Patents by Inventor Benjamin A. Pines

Benjamin A. Pines has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7292681
    Abstract: A system having a postcard having a thickness not to exceed 5.5 mm while containing an audio message for playback and a power supply, the system also having a base recording unit for recording a message to the postcard when the postcard is inserted into the base recording unit. The base recording unit has no power supply and draws power from the power supply on the postcard. The postcard is suitable for mailing using the postal service. The unit for recording is compact, has no power supply, is easily portable and is attractive. The card has a play-back button, a compact battery power source to drive play-back and recording of audio messages. The postcard is absent a record button allowing the postcard with an audio message to be sent through the postal system without the risk of accidental erasure of the recorded message. The card may be recorded and re-recorded when placed in the recording unit. The card contains an audio board that has an IC chip having memory for storing an audio message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Corporate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Pines
  • Patent number: 6675511
    Abstract: An acoustic card having a permanent magnet and a reed switch. The acoustic card includes a first flap, a second flap, and a sound generator attached to said second flap. The acoustic card is divided by a fold into two halves, such as the first flap and the second flap, is unfolded in an opened position and folded in a closed position. The sound generator attached to the second flap includes a printed circuit board, a sound card containing a controller and a memory storing audio sound data, and the reed switch. A permanent magnet attached to the first flap does not directly contact the reed switch attached to the second flap. The permanent magnet moves away from the reed switch to activate the sound generator to produce audio sound and moves towards the reed switch to deactivate the sound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Corporate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Pines
  • Publication number: 20030156686
    Abstract: A system having a postcard having a thickness not to exceed 5.5 mm while containing an audio message for playback and a power supply, the system also having a base recording unit for recording a message to the postcard when the postcard is inserted into the base recording unit. The base recording unit has no power supply and draws power from the power supply on the postcard. The postcard is suitable for mailing using the postal service. The unit for recording is compact, has no power supply, is easily portable and is attractive. The card has a play-back button, a compact battery power source to drive play-back and recording of audio messages. The postcard is absent a record button allowing the postcard with an audio message to be sent through the postal system without the risk of accidental erasure of the recorded message. The card may be recorded and re-recorded when placed in the recording unit. The card contains an audio board that has an IC chip having memory for storing an audio message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Pines
  • Patent number: 6591523
    Abstract: An acoustic card having a permanent magnet and a reed switch. The acoustic card includes a first flap, a second flap, and a sound generator attached to second flap. The acoustic card is divided by a fold into two halves, such as the first flap and the second flap, is unfolded in an opened position and folded in a closed position. The sound generator attached to the second flap includes a printed circuit board, a sound card containing a controller and a memory storing audio sound data, and a reed switch. A permanent magnet attached to the first flap does not directly contact the reed switch attached to the second flap. The permanent magnet moves away from the reed switch which then closed electrically to activate the sound generator to produce audio sound, and moves towards the reed switch which then opens electrically to deactivate the sound generator to turn off the audio sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Corporate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Pines
  • Publication number: 20020152652
    Abstract: A acoustic card having a permanent magnet and a reed switch is provided. The acoustic card includes a first flap, a second flap, and a sound generator attached to second flap. The acoustic card divided by a fold into two halves, such as the first flap and the second flap, is unfolded in an opened position and folded in a closed position. The sound generator attached to the second flap includes a printed circuit board, a sound card containing a controller and a memory storing audio sound data, and a reed switch. A permanent magnet attached to the first flap does not directly contact the reed switch attached to the second flap. The permanent magnet moves away from the reed switch to be closed to activate the sound generator to produce audio sound and moves close to the reed switch to be opened to deactivate the sound generator to stop producing the audio sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Pines
  • Publication number: 20020139017
    Abstract: A acoustic card having a permanent magnet and a reed switch is provided. The acoustic card includes a first flap, a second flap, and a sound generator attached to second flap. The acoustic card divided by a fold into two halves, such as the first flap and the second flap, is unfolded in an opened position and folded in a closed position. The sound generator attached to the second flap includes a printed circuit board, a sound card containing a controller and a memory storing audio sound data, and a reed switch. A permanent magnet attached to the first flap does not directly contact the reed switch attached to the second flap. The permanent magnet moves away from the reed switch to be closed to activate the sound generator to produce audio sound and moves close to the reed switch to be opened to deactivate the sound generator to stop producing the audio sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Pines