Education and demonstration – Audio recording and visual means – Common carrier for visual means and audio recording
Reexamination Certificate
1991-09-10
2001-04-10
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3302)
Education and demonstration
Audio recording and visual means
Common carrier for visual means and audio recording
C434S159000, C434S308000, C446S397000, C273S15300J, C273S454000, C340S689000, C340S692000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215978
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Voice and sound synthesizing devices have been long used in toys. Such toys are capable of providing sounds responsive to positions in, for example, a doll or a ball. These toys, however, are of little or no educational value to the user.
One such toy, for example, comprises a doll as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,245, issued Mar. 9, 1982, to Stowell et al. The doll as disclosed by Stowell et al. produces a variety of sounds responsive to positioning of the doll by a child. The doll is able to make a specific number of sounds, such as laughter and crying, but is not capable of providing educational assistance to an infant or child.
Another sound-producing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,260 issued, May 5, 1987, to Rumsey. The Rumsey patent discloses a ball that is capable of producing different notes responsive to positioning of the ball. A person using the ball is capable of producing a musical tune by positioning the ball in various locations to sequence the appropriate notes. The Rumsey device provides no direct instruction to the user and does not serve as a learning aid.
Thus, there is a need for a combined toy and learning aid which is capable of educating infants through adults in various visual displays matched with their sound and/or an oral identification in a position-sensitive educational format.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention disclosed herein comprises a didactic device in the form of a position-sensitive educational product. The present invention helps the user to associate visual images with specific sounds and/or their identification.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a multisided container forms the exterior shape of a toy. Within the container is a power source such as a battery and a microprocessor capable of synthesizing sounds and/or voice. The position sensor indicates to the microprocessor which side of the toy is in the “up” position, and the microprocessor provides sound responsive to a visual display on the “up” position.
In a preferred embodiment, the container comprises a dodecahedron, and the position sensor comprises five reed switches. The five reed switches combine to provide a code to the microprocessor to indicate the correct sound to be reproduced corresponding to the “up” position.
It is a technical advantage of the present invention that a toy is provided which can educate infants through adults. The toy can be positioned so that variety of visual displays can be identified by an aural response. The toy is adaptable to a-variety of visual displays that can be keyed to the level of development of a child or young adult.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1465637 (1923-08-01), Goss
patent: 4318245 (1982-03-01), Stowell et al.
patent: 4337375 (1982-06-01), Freeman
patent: 4337948 (1982-07-01), Breslors et al.
patent: 4403965 (1983-09-01), Hawkins
patent: 4575087 (1986-03-01), Sinclair
patent: 4662260 (1987-05-01), Rumsey
patent: 4673357 (1987-06-01), Ito
patent: 4701146 (1987-10-01), Swenson
patent: 4729564 (1988-03-01), Kuna et al.
patent: 4809979 (1989-03-01), Skowronski et al.
patent: 4836075 (1989-06-01), Armstrong
patent: 4936780 (1990-06-01), Cogliano
patent: 4957291 (1990-09-01), Miffitt et al.
patent: 4961579 (1990-10-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 4973052 (1990-11-01), Conti
Rome Patrick
Ruzic Steven Lee
Thomas, Jr. Larry Dale
Cheng Joe H.
Petersen Bret J.
Telecky , Jr. Frederick J.
Texas Instruments Incorporated
LandOfFree
Position-sensitive educational product does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Position-sensitive educational product, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Position-sensitive educational product will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2489668