EARPHONE JACK TRIGGERED INTERACTIVE SYNCHRONIZED NOVELTY DEVICES AND TOYS

Abstract

A novelty device includes an electronic module for operatively connecting to an audio jack of a base unit. The novelty device also includes a mechanism configured to react in response to an analog signal received by the electronic module from the base unit. The novelty device may further include a power supply for providing energy to the mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/706,874 filed on Sep. 28, 2012 and entitled “EARPHONE JACK TRIGGERED INTERACTIVE SYNCHRONIZED NOVELTY DEVICES AND TOYS,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosures relates generally to electronic devices and relates particularly to an electronic toy, game and/or novelty device which can be implemented by plugging the toy, game and/or novelty device into an earphone jack of a mobile phone and/or a portable music device.

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a device including an electronic module for operatively connecting to an audio jack of a base unit. The device further includes a mechanism selected from the group consisting of one or more mechanical contraptions, electromechanical contraptions, audio producing contraptions and light producing contraptions. The device may further include a power supply for providing energy to the mechanism.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings illustrating various embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device and base unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram of the device and the base unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not intended to be limiting. The terminology used herein includes the explicit words used, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as “at least one.”

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a novelty device (generally, “device”), generally designated 10, such as a toy, a game or the like, that includes an electronic module 12 or other connection means, such as a plug or adapter, to allow the device 10 to directly connect to or plug into an earphone speaker or audio jack 16 of a mobile phone, a portable music device (e.g., an Apple iPhone™), a stereo, a video game console and/or a tablet, laptop or desktop computer (collectively, a “base unit”), generally designated 14. The device 10 and the base unit 14 of present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive.

The device 10 includes a power supply 18, such as one or more batteries, and a mechanism 20 interconnected thereto. Once the electronic module 12 of the device 10 is plugged into the audio jack 16 of the base unit 14, a signal (e.g., current, analog signal, analog audio signal or the like) may be sent from the base unit 14 and/or received at the device 10, which triggers or activates the mechanism 20 of the device 10. After the mechanism 20 is triggered by the music or audio signal generated by the base unit 14, or even simultaneously when the audio signal is sent, the battery 18 sends a current that powers at least a portion of the mechanism 20 and makes the mechanism 20 and/or the device 10 perform at least one function or movement, as described in detail below. The triggering audio signal may be evaluated by the device 10 to cause a movement or a reaction in the mechanism 20 that correlates with aspects and features of the audio signal. Alternatively, in some embodiments power to the device 10 may be provided by way of low voltage current transferred to the device 10 by way of the audio jack.

The mechanism 20 of the device 10 may be selected from a group consisting of one or more mechanical mechanisms, electromechanical mechanisms, speakers, light-emitting diodes (“LED”), liquid crystal displays (“LCD”) and the like, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the current relayed from battery 18 powers an electromechanical mechanism that may be selected from the group consisting of one or more electronic motors, magnets/coils, piezo actuators, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the device 10 performs a mechanical movement synchronized with the audio sound signal of the base unit 14. For example, when the mobile phone 14 emits a ringing sound upon receipt of an incoming call, the mechanism 20 and/or the device 10 may generate a hand-waving image on an LCD or mechanically perform a hand-waving motion. Alternatively and illustratively, as shown in FIG. 3, the mechanism 20 may include a mouth or eyes that move in response to or in unison with the audio signal. Thus, the output or movement of at least a portion of the mechanism 20 may be caused to react by operating the base unit 14. As a result, the base unit 14 can control output of the mechanism 20 of the device 10.

In some embodiments, the current relayed from the discharging of the battery 18 powers one or more light emitting diodes. In certain embodiments, the device 10 produces an illumination selected from the group consisting of flashing, blinking, strobing, lighting effects, and the like, and combinations thereof. In further embodiments, the device 10 repeatedly produces an illumination selected from the group consisting of flashing, blinking, strobing, lighting effects, and the like, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the device 10 performs a lighting effect synchronized with the audio sound signal of the base unit 14. In further embodiments, the device 10 performs a function selected from the group consisting of an illumination, mechanical movement, electromechanical movement and combinations thereof that are synchronized with the audio sound signal of the base unit 14. The device 10 may further identify particular audio signals originating from the base unit 14 and provide specific or custom reactions (which may or may not be user configurable) in response to particular audio signals originating from the base unit 14.

In yet another embodiment, the device 10 comprises both male and female ear plug jacks 12, 24, as commonly understood by those skilled in the art, so that the device 10 becomes an in-line coupling from the audio phone jack output 16 of the base unit 14 to the listener's earphones 28 (see FIG.

3). As a result, conventional speaker headphones 28 can be plugged directly into female ear plug jack 24 of the device 10 for listening to music or other audio originating from the base unit 14 or the device 10. The in-line coupling may also operate as a pass-through for microphone capabilities.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the audio signal of the base unit 14 will be interpreted by an integrated circuit (“I.C.”) 26 of the device 10 to vary the brightness of the device's light emitting diode 20, which in turn will cause variation in the illumination effects of the device 10. In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the audio signal of the base unit 14 will be interpreted by the integrated circuit 26 of the device 10 to vary the electromechanical mechanism 20, which in turn will cause variation in the mechanical movements of the device 10.

In one embodiment, the male ear plug jack 12 can be rotated at least or exactly 90 degrees so that the device 10 can be selectively positioned and adjusted by the user for best fit and operation with the base unit 14.

The device 10 of the present disclosure offers a significant advantage over the prior art in that it does not require known wired mechanisms to power the device's performance. The present disclosure expands a device's functionality and utility because it is easily implemented simply by plugging the device 10 into the earphone jack 16 of a base unit 14. Importantly, the implementation of the device 10 does not drain or affect the battery usage of the base unit 14 because in at least one embodiment the mechanism 20 is powered by the battery 18 and not a signal from the base unit 14.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A novelty device comprising:

an electronic module for operatively connecting to an audio jack of a base unit;

a mechanism configured to react in response to an analog signal received by the electronic module from the base unit; and

a power supply for providing energy to the mechanism to effectuate operation of the mechanism.

2. The novelty device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module is a male ear plug jack capable of receiving a signal from the audio jack of the base unit when coupled with said audio jack of the base unit.

3. The novelty device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply is triggered by the electronic module and sends a current to the mechanism to cause the mechanism to perform at least one function or movement.

4. The novelty device according to claim 3, further comprising:

an integrated circuit that varies an output of the mechanism based upon characteristics of the signal received from the base unit.

5. The novelty device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a female plug jack spaced-apart from the electronic module capable of operation as a pass-through for the signal received from the base unit.

6. The novelty device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a toy.

7. The novelty device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is selected from the group consisting of one or more mechanical contraptions, electromechanical contraptions, audio producing contraptions and light producing contraptions.

8. A method comprising:

connecting an electronic module of a novelty device to an audio jack of a base unit;

receiving, at the novelty device, an analog signal sent from the base unit; and

providing a current to a mechanism of the novelty device to effectuate performance of at least one function or movement.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

varying an output of the mechanism based upon an integrated circuit of the novelty device interpreting the analog signal.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the mechanism is selected from the group consisting of one or more mechanical contraptions, electromechanical contraptions, audio producing contraptions and light producing contraptions.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the novelty device is selected from the group consisting of a toy and a game.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein base unit is selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone and a portable music player.

13. A combination base unit and novelty device, the combination comprising:

the base unit selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone and a portable music player, the base unit including an audio jack; and

the novelty device being selected from the group consisting of a toy and a game, the novelty device including: an electronic module for operatively connecting to the audio jack of the base unit; a mechanism configured to react in response to an analog signal received by the electronic module from the base unit; and a power supply for providing energy to the mechanism to effectuate operation of the mechanism,

wherein, when the electronic module is connected to the audio jack of the base, the base unit sends the analog signal through the audio jack and the electronic module to activate the mechanism of the device.