Amusement devices: toys – Body-carried or worn
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-04-24
Ackun, Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Body-carried or worn
C434S393000, C434S395000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220916
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a toy band that can be attached to one's wrist, forearm, or other part of the body and dynamically deployed through the spring action of the band, and specifically to a dynamic band that includes a pre-recorded message that is played upon impact with a part of the body as the wrist band is dynamically employed.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of a metal spring band as a wrist band is known in the prior art. Typically, a bistable spring with a fabric or plastic housing that is sized in length to surround the wrist of a wearer has been used as a novelty toy. The bistable spring wrist band has essentially two different physical states or possible positions. One position is elongated and somewhat rigid with the metal spring portion including an arcuate cross-section that houses potential energy that maintains the elongated spring in its semi-rigid position or at least fixed position. The bistable spring wrist band can also be deployed in a second position by impact along the arcuate mid-portion and its mid-section causing the entire spring body to coil up which if done correctly will wrap itself dynamically around the limb of the operator. Such wrist bands have been commercially sold under the Trademark SLAP WRAP™.
The present invention is an improvement over the initial SLAP WRAP™ in that it provides for a more interactive relationship when the operator engages the toy wrist band of the present invention around the wrist, forearm, or other appropriate object. With the present invention, when the toy band is deployed on the wrist through dynamic action, the wearer or operator will also receive a pre-recorded audio message.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A toy band that can be dynamically deployed through dynamic wrapping action around a human's wrist or limb, or other appropriately-shaped object while at the same time broadcasting a pre-recorded message during the dynamic wrapping action. The band comprises a bistable metal spring band sized in length to fit comfortably around the limb of a human being, or around an suitably-shaped object, a fabric coating disposed upon each side of said spring band, and an audio broadcast unit removably attached to said band, said audio impact unit including a speaker, a battery, a pre-recorded audio message residing on a read-only memory chip, and a physical impact switch that activates the battery to provide power to the speaker and the memory chip allowing the pre-recorded message to be broadcast upon activation of the impact switch. The audio broadcast unit may be removed from the bistable band and attached to a belt, body part, or other attachable object for use independently of the bistable band.
The speaker, the battery, and the read-only memory chip containing the pre-recorded audio message are miniaturized and may be mounted in a small housing that includes a fastener having a slotted portion that slides onto the spring band itself. The audio housing would then be mounted approximately along the center of the spring band and cannot come loose. Alternatively, a securing device can secure the audio housing to the band without inhibiting the sensitivity of the impact switch.
The impact switch is positioned along the bottom of the housing and on the side of the housing facing the coiled center direction of the spring. Thus, when the band is dynamically deployed by releasing the spring tension upon impact with the wearer's wrist, for example, causing the spring to coil, at that same moment, the impact switch will strike the wrist causing the pre-recorded message to be broadcast from the speaker.
Thus, when the toy is actually used, a double result from the spring action is encountered. The wearer will get the message broadcast that has been pre-recorded at substantially the same time that the entire wrist band becomes coiled around the wrist, forearm, or other object.
The length of the message can be as desired and may be a short phrase or any type of sound, the purpose of which is to provide a toy or novelty to the wearer. The sound could be broadcast for up to three or four seconds, or as desired.
A design covers the top portion of the audio housing, facing the operator. The design corresponds to the design on the fabric of the band as well as the pre-recorded audio message that is played upon deployment of the invention.
The impact switch may be a pair of spring mounted contacts that are normally kept apart by the metal spring action of the contact holders whereupon the striking of the band upon the impact area would force one of the contacts to engage the other contact and a momentary closure of the switch is sufficient to cause the audio pre-recorded message to be broadcast even when the impact switch is released once the band is stabilized around the impact area. Thus, in one embodiment, the impact switch is important in that it is momentary and requires only a single momentary contact of the two switch elements to turn on the speaker system.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved novelty toy and wrist band that provides for a dynamic roll-up action as the band is engaged around one's wrist.
It is yet another object of this invention is to provide for a dynamically deployed wrist band that upon deployment upon the user's wrist will broadcast a pre-recorded audio message.
It is yet still another object of this invention is to provide a small lightweight wrist band that can be coiled around, for example, one's wrist, while providing a momentary impact switch that turns on a pre-recorded audio message that is broadcast just after impact as the band deployed on someone's wrist.
It is yet another object of this invention is to provide a dynamically deployable toy band that can engage a human limb or a narrow cylindrically-shaped object.
A further object of this invention is to provide a dynamically deployable toy band that upon coiling around a human limb or a cylindrical object emits light through an LED display as well as audio messages. upon impact of the band upon a human limb or a cylindrical object.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a dynamically deployable band that acts as a wrist band for a watch to be used by those who cannot secure a watchband around their wrist, such as people with an arthritic condition.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5883576 (1999-03-01), De La Huerga
patent: 6072392 (2000-06-01), Henderson et al.
Bart Philip D.
Herman Jeffrey M.
Ackun Jacob K.
Malin Haley & DiMaggio, P.A.
Miller Bena B.
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