Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Patent
1995-11-20
1997-11-04
Miska, Vit W.
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
368 45, 368 97, 368108, 446369, G04B 4700, G04F 800, A63H 302
Patent
active
056847580
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to children's disciplinary devices, and more particularly to devices used in providing "time out" discipline.
BACKGROUND ART
The "time out" discipline method has gained widespread acceptance for disciplining children and disabled adults. According to this method, the individual to be disciplined is immediately removed from a situation of undesired activity, placed in a quiet distraction-free setting, and made to reflect on his or her actions for a time period determined by the child's age. A timer is used to, keep track of this time period. The idled offender often seizes upon the idleness to perform other undesired activities such as pouting or whining. If put into a chair, the offender often slouches, squirms, or removes cushions or seat covers, thus engaging in further undesired activity.
Typically, the timer is spatially separated from the offender, so that the child often is not aware of the time remaining. This further frustrates and/or confuses the offender.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention wherein a children's disciplinary device comprises a plush toy, for example a stuffed animal, and a countdown timer secured to the toy. Preferably, the countdown timer includes a face generally co-planar with the surface of the toy.
Preferably, the timer includes indications corresponding to children's ages; and the time-out period provided by the countdown timer is a non-linear function of the child's age. Young children receive less than one minute per year of age; and older children receive approximately one minute per year of age. The non-linear function provides an appropriate length time out and does not require the adult to memorize or to calculate an appropriate time out period.
The present invention occupies a child's attention and, through physical contact with the device, diverts the child's attention from unacceptable behavior during a time-out period. The timer also allows the child to see the progression of time during a disciplinary period.
Further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the children's disciplinary device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II--II in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device;
FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating the nonlinear correspondence between ages and the time-out periods.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A child's disciplinary timer constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally designated 10. The disciplinary device diverts a child's attention by physically occupying the child during a period of separation from unacceptable activity.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 10 includes a plush toy 12, such as a resilient teddy bear fabricated of polyester fiber material. The plush toy may be virtually any character, for example, an animal or cartoon character. The preferred embodiments described herein are all bears; however, any soft plush toy having a pleasing disposition is suitable. A countdown timer 14 including a timing device 16 (see FIG. 2) is inserted into the plush toy 12.
The countdown timer 14 is an analog timer inserted into a recess 15 in the midsection of the plush toy 12. Countdown timer refers to any timing device wherein a desired time is selected and the timer cycles backwards, or counts down to time equals zero. The timer 14 includes a face member 18 having age indications numbered 1 through 10 thereon corresponding to children's ages. Of course, greater or fewer ages may be included within the range. Alternatively, the indications on the f
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Gray Jacqueline D.
Sterr Margaret B.
Miska Vit W.
T.O.T. Ventures, Inc.
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