Dispensing – With recorder – register – indicator – signal or exhibitor – Audible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-11-13
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With recorder, register, indicator, signal or exhibitor
Audible
C222S078000, C446S397000, C446S475000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315163
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispenser; for instance, a sound-emitting dispenser, e.g., a dispenser including a sound-emitting device.
The invention relates to such a dispenser wherein the dispenser portion thereof can be any pressure-activated dispenser. Such a pressure-activated dispenser can involve a point on the dispenser that a user applies pressure; for instance, to depress an activator. The pressure-activated dispenser may be set relatively stationary on a surface, such as a sink, countertop, dresser, or the like.
The invention relates further to employing the pressure that a user is applying to activate the pressure-activated dispenser to also activate a sound emitting device; for instance, by locating a pressure-activated sound emitting device between the base or lower surface of a pressure-activated dispenser (such as a pressure activated dispenser having an actuator at a position where there is at least some downward force applied to dispense) and the stationary surface; or, by locating a pressure-activated sound emitting device at a point where the pressure from activating the dispenser also activates the pressure-activated sound emitting device (e.g., an aerosol top that has a pressure-activated sound emitting device positioned on the upper surface contacted by the user so that activating the aerosol to spray also activates the sound emitting device).
Alternatively or additionally, the dispenser can have a container portion to which there is connected an activator for dispensing and a cover portion that is in a surrounding relation to the container, within which the container may transmit pressure to the sound emitting device to activate it, when pressure is applied to the activator to dispense; for instance, the cover portion can have a base and there is a pressure-activated sound emitting device between the outer surface of the base of the container and the inside surface of the cover, such that a user can grip the outside surface of the cover, apply pressure to the activator to dispense and that pressure is transmitted to the sound emitting device to thereby activate it too.
The invention can yet further relate such dispensers wherein the sound emitting device can be any such device that emits sound in response to pressure activation. Such a sound emitting device can be an electronic sound emitting device that has a pre-programmed noise, word, phrase, music, or other desired audio signal or sound. Optionally or alternatively, the invention can relate to such dispensers wherein the sound emitting device can record and playback a noise, word, phrase, music, or other desired audio signal or sound.
Further optionally or alternatively, the invention can relate to such dispensers wherein the sound emitting device can include a VOX—a voice activated (or sound activated) switch—for instance, a switch that can activate the play and/or recordation of the noise, word, phrase, music, or other desired audio signal or sound. Also optionally or alternatively, the sound emitting device can include another or a different switch or other switches, such as a light sensitive switch; for instance, a switch that allows the sound emitting device to be activated when there is light and not activated when there is no light (so, for example, if the dispenser is in a relatively dark setting, such as a bathroom at night, the dispenser will not emit a sound when used, but it will do so when there is light, such as during the day).
Also optionally or alternatively, the invention even further still can relate to such dispensers wherein the sound emitting device is a mechanical sound emitting device; for instance, a sound emitting device that emits a sound as a result of air being forced into or out of it (e.g., like a squeak or squeeze toy).
And, even further still, the invention can relate to such dispensers wherein the sound emitting device includes or is a transmitter; for instance, instead of or in addition to emitting an audio signal, the device emits a signal in response to pressure activation; e.g., the signal can be an IR or other suitable signal; and, there can be a remote receiver that receives the signal and performs a function, such as emitting a noise, word, phrase, music or other desired audio signal or sound. The remote receiver can receive signals from various dispensers and perform a particular function, e.g., emit a particular noise, word, phrase, music or other desired audio signal or sound, for each particular signal. (Thus, “sound emitting device” can include any or all of the foregoing; and, “sound” emitted by the “sound emitting device” can include audio sound and/or the transmission of a signal that is other than audio, e.g., somewhere in the electromagnetic spectrum such as an IR, infra-red or RF radio frequency signal.) For example, the dispenser can be for soap or another liquid typically dispensed in a particular room such as a bathroom or kitchen and the remote receiver/sound emitter can be within another article commonly found in the room, e.g., a toilet paper dispenser, a tissue dispenser, etc.
The invention even further still can relate to such a dispenser that is for a fluid, e.g., a liquid or a gas, advantageously a liquid, and more advantageously the dispenser is a pump-type or pressure-activated dispenser such as, a dispenser for a lotion, soap, detergent, fragrance, perfume, Eau de Parfum, toilet water, cologne, toothpaste, or the like. The dispenser is preferably designed to be decorative and sound emitting.
The dispenser can generate a sound that is consistent with the sound that would be made by the shape depicted by the pump dispenser, when the dispenser is activated and thus, entertain the young and old users of the dispenser. For example, if the dispenser is shaped like a cow, it can emit a “moo” sound when the dispenser is activated. Thus, the invention relates to dispensers that can be entertaining.
Further, the ability of the dispenser to emit a sound when activated can assist those who are blind or visually impaired; for instance, by emitting a sound when the dispenser is activated, a blind or visually impaired person can have sound or audio confirmation that the liquid was dispensed. And moreover, that person can have different dispensers for different liquids; for example, hand soap can be shaped like a cow and emit a “moo”, toothpaste can be a cat and emit a “meow” and cologne can be a “rooster” and emit a “cock-a-doodle do”, such that when the visually-impaired person wants soap, if he hears a “moo”, he knows he has dispensed soap into his hand, whereas if he hears the “meow” of the cat or the crow of the rooster, he knows he does not have soap. Alternatively and/or additionally, the dispenser can play music; for example, a “cow” could play “Hey Diddle Diddle”, or be otherwise shaped and emit music (e.g., be shaped like a baseball bat and play “Take Me Out To The Ballpark” or be shaped otherwise, e.g., like a musical instrument, and play a portion of a song, melody or tune).
Or, alternatively and/or additionally, the dispenser can include a sound emitting device that emits a word or phrase, such as “soap” with the dispenser including that word or phrase on its outer surface so that it can be seen or felt or both by the user, e.g., raised letters, such as raised Braille letters or raised enlarged letters for those who visually read, so as to assist a blind or visually impaired person; or to be an educational tool for a child. The dispenser can be in a decorative shape and the word or phrase can be an identifying word or phrase, e.g., the dispenser can be shaped like a cow and emit the word “cow”, and/or also have that word on it, so that the dispenser can be an educational tool.
Even further still, the invention can relate to such a dispenser wherein there is a VOX, and in response to a sound such as that of the flow of water in a sink or the flush of a toilet, the sound emitting device emits a sound, such as a phrase, e.g., “remember to wash hands” or “remember to brush teeth”; and, when activated thereafter, i
Allure Home Creation Co., Inc.
Derakshani Philippe
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Haug Edgar H.
Pan Grace L.
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