Reward clock
OwnerDerek Ostlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to devices that may be used to help young children stay in bed or their room until it is time to get up. The device may be configured as a clock. The clock may be programmable to have a duration of a nap time, or a time when the child is able to get up. A visual countdown timer may be provided with the device (e.g., on the clock face), which may include a graphical representation of the remaining fraction of time before “get up” time. The visual countdown timer may not include number indicia, but rather includes a graphic (e.g., ring extending about the perimeter of the clock face), which gradually diminishes as the predetermined “get up” time is approached. A reward drawer may also be provided, which automatically unlocks at the “get up” time, and provides the child with a prize.
Claims20
A clock device for use by both an adult user and a child user, for providing a reward to the child user after a predetermined time, the clock device comprising:
- a clock body comprising at least one of an analog or digital clock display on the clock body;
- a single reward compartment provided within the clock body, the reward compartment storing an entirety of a prize for the child user;
- a lock in or on the clock body, in communication with the reward compartment, the lock maintaining the reward compartment in a locked configuration until the predetermined time set by the adult user;
- wherein the reward compartment comprises the lock in communication with a timer, the timer being electronically or mechanically coupled to the lock such that the reward compartment remains locked until the predetermined time set by the adult user has been achieved, so that the entirety of the prize may be retrieved by the child user at the predetermined time.
A clock device for training a child user to remain in their bed or room until a predetermined time, the clock device comprising:
- a clock body including a clock face that is configured to display a countdown timer corresponding to how much time the child user is to remain in their bed or room;
- a visual graphical countdown timer, where the visual graphical countdown timer does not include number indicia but begins as an initially “full” graphic, which progressively diminishes as the countdown timer progressively counts down towards the predetermined time, at which zero time remains, and at which time the progressively diminishing graphic has diminished to zero;
- and
- a light on or within the clock body, wherein the light automatically illuminates when the visual graphical countdown timer diminishes to zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.