WO2004088614A1

WO2004088614A1 - Travel indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2004088614A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/001309
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jnae Caroline Kinnaird
Original assignee: Curiosites 4 Kids Limited
Priority date: 2003-04-02
Filing date: 2004-03-25
Publication date: 2004-10-14
Also published as: GB0307596D0

Abstract

A travel indicator (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) is provided for use by a child when travelling on a journey. The travel indicator ((10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) has a base part (11, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) incorporating representations (18, 19, 34, 42, 66) of a distance to be travelled. An indicating part (21, 37, 43, 55, 65, 74) is movably mounted on the base part (11, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) so that the location of the indicating part (21, 37, 43, 55, 65, 74) relative to the base part (11, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) indicates the proportions of the distance travelled and remaining. Representations in the form of reusable stickers (18, 19, 54a, 62, 63) may cater for different journeys, and interchangeable indicating parts (37, 39) or reusable stickers (23, 44) thereon may cater for different vehicles in which the journey is being undertaken. The base part (11, 31. 41, 51, 61, 71) may be a sheet (11, 41, 61, 71) or cylinder (31, 51), on which the indicating part (21, 37, 43, 55, 65, 74) may be slidably or rotatably mounted.

Description

TRAVEL INDICATOR

This invention relates to a travel indicator, and in particular to a device for indicating to a child the proportion completed of the distance of a journey being undertaken.

It is known to provide maps or representation of specific journeys with means for indicating the proportion of a predetermined journey that has been completed. Such devices are described in US 3713236 and ZA 8108800. However, it is well known that young children have little or no concept of the distances involved, or the length of time required to complete a joumey by car, train, boat or aeroplane. They also have little or no concept of the proportion of a journey that has been completed at any time during that journey. Furthermore, young children cannot relate to a map to determine what proportion of a journey has been completed. In many cases, informing a child that a half, or some other proportion, of the journey has been completed, is of little or no value to that child if that child has no concept of proportion. Consequently, a child may become frustrated during the journey and persistently ask whether they have nearly reached their destination. This is particularly a problem when the journey is one that the child has not made before, or is made infrequently.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby it may be demonstrated to a child the proportion of a distance that has been travelled and the proportion remaining. It is also an object of the present invention to provide means whereby a child may be amused as the journey progresses.

The invention provides a travel indicator for use by a child, comprising a base part incorporating a representation of a distance to be travelled, and an indicating part mounted on the base part, the base part and the indicating part being relatively movable whereby the location of the indicating part relative to the base part indicates the proportions of the distance travelled and remaining.

The representations may be a part of the base part shaped in the form of graduations, or may be graphic representations of proportions. The graduations may comprise differently coloured segments. The graphic representations may be fractions marked on the base part, and/or may be percentages marked thereon. Alternatively, or in addition, the base part may have thereon markings representative of landmarks that might be passed on a journey. By landmarks is intended to include place names or descriptions. The indicating part may comprise a symbol representative of the vehicle in which the journey is being undertaken. The symbol may be a part of the indicating part shaped in the form of a vehicle, or may be a graphic representation of a vehicle. The indicator may comprise a plurality of indicating parts that are interchangeably mountable on the base part, each indicating part having a symbol differing from the symbols of the other indicating parts. The symbols may represent a motor vehicle, a train, a boat and/or an aeroplane.

The indicating part may be pivotally mounted on the base part. In this case, the base part may comprise a disc, and the indicating part may comprise a pointer. Alternatively, the base part may be elongate and the indicating part may be slidafoly mounted on the base ύ. In this case, the base part may comprise a sheet or cylinder, and the indicating part may comprise a sleeve mounted on the sheet or cylinder. As a further alternative, the indicating part may comprise a reusable sticker, or may comprise a magnet and be located on the base part by being magnetically coupled therewith. The base part may have a suction pad secured thereto.

The indicator may comprise a clock face, in which case the indicator may also comprise a pair of hands rotatably mounted on the clock face.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment,

Fig. 3 is a front view of a third embodiment,

Fig. 4 is a front view of a fourth embodiment,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 to an enlarged scale with an end cap and the indicating part removed,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the indicating part of the embodiment of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment, and,

Figs. 8 and 9 are a front view and side cross-section of a sixth embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a travel indicator 10 "Are we there yet?" having a circular base part 11. The base part 11 consists of two circular discs 12, 13 secured to each other by a rivet 14. Disc 12 has a larger diameter than that of disc 13, and the discs 12, 13 are positioned such that their circumferences are coincident at the bottom of the indicator, with the rivet 14 passing through the centre of disc 13. A second rivet 15 passes through discs 12, 13 at a location in the centre of the bottom half of disc 13. This second rivet 15 prevents relative movement of the discs 12, 13, but allows rotational movement of clock hands 16 mounted on rivet 15 at the front of disc 13. A clock face 17 is marked on the front of disc 13. The front face of disc 13 is marked with representations of the proportions of a distance being travelled. In this case, the journey is intended to represent travelling from home to a castle. This representation is effected by marked stickers placed on the disc 13 in the places representing the start and end of the journey. A reusable sticker 18 with the representation of a house thereon is placed at the start of the journey to the left of the clock 17, and a reusable sticker 19 with a representation of a castle is placed, as shown by the arrow A, at the end of the journey to the right of the clock 17. Other reusable stickers with graphic representations of landmarks that might be passed on the journey may be placed on disc 13 when such landmarks are observed. The proportions of the distance travelled are represented by "quadrants" 20 of disc 13 above the clock 17 in differing colours.

Mounted on rivet 14 between the discs 12, 13 is an indicating part in the form of an arm 21. The arm 21 is rotatable relative to the base part 11. The indicator part 22 of arm 21 is visible from the front of the indicator 10 and has a representation 23 marked thereon of a motor vehicle, indicative that the journey concerned is being made in a motor vehicle. This representation 23 could be one of a series of reusable stickers, the others in the series representing a boat, aeroplane, train or other vehicle. The arm 21 is configured with two stop formations 24, 25. Stop formation 24 contacts rivet 14 when the arm 21 is at the start of travel position, and stop formation 25 contacts rivet 14 when the arm 21 is at the end of travel position, thereby preventing further rotation of arm 21 beyond these limits. As the journey progresses, the child can move the indicator part 22 in the direction of arrow B to the position representative of the proportion of the distance covered as directed by the accompanying adult. In this way, the child has a cle,ar indication of that proportion and the proportion still to be covered. The child can also move the hands 16 of the clock 17 to keep pace with the passage of time during the journey. The indicator 10 may be hand-held, or may have a suction pad 26 on the rear surface of disc 12 in order that the indicator 10 may be attached to the window of the vehicle in which the child is travelling.

Referring now to figure 2, there is shown a travel indicator 30 having a base part 31 comprising a circular tube 32 and a strip insert 33. The tube 32 is of a substantially transparent material, e.g. extruded polystyrene, so that the strip insert 33 may be seen when it is placed inside the tube 32. The strip 33 has distance markings 34 marked thereon, and may also have a graphic representation 35 of a typical landscape, air and/or sea journey. End plugs 36, e.g. of a plastics material, are placed in the ends of the tube 32 when the strip insert. One end plug 36 has the word START marked thereon, and the other end plug 36 has the word END marked thereon. An indicating part 37 is mounted on the base part 31 and is slidable along the tube 32 to indicate the proportion of the distance covered and that remaining. The indicating part 37 has a graphic representation 38 of a vehicle printed thereon, and may be diecut from an expanded foam material. Both the strip insert 33 and the indicating part 37 are changeable, in the latter case for other indicating parts 39 having different vehicles illustrated thereon. As an alternative, the tube 32 may be of a solid or an opaque material, and the distance markings 34 and/or graphic representation 35 marked on the outside of the tube 32. The tube 32 may be curved or trace an irregular path along its length. In these cases, the indicating part 37 may be flexible or able to be opened and snapped closed, as shown in the case of indicator 39a.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a travel indicator 40 having an elongate base part 41 having markings 42 longitudinally spaced therealong. The base part 41 may be a sheet of cardboard or of a plastics material. In this case, the markings 42 are fractions or percentages of the journey, as desired. Slidably mounted on the base part 41 is an indicating part 43, which may also be of cardboard or of a plastics material. The indicating part 43 is moved along the base part 41 to represent the proportion of the distance travelled. Marked, or preferably attached using a reusable sticker, on the indicating part 43 is a representation 44 of the vehicle in which the journey is being undertaken. The representation 44 may be interchanged for alternative representation of different vehicles. Other reusable stickers 45 representative of landmarks that might be passed on the journey may be placed on the base part 41 when such landmarks are observed.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6, there is shown a travel indicator 50 representing a journey by train and boat, such as for example when travelling from London to Paris. The indicator 50 has an elongate circular tube base part 51 of a substantially transparent material, e.g. extruded plastics material. The base part 51 is formed having a groove 52 extending along the top of the tube 51 and a slot 53 extending along the bottom of the tube 51. Into the groove 52 is placed a graphic panel 54 of card or of plastics material. An indicating part 55 is placed inside the tube 51 so that a depending arm 56 of the indicating part 55 extends through the slot 53 and a foot 57 of circular form lies around the outside of the tube 51. End caps 58 of moulded plastics material are placed in the ends of the tube 51. The end caps 58 extend below the tube 51 and have a flat base 59 so that the indicator 50 will stand on a flat surface. The indicating part 55 may be moved along the tube 51 as the journey progresses to indicate the proportions of the distance completed and that remaining. The graphics 54a on the graphic panel 54 and the indicating part 55 are of the stick-on type so that they can be changed for other graphics to represent other journeys. Other stick-on sheets may have pictures of landmarks that might be passed on the journey, or be blank so that an adult may draw such landmarks or write names or descriptions of places for any particular journey.

Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown a travel indicator 60 having a base part 61 in the form as shown in the figure of a flat sheet. The sheet 61 is marked with or has reusable stickers having graphics representing a journey from home 62 to a castle 63. In the sheet 61 is a groove 64 in which an indicating part 65, having a depending spigot (not shown) may be moved as the journey progresses. Markings 66 indicate the start, quarter, half, three quarter and finish points. To add interest, the child could colour each section between the markings 66 to more clearly demonstrate the progress along the journey. As with the Fig. 3 embodiment, reusable stickers representative of landmarks that might be passed on the journey may be placed on the base part 61 when such landmarks are observed. If desired, the sheet 61 may be folded around and tabs 67 inserted into slots 68 to form the travel indicator 60 into a party hat configuration.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown a travel indicator 70 having a "picture frame" 71, which may be of a moulded plastics material, and inserted therein a base part 72. The base part 72, which may also be of a plastics material, has a graphic representation thereon of a distance to be travelled, in this case of a flight to a holiday destination. Behind the base part 72 is a sheet 73 of magnetisable material. Alternatively, the base part 72 may have a metalled coating on the rear face thereof. An indicating part 74 in the form of a magnetic button is placed on the base part 72 and moved over its surface as the journey progresses. Different base parts 72 may be inserted in the frame 71 and different magnetic indicating parts 74 used therewith to cater for different journeys made in different vehicles. Alternatively, the sheet 73 may be omitted and the indicating part 74 may be a reusable sticker.

The graphics on the base parts of the various embodiments described above may be printed in line format so that they may be coloured by pencil, crayon or the like during the journey.

Claims

1. A travel indicator (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) for use by a child, characterised by a base part (11, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71) incorporating representations (18, 19, 34, 42, 66) of a distance to be travelled, and an indicating part (21 , 37, 43, 55, 65, 74) mounted on the base part, the base part and the indicating part being relatively movable whereby the location of the indicating part relative to the base part indicates the proportions of the distance travelled and remaining.

2. A travel indicator (30, 60) according to claim 1, characterised in that the representations are a part of the base part (31, 61) shaped in the form of graduations (34, 66).

3. A travel indicator (10, 40) according to claim 1, characterised in that the representations are graphic representations of proportions (20, 42).

4. A travel indicator (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the graduations comprise differently coloured segments 20.

5. A travel indicator (40) according to claim 1, characterised in that the graphic representations comprise fractions (42) marked on the base part (41).

6. A travel indicator (40) according to claim 1, characterised in that the graphic representations are percentages (42) marked on the base part (41).

7 A travel indicator (10, 40, 50) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the graphic representations (18, 19, 54a, 62, 63) comprise a reusable sticker.

8. A travel indicator (40) according to claim 1, characterised in that the graphic representations comprise markings on the base part (41) representative of landmarks (45) that might be passed on a journey.

9. A travel indicator (50) according to claim 1, characterised in that the graphic representations (54a) include place names or descriptions added by the end user.

10. A travel indicator (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the indicating part (21, 37, 43, 55, 65, 74) comprises a symbol (23, 38, 44, 55, 65, 74) representative of the vehicle in which the journey is being undertaken.

11. A travel indicator (60) according to claim 10, characterised in that the symbol may be a part of the indicating part (65) shaped in the form of a vehicle.

12. A travel indicator (10, 30, 40, 50, 70) according to claim 10, characterised in that the symbol is a graphic representation (23, 38, 44, 55, 74) of a vehicle.

13. A travel indicator (30) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterised by a plurality of indicating parts (37, 39) that are interchangeably mountable on the base part (31), each indicating part (37, 39) having a symbol (38) differing from the symbols of the other indicating parts (37, 39).

14. A travel indicator (30) according to claim 13, characterised in that the symbols (38) represent a motor vehicle, a train, a boat and an aeroplane.

15. A travel indicator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the indicating part (21) is pivotally mounted on the base part (1 ).

16. A travel indicator (10) according to claim 15, characterised in that the base part (11) comprises a disc.

17. A travel indicator (10) according to claim 16, characterised in that the indicating part (21) comprises a pointer.

18. A travel indicator (30, 40, 50, 60) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the base part (31, 41, 51 , 61) is elongate and the indicating part (37, 43, 55, 65) is slidably mounted on the base part (31, 41, 51, 61).

19. A travel indicator (40, 60, 70) according to claim 18, characterised in that the base part (41, 61 , 72) comprises a sheet.

20. A travel indicator (30, 50) according to claim 18, characterised in that the base part (31, 51) comprises a cylinder.

21. A travel indicator (30, 40) according to claim 19 or claim 20, characterised in that the indicating part (37, 43) comprises a sleeve mounted on the sheet (41) or cylinder (31).

22 A travel indicator (10, 40, 50) according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that the indicating part (21 , 41 , 54) comprises a reusable sticker (23, 44).

23. A travel indicator (70) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the indicating part (74) comprises a magnet is located on the base part (71) by being magnetically coupled therewith.

24. A travel indicator (10, 40, 60, 70) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterised in that the base part (11, 41, 61, 71) has a suction pad secured thereto.

25. A travel indicator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterised by a clock face (17).

26. A travel indicator according to claim 25, characterised by a pair of hands (16) rotatably mounted on the clock face (17).

27. A travel indicator (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70) substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig.2, Fig.3, Figs 4 to 6, Fig. 7 or Figs 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.