NOVELTY DEVICE
A novelty device is disclosed. The device includes a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection, and includes a sound generator module disposed within the housing. The sound generator module is configured to store one or more recordable sounds. The device further includes a sound capture circuit including a push button and microphone, wherein, upon depression of the push button, sounds captured by the microphone are captured and stored in the audio circuit for playback by the sound generator module. The device optionally also includes a movement module configured to cause vibration of the housing. The device also includes a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to activate the sound generator module and the optional movement module upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty device.
The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,134, filed Nov. 21, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDGifts are often exchanged on birthdays, holidays, or during other events, to celebrate the occurrence of the event. Such gifts are typically packaged in a box or other packaging, and are wrapped in wrapping paper to further decorate and provide surprise as to the identity of the gift.
It is sometimes the case that an intended recipient of a gift may be curious about the identity of a gift, and may try to determine the identity of the gift prior to unwrapping the gift, for example by shaking or otherwise jostling the gift package. Although glassware or other fragile gifts can be damaged in this way, in general this type of action is common to determine a weight or identity of a gift without having anyone be able to detect that they tried to determine the identity of the gift contained therein.
Some novelty devices exist which can be configured to be placed on a package and emit sounds based on detection of a tilting movement of that package. For example U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,467 provides one example of a tag that can be added to a gift as a name tag on an exterior of the gift, and which can emit one of a plurality of prerecorded sounds.
However, these devices have disadvantages. For example, the existing devices are designed for use on an exterior of a package, and therefore are detectable by the intended recipient, even when it may be desired by the gift giver that the novelty device be kept obscured. Furthermore, because such devices are designed for use on an exterior of a package, they are designed for use at lower volume, since they need not be able to emit sounds audible through packaging. Still further, such devices do not provide a practical, low cost mechanism by which additional sounds, or custom sounds, can be recorded for playback upon detecting movement of the package. Furthermore, such devices are often designed to be seen, rather than obscured, and as such do not provide the same element of surprise as would be possible if capable of being positioned entirely within the package.
For these and other reasons, improvements are desirable.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the following disclosure, the above and other issues are addressed by the following:
In a first aspect, a novelty sound emitting system includes a novelty sound emitting device. The device includes a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection, and a sound generator module disposed within the housing, the sound generator module including a speaker, an audio circuit, and a battery, wherein the audio circuit is configured to store one or more recordable sounds. The device further includes a sound capture circuit including a push button and microphone, wherein, upon depression of the push button, sounds captured by the microphone are captured and stored in the audio circuit for playback by the sound generator module. The device also includes a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to activate the sound generator module to playback a recordable sound stored in the audio circuit upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty sound emitting device.
In a second aspect, a method of providing a gift to an intended recipient is disclosed. The method includes depressing a push button switch on a novelty sound emitting device to capture an intended sound in an audio circuit of the sound emitting device. The device has a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection, and the audio circuit and push button switch are integrated therein alongside a microphone usable to capture the intended sound. The audio circuit electrically connected to a speaker also positioned within the housing. The method further includes affixing the novelty sound emitting device within a gift package, wherein, upon the gift package being shaken by an intended recipient, the intended sound is emitted from the speaker of the novelty sound emitting device.
In a third aspect, a novelty sound emitting device is disclosed that includes a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection, and a sound generator module disposed within the housing. The sound generator module includes a speaker, an audio circuit, and a battery, wherein the audio circuit is configured to store one or more recordable sounds. The device further includes a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to activate the sound generator module to playback a recordable sound stored in the audio circuit upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty sound emitting device.
In a fourth aspect, a novelty system is disclosed. The novelty system includes a novelty device that has a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection. The novelty device further includes a movement module disposed within the housing and configured to store one or more vibration patterns, and a sound generator module disposed within the housing, the sound generator module including a speaker, an audio circuit, and a battery, wherein the audio circuit is configured to store one or more recordable sounds. The sound capture circuit includes a push button and microphone, wherein, upon depression of the push button, sounds captured by the microphone are captured and stored in the audio circuit for playback by the sound generator module. The novelty device further includes a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to generate outputs upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty device, wherein the outputs comprise one or more of activation of the sound generator module to playback a recordable sound stored in the audio circuit and activation of the vibration module to trigger a vibration pattern stored in the vibration circuit.
As briefly described above, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a novelty system, and in particular a novelty sound emitting and/or vibrating device to be positioned within a package.
In some embodiments, mobile device 14 is usable as the novelty device. In such embodiments, the mobile device is configured to act in a “limited functionality mode”, or “gift mode” as discussed further below. In such a mode, the mobile device 14 is configured to deactivate various communications or other functionality of the device in a “lockout” mode. The lockout mode requires entry of a PIN number or other key to access the code, and acts to preserve battery life of the mobile device while it is positioned within the package to be associated with the message.
As further illustrated in
In some embodiments, the device 100 optionally includes a sound capture circuit including a push button 112 mounted to the circuit board 101 and microphone 114 electrically connected thereto. The sound capture circuit is configured such that, upon depression of the push button 112, sounds captured by the microphone 114 are captured and stored in the audio circuit 106 for playback by the sound generator module.
In the embodiment shown, the novelty device 100 also optionally includes a movement module 117, which can be configured, for example, to cause vibration of the device (e.g., fast paced vibration or a bouncing pattern). The movement module 117 is configured such that, upon detection of a shaking action of the device and associated package, the vibration unit will be activated. The vibration pattern may be selected from a plurality of stored vibration patterns. In optional embodiments, the movement module 117 includes a vibration motor configured to be activated by a signal from circuit board 101, to initiate vibration of the device 100.
In alternative embodiments, the device 100 may lack the push button 112 and microphone 114, but rather will be configured to have one or more pre-stored sounds captured by the audio circuit 106 for playback. In still other embodiments, the device 100 may lack the movement module 117 altogether.
In yet other embodiments, device 100 may comprise both the movement module 117 and the sound generator module such that particular sounds can be coupled to particular vibrational patterns. For example, upon shaking of the device, the sound of a beating heart may be activated concurrently with a rhythmic vibration resembling that of a heart. The volume and intensity of the sound and vibration, respectively, can be adjusted. The device 100 further includes an on/off switch 116 integrated with the circuit board 101, usable to disable the device to conserve battery capacity, as well as to disable use of the device during transport (when such shaking or jostling may occur but is not intended to cause activation of the device).
The device 100 may include a component that may allow the user to disable use of the device while the main body of the device is concealed or inside a package. For example, the device 100 may include a wireless (e.g., RFID) receiving at which remote signals can be received to activate the device. This would allow a user to transport the device while inside a package, and activate the device within the package when the package is in a resting position, without having to carry the device 100 and associated, pre-wrapped package and risk activation of the device.
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It is noted that, in conjunction with the present disclosure, in some instances a user can use a mobile device, such as mobile device 14, directly in place of device 100 by placing that device within a package. This may be sub-optimal in that the owner of mobile device 14 may not wish to place his/her phone in a package in some circumstances; as such, the low-cost device 100 of
In such cases where a mobile device 14 is used, that mobile device could have a plurality of settings that are remotely alterable. For example, the playback of a sound or vibration on the mobile device 14 could be activated or deactivated remotely, or alternatively the sound to be played back could also be changed remotely. This would allow a user of the mobile phone version of the device to customize the sound or vibration to the circumstances in which the package is opened (e.g., by commenting on something worn or said by the person opening, and therefore shaking, the package containing the mobile device 14). Furthermore, remote actions may be set to trigger a sound or vibration, such as an alarm at a predetermined time, an occurrence of a doorbell being detected, or a detection of some other remote event.
In connection with the present disclosure, a further device could be contemplated that allows for the functionality described above in which the mobile device is placed within a package, but which does not require the mobile device itself. For example, the device 100 could be configured with communication mechanisms (e.g., via WiFi or other wireless communication means) that would allow that device to receive sound files, programming, or triggering signals from a remote system (e.g., from the mobile device 14 executing a downloadable application that includes such remote communication options).
Referring to
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The mobile device will then detect movement (step 512), for example once the package is presented to a gift recipient. If movement (e.g., shaking, tilting, etc.) is detected, the mobile device will emit a sound or vibration (step 514), depending on the configuration of the device in steps 504-506. If no movement is detected, the device can also optionally receive a deactivation code (step 516). If no deactivation code is presented, the device continues to monitor for movement, returning to step 512. If a deactivation code is received (e.g., input from a gift recipient, after receiving the code from the original user), a gift message is then presented to the user (step 518).
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Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system.
Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the overall concept of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A novelty system comprising:
- a novelty device including: a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection; a sound generator module disposed within the housing, the sound generator module including a speaker, an audio circuit, and a battery, wherein the audio circuit is configured to store one or more recordable sounds; a sound capture circuit including a push button and microphone, wherein, upon depression of the push button, sounds captured by the microphone are captured and stored in the audio circuit for playback by the sound generator module; and a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to activate the sound generator module to playback a recordable sound stored in the audio circuit upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty device.
2. The novelty system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile application downloadable to a mobile device, the mobile application including a plurality of selectable prerecorded sounds usable by the novelty device by capturing playback of one of the selectable prerecorded sounds via the microphone.
3. The novelty system of claim 2, wherein the selectable prerecorded sounds are selected from a group consisting of:
- breaking glass;
- an angry cat;
- a car alarm;
- a crying baby;
- a burp;
- a fart;
- a scream; and
- a dog barking.
4. The novelty system of claim 1, wherein the recordable sound comprises a voice captured upon depression of the push button.
5. The novelty system of claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch.
6. The novelty system of claim 1, wherein the novelty device comprises a mobile device operating in a gift mode.
7. The novelty system of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is configured to establish a communicative connection to a server remote from the mobile device when in the gift mode.
8. A method of providing a gift to an intended recipient, comprising:
- depressing a push button switch on a novelty device to capture an intended sound in an audio circuit of the sound emitting device, the device having a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection, and the audio circuit and push button switch integrated therein alongside a microphone usable to capture the intended sound, the audio circuit electrically connected to a speaker also positioned within the housing;
- affixing the novelty device within a gift package;
- wherein, upon the gift package being shaken by an intended recipient, the intended sound is emitted from the speaker of the novelty device.
9. A novelty device including:
- a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection;
- a sound generator module disposed within the housing, the sound generator module including a speaker, an audio circuit, and a battery, wherein the audio circuit is configured to store one or more recordable sounds;
- a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to activate the sound generator module to playback a recordable sound stored in the audio circuit upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty device.
10. A novelty system comprising:
- a novelty device including: a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection; a vibration module disposed within the housing, the sound generator module including a vibration motor, a vibration circuit, and a battery, wherein the vibration circuit is configured to store one or more vibration patterns; a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to activate the vibration module to play a vibration pattern stored in the vibration circuit upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty device.
11. A novelty system comprising:
- a novelty device including: a housing sized and configured for positioning within a gift package without detection; a movement module disposed within the housing and configured to store one or more vibration patterns; a sound generator module disposed within the housing, the sound generator module including a speaker, an audio circuit, and a battery, wherein the audio circuit is configured to store one or more recordable sounds; a sound capture circuit including a push button and microphone, wherein, upon depression of the push button, sounds captured by the microphone are captured and stored in the audio circuit for playback by the sound generator module; and a movement detection circuit integrated within the housing and configured to generate outputs upon detection of a shaking action of the novelty device, wherein the outputs comprise one or more of: activation of the sound generator module to playback a recordable sound stored in the audio circuit; and activation of the vibration module to trigger a vibration pattern stored in the vibration circuit.
12. The novelty system of claim 11, wherein the novelty device comprises a mobile device in a gift mode.
13. The novelty system of claim 12, further comprising a server communicatively connected to the mobile device, the server configured to receive registration of an identifier of the mobile device.
14. The novelty system of claim 13, wherein the server is configured to transmit one or more sound effects to the mobile device at predetermined times for playback.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 21, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2014
Inventor: NEIL ADAMS (Bloomington, MN)
Application Number: 14/086,736
International Classification: A63H 37/00 (20060101);