GB2250371A

GB2250371A - Memory card

Info

Publication number: GB2250371A
Application number: GB9125453A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Mccallion
Original assignee: FOYLE EMBLEMS Ltd
Current assignee: FOYLE EMBLEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1990-11-29
Filing date: 1991-11-29
Publication date: 1992-06-03
Also published as: GB9125453D0; IE904315A1

Abstract

A memory card 10 for use as an aid for carrying out a sequence of tasks comprises a member having a plurality of formations 11, 12 arranged in a desired sequence thereon, each formation indicating a task in the sequence of tasks. The card is preferably made from plastics material and resembles a credit card. The task is preferably a prayer of devotion known as a rosary. <IMAGE>

Description

MEMORY CARD The present invention relates to a memory card for use as an aid for carrying out a series of tasks in the correct sequence and has particular, but not exclusive, application as an aid for reciting a series of prayers, e.g. a rosary.

The rosary is a series of prayers or form of devotion said by Roman Catholics. The rosary begins with one "Our Father" or "Pater Noster" prayer, followed by three "Hail Mary" or "Aves" prayers and one "Gloria" prayer. Then five (or fifteen) decades are said, each decade comprising ten "Hail Mary" prayers. Prior to each decade, one "Our Father" prayer is said and at the end of each decade one "Gloria" prayer is said. The rosary concludes with one "Our Father" prayer, three "Hail Mary" prayers, one "Gloria" prayer and some concluding prayers. The person saying the rosary conventionally uses rosary beads as a memory aid, to assist in saying the prayers in the correct sequence.

Known rosary beads comprise beads joined together by a chain linkage to form an endless loop, the loop having a linear portion extending therefrom and terminating with a crucifix. The linear portion, which comprises three smaller beads and a larger bead at each end of the set of three smaller beads, is used as an aid for the opening and closing prayers of the rosary. The beads on the loop, which are arranged in groups of ten smaller beads, are used as a memory aid for the decades of the rosary. Each group of ten beads is separated by a larger bead. Usually, only five decades of the rosary are said as a prayer or devotion at any one time and hence rosary beads are usually designed for five decades.

A set of rosary beads has, however, several disadvantages as a memory aid. The links holding the beads in the correct sequence tend to break easily and, therefore, require frequent repair. Furthermore, rosary beads are not conveniently portable due to their size.

In addition, rosary beads are easily lost since they can readily fall out of the pocket/bag in which they are being carried.

According to the invention there is provided a memory card for use as an aid for carrying out a sequence of tasks, the memory card comprising a member having a plurality of formations arranged in the desired sequence thereon, each formation indicating a task in the sequence of tasks.

In a preferred form of the invention the member comprises a plastics card of approximately credit card size.

Preferably, the task comprises a prayer or devotion. More preferably, the sequence of Ddyers comprises a rosary.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that in the preferred form of the invention the memory card will effectively become a substitute for conventional rosary beads.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a memory card according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the memory card according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown therein a memory card generally indicated at 10 according to the invention. The memory card 10 is of plastics and is approximately credit card size but of course any suitable size may be used. As this card is intended for the purpose of a user saying five decades of the rosary, it has a series of formations, to be described below, corresponding to the prayers of the rosary. Thus, the memory card 10 has five sets of a first group of ten formations 11, which correspond to the five decades of "Hail Mary" prayers. These raised formations 11 are approximately 2mm in diameter and at least lmm in height and may be formed by punching the card from the rear side, by forming when the card is being manufactured, by embossing or by stamping. The formations 11 are preferably hemispherical in shape and in relief.

The memory card 10 further has a second group of four larger formations 12 which correspond to the "Our Father" or "Gloria" prayers of the rosary. These formations 12 have a diameter of approximately 2.5mm and a height of at least 1mm. The formations 12 are preferably hemispherical in shape and in relief. The formations 12 are formed in a similar manner to the formations 11.

Five sets of the first group of ten formations 11 are located on a notional endless loop 14. Each formation 11 of the first group is separated from an adjacent similar formation 11 by a distance of between 5mm and 9mm. Each set of the first group of formations 11 is separated from an adjacent set by a distance of between 20 and 25mm. Located approximately centrally between each set of the first group of formations 11 is one formation 12.

The formations 11, 12 may be suitably coloured by tipping with a variety of colours in hot foil using a known hot foil printing process.

As shown, the formations 11, 12 are arranged in a sequence 13, which is a notional generally inverted 'U' shaped endless loop 14. A centrally disposed linear portion 15 is provided which is notionally connected to the endless loop 14. The linear portion 15 comprises a set of three formations ila similar to the formations 11. Located on either side of the set of three formations 11a is a respective formation 12a similar to the formations 12.

As traditional rosary beads normally incorporate a medallion and a crucifix, the memory card 10 has a picture or formation to indicate a medallion 16 and a crucifix 17. In the example shown, it is intended that the medallion 16 and/or crucifix 17 will be formed as a hologram. The crucifix 17 is located at one end of the linear portion 15; the medallion 16 is located at the junction between the linear portion 15 and the endless loop 14.

An adhesive label (not shown) may be fixed to the rear surface of the memory card 10. The label may be left blank so that a personal message can be added or may have a prayer or other message printed thereon.

The memory card 10 according to the invention may be produced from credit card size plastics blanks, which are available in a variety of colours. The blanks are firstly printed with the rosary sequence 13, medallion 16 and crucifix 17 by, for example, the known hot foil printing process. Any suitable foil colour or holographic foil may be used. The formations 11, 11a, 12, 12a are then formed and suitably coloured as described hereinabove.

In use, a person will use the memory card 10 by passing a finger or thumb along the sequence 13 from one formation 11, 11a, 12, 12a to the next as an aid in saying the rosary.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A memory card for use as an aid for carrying out a sequence of tasks, the memory card comprising a member having a plurality of formations arranged in the desired sequence thereon, each formation indicating a task in the sequence of tasks.

2. A memory card as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the member comprises a plastics card of approximately credit card size.

3. A memory card as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each formation is hemispherical in shape.

4. A memory card as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3 wherein the formations comprise a first group of formations and a second group of formations and wherein the dimensions of said groups are dissimilar.

5. A memory card as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the first group comprises hemispherical formations each of which formations is approximately 2mm in diameter and at least 1mm height.

6. A memory card as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the second group comprises hemispherical formations each of which formations is approximately 2.5mm in diameter and at least lmm in height.

7. A memory card as claimed in any one of Claims 4-6 which comprises five sets of ten of the first group of formations, each set being separated from an adjacent set by a distance of between 20 and 25mm.

8. A memory card as claimed in Claim 7 wherein a respective formation of the second group is located approximately centrally between each set of formations of the first group.

9. A memory card as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the five sets of the first group, each of which sets is separated by one of the formations of the second group, is provided on a notional endless loop.

10. A memory card as claimed in Claim 9 which additionally comprises a set of three of the first group of formations having a formation of the second group located on either side of the set of said first group of formations.

11. A memory card as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the set of the first group of formations, having a formation of the second group located at either end of the set of the first group, is provided on a linear portion which is notionally connected to the endless loop.

12. A memory card as claimed in any one of Claims 1-11 wherein the task comprises a prayer or a devotion.

13. A memory card according to Claim 12 wherein the sequence of prayers is a rosary.

14. A memory card substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.