Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device – External alarm
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-23
2004-09-21
Gibson, Randy W. (Department: 2841)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
External alarm
C368S013000, C368S010000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795377
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to alarm clocks and, more particularly, to alarm clocks and like instrumentalities that activate a selected one of a variety of audible alarms at a selected time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Alarm clocks and like devices that activate an audible signal at a selected time and until the signal is stopped by activation of a switch are well known. Such alarms usually arouse a sleeping individual by the use of a buzzer or music from a device, such as an AM/FM radio or a CD player. However, many individuals who travel frequently have interest in receiving information about their temporary location, such as weather conditions, traffic conditions, etc. Alternatively, many individuals have a desire to speak to someone they know when they awake. Alarm clocks currently do not provide individuals with the ability to automatically place a telephone call to a remote location and receive information or hear a friendly voice.
The related art is represented by the following patents of interest.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 297,428, issued on Aug. 30, 1988 to Michael A. McElroy, shows an ornamental design for a combination telephone set and clock. McElroy does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 404,033, issued on Jan. 12, 1999 to Wai Hung Fong, shows an ornamental design for a digitalogue radio alarm clock. Fong does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 420,352, issued on Feb. 8, 2000 to Kui-Wai Chan, shows an ornamental design for a radio alarm clock. Chan '352 does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 432,517, issued on Oct. 24, 2000 to Josh Zeitman, shows an ornamental design for a radio alarm clock. Zeitman does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D451,901 S, issued on Dec. 11, 2001 to Chuk Shun Chan, shows an ornamental design for a radio alarm clock. Chan '901 does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D452,227 S, issued on Dec. 18, 2001 to Chuk Shun Chan, shows an ornamental design for an alarm clock with a radio. Chan '227 does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,151, issued on Oct. 5, 1971 to Jose L. Fernandez, describes a clock radio with a tape player. Fernandez does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,568, issued on Sep. 7, 1993 to Nancy Burch et al., describes an electronic circuit which utilizes a time-setting mechanism and an audio system of a clock/radio to cause both light and sound to start at low intensity and increase gradually together to full intensity. Burch et al. does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,488, issued on Dec. 13, 1994 to Rony Lidor, describes a telephone alarm clock. Lodor does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,067, issued on Nov. 3, 1993 to John P. Herold, describes a method and apparatus for integrating telephone signals with an alarm clock. Herold does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,125, issued on Oct. 19, 1993 to Anthony H. Smith et al., describes a system and method for providing for providing messaging services at customer premises equipment. Smith et al. does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,455, issued on Nov. 30, 1999 to Thomas H. Kutosky, describes an alarm timer device. Kutosky does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,048, issued on Dec. 28, 1999 to Carole H. Raesz, describes a novelty radio-alarm clock. Raesz does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,580, issued on Jan. 25, 2000 to Leonard J. Nellessen, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, describes a non-volatile automatic telephone dialer circuit. Nellessen does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,591, issued on Mar. 7, 2000 to Alex P. Glynn et al., describes an alarm clock device which programmably and automatically coordinates the movement of one or more electric toy trains. Glynn et al. does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,856, issued on Sep. 12, 2000 to James B. Paarsmarkt et al., describes a method and apparatus for automatically forwarding an email message or portion thereof to a remote device. Paarmarkt et al. does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,278, issued on Nov. 21, 2000 to David Najarian, describes a remote device for silent awakening. Najarian does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,862 B1, issued on Apr. 10, 2001 to Robert L. Lopes, describes a telephone that operates as a time server for synchronizing an appliance or peripheral by accessing a time service over telephone lines to obtain an accurate geographic time for the telephone, and by transmitting a synchronizing pulse to the appliance at a predetermined time to set the time function of the appliance. Lopes does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,621 B1, issued on May 22, 2001 to Cecilia C. Schettino, describes a pillow alarm device. Schettino does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,061 B1, issued on May 29, 2001 to Roy L. McKenzie et al., describes a self-contained, portable, remote controlled, combination television receiver, AM/FM radio receiver, clock, and electric lamp. McKenzie et al. does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,833 B1, issued on Oct. 30, 2001 to Thomas G. Guyett et al., describes an interactive voice recognition and speech synthesis clock radio. Guyett et al. does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
International Patent document WO 95/04426, published on Feb. 9, 1995, describes an information distribution system. International '426 does not suggest a personalized alarm clock according to the claimed invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A personalized alarm clock is provided that allows a user to receive a predetermined audio and/or image signal, or to place a predetermined telephone call to a selected telephone number at a predetermined time. The personalized alarm clock is generally configured in the form of a portable entertainment device, such as a portable AM/FM radio and/or CD/DVD device.
The personalized alarm clock includes at least one input device, at least one output device, at least one input port, at least one output port, at least one telephone jack, an automatic telephone dialer, a central processing unit (CPU), at least one memory device, and a power supply. The personalized alarm clock is configured with upper and lower housings connected together by a hinge.
The upper housing may contain therein a video output device that may be any well known type of device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic LCD, a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED display (OLED), a thin film transistor display, or the like. The video output device may also be a touch sensitive screen. The video output device displays time in either analog or digital form. Alternatively, the video output device may display any visual image received from a DVD, a digital memory, or received externally. The upper housin
Gibson Randy W.
Goodwin Jeanne-Marguerite
Litman Richard C.
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