Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a picture frame with an elapsed time display. More particularly, this invention relates to a picture frame for framing an image which relates to elapsed time shown in the elapsed time display.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Images of an event such as the birth of a baby, a relationship, acquiring a pet and any other memorable event are frequently stored in frames. The question frequently arises as to the duration of the subject of the image or the time elapsed with respect to the occurrence of an event. This question is almost always asked verbally whether orally or in writing. Currently, there is no way to look at an image and to immediately place that image in elapsed time. Not infrequently, a date accompanies an image, but that date does not immediately inform an observer of elapsed time with respect to that image. In view of these considerations, there is the need for a device which displays an image as well as elapsed time with respect to that image.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A picture frame comprises a frame enclosing an area for displaying an image of the subject, the subject being related to a time at which an event occurred. A chronometer is integral with the frame and counts time forward from the occurrence of the event. Switching is disposed on the frame and connected to the chronometer for actuating the chronometer to count time from the occurrence of the event and an elapsed time display is positioned on the frame and connected to the chronometer for displaying accumulated time since the occurrence of the event in years, months and days.  
         [0004]     In a further aspect of the picture frame the display further includes hours.  
         [0005]     In still a further aspect of the picture frame, the display is circular and divided by four radial lines into four segments which display years, months, days and hours.  
         [0006]     In still a further aspect of the picture frame, the frame includes indicia proximate the area for displaying the image relating the subject of the image to the elapsed time displayed.  
         [0007]     In further arrangements of the picture frame, the subject is a person and the event is the person&#39;s birth or a memorable occasion relating to the subject or the subject is a pet and the event is acquiring the pet.  
         [0008]     In still a further aspect of the picture frame, the switching includes start switching for inputting the current date and event switching for inputting the event date, wherein the chronometer includes time addition circuitry for adding the time interval between the current date and the event date to provide a start time for counting forward from the event date.  
         [0009]     In still a further aspect of the picture frame, actuator buttons are provided which are integral with the frame and are connected to the switching for starting the chronometer and activating the elapsed time display.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an embodiment of the picture frame wherein the image displayed is an infant;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an embodiment of the picture frame wherein the image displayed includes a pet;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the picture frame when the image displayed is a couple;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a chronometer and crystal which drives a display and is controlled by an array of actuator switches, and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a time circuit utilizing the chronometer of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  there are shown picture frames  10 ,  12  and  14  each having a different configuration and displaying images  12 ,  12 ′ and  12 ″, respectively, of a different subject. A time display  14  is integral with each of the frames  10 ,  10 ′ and  10 ″, the time display relating to the subject matter of the images. The content of the time display is in years, months, days and hours and is controlled by a chronometer  20  ( FIG. 4 ) to display a lapsed time from occurrence of an event which is the subject of the image  12 ,  12 ′ or  12 ″ mounted in the frame  10 ,  10 ′ and  10 ″.  
         [0017]     The chronometer  20  is electrically connected to drive the elapsed time display  14  which functions in a manner similar to a stop watch, but generally only needs to start and continues for years. The chronometer  20  receives a time signal from a crystal  22  which is energized by a long lived battery and is started by closing terminals  25 - 26 ,  27 - 28  and  29 - 30  connected to the chronometer and operated by actuators  35 ,  36  and  37 , respectively. The actuators  35 ,  36  and  37  are disposed on the selected frame  10 - 10 ″ and are accessed preferably by buttons  41 ,  43  and  45 , as shown in dotted lines on the frames. The buttons  41 ,  43  and  45  are preferably in the back of the frames  10 ′- 10 ″ and are preferably not readily accessible after they have been pressed. In a preferred embodiment, the buttons are perhaps initially visible and thereafter are covered by a structure such as a sliding cover (not shown), which must be affirmatively moved from the buttons in order for the buttons to be manually manipulated. Accordingly, the elapsed time count remains relatively secure from inadvertent or intentional manipulation.  
         [0018]     The elapsed time display  14  has four time nodes wherein years are displayed from the year 1900 and after, starting with 0 years. Months are displayed with the numerals 1-12; days are displayed with the numerals 01-31, and hours are displayed with the numerals 00-23.  
         [0019]     In operation, the current date and time are set by pressing and releasing the button  43 . Button  45  is then immediately pressed and the year in four digits begins to flash on the display  14 . The year, which is displayed on the elapsed time display,  14  can be moved down by pressing the button  41 . The button  41  is pressed repeatedly for slow movement of the year and continuously held down for fast movement of the year. To move the year up, the key  43  is pressed repeatedly for slow movement of the year up or held down for fast movement for the year up.  
         [0020]     When the correct year is reached, the button  45  is pressed to move to display of the month which will flash on the display  14  in two digits. In order to set the month, the button  41  is pressed down for slow movement of the month and held down for fast movement of the month, while the button  43  is pressed repeatedly for slow movement of the month and held down for fast movement for the month.  
         [0021]     To set the day, 1-31 and hour 1-24, again press the key  45  to move the day and press button  41  for moving the day down and the button  43  for moving the day up. When the day is finally determined, press the button  45  so that the current year, month and day is present in the chronometer  20 . Finally, to set the hour, press button  41  down to decrease the hour and press button  43  to increase the hour, pressing these buttons repeatedly for slow movement of the hour and continuously to cause fast movement of the hour. When finished, press the button  45  and the chronometer  20  will hold the current date, and time in years, months, days and minutes.  
         [0022]     In order to set event time, the button  41  is pressed and released. Immediately the button  45  is pressed causing the year in four digits to flash. The button  41  is pressed to move the year down by pressing repeatedly for slow movement or continuously for fast movement. In order to move the month, press the button  45  to the month, the month will flash in two digits. Again, press the button  41  for decreasing the month and press the key  43  for increasing the month by pressing these keys either repeatedly for slow movement or continuously for fast movement.  
         [0023]     To enter the day of the event using the numbers 1-31 and hour 1-24, again press the button  41  down repeatedly to slowly determine the day or continuously quickly determine the day. If the day must be increased, hold the button  43  down repeatedly for slowly determining the day or continuously to rapidly determine the day. Finally, determine the hour by holding the button  41  down repeatedly to decrease the hour at a slow rate or continuously to decrease the hour at a fast rate. Then hold button  43  down repeatedly to increase the hour slowly and continuously to increase the hour rapidly.  
         [0024]     When the date and time of the event has been inserted into the chronometer  20  as described, the button  45  is pressed to hold the event, date and time and the elapsed time screen reads how long it has been in years, months, days and hours from the memorable occasion which is the subject of the image  12 - 12 ″. The energized crystal  22  then continuously inputs additional time into the chronometer  20 , which additional time is added to the previously elapsed time and is continuously displayed by the elapsed time display  14 . For example, the elapsed time from the baby&#39;s birth is the subject of the image in  FIG. 1  is 0 years, 8 months, 22 days and 5 hours.  
         [0025]     Additionally, the images in the spaces  12 - 12 ″ of  FIGS. 1-3  have indicia  46 ,  46 ′ and  46 ″ that relates the images to elapsed time. For example, the indicia  46  for an infant image  12  states “My Bundle of Joy for;” the pet image  12 ′ of  FIG. 2  has the indicia  46 ′ “My Buddy for,” and the couple image  12 ″ of  FIG. 3  has the indicia  46 ″ of “Sweethearts for.” 
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  where a block diagram illustrating the circuit of  FIG. 4  in more detail is shown, it is seen that the buttons  41 ,  42  and  43  which are pressed manually but connected to a synthesizer  50  that has a direct input to current time circuitry so as to input the present date and hour  50  into current time circuitry  54  in the chronometer  20 . The current time input  54  records the year, month, day and hour in accordance with the previously described protocol. Once the current time is recorded in the current time circuitry  54  a mode switch  56  switches the input of the buttons  41 ,  42  and  43  to event time circuitry which records the year, month, day and hour of the event which is in most situations a time before the current time.  
         [0027]     Time difference circuitry  60  receives inputs from the current times circuitry  54  in the event time circuitry  58  and subtracts the event time input from the current time input to store the time difference between the current time and the event time. Time addition circuitry  64  then adds the time difference from the time difference circuitry  60  to the event time from the event time circuitry time  58  to create the starting time. For example, the starting time  68  may be 0 years, 2 months, 5 days and 11 hours. Time from the crystal  22  is then added to the start time in total elapsed time circuitry  72  to provide an output indicative of total elapsed time to the elapsed time display  14  in years, months, days and hours. Consequently, if the current date and time is Apr. 10, 2005 at 1600 hours and the event occurred on May 31, 2003 at 1800 hours, the currently displayed on the elapsed time display  14  would have been 1 year, 10 months, 10 days and 2 hours. As of Apr. 20, 2005 at 1700 hours, the time displayed would be 1 year, 10 months, 20 days and 1 hour because the crystal  22  has inputted time pulses that the chronometer  20  converts to hours and accumulates to years, months, days and hours for the elapsed time display  14 .  
         [0028]     A chronometer  20 , crystal  22  and input circuitry comprising the buttons  41 ,  42  and  43  is available from the MSSA TECH, of Shang-hi, China, ADDRESS: ROOM A-20, 5/F, PORFCIENT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, KOWLOON BAY, KOWLOON, HONG KONG. model number QA-040040FP.  
         [0029]     From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing form the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Technology Category: 3