Timer apparatus

Abstract

Described are timer apparatus comprising: a timer configured to measure a predetermined time period associated with a physical location, the timer comprising: a front housing; and input controls comprising one or more buttons for interacting with the timer to configure the predetermined time period associated with a physical location; a lower housing; and a cover housing reversibly attachable to the lower housing to form an interior and to secure the timer within the interior; wherein when the cover housing is attached to the lower housing and the timer is secured within the interior: the front housing is exposed to an external environment of the physical location, and the input controls are located above a highest edge of the lower housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A timer apparatus comprising:
 a) a timer configured to measure a predetermined time period associated with a physical location, the timer comprising: a front housing; and input controls comprising one or more buttons for interacting with the timer to configure the predetermined time period associated with a physical location;   b) a lower housing; and   c) a cover housing reversibly attachable to the lower housing to form an interior and to secure the timer within the interior;
 wherein when the cover housing is attached to the lower housing and the timer is secured within the interior: the front housing is exposed to an external environment of the physical location, and the input controls are located above a highest edge of the lower housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the cover housing is attached to the lower housing and the timer is secured within the interior the timer is protected from the external environment of the physical location. 
     
     
         3 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to the predetermined time period comprises a duration or an expiration. 
     
     
         4 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) element configured to identify the physical location. 
     
     
         5 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicate information pertaining to the time period. 
     
     
         6 . The timer apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless transceiver communicates via a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network. 
     
     
         7 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a solar panel and a solar power charging arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic sensor configured to detect a status of the physical location. 
     
     
         9 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the cover housing to the lower housing. 
     
     
         10 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , configured to upgrade the lower housing by retrofit. 
     
     
         11 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a display screen for displaying information pertaining to the predetermined time period. 
     
     
         12 . The timer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency (RF) electronic card reader.