Hand washing timer
AssigneeTime Timer, LLC
InventorsDavid M. Rogers, Heather Rogers, Tricia L. Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hands-free visual timer enables a person to wash his or hands for the duration of time recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Upon activation, the timer displays an annular ring of thirty triangles and a first icon. After five seconds have passed, a second icon is displayed indicating the user should apply soap. After twenty-five seconds, a third icon is displayed indicating the user should rinse. After thirty seconds, the screen goes blank and all the triangles have disappeared. The central display of triangles is illuminated by a liquid crystal display. The icons are illuminated by light emitting diodes.
Claims19
A hands-free visual timer for counting a time period comprising:
- a cup-shaped housing having an interior and a battery compartment for storing at least one battery;
- a door for covering the battery compartment;
- a rear cover for covering the battery compartment, the rear covering being adapted to be secured to the cup-shaped housing by rotating the rear cover;
- a circuit board containing light emitting diodes;
- a liquid crystal display capable of showing an annular ring of triangles which disappear as time elapses;
- a front bezel secured to the cup-shaped housing, the front bezel having a circular opening allowing light to pass through the opening in the front bezel;
- at least one light sensor for activating the timer;
- and
- a plastic front lens.
A hands-free visual timer comprising:
- a housing having a battery compartment for storing at least one battery;
- a door for covering the battery compartment;
- a waterproof rear cover for covering the battery compartment, the rear covering being adapted to be secured to the housing;
- a circuit board containing light emitting diodes;
- a liquid crystal display capable of showing an annular ring of triangles which disappear as time elapses;
- a front bezel secured to the housing, the front bezel having openings allowing light to pass through the openings in the front bezel;
- at least one light sensor secured to the front bezel;
- and
- a plastic front lens having multiple icons silkscreened on a back surface of the plastic front lens.
A method of using a hands-free visual timer for assistance washing hands for a predetermined time period, the method comprising:
- activating a light sensor secured to a front bezel of the timer by waving a hand in front of the timer, the front bezel of the timer being secured to a housing, the housing having a battery compartment for storing at least one battery to power the timer, wherein upon activation, a single color liquid crystal display shows an annular ring of triangles and a light emitting diode displays a first icon,
- waiting a first time period until a first number of triangles disappear and a second icon appears on the face of the timer;
- waiting a second time period until a predetermined number of additional triangles disappear and a third icon appears on the face of the timer;
- and
- waiting a third time period until all the triangles have disappeared and the face of the timer is blank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.