, as described above. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19  show two embodiments of memory assist devices  600  and  700  where the indicia fields  602  and  702  are built into a key. For the memory assist device  600 , the indicia field  602  is located at an end  604  of the key. For the memory assist device  700 , the indicia field  702  is located at side  704  of the key. A clip, such as the clip  116  shown in  FIGS. 15–17 , is used to indicate a number in accordance with the systems described above. 
   While the term “memory assist device” has been used herein, it is to be understood that the memory assist device may equivalently be called a memory assist mechanism, a reminder device, or a memory assist instrument. 
   While the term “indicia field” has been used herein, the term “indicia field” may equivalently be called an indicia, a grid or a table. 
   While the term “filament” has been used herein, the term “filament” may equivalently be called a strand, a thread, a rod, or a pole. 
   The memory assist device and any of its components may be constructed of any suitable material, such as plastic material, metallic materials or a polymeric material. 
   It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangements of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
                 
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
                 
                 
               Number Indicated 
               Number Indicated 
             
             
                 
               Clip 
               FIG. 
               First System 
               Second System 
             
             
                 
               Position 
               NUMBER 
               (Boolean) 
               (123) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
                 
               000 
               5 
               0 
               0 
             
             
                 
               100 
               6 
               1 
               1 
             
             
                 
               010 
               7 
               2 
               2 
             
             
                 
               110 
               8 
               3 
               3 
             
             
                 
               001 
               9 
               4 
               3 
             
             
                 
               101 
               10 
               5 
               4 
             
             
                 
               011 
               11 
               6 
               5 
             
             
                 
               111 
               12 
               7 
               6