WO1995020778A1

WO1995020778A1 - Timer arrangements

Info

Publication number: WO1995020778A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/000162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rupert Peter Steer
Original assignee: Rupert Peter Steer
Priority date: 1994-01-27
Filing date: 1995-01-27
Publication date: 1995-08-03
Also published as: GB2301463B; GB2301463A; GB9614378D0; GB9401535D0; AU1463595A

Abstract

A modular timer arrangement for recording time spent on different tasks comprises three or more timer modules (1, 2, 3), each of which has a display arranged to display the time elapsed since its initial starting, and a start/stop button (7) and a zero button (8). The start/stop button of each timer is associated with the display of that timer and the timer modules may each be provided with tongue and groove or other connectors (19, 20) which enable the modules to be connected and disconnected and transmit disabling signals which ensure that only one timer display is incrementing at any given time. The arrangement is useful to professionals and others who need to record time spent on different tasks and who typically have several uncompleted tasks on their desks.

Description

Timer Arrangements

This invention relates to timer arrangements.

Electronic timing devices can either be dedicated devices or devices incorporating a timing system together with other functions. Thus it is very usual to find that a modern desk telephone will incorporate a timer as do calculators and similar devices. Very often these are used by professionals and others who need to know the length of time which is being spent on a particular task. However, those systems usually comprise a single timing device which can only be used on one particular task at a time. For professionals and others it is often necessary to switch from one task to another in which it would be desirable to store the time spent on the first task while recording the time on the second or even third task. Such a system could be incorporated into a complex computer system but for many purposes a simpler timing device is desired.

Timer arrangements are known (eg. in chess clocks) which comprise two timers each provided with a starting and stopping actuator arrangement and a time display and each timer being arranged to display the time elapsed since its initial starting, the timers being coupled to a disabling arrangement which prevents more than one display from incrementing at a given time.

The arrangement of the present invention is characterised by the feature that the actuator arrangement of each timer comprises a starting actuator associated with the display of that timer.

Conversely, in the known chess clock arrangement, the starting actuator of each timer is located adjacent the display of another timer. Such an arrangement is quite unsuitable for professional time recording and indeed lies in a different technical field from that of the present invention.

Preferably the timer arrangement of the invention comprises three or more timers.

Preferably the timer arrangement is in modular form wherein at least a start/stop actuator is provided on each module.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

^' Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a timer arrangement of the invention/

Fig. 2 is a side view taken on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of one of the three timer modules making up the timer arrangement; Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a further timer arrangement in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuitry of the arrangement of Fig. 4.

The arrangement is in the form of a console which comprises three timer modules 1, 2 and 3 having digital displays 4, 5 and 6. The displays can be vertical or angled for easy viewing. Each timer is actuated by a set of buttons 7, 8 comprising a start/stop 7 and zero 8. The button actuators are electronically interlinked so that operation of any one on button auromatically actuates the off buttons of the other timer modules. On the lower portion of the console there are provided recesses 10, 11, 12 having tear-off pads 13, 14, 15 associated with each of the timer displays on which the subject task for each timer can be indicated. The pads are retained in the recesses by partial front wall openings (for example 16) which allow for ready access to the pads. These pads can be of sheets held together by a re-attachable pressure sensitive adhesive so that on completion of the task a sheet can be removed from the console and attached to a file which has

5 been the subject of the task after indication on the sheet of the time the task has taken.

Alternatively, easily erasable writing surfaces associated with the respective timer displays can be 10 provided.

A groove 17 can be provided in a horizontal face of the console for pencil or other marking device.

15 As best seen in Fig. 1, each timer module is provided with a tongue 19 at one end and a groove 20 at the other, the tongues and grooves interlocking to link the timer modules together. As shown in Fig. 2, each tongue 19 carries two contacts 50, 60 which mate with corresponding

20 contacts in the interlocking groove 20 of the adjacent timer module. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, each module has two pairs of contacts 50, 60 and 70, 80 in its tongue 19 and groove 20 respectively. Alternatively, other electrical and/or mechanical means of connection may be

25 utilised.

As shown in Fig. 3, each module's first tongue contact 50 is connected to its second tongue contact 70 and each module's first groove contact 60 is connected to its second 30 groove contact 80. Hence all the first tongue and groove contacts of the arrangement 50, 70 are mutually connected and all the second tongue and groove contacts 60, 80 are mutually connected. All the switches 7, 8 are normally » open and make only momentary contact.

35

Depression of the start/stop button 7 of a module applies a voltage (+V) to a latching input of its timer circuit 100 which activates the timer to increment the display (ie. display elapsed time) if the display is frozen (stopped) and de-activates the timer to freeze the display (stop) if the display is incrementing (started) .

In order to stop any timer of another module which may be activated, the start/stop signal from switch 7 appears at an output 110 of circuit 100 and hence at contacts 60 and 80, to which it is connected.

Considering the module shown in Fig. 3, if it is assumed that another timer module has been activated while its own timer is activated (and its display is incrementing) then the signal from the other timer will be received by contact 60 or 80 and will appear as a HIGH input signal at one input of an exclusive OR gate 90. The other input of exclusive OR gate 90 is connected to switch 7 (which is normally open) and hence it will be LOW. Consequently, the output of gate 90 will go HIGH in response to the depression of a start/stop button 7 of another timer module. This HIGH output is connected to a STOP input of timer 100 and stops timer 100. Depression of the start/stop button 7 of any timer module causes both inputs of its associated exclusive OR gate 90 to momentarily go HIGH, so that the output of its gate 90 goes LOW and does not stop its own timer circuit 100.

Hence only one timer circuit 100 can be running at any given time.

A clear switch 8 is provided which, when momentarily closed by depressing its button, causes the timer circuit 100 to reset its associated display 40 to zero, providing the display is "stopped" when switch 8 is actuated.

In the further embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, a unitary console 130 of three displays 40' is provided, each controlled by a common controller 100' which includes a CPU programmed to allow only one display to be activated (ie. incrementing) at any given time. Contacts 120 are provided to enable connection to other, similar consoles and carry signals which prevent more than one display of any of the connected consoles to be activated (ie. incrementing) at any given time.

It will also be appreciated that mechanical rather than electronic disabling arrangements may be provided to ensure that only one timer is running at any given time.

Furthermore, the timer arrangements of the invention can be powered by any suitable power source, such as a battery, a solar cell, mains power, or a mechanical power source.

Claims

Claims :

1. A timer arrangement comprising a plurality of timers (1,2,3) each provided with a starting and stopping actuator arrangement (7,90) and a time display (4,5,6) and each timer being arranged to display the time elapsed since its initial starting, the timers (1,2,3) being coupled to a disabling arrangement (90) which prevents more than one display from incrementing at any given time, characterised in that the actuator arrangement (7,90) of each timer (1,2,3) comprises a starting actuator (7) associated with the display (4,5,6) of that timer.

2. A timer arrangement according to claim 1, which comprises three or more timers (1,2,3) .

3. A timer arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a start/stop actuator (7) is provided on each module (1,2,3) .

4. A timer arrangement according to claim 3 wherein each time display (4,5,6) is provided with a zeroing actuator (8) which is associated therewith and clears that display when actuated.

5. A timer arrangement according to any preceding claim which is in modular form, each module (1,2,3) comprising timing means (100) , a time display (4,5,6) , a starting actuator, disabling means and connecting means (19,20) for connecting the module to another such module, said modules being connectable and disconnectable to vary the number of timers (1,2,3) in the timer arrangement, the disabling means of the modules being connectable to form said disabling arrangement (90) which prevents more than one display from incrementing at any given time irrespective of the number of timers in the timer arrangement.

6. A timer arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said timing means (100) are electronic and said disabling means (90) is provided with one or more contacts (50,60,70,80) which are engageable with complementary contacts on an adjacent module, said contacts being connected to circuit means which is arranged to transmit disabling signals from an actuated timer to the other timers (1,2,3) in the arrangement via the mutually engaged contacts of adjacent modules.

7. A timer module as defined in claim 5.

8. A timer arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein each display (4,5,6) is associated with a writing surface.

9. A timer arrangement according to claim 8 wherein each display (4,5,6) is provided with a writing pad (13,14,15) of detachable sheets, each of said sheets being provided with an adhesive backing to enable it to be attached to a file.

10. A timer arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein said displays (4,5,6) are digital displays.