Rosary Key

Abstract

The rosary key is a one-piece, hand-held device to prompt the recitation of the rosary. Critical elements of the traditional rosary pendent are evoked by tactile design. The counting of a decade of Hail Marys is measured by the finger movement of a bead-like button through the ten “stops” of the channel. The “Our Father” or Lord's Prayer, preceding each decade, is recited while fingering a separate rotating bead. Fingering of button and bead serve to preserve the essential contemplative nature of traditional rosary use. Furthermore, the rotating bead, in independent function, prompts use as a pocket or keychain comfort/prayer object, meditative through repetitive fingering alone.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to rosaries and counting devices and more particularly to a one-piece, hand-held rosary that includes a cut-out channel with a movable indicator to prompt recitation of the ten Hail Marys for each rosary decade.

2. Background Art

Typically, a rosary consists of strung beads arranged to prompt recitation of an ordered series of prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The crown string consists of five groupings of ten small beads (five decades) separated from each other by an isolated larger bead, to a total of 54 beads. Each decade of ten smaller beads prompts the repetitious recitation of ten Hail Mary prayers. The larger bead located between each of the five decades prompts the praying of the Lords' Prayer prior to the recitation of the next decade.

Hanging from the crown string of beads is a single string of objects that form what is known as the rosary pendant. The pendant prompts a separate sequence of prayers that precedes the praying of decades upon the crown string. The pendant is generally attached by a three-point medal junction, upon which a religious image is often depicted. At the distant end of the pendant string, a cross or crucifix is affixed, prompting the recitation of the “Sign of the Cross” and the Apostles' Creed. A large bead then prompts the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or Our Father, followed by three smaller beads to prompt three Hail Mary prayers, leading to a final larger bead prompting The Lord's Prayer or Our Father.

Rosary devotees have long sought an alternative to the traditional rosary that would (1) retain the aesthetic beauty of the traditional string rosary, (2) include prompts to the prayers of the rosary pendant, (3) facilitate the counting of the decades, and (4) while being more convenient and discrete for everyday use yet (5) still preserving the essential tactile meditative experience associated with the use of traditional rosary beads.

None of the prior art mentioned below achieves the unique combination of the above-mentioned qualities that this invention embodies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D459,567 represents the entire rosary in a sequence of protuberances on a standard size card. These protuberances are very small and require visual guidance which limits its use in low lighting, while held in a pocket or when the user is engaged in a competing visual activity, such as driving. U.S. Pat. No. D491,834 has a single decade of protuberance around the outer surface of a ring, but omits pendant prayers. In addition, this invention also requires visual guidance and no record is made of where the user's position is if they are interrupted from prayer. U.S. Pat. No. D446,902 is a rectangular shape with a rosary imprinted on the front of the device. It requires continual visual guidance.

A larger ring-style device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,949, counts prayers by manually advancing a rotating ring of beads encased within the device. However, the addition of numerous other mechanical movements and visual elements would render it too small to be manipulated easily and uncomfortable for use on the finger.

A rosary bracelet in U.S. Pat. No. D446,146 counts the decade on strung beads omitting the prayers of the pendant. Since it is a beaded bracelet, its use engages both hands, is less likely to be worn by a man, presents an overt expression of religiosity, and fails to respond to the changing daily fashion needs of many women.

Buckley U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,098 is a steering wheel cover that positions protuberances upon the steering wheel to prompt the ordered pray of the rosary by either hand while driving. This invention is specifically used only when driving.

There are several electronic and mechanical devices which have been patented. They include Dewolf electro-mechanical device U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,246, Wexler battery-powered rosary device U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,519 B2, Bosmani box-shaped microprocessor device U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,622, and Santarpia US 2002/0162237 A1 which is a plastic card-shaped rosary with thin petal-shaped projecting tabs on the circumference of an internal rotating disk that are advanced manually to track prayers. The McGovern patent, US 2002/0164566 A1, required the push of a button to ratchet an internal lever that raises a variety of geometrically-shaped objects on the surface that the user is taught to associate with the various prayers. The Corigliano design patent Des. 266,369 is an abacus-like rosary where the prayers can be recorded by the manual manipulation of numerous beads freely strung along three horizontal metal bars. These electronic and mechanical rosary devices differ from the current invention in that they have electronic triggers, tabs and buttons which are poor substitutes for the traditional meditative fingering of beads In addition, none of the inventions are of a size or construction to be conveniently carried on a key-chain or in a pocket.

The above mentioned prior art either omits prayer of the rosary pendant, requires two-handed operation or continual visual guidance, has no visual or aesthetic similarity to a traditional rosary, is of a size inconvenient for daily use, fails to mark one's position if interrupted in use, or fails to simulate the comforting fingering-of-bead experience for devotees. The present invention includes all of these features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION)

A rosary key provides for an attractive, comprehensive (including the prayers of the rosary pendant), functional, convenient, discrete and meditative way to recite the rosary. It has an artistically-shaped object with a jewelry-like appearance. It has external markings that evoke an image of a traditional strung rosary and pendant. The invention prompts prayers of both rosary pendant and crown string. It counts prayers by the continuous contact of thumb upon a rounded, movable indicator to advance it through the ten decade stops of a nine segment cut-out channel in single-hand use with no visual guidance, while retaining one's counting place if interrupted. The invention is flat, key-sized and contoured to be comfortably and conveniently prayed upon while on a key chain, in hand, or held in pocket meeting many devotee's desire for the constant comfort of a rosary without the overt display of religiosity that, though within legal rights, may be deemed contrary to the conventions of an organization, professional or social setting. Finally, the invention retains the actual “rolling or fingering” of rounded maker and bead that preserves the meditative quality beloved by experienced rosary enthusiasts.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for counting prayers by using a movable indicator to advance it through the ten stops of a nine segment cut-out channel in one hand with no visual guidance, while preserving one's counting place if interrupted.

Another object of the present invention is to enable a person to discretely pray in any setting because the invention can fit onto a key chain or into a pocket.

Yet another object of the present invention is to retain the actual “rolling or fingering” of the indicator and bead that preserves the meditative quality of a traditional rosary.

A primary advantage of the present invention is that it is small enough to fit on a key chain or in a pocket.

Another advantage is cut-out channel and indicator that allow the user to roll or finger the indicator and retain the “place” if interrupted.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is artistically shaped with a jewelry-like appearance.

Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated into and forms a part of the specification, illustrates the preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. The drawing is only for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the rosary key, while attached to a key chain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION)

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 is attached to a key ring 10 through the cutout 11 at the bottom of the invention. In use, it is preferably held in the palm of a user with the bottom toward the wrist. The front view has the abstract impression of a traditional pendant and single-decade crown rosary seen by represented of the elements upon the surface of the device.

The rosary key preferably consists of a single flat piece. The rosary key can be made of metal, wood, leather, plastic or any other solid material. Die cut from the invention are the openings for key ring 11, cross 12, rotating bead hole 20 and cut-out channel 16. Four concave protrusions are stamped from the back of the device, 13, 22, 23 and 24, representing the rosary pendant, as previously described. In another alternative embodiment, protrusions 13, 22, 23 and 24 and rotating bead 50 can be represented by beads, apertures or some other object that can be felt by a user's fingers that are moving along the rosary key. Additionally, cross 12 can be represented by a protrusion in the shape of a cross or an object attached to the rosary key in the shape of a cross.

Cut-out channel 16 consists of nine connected segments. Eight junctions 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 together with two end locations 26 and 44 create the series of ten “stops” in the movement of movable indicator 51, upon which a decade of prayers can be counted. Cut-out channel 16 has “stops” 52 to maintain the position of the moveable indicator 51 until the user wants to go to the next position. Stops 52 can be indentations as shown or any other means of keeping moveable indicator 51 in position for a period of time. This way, the user is reminded of where they are in the ten decades of prayer, if they are interrupted.

Rotating bead 50 is a hollowed bead strung on a horizontal axis. Rotating bead 50 protrudes on both front and back surfaces of the invention allowing rotating bead 50 to be fingered by thumb and finger or rotated on the front surface by thumb alone. Rotating bead 50 can alternatively be represented by a bead, protrusion or other object that can be felt by a user's fingers that are moving along the rosary key.

In its primary application, the user initiates the use of the rosary key by placing it in the palm of his hand. Placing his thumb first upon the cutout cross 12 prompts the recitation of the Apostle's Creed. Upon completion of this prayer, the thumb moves upward to protrusion 13 prompting the recitation of The Lord's Prayer. Continuing upward, the thumb advances to each of the protrusions 22, 23 and 24 reciting the Hail Mary prayer upon each bead. The thumb then moves to rotating bead 50 where The Lord's Prayer is recited.

At this point, the user then makes thumb contact with movable indicator 51. The user then initiates the praying of the decade of prayers with the recitation of a Hail Mary in initial position 26. After recitation, movable indicator 51 is advanced using the thumb to the next position 28 of cut-out channel 16. With continuous thumb contact upon movable indicator 51, the user continues in the same descending direction, stopping to recite a Hail Mary upon each of eight junctures 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 until the end of the cut-out channel 16 reaches the last position 44 for the recitation of and the tenth Hail Mary to complete the decade of prayer is completed.

A subsequent decade can be initiated by moving the thumb to rotating bead 50 for the recitation of The Lord's prayer, and the repetition and counting of ten Hail Mary prayers through the ten stops using movable indicator 51 in the reverse or ascending direction of cut-out channel 16. In this manner, multiple decades can be recited in alternating channel direction eliminating superfluous transposition of the movable indicator to the previous starting position.

The extended recitation of the rosary (five series of decades through four series of mysteries) may be completed upon the rosary key. In this application, the “Glory Be to the Father” and specific mystery to be meditated upon would be announced by user prior to the recitation of the Lord's Prayer upon rotating bead 50 that precedes each decade of ten Hail Marys. In an alternate embodiment, an additional tactile or visual aide could be included to assist in the counting of multiple decades.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above, are hereby incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. A single-piece hand-held rosary key comprising:

at least one movable indicator and at least ten junctures wherein said moveable indicator is configured to be moved by a user's fingers moving from one juncture to another, at each said juncture the movable indicator indicates what position the user is in, wherein each of said junctures represents a Hail Mary prayer.

2. A rosary as stated in claim 1 further comprising a small rotating object to recite the Lord's Prayer or other meditative prayer.

3. A rosary as stated in claim 1 further comprising a cross shape to recite the Apostles' Creed.

4. A rosary as stated in claim 1 further comprising four separate objects for the Lord's prayer and Hail Marys.

5. A rosary as stated in claim 1 further comprising means to attach said rosary key to a key chain.

6. A method for using a rosary key comprising the steps of:

providing a moveable indicator and ten junctures, each juncture representing a Hail Mary prayer; and

moving the movable indicator from a first juncture to a next juncture.