Abstract:
The present invention is a day planner that visually integrates a solar-based calendar, such as a Gregorian calendar, including a month and daily structure, within a lunar-based calendar, such as a Jewish calendar. More specifically, the present invention allows a user to view his or her daily life via a day planner in relation to Jewish dates. Preferably, the day planner includes at least one Jewish calendar week that incorporates a corresponding Gregorian calendar week per page through visual indicia.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/662,398, filed Mar. 16, 2005, entitled “Day Planner,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/605,095, filed Aug. 27, 2004, entitled “Day Planner,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to day planners and, more specifically, to a day planner that corresponds a Jewish calendar to a Gregorian calendar.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally speaking, the calendar of the Western civilization is a Gregorian calendar which is solar-based, having approximately 365.25 calendar days each year. It begins on January 1 st  and ends on December 31 st , with each Gregorian calendar day stretching from midnight to midnight.  
         [0006]     The Jewish calendar was inaugurated over three thousand years ago upon G-d&#39;s commandment to the Jews in Egypt to proclaim the holiness of the month of Nissan. Since that first commandment and first collective act of Jewish nationhood, the lunar-based calendar, with Rabbinically calculated seasonal adjustments, has guided the Jews throughout history. During the times of the First and Second Temples, the Sanhedrin (i.e., The Great Assembly), certified witnesses of the New Moon, sanctified the New Month (i.e., Rosh Chodesh), and announced it through a system of hilltop fires and messengers. This procedure remained in force until the fourth century C.E., when Hillel II fixed all the future Jewish months and years.  
         [0007]     This order of the Hebrew Months continues to be universally accepted in Israel and in the Diaspora.  
         [0008]     In addition to the Jewish calendar being lunar-based, with each month beginning on the appearance of a new moon, the Jewish day stretches from sunset to sunset. Thus, a strictly Jewish calendar begins at sunset on the first day of the month of Tishrei, i.e., the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.  
         [0009]     The visual indicia used to indicate days in prior art Jewish calendars represents the secular day stretching from midnight to midnight, as opposed to the Jewish day stretching from sunset to sunset.  
         [0010]     What is needed and has not heretofore been developed is a day planner that visually integrates the Gregorian solar-based calendar, including monthly and daily structure, within a Jewish lunar-based calendar with its unique month and day structure. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lunar day planner and Gregorian solar-based day planner that better represents the Jewish calendar.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention is a day planner that visually integrates a solar-based calendar, such as a Gregorian calendar, including a monthly and daily structure, within a lunar-based calendar, such as a Jewish calendar. More specifically, the present invention allows a user to view his or her daily life via a day planner in relation to Jewish dates. The day planner has a medium upon which a plurality of indicia is applied and each of the indicia coacts with adjacent indicia and is visually indicative of a complete lunar day and a partial solar day. Each indicia has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion identifying a beginning of the complete lunar day and an ending of a first solar day, the second portion identifying a beginning of a second solar day and an ending of the complete lunar day. Further, the first portion may identify the beginning of a complete solar day and the ending of a first lunar day, and the second portion may identify the beginning of a second lunar day and the ending of a complete solar day. The indicia illustrates the lunar day from a first sunset to a second sunset. The indicia further illustrates the solar day from a first midnight to a second midnight. Further, the indicia form a plurality of indicia that may identify a plurality of days, weeks, months, or one or more years. Preferably, the day planner includes at least one Jewish calendar week that incorporates a corresponding Gregorian calendar week per page through visual indicia.  
         [0012]     The first portion of the day planner has a plurality of horizontal lines and the second portion has a plurality of horizontal lines. The first portion may be adjacent to or beside the second portion. Alternatively, the first portion may be positioned above the second portion. Further, the first portion may be shaded in color.  
         [0013]     A plurality of sunset indicia to visually indicate the lunar day spanning from the first sunset to second sunset may also be provided. Additionally, a plurality of clock indicia to visually indicate the solar day spanning from the first midnight to the second midnight may be provided. Also, at least one of a candle indicia may be provided to visually indicate candle lighting times according to Jewish custom. Additional indicia, i.e., shading or shapes, could indicate whether a Jewish observance or practice is to be performed only in the day, only in the night, or encompasses both, for a Jewish date, i.e., “Kolnidre” (night) or a fast day (during the day or during the day and night).  
         [0014]     The day planner may also have a day range depicted on the medium. The medium may be a print paper and the print paper may be contained in a binder or a desktop planner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a Jewish calendar week according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a Jewish calendar week according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a Jewish calendar day block according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows two Jewish calendar day blocks according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a ring binder day planner according to the present invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a desktop day planner according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “horizontal,” and “vertical,” and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Further, many desirable features of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the description of the invention, taken with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout.  
         [0022]     The present invention is a Jewish day planner  2  that integrates the secular/solar day, month, and year within the Jewish/lunar structure. The Jewish day planner  2  includes at least one Jewish calendar week per page, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , yet it should be understood that the Jewish calendar illustration can include a daily, monthly, or yearly format. Thus, the indicia on the day planner  2  can show a respective plurality of days, a respective one or more weeks, a respective one or more months, or a respective one or more years. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the day planner  2  primarily includes a plurality of day planner weekly sheets  10  either in loose form or assembled together via a binder or other means known in the art (not shown). Each weekly sheet  10  includes the Hebrew year  12  at the top of the weekly sheet  10 . Adjacent to the Hebrew year  12  is the month  14  in both English and Hebrew. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the representative Hebrew year  12  is 5764 and the month  14  is Tishrei. At the top of the weekly sheet  10 , the day range  16  that the weekly sheet  10  covers is indicated. As can be seen by the day range  16  and via inspection of the weekly sheet  10 , the day planner  2  is read from right to left. Toward the bottom of the weekly sheet  10 , the Gregorian months that include the month Tishrei  18  are illustrated with the Gregorian dates covered by a particular weekly sheet in highlight  20 .  
         [0023]     Each weekly sheet  10  is composed of seven (7) day blocks  22 . Each day block  22  has an upper lined portion  23  and a bottom lined portion  24  preferably separated by dividing indicia  25 , such as a bold line. The upper lined portion  23  may be of a different color or shading than the bottom lined portion  24 . Further, as discussed more thoroughly in regard to  FIG. 2  below, the upper lined portion  23  may have varied shading or coloring  56  depending on the length of time from sunset to sunset. The upper lined portion  23  and the bottom lined portion  24  typically have a plurality of horizontal lines, however, vertical lines may be used. Further, the upper lined portion  23  and the bottom lined portion  24  may not contain lines. The adjacent positioning of the upper lined portion  23  and the bottom lined portion  24  allow them to coact with one another, as they are preferably positioned atop of one another. At the upper right corner of the upper portion  23  of a day block  22  is a sunset  26  and a first Gregorian date  27 . The first Gregorian date  27  (at sunset) is the date that the corresponding Jewish calendar day  29  or lunar calendar day begins and the previous Jewish calendar day ends. The sunset  26  aids in visually representing the lunar day spanning from a first sunset to a second sunset. A Jewish calendar day  29  is shown at the upper left corner of the upper portion  23  of a day block  22 . The second Gregorian date  28  is shown at the upper left corner of the bottom portion  24  of a day block  22 . For example, the 23 rd  of Tishrei begins at sunset on Saturday, October 18 th . However, the bulk of the 23 rd  of Tishrei is on Sunday, October 19 th . Each day block  22  has a clock  31  adjacent to dividing indicia  25 . The clock  31  shows midnight, the time of which the first Gregorian date  27  changes to the second Gregorian date  28  during the same Jewish calendar day  29 . Thus, the Gregorian date  28  is shown spanning from midnight to midnight. The clock  31  aids in visually representing the solar day spanning from midnight to midnight.  
         [0024]     Each weekly sheet  10  has Jewish holiday indicia  32  on respective celebratory days. Additionally, candle lighting times  34  according to Jewish law may be represented via candle indicia. The phases of the moon  36  are also present on the weekly sheets  10  when applicable. Further, relevant portions of the Torah  38  are designated that correspond with Jewish religious readings. For example, Shabbat Mevarchim is written in Hebrew and English on the bottom portion  24  of the 29 th  of Tishrei to illustrate the portion of the Torah  38  to be read on the Sabbath. Finally, an artwork or graphic area  40  may be located at the bottom of each weekly sheet  10 .  
         [0025]     A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . Each weekly sheet  10  is composed of (7) day blocks  22 . In contrast to  FIG. 1 , the day blocks  22  are arranged vertically in ascending order. Each day block  22  has a left lined portion  50  and a right lined portion  52 . The left lined portion  50  and the right lined portion  52  typically have horizontal lines, however, vertical lines may be used. Further, the left lined portion  50  and the right lined portion  52  may not contain lines. The adjacent positioning of the left lined portion  50  and the right lined portion  52  allow them to coact with one another, as they are preferably positioned beside one another. The left lined portion  50  is preferably separated from the right lined portion  52  by dividing indicia  25 , such as a bold line. The left lined portion  50  is preferably shaded or of a different color than the right lined portion  52  to indicate the division between a first Gregorian date  27  and a second Gregorian date  28  which make up one complete Jewish calendar day  29  that spans from sunset to sunset or a full lunar day. Further, as shown in phantom, a varied shading or coloring portion  56  is present to visually indicate changes in the time span from sunset to sunrise. Hence, when the time from sunrise to sunset is shorter, the varied shading or coloring portion  56  will be smaller and vice versa for respective days. For example, in winter the time span from sunset to sunrise will be longer than during the summer. The day planner can then indicate this by varying the length of the shading for the days and, likewise the non-shaded portion will be varied. Additionally, a plurality of hatch marks  58  may be provided along the periphery or in the interior of one or more day blocks  22 . The hatch marks  58  represent intervals of time, such as minutes or hours. The hatch marks  58  further enable a user to visually appreciate a time during a given day in which a certain event will occur, such as the time of sunrise or sunset for a given day. The first Gregorian date  27  is the day that the Jewish calendar day  29  begins. The Jewish calendar day  29  is shown at the upper left corner above a day block  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the 21st of Tevet begins at sunset on Saturday, January 1, indicated as evening  44 . However, the bulk of the 21st of Tevet is on Sunday, January 2, indicated as morning  46 . The shading of the left lined portion  50  permits a user to readily appreciate the splitting of two Gregorian days over one Lunar day. The second embodiment embraces a majority of the features of the first embodiment, including candle lighting times  34 , artwork or graphic areas  40  located at various areas on the day planner weekly sheet  10 , and an illustration of the Gregorian dates covered by a particular weekly sheet  10  in highlight  20 . Further, the second embodiment may provide historical notes or facts  54  when relevant to a particular day block  22 . Also, the second embodiment need not be limited to a day planner  2  having seven day blocks  22  per sheet  10 . The day planner  2  can have a day per page or have a complete month or year on a sheet of paper, as examples.  
         [0026]     An alternative embodiment of the day planner  2  is generally represented in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows two representative day blocks  22  in a reverse arrangement from the day blocks  22  represented in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, each day block  22  also has an upper lined portion  23  and a bottom lined portion  24  preferably separated by dividing indicia  25 , such as a bold line. The upper lined portion  23  may be of a different color or shading than the bottom lined portion  24 . Further, as discussed above in regard to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upper lined portion  23  may have varied shading or coloring  56  depending on the length of time from sunset to sunset. The upper lined portion  23  and the bottom lined portion  24  typically have a plurality of horizontal lines, however, vertical lines may be used. Further, the upper lined portion  23  and the bottom lined portion  24  may not contain lines. The adjacent positioning of the upper lined portion  23  and the bottom lined portion  24  allow them to coact with one another, as they are preferably positioned atop of one another. At the upper left corner of the upper portion  23  of a day block  22  is an entire first Gregorian date  27 . A clock  31  striking midnight may be shown to visually represent the beginning of the Gregorian date  27 . At the bottom of the upper lined portion  23 , a sunset  26  may be represented. The sunset  26 , as well as the dividing indicia  25 , visually represents the ending of a first Jewish calendar day  29  and the beginning of a second Jewish calendar day  30 . The first Jewish calendar day  29  is shown at the upper right corner of the upper lined portion  23  of the day block  22 . The second Jewish calendar day  30  is shown at the upper right corner of the bottom lined portion  24  of the day block  22 . For example, January 3 rd  begins at midnight, as the bulk of the 22 nd  of Tevet remains. At sunset, the 23 rd  of Tevet begins and the remainder of January 3 rd  begins to wane. The bulk of the 23 rd  of Tevet occurs over the beginning of January 4 th . Thus, each day block  22  represents an entire Gregorian date  27  and parts of first and second Jewish calendar days  29  and  30 . As will be readily appreciated, the day blocks  22  of the present embodiment may be utilized in a day planner  2  in any manner as described herein. Thus, a day planner  2  using the day blocks  22  of this embodiment may also include candle lighting times  34 , artwork or graphic areas  40  located at various areas on the day planner weekly sheet  10 , and an illustration of the Gregorian dates covered by a particular weekly sheet  10  in highlight  20 . Further, the day planner  2  may provide historical notes or facts  54  when relevant to a particular day block  22 . Also, the day planner  2  need not be limited to a day planner  2  having seven day blocks  22  per sheet  10 . The day planner  2  can have a day per page or have a complete month or year on a sheet of paper, as examples.  
         [0027]     A further alternative embodiment of the day planner  2  is generally represented in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  shows one day block  22  in a reverse arrangement from the day blocks illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Each day block  22  has a left lined portion  50  and a right lined portion  52 . The left lined portion  50  and the right lined portion  52  typically have horizontal lines, however, vertical lines may be used. Further, the left lined portion  50  and the right lined portion  52  may not contain lines. The adjacent positioning of the left lined portion  50  and the right lined portion  52  allow them to coact with one another, as they are preferably positioned beside one another. The left lined portion  50  is preferably separated from the right lined portion  52  by dividing indicia  25 , such as a bold line. The right lined portion  52  is preferably shaded or of a different color than the left lined portion  50  to indicate the division between a first Jewish calendar day  29  and a second Jewish calendar day  30  which make up one complete Gregorian date  27  that spans from sunset to sunset or a full lunar day. Further, as shown in phantom, a varied shading or coloring portion  56  is present to visually indicate changes in the time span from sunset to sunset. Hence, when the time from sunset to sunset is shorter, the varied shading or coloring portion  56  will be smaller and vice versa. Additionally, a plurality of hatch marks  58  may be provided along the periphery or in the interior of one or more day blocks  22 . The hatch marks  58  represent intervals of time, such as minutes or hours. The hatch marks  58  further enable a user to visually appreciate a time during a given day in which a certain event will occur, such as the time of sunrise or sunset for a given day. The Gregorian -date  27  encompasses two partial Jewish calendar days  29  and  30 . The Gregorian date  27  is preferably shown at the top of the day block  22 . The first Jewish calendar day  29  is preferably shown at the top of the left lined portion  50 . The second Jewish calendar day  30  is preferably shown at the top of the right lined portion  52 . For example, January 3 rd  begins at midnight, as the bulk of the 22 nd  of Tevet remains. At sunset, the 23 rd  of Tevet begins and the remainder of January 3 rd  begins to wane. The bulk of the 23 rd  of Tevet occurs over the beginning of January 4 th . Thus each day block  22  represents an entire Gregorian date  27  and parts of first and second Jewish calendar days  29  and  30 . As will be readily appreciated, the day blocks  22  of the present embodiment may be utilized in a day planner  2  in any manner as described herein. As will be readily appreciated, the day block  22  of the present embodiment may be utilized in a day planner  2  in any manner as described herein. Thus, a day planner  2  using the day block  22  of this embodiment may also include candle lighting times  34 , artwork or graphic areas  40  located at various areas on the day planner weekly sheet  10 , and an illustration of the Gregorian dates covered by a particular weekly sheet  10  in highlight  20 . Further, the day planner  2  may provide historical notes or facts  54  when relevant to a particular day block  22 . Also, the day planner  2  need not be limited to a day planner  2  having seven day blocks  22  per sheet  10 . The day planner  2  can have a day per page or have a complete month or year on a sheet of paper, as examples.  
         [0028]     It will be readily appreciated that the day planner  2  may be used with or printed on a variety of media. For instance, the day planner  2  may be produced on print paper or it may be developed into a software program for use with computer or electronic systems, such as common desktop or laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, and other digital media now known or heretofore developed.  
         [0029]     An entire Jewish calendar year can be constructed by including the appropriate number of Jewish calendar weeks and months. It is to be understood that Jewish calendar weeks apart from the Jewish calendar week disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and projected and disclosed in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , can be created and appreciated by applying the same basic principles as have already been outlined. Additionally, other types of indicia, such as different shadings, configurations, or geometric shapes having a perimeter, can be provided so that the user can identify a corresponding Jewish calendar day and a Gregorian calendar day quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, the present invention can also be used to correspond other types of calendars with one another. Thus, visual indicia can also be used to correspond non-lunar based calendars with solar-based calendars. It is noteworthy to mention that the lunar year contains 354 days, eleven days less than the solar year. Since the Torah requires that holidays occur within particular seasons, it becomes necessary to add a thirteenth month (i.e., Adar I) seven times in nineteen years. This adjustment guarantees that Passover is celebrated in the spring and Sukkot in the fall.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a ring binder day planner  2  according to the present invention. As shown, the day planner  2  includes a plurality of day planner weekly sheets  10  on print paper assembled together via a plurality of rings  72  attached to a ring binder  70 . Each weekly sheet  10  has a plurality of rings  72  to securably catch a corresponding plurality of holes  74 . Further, the ring binder  70  has a releasable locking mechanism  76  well-appreciated in the art to allow for the addition or subtraction of weekly sheets  10 . As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the weekly sheets  10  can also be in daily, monthly or yearly format. Further, instead of rings  72 , the day planner  2  may be assembled in a bound book format, by string, by ribbon, or by any other means now known or heretofore developed in the art.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a desktop day planner  2  according to the present invention. As shown, the day planner  2  includes a plurality of day planner weekly sheets  10  encased in a rigid to semi-rigid winged holder  90 . The winged holder  90  has a plurality of wings  92  in which to encase a plurality of day planner weekly sheets  10  either in loose form or lightly bound together for easy removal. The winged holder  90  and wings  92  may be made of cardboard, plastic, leather, synthetic leather, natural or synthetic woven materials, or a combination thereof. Further, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the weekly sheets  10  can also be in daily, monthly, or yearly format.  
         [0032]     The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications, combinations, and alterations will occur to others upon reading the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications, combinations, and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.