Amusement devices: toys – Sounding – With means facilitating combination with diverse art device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-22
2003-04-08
Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Sounding
With means facilitating combination with diverse art device
C446S397000, C273S454000, C482S083000, CD21S787000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06544099
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic amusement devices, and more particularly to a motion sensitive, suspendable electronic amusement device especially adapted to allow for playing both pre-recorded sounds and sounds recorded by the user. The function of the inventive device is to motivate, amuse and stimulate the user by simulating speech associated with a specific activity, especially motivational speech related to punching, jogging or working out.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Speech synthesizers or other sound producing means and their incorporation into amusement devices, toys and the like are known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,335 issued to Rumsey discloses a speech unit for producing preselected words or phrases based on the orientation of a toy doll or figure. A gravity sensing means produces an output corresponding to the orientation of the sensing means with respect to gravity. The output of the sensing means is coupled to a speech synthesizer which produces an output based on transitions from one orientation of the sensing means to a second orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,381 issued to Truchess discloses a bear or baby doll that laughs or sings a nursery song when bounced or dandled is disclosed. A particular area on the rump of the doll is pressure sensitive and produces the given sound when a pressure level is detected in that particular area that is within a range of pressure levels produced when the doll's rump contacts the child's knee in a gentle bounce.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,213 issued to Goodwin discloses a portable toy having an audio signal producer is provided with a book. The book has a plurality of numbered pages containing parts of a story. The toy is provided with a plurality of pressure switches designating different pages of the book.
The foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be known to use speech synthesizers or other sound producing means and incorporate them into amusement devices, toys and the like; however, the provision of a such a device which can be suspended from a person, a toy, an object or other amusement device by the user himself is not contemplated. Nor does the prior art described above teach or suggest a suspendable sound producing device which may be used by individuals in a variety of activities designated explicitly by the user with means for playing user recorded sounds, in addition to playing pre-recorded sounds. The foregoing disadvantages are overcome by the unique talking box device of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and article of manufacture which comprises a portable, sensor-activated, suspendable electronic device which produces human speech when stimulated. The device may be used in conjunction with punching bags and may also be worn about the belt of the user. The device is programmed with plural sounds and phrases which are played through an on-board speaker. It is equipped with facility for recording sounds and phrases. Sounds are toggled to be played by built-in sensors which are sensitive to vibration, touch, light or other means. Sounds and phrases may be related to specific activity modes in which the user employs the apparatus. All sounds are played through the self-contained speaker. Sounds, which may be motivational in nature, can be related to a specific user function, such as jogging, working out, boxing, punching a punching bag or other desired activity.
The electronics may be packaged in a housing which assumes the appearance of a punching bag, either a peanut bag or a heavy bag. The housing would be small or representative of a miniature heavy punching bag or a miniature peanut punching bag. The housing includes means to hang or affix the invention to a regular sized puching bag, be it a peanut punching bag or a heavy punching bag. Different sensors or sensitivities may be employed in the different housing configurations.
Table 1 illustrates some of the English language words, phonemes, and sounds which can be pre-recorded into the suspendable talking device at manufacture for a Fighting Version of the device. In this version the suspendable talking device is designed to be suspended from a separate punching bag, or other fighting practice device.
TABLE 1
English Sounds for Fighting Talking Device
Three Knock-Outs - You are Out!
Good Position! Step Back and then
Big Shot!
Punch!
Nice Body Shot!
Rematch!
Take a Break - Tighten up your
Hold your hands up!
Gloves!
Who are you!?
Too Short!
Don't Under Estimate Me!
This is your Green Belt, Bruce
You need more training!
Lee!
Lighten Up!
Cover yourself and count 1, 2, 3!
Wow am I bleeding!
Load Up!
You are a chicken - Quack, Quack,
You need more training!
Quack!
What is the matter with you!
You are so good!
Don't look at me - Keep on
Don't die - Hit me!
punching!
Keep on going!
You are a dinosaur!
It hurts!
Punch me!
Smoking is bad for you!
I love you - please don't hit me!
You are drunk!
You suck!
I am your nightmare!
You are getting tired!
You are a good fighter!
Drinking is bad for you!
Good job!
Don't drink and drive!
Last round!
Good work!
RING!
Good workout!
Two points for low blow!
Bell Ring!
I blocked you!
You score!
Keep the pressure!
Pick it up!
Come on Grandpa!
Easy, Killer!
My Man!
Slow poke!
Where are you from!?
Like a bee!
Great punch!
You lose!
You missed me!
What a hit!
You're the Champ!
Getting tired!?
Too Slow!
Ha, Ha!
You're crazy!
Lucky shot!
You win!
You want some of this!?
Give me your best shot!
Great hook!
You are not a heavy weight - you are
Come on tough guy!
a fourth weight!
Do I look like I am playing!?
Throw them hands!
How dare you challenge me!
You need more practice!
Whimps take breaks!
Excuse me - you have Wheaties!
Diapers are for babies like you!
You are so strong!
You've been working out!
You are weak!
I did not even feel it!
Hey, hey, hey - that woke me up!
Take it easy wise guy!
Are you awake today!?
Did you eat today!
Aw! That hurt!
Go back to sleep!
You can't hit hard enough!
Be Good!
You hit so hard!
I want to be your friend!
Can you be my bodyguard!?
Say what? Try again!
I don't know what happened to your
Good hit!
muscles!
Easy, Brother!
You got an A plus!
Attack now!
Green light - bird singing!
Are you running out of gas!?
You have won sixty five dollars!
Knock it out!
You are tough!
Don't hurt me baby!
Man, you are a heavyweight!
You are a light weight!
WAAAA! (cry of a baby)
You are a champion!
You have improved!
Hey, Rambo - Keep on hitting!
Boo, Boo, Boo!
Good reflex!
I start to notice you!
Time out!
Ten seconds to this round!
You got me in midsection!
Nice combination!
Sorry you lost!
Good round!
Cheap shot!
Good upper cut!
Good hook!
Nice left jab!
I am not scared of you!
I respect you!
This is round two!
You landed it!
You are dangerous!
Nice target!
You are very aggressive!
You have power!
I am hit in my right eye!
Very Good!
Better round!
Use both hands!
No pain - no gain!
Fight!
Oh no!
Give me more!
Where is my teeth!?
That tickles!
Chump!
Come on Grandma!
Fantastic!
Awesome!
Banks Derris H.
Cegielnik Urszula
Hamill Jr. Tom
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