Communal Item Timer with Availability Indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communal venues, there is often a lack of regulation for the occupancy of shared items like lounge chairs, leading to monopolization and confusion about availability, resulting in frustration and inefficiency among users.

Innovation Solution

A timer system that can be connected to communal items, allowing users to reserve them for a set period, featuring a mechanism to indicate availability and prevent monopolization, with features like a display for messages and indicators to notify waiting users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If communal items are made available for use without time regulation, then users can occupy items indefinitely, but this leads to monopolization and prevents other users from accessing the items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem utilization rateVSAvoidmonopolization of communal items

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The timer is set to a predetermined time period before the occupancy begins, automatically expiring after the designated duration to release the communal item for other users, thereby preventing monopolization while ensuring fair access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The timer provides visual feedback through indicators (such as colored lights or display screens) that show users whether a communal item is currently occupied or available, enabling informed decision-making and reducing waiting time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If personal articles are used as placeholders to reserve communal items, then users can secure items in advance, but this creates confusion about actual availability and frustrates waiting users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereservation capabilityVSAvoidavailability status clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The timer acts as an intermediary device between the user and the communal item, providing an official reservation mechanism that clearly communicates availability status to all users through standardized indicators, eliminating the need for personal articles as placeholders

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical system of using personal articles (clothing, bags) as physical placeholders is replaced with an electronic timer system that uses electrical indicators and digital displays to communicate reservation status, providing clearer and more reliable information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If no indication system is provided for communal item status, then the system remains simple, but users cannot determine whether items are available without physically searching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem location efficiencyVSAvoidtimer and indicator system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The timer uses color-coded indicators (such as green for available, red for occupied, yellow for expiring) to provide immediate visual recognition of communal item status, allowing users to quickly identify available items from a distance without physical inspection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS8565044B1Timer for reserving occupancy of a communal item and method of use

Publication Date: 2013.10.22 SPIKER ERIN C

AI summary

A timer for reserving occupancy of a communal item has a communal item available indicator which is positionable to (1) a retracted position when the communal item is in use, and (2) to an extended position when the communal item is available for use. The timer also includes a service request indicator which indicates when as service is required. The timer can also include a reset control which can only be activated by a person other than the user of the communal item.