WO2004081894A1

WO2004081894A1 - Time management accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2004081894A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2004/000026
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Milton Comley
Original assignee: John Milton Comley
Priority date: 2003-03-10
Filing date: 2004-03-09
Publication date: 2004-09-23

Abstract

A time management accessory (1) is provided comprising a base (2, 13, 17) that may either be adapted to be attached to an upright surface or to be free standing on a generally horizontal surface. The base has a display face including at least two, and preferably three, different availability zones (7, 8, 9) each of which has associated with it indicia indicating in the one case availability and in another case unavailability of a person in association with which the accessory is used. Indicator means (11, 14, 18) are provided for selectively indicating the applicability of a selected one of said availability zones at any one time. The indicator means is preferably a physical indicator such as an arrow or the like that is movable between positions in which an appropriate part thereof is associated with a selected one of said availability zones. The display face preferably also has a scale (10) indicating time of day and a movable indicator, typically the same indicator, for indicating such time of day as an additional availability zone.

Description

TIME MANAGEMENT ACCESSORY

FIELD Q THE fiWEMTTO

This invention relates to s time management accessory that is particularly adapted to assist in the control of interacSons betøeen persons in the workplace vMi a vierø to diminishing the ill effects on productivity of interruptions in ie activities of the person being approached and also with a view to facilitating meetings at which such interaction can take place.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Productivity, at least in many circumstances, is dependent to some extent on time management, particularly of responsible persons that are in a position in which regular interaction with other persons, typically subordinate persons, is necessary in order for an organization to operate effectively.

Very often, the productivity of such a responsible person can be deleteriously affected by regular interruptions, particularly at times when that responsible person is busy concentrating on a particular activity and the breaking of such concentration can adversely affect, and, in any event, delay its satisfactory conclusion, particularly if it is an urgent matter.

On the other hand, if the responsible person is periodically and intermittently away from the workstation at which other persons expect to find that responsible person for fee purpose of interaction such other persons csπ waste considerable time by repeatedly reporting to the workstation whilst the responsible person is not there. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a time management accessory, the use of which will, at least to some extent, assist in alleviating time was age and unnecessary interruptions in circumstances such as those indicated above.

SOMOM^Y OF TME WEOTBOKI

In accordance with this invention there is provided a time management accessory comprising a base that may either be adapted to be attached to an upright surface or to be free standing on a generally horizontal surface, the accessory being characterized in that the base has a display face including at least two different availability zones each of which has associated with it indicia indicating in the one case availability and in the other case unavailability of a person in association with which the accessory is used, and indicator means for selectively indicating the applicability of a selected one of said availability zones at any one time.

Further features of the invention provide for the indicator means to be a physical indicator movable between positions in which an appropriate part thereof is associated with a selected one of said availability zones; for there to be three different availability zones with the third one having indicia associated with it for indicating restricted availability; for the display face to further have a scale indicating time of day and a movable indicator, that will generally, but not necessarily, be the same indicator that is employed for selective association with said availability zones and that can be selectively used to indicate a time when an event is expected to take place such as the return or availability of the person concerned with said timescale thus forming a fourth availability zone; for the base to optionally support a message receiving facility such as a notepad, small whiteboard, or even an electronic recording device; and for the various availability zones and, where present the timescale, to be arranged either angularly relative to each other in a composite circular array in which case the indicator is preferably an indicator arrow pivotally mounted at the centre of the circular array or, alternatively, in a longitudinal sequential array that may be either horizontal or vertical in which case the indicator is slidsble longitudinally relative to the base so as to be capable of location in association with any of the availability 2ones or an appropriate position on the timescale.

In order that the above anύ other features of the invention may be more fully understood three different embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the invention that is adapted to be supported on a generally vertical surface;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of the invention that is adapted to be free standing on a worktop such as a desk surface or the like and having a generally horizontal array of availability zones and timescale; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4; and, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention that is adapted to be free standing on a worktop but having a generally vertical array of availability zones and timescale.

OET BLED DESCRIPTOR) MQTH KEFEOSEMCE T© THE DK_MM©8

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, the first embodiment of time management accessory according to the invention has a planar base, generally indicated by numeral (1), that has an operatively vertical upper half (2) and a somewhat forwardly inclined lower half (3). The lower half is held in its forwardly inclined position, in the operative condition, by a suitable gusset (4) that is shown clearly in Figure 3. The lower half simply supports a message taking facility, in this case, in the form of a pad (5) of notepaper, typically such as those sold under the trademark "POST-IT" by the 3M Company. Any other message taking facility may be used in the alternative or in addition.

Reverting now to the various availability zones and timescale, these are arranged within a circle (6) applied to the upper half (2) of the base that preferably has printed at the top the legend "Please respect my workplace productivity". The upper semicircle is divided into three availability zones one of which is indicated by numeral (7) and has printed thereon the indication "I'm available", this zone preferably being coloured green; a second availability zone that is indicated by numeral (8) and has printed thereon the indication "If it can wait-please make it", this zone preferably being coloured amber; and a third availability zone that is indicated by numeral (9) and has printed thereon the indication "Hot available", this zone preferably being coloured red. The lower semicircle has printed thereon the indication "I will be back at " and has a timescale, that is indicated by numeral (10), arranged towards the periphery, the timescale emending over normal working hours, say from

OShOO to17h00, with a final position indicating "tomorrow".

An indicator hand (11) is pivotally attached to the centre of the circle so that if can be moved manually to any position on the timescale or a selected one of the availability zones, as may be required.

For use, the base can be attached to any vertical surface such as the surface of a door, wall, partition, noticeboard or the like in an appropriate position, as may be required. Attachment may take place in any manner such as by attaching the base by means of adhesive mounting pads, hanging it from a suspension element or in any other suitable manner. The lower half of the base may also be provided with an aperture (12) for removably receiving a writing instrument for use in association with the notepad during use.

It will be understood that a responsible person in respect of which the time management accessory is employed, can move the indicator needle to any required position according to that person's movements and activities and that considerable time and inconvenience can be avoided to both the responsible person and the subordinate persons when the availability of the responsible person is reflected on the accessory in a manner that will be quite obvious to those skilled in the art.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, similar availability zones and timescale to those utilized in Figures 1 to 3, and that are indicated bγ like numerals with the suffix "a", namely (7a), (8a), (9a), and (10a) are carried in a longitudinal horizontal array on a free standing elongate generally horizontal base (13). The indicator (14), in this embodiment of the invention, is longitudinally slidable along the upper edge on both sides (16) with corresponding zones being located opposite each other front and back. In this manner the time management accessory will display the required information both front and back, for eisample, in relation to a desktop.

In the case of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, similar availability zones and a timescale are applied in a vertical array to a vertically emending base (17) that has a vertically slidable indicator (18) carried on a vertical rail (10) attached to the base. The various zones are once more indicated by numerals (7b), (8b), (9b), and (10b) that at the same as those utilized in Figures 1 to 3 with the suffix "b". In this case an added option of a zone (20) bearing the legend "Leave me a note" is also provided.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

©LABI

1. A time management accessory (1) comprising a base (2, 13, 17) that may either be adapted to be attached to an upright surface or to be free standing on a generally horizontal surface, the accessory being characterized in that the base has a display face including at least two different availability zones (7, 8, 9) each of which has associated with it indicia indicating in the one case availability and in another case unavailability of a person in association with which the accessory is used, and indicator means (11, 14, 18) for selectively indicating the applicability of a selected one of said availability zones at any one time.

2. A time management accessory as claimed in claim 1 in which the indicator means is a physical indicator movable between positions in which an appropriate part thereof is associated with a selected one of said availability zones.

3. A time management accessory as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which three different availability zones are provided with the third one ¹ (8) having indicia associated with it for indicating restricted availability.

4. A time management accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the display face also has a scale (10) indicating time of day and a movable indicator for indicating such time of day.

5. A time management accessory as claimed in claim 4 in which the indicator is the same indicator that is employed for selective association with said availability zones nd that can, in the alternative to indicating and availability zone, be selectively used to indicate a time when an event is expected to take place with said timescale forming a fourth availability zone.

6. A time management accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the base supports a message receiving facility selected from a notepad (5), small whiteboard, and an electronic recording device.

7. A time management accessor}/ as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the various availability zones (7, 8, 9) and, where present the timescale (10), are arranged angularly relative to each other in a composite circular array in which case the indicator is an indicator arrow (11) pivotaily mounted at the centre of the circular array.

8. A time management accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the various availability zones (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) and, where it is present, the timescale (10a, 10b), are arranged in a longitudinal sequential array that may extend either horizontally or vertically in which case the indicator (14, 18) is slidabte longitudinally relative to the base (13, 17) so as to be capable of location in association with any of the availability zones and an appropriate position on the timescale.