Communications: electrical – Audible indication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-09-11
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Audible indication
C340S384300, C340S384700, C340S384730, C280S001140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288633
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display for mounting on the handlebars of a child's vehicle such as a bicycle and, more particularly, to a display depicting a visual image and producing audio effects corresponding to the visual image.
2.Description of the Related Art
Children's vehicles such as bicycles and tricycles often include amusement and ornamental features and accessories designed to enhance the child's enjoyment of the vehicle. For example, colorful decals and name plates are frequently mounted on bicycles and tricycles, and horns, bells, lights and mirrors are commonly attached to the handlebars or the like for creating a variety of effects while the child is riding the vehicle.
A number of more exotic bicycle accessories have also been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,578,682 to Fernstrom, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a simulated horse's head which mounts on the handlebars of a child's vehicle. Extending from the lower end of the device is a roller that engages the front wheel of the vehicle and rotates eccentrically as the front wheel rotates. Rotation of the roller causes the horse's head to bob up and down and produces a hoofbeat sound.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,478 to Robertson, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a handlebar-mounted simulated flying-figure unit having flappable wings. The wings are actuated by a lever accessible to a child sitting behind the handlebars. Specifically, the lever has a button-shaped portion that is pressed to make the wings flap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,573 to Most, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a simulated steer head that mounts on handlebars. U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,455 to Cohn, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a bicycle-mounted noise maker which produces noise in response to rotation of a wheel of the bicycle.
While bicycle accessories that produce visual and/or aural effects are well known, there are no known accessories that include a visual display of a recognizable image together with an integrated electronic sound unit which can be actuated to produce an audible sound effect that corresponds to the visual image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to enhance a child's enjoyment of riding a wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle with visual and aural effects.
It is a further object of the present invention to display a visual image on a bicycle in conjunction with sound effects that can be actuated by the rider of the bicycle.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to combine in a handlebar mounted display a visual image and actuable sound effects that are commonly associated with what is depicted in the visual image.
It is another object of the present invention to configure a sound producing unit of a handlebar-mounted display to be easily accessed and actuated by the rider.
It is yet another object of the present invention to prevent the ingress of moisture into a sound producing unit of a handlebar-mounted display.
It is still another object of the present invention to incorporate on a manual wheeled vehicle, decorated in accordance with a theme, an actuable audible display providing a visual image and sound effects corresponding to the theme.
A further object of the present invention is to configure a handlebar-mounted display to generally conform to the shape of the handlebars.
The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto.
According to the present invention, an actuable audible display for mounting on the handlebars of a child's vehicle such as a bicycle includes a visual image depicted on a plate-like member affixed to the handlebars and an actuable sound unit mounted on the back of the plate-like member, which can be actuated by the rider of the bicycle to produce audible sounds that are commonly associated with what is depicted in the visual image. The image and sounds of the display can be an integral part of an overall theme of the bicycle reflected in the paint, decals and accessories of the bicycle.
The plate-like member of the display has a generally trapezoidal shape corresponding to the shape of the handlebars, and provides a base on which the visual image and the sound unit are mounted. The visual image can include a two-dimensional drawing, picture or design, or a three-dimensional or relief structure affixed to or integral with the front surface of the plate-like member. The visual image can be virtually any item or character that can be commonly associated with a sound effect, a voice, a phrase, a song, etc. Plastic or wire ties can be threaded through sets of holes formed in the plate-like member and looped around the handlebars to secure the plate-like member to the handlebars.
The battery-powered sound unit is positioned on the back of the plate-like member to be easily reachable by the rider of the bicycle. To actuate the sound unit, the rider presses a button which causes an electronics package within the sound unit to retrieve from storage a recorded sound. The electronic package then generates an audio signal which drives a loudspeaker within the sound unit to produce a corresponding audible sound effect. The sound unit is designed to prevent moisture from entering in order to protect the internal components from malfunctioning.
The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1372351 (1921-03-01), Hurlstone-Jones
patent: 2578682 (1951-12-01), Fernstrom
patent: 3266455 (1966-08-01), Cohn
patent: 3621606 (1971-11-01), Potrzuski
patent: 4521205 (1985-06-01), Spector
patent: 4531751 (1985-07-01), Todokoro
patent: 4563373 (1986-01-01), Barnett
patent: 4601478 (1986-07-01), Robertson et al.
patent: 4646350 (1987-02-01), Batra
patent: 4710145 (1987-12-01), Hall Vandis
patent: 4744573 (1988-05-01), Most
patent: 4890571 (1990-01-01), Gaskill
patent: 5001853 (1991-03-01), Odien
patent: 5022666 (1991-06-01), Simon
patent: 5125712 (1992-06-01), Stamoustsos
patent: 5463369 (1995-10-01), Lamping
patent: 5549313 (1996-08-01), James et al.
patent: 5710422 (1998-01-01), Clark
patent: 5883570 (1999-03-01), Lusareta et al.
Goldmeier Steven
Volpe Lee
Pham Toan
Rand International, Inc.
Wu Daniel J.
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