GB2328527A

GB2328527A - Timing device

Info

Publication number: GB2328527A
Application number: GB9717722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Charles Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-22
Filing date: 1997-08-22
Publication date: 1999-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-22
Also published as: GB9717722D0; GB2328527B

Abstract

A timing device 10 comprises a cylindrical container 11 having a bulbous reservoir 12 at one end thereof and an aperture 14 permitting sand 17, to pass in a controlled flow from the reservoir 12 to the container 11 when the container 11 stands upright on its base. The container 11 is provided with an additional closed cylindrical container 15 communicating with the main container 11 and extending at an angle thereto. In use the sand 17 flows into the main container 11 up to a junction with the additional container 15 and thereafter flows into the additional container 15. After a period, the centre of gravity of the device 10, due to the presence of the substance 17 in the additional container 15, moves outside of the main container 11 and the device 10 topples, indicating that the period has elapsed.

Description

A Timina Device This invention relates to a timing device.

It is known to provide see-through sand timing devices in the form of opposed containers in communication one with another through a constricted passageway through which an encapsulated mass of sand drains in a controlled manner from an upper one to a lower one of the containers. The device is operated by reversing the device so that the lower one of the containers containing the sand becomes the uppermost of the two containers whereby the sand again passes through the passageway to the lower one of the containers.

The time for the sand to drain from an uppermost to a lowermost container is determined by the mass of sand, the size of the sand particles and the transverse dimension of the passageway and these factors are controlled so that the duration of the passage of sand from an upper to a lower container is predetermined.

A disadvantage of such known sand timers is that they only provide visual indication when a predetermined interval has lapsed and, therefore, it is necessary to monitor visually and continuously the passage of sand through the passageway.

According to the present invention, there is provided a timing device comprising a container having a base, a reservoir in communication with the container, a flowable substance contained in the reservoir and a passageway located between the reservoir and the container whereby, when the base is located on a surface so that the device extends in an upright condition, the substance passes from the reservoir through the passageway and into the container in a controlled manner, wherein there is provided an additional reservoir in communication with the container, the additional reservoir extending outwardly from the container and the arrangement being such that the substance overflows from the container into the additional reservoir and causes the device to topple from the upright condition.

Therefore, the device topples from the upright condition when a period of time has elapsed and the toppling effect provides an indication that the period of time has elapsed.

Another disadvantage of known sand timers is that it is necessary to wait until all of the sand has passed from an upper to a lower container before the timer can be re-used.

According to the present invention there is provided a second passageway communicating the container with the first reservoir and being of greater transverse dimension than the transverse dimension of the first passageway so that, when the device is reversed, the substance flows from the container to the first reservoir in less time than the substance flows from the first reservoir to the container.

Therefore, with a timing device in accordance with the present invention, it is not necessary to wait until all of the flowable substance has passed from the reservoir before the device can be re-started. The device can be re-started at any time.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of an embodiment of a timing device in accordance with the present invention, Figures 2 to 5 are corresponding views of the device during operation thereof, and Figures 6 to 11 are corresponding views of the device indicating how the device is prepared for re-use after a timing interval.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a timing device 10 formed of rigid see-through plastics material comprising a container 11 formed integrally with a bulbous reservoir 12 and having an internal conical passageway 13 tapering from a junction of the container 11 and the reservoir 12 inwardly of the reservoir 12. At the junction, the conical passageway 13 is provided with an aperture 14 which is of reduced diameter compared any diameter of the conical passageway 13.

The container 11 is formed integrally with an additional container 15 having an end wall 16. The reservoir 12 contains a mass of sand 17 the particles of which are of sufficiently reduced dimension to pass through the aperture 14. An end portion of the container 11 provides a flat base 18 which supports the device 10 in an upright condition, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, the arrangement is such that when the device 10 is extends in the upright condition the particles of sand, by gravity, drain through the aperture 14 from the reservoir 12 and collect in the container 11. However, the mass of sand is arranged to be such that a proportion of the sand fills the container 11 up to the junction with the additional container 15 before the mass of sand is exhausted from the reservoir 12. In consequence, the sand draining from the reservoir 12 overflows from the container 11 into the additional container 15, as shown in Figure 4. In consequence, the centre of gravity of the device moves laterally from a central longitudinal axis of the container 11, as shown in Figure 4. The arrangement is such, as the last particles of sand pass through the aperture 14 and into the additional container 15, the centre of gravity of the device 10 is on an axis extending outwardly of the container 11, causing the device 10 to topple, as shown in Figure 5. Subsequently, the device is inverted, as shown in Figures 6 to 11, whereby the particles of sand 17 flow from the container 11 and the additional container 15 through the conical passageway 13 and back into the reservoir 12. Since the minimum crosssection of the conical passageway 13 is greater than the dimension of the aperture 14, the sand particles return to the reservoir 12 in a substantially shorter interval compared with the time in which the sand particles pass from the reservoir 12 to the container 11.

It will be appreciated that it is not necessary for a surface supporting the device in accordance with the present invention to be horizontal since the device will operate whether the auxiliary reservoir extends in a direction upwardly or downwardly of an inclined surface supporting the device.

Claims

1. A timing device comprising a container having a base, a reservoir in communication with the container, a flowable substance contained in the reservoir and a passageway located between the reservoir and the container whereby, when the base is located on a surface so that the device extends in an upright condition, the substance passes from the reservoir through the passageway and into the container in a controlled manner, wherein there is provided an additional reservoir in communication with the container, the additional reservoir extending outwardly from the container and the arrangement being such that the substance overflows from the container into the additional reservoir and causes the device to topple from the upright condition.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein there is provided a second passageway communicating the container with the first reservoir and being of greater transverse dimension than the transverse dimension of the first passageway so that, when the device is reversed, the substance flows from the container to the first reservoir in less time than the substance flows from the first reservoir to the container.

3. A timing device substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.