Signals and indicators – Indicators – Operator movable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-12-11
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Operator movable
C116S200000, C434S433000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327995
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method of signalling personal attitude characteristics of a human subject and more particularly to such a method wherein the signalling is accomplished by placing objects having differing visually perceptible characteristics in a prominent place.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a signalling and/or novelty device including a stacked arrangement of separate objects including a parallelepiped, sphere and tetrahedron.
BACKGROUND ART
Decorum of modern office and other similar environments has in many instances declined to such an extent that personnel who are busily engaged in efforts requiring substantial concentration and/or who do not otherwise wish to be disturbed are nevertheless interrupted by conversation originating from other personnel. The interruptions occur in many different environments, for example, in large rooms where staff are closely situated and are separated by partitions between work stations occupied by individual workers, and in small rooms occupied by two or more persons. The interruptions frequently result in prolonged chit-chat between personnel, resulting in low productivity, and in many instances, poor morale. Managerial and professional workers who occupy individual rooms are also frequently interrupted by personnel who knock on closed doors and then barge into the room.
In addition, many office environments are quite drab, being equipped with battleship grey desks and light grey computer work stations. These drab surroundings frequently have an adverse effect on productivity because they cause subliminal depression in many workers. These conditions sometimes result in lack of a concerted team effort on the part of the personnel.
In some offices and other similar environments, “do not disturb” signs are used to signal the unwillingness of a worker to be interrupted. However, “do not disturb” signs may have an adverse effect on visitors to the location where they are displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for enabling a person to signal his personal attitude characteristics to others.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for enabling personnel in offices and other similar environments to signal to others whether or not they are willing to be interrupted at all, interrupted for important work oriented purposes, and/or open for interruption.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved signalling apparatus that can also be considered as a novelty device, wherein the apparatus includes several objects having different visually perceptible characteristics which also enhance the environment where the objects are located.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved signalling device for office type environments, which signalling device can improve office morale and productivity because of its colorful and entertaining characteristics, leading to increased teamwork among co-workers.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved office signalling device which effectively provides a coded signal to co-workers that a particular individual does not want to be disturbed, but which is not offensive to visitors.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a human subject signals his different personal attitude characteristics to others with a set of objects, each having a different visually perceptible characteristic. One of the objects is associated with each of the personal attitude characteristics. After the subject selects the behavioral characteristic to be signalled, he places the object so the object associated with the selected attitude characteristic is in a more prominent position for visual observation than the other objects. The prominent position can be on top of a desk or computer monitor where the subject works and can involve displaying only one object and sequestering the other objects out of the field of view of personnel.
The objects preferably have differing shapes, enabling the objects to be stacked on each other. In one embodiment of the method, the placing step comprises stacking the objects so the object associated with the selected attitude characteristic is at the top of the stack and thus is in a more prominent position for visual observation than the other objects.
In a preferred embodiment, first and second of the objects include substantially flat faces and a third of the objects has a curved outer surface. A region where the objects are to be placed has a substantially planar horizontal support surface. The placing step includes placing the substantially flat face of one of the objects including a flat face on the substantially horizontal support surface of the region.
The first object is preferably shaped as a parallelepiped (particularly a cube) and the second object has a base and sides tapered to a point. The placing step includes placing a flat face of the parallelepiped on the substantially horizontal support surface, placing the third object having the curved surface on the first object, and placing the base of the second object on the third object.
Preferably, all portions of the outer surface of the third object are curved and the parallelepiped has a flat face with a concave indentation. The base of the second object also has a concave indentation and the placing step includes placing: (a) the third object so the outer surface thereof rests in the concave indentation of the flat face of the parallelepiped, and (b) the second object so the concave indentation of its base rests on the third object.
Alternatively, the placing step includes placing the object associated with the selected attitude characteristic in a transparent container, to the exclusion of the other objects. In such a case, the placing step preferably includes placing the container on a door leading to a room where the subject is located, and then closing the door. When the method is performed in this manner, the selected behavioral characteristic is usually associated with “do not disturb” the subject. In such a case, the placing step usually includes hanging the container on a doorknob which is outside the room when the door is closed.
Another aspect of the invention relates to the combination of a first object having a base and a face substantially parallel to the base, a second object having a base and a side surface tapered to a point, and a third object having a curved outer surface. The objects are separate from each other but are sized and shaped so that the third object can rest stably on the face of the first body while the base of the first body rests on a substantially planar surface and the base of the second object can rest stably on the third object while the third object rests stably on the face of the first body while the base of the first body rests on a substantially planar support surface.
In the preferred embodiment, the third object is a sphere and the face of the first object has a concave indentation that is a sector of a sphere having substantially the same curvature as the sphere. The base of the second object has a concave indentation that is a sector of a sphere having substantially the same curvature as the sphere. The first, second and third objects are arranged so the sphere can rest (i.e., nest) stably without other support on the indentation of the first object in such a way that there is substantial contact between the surfaces of the sphere and the indentation of the first object and the indentation of the second object can rest stably without other support on the sphere in such a way that there is substantial contact between the surfaces of the sphere and indentation of the second object. Such construction assists in providing great stability to the stacked arrangement.
Preferably, the first and second objects are shaped as a cube and polyhedron. The cube, sphere and polyhedron are preferably made of the same material hav
Briggs Holly
Meadows, II James L.
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
Lowe Hauptman & Gilman & Berner LLP
Protocol Office Products, LLC.
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