U.S. patent application number 10/993953 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for wearable toy and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Holloway, LLC. Invention is credited to Patrick Rooney Conarro.
Application Number | 20060063466 10/993953 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37968095 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060063466 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Conarro; Patrick Rooney |
March 23, 2006 |
Wearable toy and method
Abstract
A wearable toy has a docking portion. A memory contains a
digitized sound and is affixed to the docking portion. A host has
an electrical interface capable of connecting a speaker system in
the host to the memory.
Inventors: |
Conarro; Patrick Rooney;
(Green Mountain Falls, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF DALE B. HALLING, LLC
655 SOUTHPOINTE COURT, SUITE 100
COLORADO SPRINGS
CO
80906
US
|
Assignee: |
Holloway, LLC
|
Family ID: |
37968095 |
Appl. No.: |
10/993953 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60612590 |
Sep 23, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/26 ;
446/397 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G10H 2220/336 20130101;
G10H 2240/131 20130101; G10H 2220/061 20130101; A63H 5/00 20130101;
G10H 1/26 20130101; G10H 2220/395 20130101; G10H 2210/391 20130101;
G10H 1/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/026 ;
446/397 |
International
Class: |
A63H 5/00 20060101
A63H005/00 |
Claims
1. A wearable toy, comprising: a docking portion; a memory
containing a digitized sound affixed to the docking portion; and a
host having an electrical interface capable of connecting a speaker
system in the host to the memory.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the host has an accelerometer
electrically coupled to the memory.
3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the memory has a plurality of
digitized sounds.
4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the host has a switch that selects
one of the plurality of sounds.
5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the switch turns a power off.
6. The toy of claim 1, wherein the host has a first accelerometer
and a second accelerometer, the first accelerometer coupled to a
clock of the memory and a second accelerometer coupled to a trigger
of the memory.
7. The toy of claim 1, further including a controller coupled to
the memory.
8. The toy of claim 7, further including a controllable switch
coupled to the controller.
9. The toy of claim 1, further including an LED in the host.
10. The toy of claim 1, wherein the host has a clip.
11. A method of operating a wearable toy, comprising: a)
determining if a docking portion is attached to a host portion; b)
when the docking portion is attached to the host portion, turning
on a controllable power switch; c) determining if a certain
acceleration is measured by the wearable toy; and d) when the
certain acceleration is measured by the wearable toy, playing a
sound.
12. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of: e)
determining if a selection switch has been activated by a user; f)
when the selection switch has been activated by a user, selecting a
second sound to be played.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (f) further includes the
steps of: f1) determining if the selection switch was activated for
less than a predetermined period of time; f2) when the selection
switch was activated for less than the predetermined period of
time, selecting the second sound to be played.
14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of: f3) when
the selection switch was not activated for less than the
predetermined period of time, turning off the controllable power
switch.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein step (c) further includes step
of: c1) lighting an LED when the certain acceleration is
measured.
16. The method of claim, 11, wherein step (c) further includes the
step of: c1) determining a frequency a predetermined acceleration
occurs and adjusting a play speed of the sound based on the
frequency.
17. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of: e)
replacing the docking portion with a second docking portion; f))
determining if the certain acceleration is measured by the wearable
toy; and g) when the certain acceleration is measured by the
wearable toy, playing a second sound stored in the second docking
portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims priority on provisional patent
application, Ser. No. 60/612590, filed on Sep. 9, 2004, entitled
"Sound Stomper".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of toys
and more particularly to a wearable toy and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] People are constantly looking for new toys to entertain and
amuse themselves. There have been a number of toys that make
sounds, but they generally have been limited in the number of
different sounds that they can produce. Thus there exists a need
for a toy that can make a variety of different sounds.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] A wearable toy that overcomes these and other problems has a
docking portion. A memory contains a digitized sound and is affixed
to the docking portion. A host has an electrical interface capable
of connecting a speaker system in the host to the memory. The host
may have an accelerometer electrically coupled to the memory. The
memory may have a number of digitized sounds. The host may have a
switch that selects one of the sounds. The same switch turns the
power off. The host may have a first accelerometer and a second
accelerometer. The first accelerometer is coupled to a clock of the
memory and a second accelerometer is coupled to a trigger of the
memory. A controller may be coupled to the memory. A controllable
switch may be coupled to the controller. An LED may be in the host.
The host may have a clip for attaching the toy to users clothing or
shoes.
[0005] In one embodiment, a method of operating a wearable toy
includes the steps of determining if a docking portion is attached
to a host portion. When the docking portion is attached to the host
portion, a controllable power switch is turned on. If a certain
acceleration is measured by the wearable toy, a sound is played. If
a selection switch has been activated by a user, a second sound is
selected to be played. If the selection switch is activated for
less than a predetermined period of time, the second sound may be
selected to be played. When the selection switch was not activated
for less than the predetermined period of time, the controllable
power switch may be turned off. An LED may be lighted when the
certain acceleration is measured. A frequency of an acceleration
may adjust a play speed of the sound based on the frequency. The
docking portion may be replaced with a second docking portion. If a
certain acceleration is measured by the wearable toy, a second
sound stored in the second docking portion is played.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of a top of a wearable
toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top left perspective view of an underside of a
wearable toy in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of a wearable toy in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded bottom left perspective view of a
wearable toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
and
[0010] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronics of a wearable
toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention describes a wearable toy that has a
number of different sounds. The available sounds can be changed by
changing a cover or docking portion of the wearable toy. This
allows users to trade and collect different sounds for the toy. The
sounds are activated by an acceleration of the wearable toy. The
toy may be clipped to a user's clothing or shoes. As the user walks
the bounce or acceleration of the user's feet will result in a
sound clip being played. In addition, the toy has a number lights
that blink when the acceleration is sensed by the toy.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of a top of a wearable
toy 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The toy
10 has a top cover or docking portion 12 with a speaker outlet 14.
A number of LEDs 16 also extend through the top cover 12. An on-off
and selection switch 18 is found on the top cover 12. FIG. 2 is a
top left perspective view of an underside of a wearable toy 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The underside or
host 20 has a slot 22 for receiving batteries 24. The batteries may
be held in place by a cover not shown. The clip 26 extends over the
battery cover and is used for attaching the toy 10 to a user's
clothing or shoes. FIG. 3 is a side view of a wearable toy 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This figure
illustrates the clip 26 more clearly.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded bottom left perspective view of a
wearable toy 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
Starting at the top of the toy 10 is a cover housing 30. The cover
housing 30 holds a sound memory chip 32 and associated platform 34.
The platform 34 may snap fit or be glued to or screwed to posts 36
in the cover housing 30. The sound memory chip 32 has electrical
interface leads 38 that mate with the electrical interface 40 on an
electronics motherboard 42 in the host 20. The platform 34 mates
with the host electronics interface platform 44. A speaker housing
46 has a speaker shroud 48 and mates with the host electronics
interface platform 44. A speaker 50 is seated in the speaker shroud
48. A plurality of LEDS 16 extend through the speaker housing 46
and the cover housing 30 through holes that are not visible in this
view. An on-off and selection switch 18 also extends through the
speaker housing 46 and the cover housing 30 through holes that are
not visible in this view. A speaker holder 52 mates with the bottom
of the speaker 50 and holds the speaker 50 in place. The electronic
motherboard 42 has electrical connections to the speaker 50, LEDs
16, switch 18 and the memory chip 32. The electronics motherboard
42 mates to a bottom cover housing 54. The cover 54 has a slot 22
for receiving batteries. A battery cover 56 attaches to the cover
54. The clip 26 attaches to the battery cover 56. All the parts 30,
34, 44 of the docking portion 12 are designed to be permanently
connected together and the parts 46, 52, 42, 54 of the host 20 are
designed to be permanently attached. The battery housing 56 and
clip 26 are designed to be removable and may be connected together
with a screw or snap fit. The docking portion 12 has clips 58 on
the side of the cover housing 30 that mate with slots 60 in the
speaker housing 46 to snap fit the docking portion 12 to the host
12. This also results in the electrical pins 38 electrically mating
with the electrical interface 40. This allows a user to snap off a
docking portion 12 and replace it with another docking portion that
has a different group of sounds. This increases the play value of
the toy and allows users to trade docking portions or collect them.
Note that while a specific embodiment of the mechanical layout of
the invention has been described, a number of variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art and all such variations are
encompassed by the invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronics 70 of a
wearable toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
The electronics 70 include a battery 72 coupled to a controllable
switch 74 by a cover switch 73. The cover switch 73 is activated by
attaching the docking portion 12 to the host 20. The output 76 of
the controllable switch 74 provides power for all the electronics.
Note that the power connections are not shown. The controllable
switch 74 is controlled by a controller 78. The controller maybe a
microcontroller, microprocessor or discrete logic and electronic
elements. The controller 78 is coupled to the power/selection
switch 18. A pair of accelerometers 82, 84 is also coupled to the
controller 78. The controller 78 has a start signal 86, a clock
signal 88 and a sound bite select signal 90 coupled to the memory
32. The controller 78 is coupled to an LED (Light Emitting Diode)
controller 92. The LED controller 92 is coupled to the LEDs 16. The
output 94 of the memory 32 is coupled to a Digital to Analog (D/A)
circuit 96. The D/A circuit 96 is coupled to the speaker 50.
[0015] In operation the docking portion 12 is attached to the host
20. This activates the cover switch 73. Since the controllable
switch 74 is normally closed, power 76 is now provided to the
electronic circuits 70. The controller 78 on power up activates the
LED controller 92 to cause the LEDs to blink periodically while the
power is on and no other activity is occurring. If the power switch
18 is depressed for less than two seconds, in one embodiment, the
controller 78 sends a select signal 90 to the memory 32. The memory
32 has a number of digital sound clips (S1, S2, S3) 98, 100, 102
and the memory selects the next sound clip 100 to play. If the
power switch 18 is depressed quickly again, then the next sound
clip 102 is selected. When a threshold acceleration is detected by
a first accelerometer 82, the controller 78 sends a start signal 86
to the memory 32. The memory 32 starts to play or output 94 the
selected sound clip 98, 100, 102. The digitized sound clip is
converted by the D/A circuit 96 into an analog signal that is
converted into sound by the speaker 50. In one embodiment, a second
accelerometer 84, which may have a lower acceleration threshold,
determines a clock speed 88 of the memory 32. In one embodiment,
the frequency that the second accelerometer measures the second
threshold acceleration determines the clock speed 88. As a result,
when the person is moving about energetically the sound places
faster and when they are moving about more slowly the sound is
played more slowly. Note that when the memory 32 is activated, the
LED controller 92 is also activated and the LEDs 16 are lighted in
a random or other pattern. When the power switch 18 is depressed
for longer than two seconds in one embodiment, the controller 78
turns off the controllable switch 74. This shuts off the power 76.
The electronics 70 described herein are one way of accomplishing
the tasks of the toy 10. Other embodiments will be apparent to
those skilled in the art and are encompassed by the invention.
[0016] Thus there has been described a toy that has sounds that can
be changed by changing a cover or docking portion of the wearable
toy. This allows users to trade and collect different sounds for
the toy. The sounds are activated by an acceleration of the
wearable toy. The toy may be clipped to a user's clothing or shoes.
As the user walks the bounce or acceleration of the user's feet
will result in a sound clip being played. In addition, the toy has
a number lights that blink when the acceleration is sensed by the
toy.
[0017] The methods relating to how the sounds are selected, lights
are controlled, and power is turned off for the wearable toy
described herein can be implemented as computer-readable
instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium that when
executed by a computer will perform the methods described
herein.
[0018] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations,
modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and
variations in the appended claims.
* * * * *