Hand washing timer
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.
1. 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 speaker located in the interior of the cup-shaped housing, the speaker being activated by a toggle switch, the toggle switch being in a recess in the cup-shaped 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 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.
2. The timer of claim 1 , further comprising a rear suction cup which fits inside a keyhole in the rear cover.
3. The timer of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom suction cup which fits inside an opening formed between the rear cover and the cup-shaped housing.
4. The timer of claim 1 , wherein the rear cover and the cup-shaped housing have a flat surface so the timer may rest on a flat surface without falling over.
5. The timer of claim 1 , wherein the plastic front lens has multiple icons silkscreened on a back surface of the plastic front lens.
6. The timer of claim 1 , wherein the annular ring of triangles which disappear as time elapses disappear in a clockwise direction.
7. The timer of claim 1 , wherein the annular ring of triangles comprises thirty triangles, one for each second of time.
8. A hands-free visual timer for counting a thirty second time period 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 by rotating the rear cover relative 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.
9. The timer of claim 8 , further comprising a speaker in the interior of the housing.
10. The timer of claim 8 , wherein the annular ring of triangles comprises thirty triangles, one for each second of time.
11. The timer of claim 8 , wherein the rear cover and the housing have a flat surface so the timer may rest on a flat surface without falling over.
12. The timer of claim 8 , wherein the housing is cup-shaped.
13. The timer of claim 8 , wherein the annular ring of triangles disappears in a clockwise direction as time elapses.
14. The timer of claim 8 , wherein the plastic front lens has three icons outside the annular ring of triangles.
15. 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 outside the annular ring of triangles, waiting five seconds until five triangles disappear and a second icon appears on the face of the timer, the second icon being outside the annular ring of triangles;
waiting twenty seconds until twenty additional triangles disappear and a third icon appears on the face of the timer, the third icon being outside the annular ring of triangles; and
waiting five more seconds until all the triangles have disappeared and the face of the timer is blank.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the triangles disappear in a clockwise direction.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first icon includes a human hand.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising using a suction cup secured to the timer to secure the time in a desired location.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising setting a speaker on silent mode.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising setting a speaker on a mode which plays music.