Time and date management apparatus

Abstract

A sheet having indicia to indicate a one month time period and then with each month divided into days. Each sheet is provided with a slot that provides entry to a receptacle that is attached to the back of the sheet, thus keeping a portion of an inserted reminder card for an appointment or task remains easily visible for a user. General use appointment and task cards permit the user to tailor the time and date management apparatus to particular needs. Reminder cards could be color coded to indicate the type of task or appointment. Reminder cards can also be dimensioned to substantially the same size as a standard business card or appointment card such as used by a doctor or dentist.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a time and date management apparatus, in particular a calendar to organize appointments and tasks.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The use of calendars to manage time and appointments is well known in the art. The need for handling multiple tasks and appointments is found in many different types of situations. Situations where people face numerous appointments are thus difficult to manage. Examples of such situations that are difficult to manage are found in sales workplaces requiring multiple client visits and in a home where a person must self-administer many different types of medications.

[0003] Typical calendars fall into three general categories: preprinted paper, dry-erase boards, and computer software. The first two require a person to manually transcribe with pen or pencil the appointments and tasks onto a surface area, while the third type requires a computer for use and enjoyment.

[0004] The problem with manually transcribing information on a preprinted paper calendar is that the information often times will not fit within the finite space provided by a calendar. Additionally, with preprinted paper calendars when appointments and tasks are rescheduled or recurring they must be written out once again. Finally, with preprinted paper calendars, a person runs the risk of overlooking appointments or tasks once the information in the portioned area becomes too voluminous.

[0005] Like preprinted paper calendars, the second category, dry-erase boards, present some of the same limitations, especially as problems relate to a finite area of space within which to record information. Admittedly, one improvement of dry-erase boards over preprinted paper calendars is that a person can remove and re-record information faster than with a preprinted paper calendar. Nonetheless dry-erase boards still require rescheduled or recurring appointments or tasks are written out one at a time. Finally, dry-erase boards present two problems unique from preprinted paper calendars. First, ink on a dry erase board will often times smudge, contributing to confusion. Second, when ink on dry-erase boards is erased a bothersome residue is often left behind, potentially damaging clothing or at the very least presenting a nuisance by amassing on a person's skin.

[0006] The third general category of calendars, computer software, offers some distinct improvements over earlier preprinted paper and dry-erase boards. Much more information can be stored within a certain space on a computer software calendar, displays can be manipulated according to the preference of the user, and recurring appointments are recorded with relative ease. However, computer software calendars are limited in two areas: the overall monthly or yearly view of the calendar is constrained by the size of the computer's monitor, and the use and enjoyment of the computer software calendar requires that the user has already made a costly economic investment—the purchase of a computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an aspect of the invention to provide receptacles behind each day on the calendar within which reminder cards are placed for important appointments and tasks.

[0008] The invention also provides that the receptacles be sized in a manner conducive to storing business cards.

[0009] The invention allows a portion of the reminder and business cards to protrude so that their presence in the calendar on a particular day is known.

[0010] The invention is designed so that the receptacles are compartmentalized but attached to one another allowing for them to be bonded and thus fastened to the back of each sheet of the apparatus.

[0011] Each sheet preferably has indicia to indicate a one month time period and then with each month divided into days. However, the time duration could be one day and then each month divided into hours. Other arrangements could also be used such as the seasons, years, and so on. Each sheet is provided with a slot that provides entry to a receptacle that is attached to the back of the sheet. However, the receptacle could be eliminated if each reminder card was die cut stamped so that a tab was place in the card. The tab could then be placed on edge of the slot to align and position the reminder card so that the appointment time, place, etc. could be easily viewed.

[0012] Finally the invention includes general use appointment and task cards that the user can tailor to his or her particular needs. For example, the reminder cards could be color coded to indicate the type of task or appointment. Reminder cards can also be dimensioned to substantially the same size as a standard business card or appointment card such as used by a doctor or dentist.

[0013] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the invention which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of time and date management apparatus in accordance with the invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a generic reminder card

[0016] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the reminder card.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a back view of the time and date management apparatus.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an end of the time and date management apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The invention is a time and date management apparatus preferably having twelve monthly sheets and various reminder cards allowing the user to distribute various appointments and tasks throughout the calendar in an efficient manner. This level of efficiency is desirable in situations where there are a multitude of appointments and tasks faced by the user.

[0020] As noted above, a different time duration (not shown) well known in the art could be selected. For example, each sheet could represent a time duration of one week, one day, etc. Time intervals would then be then days, hours, etc.

[0021] Referring first to FIG. 1, invention 10 is a sheet preferably made from heavy-stock paper 10. The front side of the sheet 24 is imprinted with the indicia 12 depicting time duration and time interval. As shown, the time duration is the month of April, 2003 and the time interval are the days of the month. Each week makes up one row with the days of the week forming the headers and the month and year displayed across the top. Each day is bordered within a box that has sufficient room for additional indicia 20 to be placed thereon, either handwritten or printed. Each day contains a slot 14 within which a reminder card 18 is placed so that a portion is above slot 14 and is visible. The remainder of reminder card 18 is behind sheet 24 and therefore not visible. Reminder card 18 may also be color coded 22 which is discussed below. The width C of slot 14 is dimensioned in accordance with preferably the short axis A (see FIG. 2) of reminder card 18. Also, the height D of slot 14 is dimensioned so that more than one reminder card 18 may be introduced into each slot 14.

[0022] As noted, the layout of sheet 24, while preferable, can easily be changed to accommodate different time durations and time intervals. Further, indicia 12 can be imprinted using any calendar layout including decorative material well known in the art.

[0023] Turning to FIG. 2, a generic reminder card 18 is shown. Indicia 22 can consist of date 30, time 32, area 34 for handwritten information as well as advertising information 28 which can consist of the name of the company or professional, office location, telephone number and so on.

[0024] Preferably, reminder cards 18 should be approximately 3½ inches long by 2 inches wide which is size of a standard business card. In this manner, a user can insert a reminder card provided by his doctor, dentist, service station, etc. of an appointment that has been scheduled. As noted above, slot 14 is preferably dimensioned to correspond to axis A of reminder card 18. However, slot 14 could also be dimensioned to correspond to axis B of reminder card 18 if that was preferred.

[0025] As noted above, reminder cards 18 can be colored coded 22. Thus, for example, as shown, reminder card 18 could be blue 36 to indicate a doctor's appointment, green 38 to indicate music lessons, and gold 40 to indicate a social engagement. Since reminder cards 18 are sized in accordance with standard business card sizes, invention 10 can be used with reminder cards 18 packaged with invention 10 or in combination with standard business and appointment reminder cards.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, each sheet 24 of invention preferably contains separate plastic receptacles 46 for the cards 18 and/or paper for each time interval. The receptacles 46 are preferably heated into plastic sheets 51 which dimensioned in accordance with the size of the reminder card 18 that are to be held within. Each receptacle 46 should be able to hold at least two reminder cards 18 or paper slips or a combination of both to remind the user of an appointment that is due during the time interval represented the corresponding receptacle 46. The total amount of information thus contained in each day is considerably more than can be stored on a similarly sized calendar that requires manual transcribing information. Using only business cards as an example, key contact information for meetings is all contained within the day.

[0027] The plastic receptacles are grouped in horizontal rows 50 where each receptacle forms a row 54 as shown in FIG. 5. Each receptacle is positioned such that a portion or reminder card 18 is clearly visible and held at that desired height. The remaining portion of reminder card 18 is held in the back of sheet 24 within receptacle 46 and out of view. Each row 54 can be cascaded. At least a portion of the each row 54 may be overlapped with an adjacent row 54 so that the overall width of sheet 24 can be less than if each receptacle 46 abutted each receptacle 46 below it.

[0028] As noted, sheets 51 are preferably plastic so that they can be heat sealed to form receptacles 46. However, paper that is glued together could also be used equally as well. Sheet 51 is preferably attached to sheet 24 at attachment point 55. By heat sealing along line 52, sheet 51 is economically and securely fastened. Optionally, sheet 51 could also be attached along line 56 on area 57 at the bottom of sheet 24. Further, sheet 51 can be attached along the sides (not shown) if desired.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of reminder card 18 is shown. In this embodiment, die cut 44 is made into reminder card 18 so that a tab 62 is provided. Tab 62 hold reminder card 18 in position on slot 14 so that positioning sheet 51 with receptacles 46 is unnecessary. However, this embodiment is limited to the use of special cards having tab 62 die cut therein since the use of a standard business card will merely slide though slot 14 and not be held within position to be viewed.

[0030] The invention allows the user to shuffle and reschedule appointments as needed by simply removing cards and placing them within another receptacle. As mentioned this requires considerably less effort than crossing out or erasing unfulfilled tasks and canceled or rescheduled appointments and manually transcribing the same information all over again.

[0031] While certain representative embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modification therein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A time and date management apparatus for handling a plurality of appointment or tasks, said system comprising:

a plurality of reminder cards with each of said plurality of reminder cards having indicia to identify the appointment or task to be undertaken;

a sheet having a front and a back wherein the front of said sheet is imprinted with a time duration that is divided into corresponding substantial equal time intervals and wherein positioned within each imprinted interval a slot dimensioned to at least one dimension of said plurality of reminder cards;

joined plurality of receptacles attached to the back of said sheet wherein each said receptacles aligned and positioned relative to each slot for each of said time intervals such that when one of said reminder cards is placed with one of said receptacles, information relating to the appointment or task can be easily seen by a user.

2. The time and date management apparatus of claim 1 wherein the time duration is one calendar month and the corresponding time interval is one calendar day.

3. The time and date management apparatus of claim 1 wherein each separate card is color coded according to the category of the specific appointment or task.

4. The time and date management apparatus of claim 1 wherein each separate card is dimensioned to correspond to a standard business card.

5. The time and date management apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sheets fastened together along an edge such that each of said plurality can be viewed one at time by flipping the top sheet over to reveal the sheet immediately underneath.

6. A time and date management apparatus for handling a plurality of appointment or tasks, said system comprising:

a plurality of reminder cards with each of said plurality of reminder cards having indicia to identify the appointment or task to be undertaken;

said plurality of reminder cards each having a die cut tab stamped therein;

a sheet having a front and a back wherein the front of said sheet is imprinted with a time duration that is divided into corresponding substantial equal time intervals and wherein positioned within each imprinted interval a slot dimensioned to at least one dimension of said plurality of reminder cards;

such that when one of said reminder cards is placed within said slip with said die cut tab positioning said card within said slot, information relating to the appointment or task can be easily seen by a user.

7. The time and date management apparatus of claim 6 wherein the time duration is one calendar month and the corresponding time interval is one calendar day.

8. The time and date management apparatus of claim 6 wherein each separate card is color coded according to the category of the specific appointment or task.

9. The time and date management apparatus of claim 6 wherein each separate card is dimensioned to correspond to a standard business card.

10. The time and date management apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of sheets fastened together along an edge such that each of said plurality can be viewed one at time by flipping the top sheet over to reveal the sheet immediately underneath.