Interactive Animal Communications Apparatus Accessory Device

An interactive animal communications apparatus accessory device conceals a communications apparatus within a stuffed animal and functionally attaches the communications apparatus to a microphone and speaker allowing a person to interact with another person through the stuffed animal as if the stuffed animal was hearing and speaking. The device includes a stuffed animal and a camera substantially concealed in the stuffed animal and includes a lens exposed to an exterior of the stuffed animal to monitor an area adjacent to the stuffed animal. A speaker is concealed in the stuffed animal. A plug is operationally coupled to each of the camera and the speaker and concealed in the stuffed animal. A transceiver is positionable in the stuffed animal. The plug couples to the transceiver such that the speaker broadcasts sound from an extrinsic device through the transceiver and the transceiver transmits video from the camera to the extrinsic device.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to communications apparatus accessory devices and more particularly pertains to a new communications apparatus accessory device for functionally attaching a communications apparatus to a microphone and speaker within a stuffed animal to allow a person to interact with another person through the stuffed animal as if the stuffed animal was hearing and speaking.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a stuffed animal and a camera coupled to the stuffed animal. The camera is substantially concealed in the stuffed animal and includes a lens exposed to an exterior of the stuffed animal to monitor an area adjacent to the stuffed animal. A speaker is concealed in the stuffed animal. A plug is operationally coupled to each of the camera and the speaker and concealed in the stuffed animal. A transceiver is positionable in the stuffed animal. The plug couples to the transceiver such that the speaker broadcasts sound from an extrinsic device through the transceiver and the transceiver transmits video from the camera to the extrinsic device.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a interactive animal communications apparatus accessory device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top back side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new communications apparatus accessory device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the interactive animal communications apparatus accessory device 10 generally comprises a stuffed animal 12 having a head 14, a body 16, and an opening 18 extending into an interior 20 of the stuffed animal 12. The opening 18 is in a back 22 of the stuffed animal 12 so as to generally not be visible to a child or other observer viewing a front of the device 10. A camera 24 is coupled to the stuffed animal 12. The camera 24 is substantially concealed in the stuffed animal 12 so as not to be readily visible to the observer. The camera 24 has a lens 26 exposed to an exterior of the stuffed animal 12 wherein the camera 24 is configured to monitor an area adjacent to the stuffed animal 12. The lens 26 is positioned to align with a nostril 28 in a nose 30 of the stuffed animal 12 such that the lens 26 is forwardly directed relative to the stuffed animal 12. The nose 30 is positioned at an end 32 of a snout 34 of the stuffed animal 12 wherein the lens 26 is forwardly positioned relative to the body 16 of the stuffed animal 12 and the lens 26 is generally not obscured by the structure of the stuffed animal 12. Thus, the camera 24 provides a view of an observer as the observer views the stuffed animal 12 from the front.

A speaker 36 is coupled to the stuffed animal 12. The speaker 36 is concealed in the stuffed animal 12. The speaker 36 is positioned in a torso 38 of the stuffed animal 12 under a mouth 40 of the stuffed animal 12 such that the speaker 36 may be of a size larger than the mouth 40 of the stuffed animal 12 yet the sound transmitted from the speaker 36 will be sufficiently close to the mouth 40 as to give the impression of the stuffed animal 12 producing the sound through the mouth 40.

A plug 42 is operationally coupled to each of the camera 24 and the speaker 36.

The plug 42 is concealed in the stuffed animal 12. A transceiver 44 is positionable in the stuffed animal 12. The plug 42 couples to the transceiver 44 such that the speaker 36 broadcasts sound from an extrinsic device 46 through the transceiver 44 and the transceiver 44 transmits video from the camera 24 to the extrinsic device 46. The transceiver 44 may be a cellular telephone 66 and the extrinsic device 46 may be a second cellular telephone 66 facilitating communication between the transceiver 44 and the extrinsic device 46. Alternatively, each of the transceiver 44 and the extrinsic device 46 may be an electronic tablet or the like.

A microphone 48 is coupled to the stuffed animal 12. The microphone 48 is concealed in the stuffed animal 12. The microphone 48 is operationally coupled to the plug 42 wherein the microphone 48 is configured to transmit audio from the microphone 48 to the extrinsic device 46 through the transceiver 44. The microphone 48 is positioned in the mouth 40 of the stuffed animal 12 to be directed towards the area in front of the stuffed animal 12 enhancing pickup of audio from the observer. Thus, a person may monitor both video and audio feedback or reactions from the observer while being able to speak to the observer through the device 10 in a manner giving the impression the stuffed animal 12 is speaking, hearing, and personally interacting with the observer.

A closure 50 is coupled to the stuffed animal 12. The closure 50 may be a zipper 52, hook and loop fastener, or the like, closing the opening 18 wherein the transceiver 44 is securable within the stuffed animal 12.

In use, the transceiver 44 is positioned in the stuffed animal 12, coupled to the plug 42, and activated to transmit video and audio to the extrinsic device 46 while allowing audio transmission through the speaker 36. Thus, a person may monitor both video and audio feedback or reactions from the observer while being able to speak to the observer through the device 10 in a manner giving the impression the stuffed animal 12 is speaking, hearing, and personally interacting with the observer.

In alternative embodiments, the camera 24 may left out entirely or be an integral part of the transceiver 44, obviating the plug 42 for the purpose of connecting the camera 24 to the transceiver 44. In this embodiment, the transceiver 44, be it a phone, electronic tablet, or the like, would be positioned within the interior 20 to position the existing camera of the device in a position to achieve the same functionality as earlier described. The device 10, absent the camera functionality, could also be provided with a pair of two way radios for communication. One radio serving as the transceiver 44 and the other serving as the extrinsic device 46. The stuffed animal 12 can be provided with or without additional structure as is conventionally known for providing articulation and movement of the various parts of the stuffed animal 12. Such articulation could be applied to the mouth, ears, eyes, and extremities and synchronized with sounds transmitted through the transceiver 44.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded.

A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. An interactive animal communications apparatus accessory device comprising:

a stuffed animal having a head, a body, and an opening extending into an interior of said stuffed animal;
a camera coupled to said stuffed animal, said camera being substantially concealed in said stuffed animal, said camera having a lens exposed to an exterior of said stuffed animal wherein said camera is configured to monitor an area adjacent to said stuffed animal;
a speaker coupled to said stuffed animal, said speaker being concealed in said stuffed animal;
a plug operationally coupled to each of said camera and said speaker, said plug being concealed in said stuffed animal; and
a transceiver positionable in said stuffed animal, said plug coupling to said transceiver such that said speaker broadcasts sound from an extrinsic device through said transceiver and the transceiver transmits video from the camera to the extrinsic device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising said transceiver being a cellular telephone.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to said stuffed animal, said microphone being concealed in said stuffed animal, said microphone being operationally coupled to said plug wherein said microphone is configured to transmit audio from said microphone to the extrinsic device through said transceiver.

4. The device of claim said opening being in a back of said stuffed animal.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a closure coupled to said stuffed animal, said closure closing said opening wherein said transceiver is securable within said stuffed animal.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising said lens being positioned to align with a nostril in a nose of said stuffed animal.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising said nose being positioned at an end of a snout of said stuffed animal wherein said lens is forwardly positioned relative to a body of said stuffed animal.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising said speaker being positioned in a torso of said stuffed animal under a mouth of said stuffed animal.

9. The device of claim 3, further comprising said microphone being positioned in a mouth of said stuffed animal.

10. An interactive animal communications apparatus accessory device comprising:

a stuffed animal having a head, a body, and an opening extending into an interior of said stuffed animal, said opening being in a back of said stuffed animal;
a camera coupled to said stuffed animal, said camera being substantially concealed in said stuffed animal, said camera having a lens exposed to an exterior of said stuffed animal wherein said camera is configured to monitor an area adjacent to said stuffed animal, said lens being positioned to align with a nostril in a nose of said stuffed animal, said nose being positioned at an end of a snout of said stuffed animal wherein said lens is forwardly positioned relative to a body of said stuffed animal;
a speaker coupled to said stuffed animal, said speaker being concealed in said stuffed animal, said speaker being positioned in a torso of said stuffed animal under a mouth of said stuffed animal;
a plug operationally coupled to each of said camera and said speaker, said plug being concealed in said stuffed animal;
a transceiver positionable in said stuffed animal, said plug coupling to said transceiver such that said speaker broadcasts sound from an extrinsic device through said transceiver and the transceiver transmits video from the camera to the extrinsic device, said transceiver being a cellular telephone;
a microphone coupled to said stuffed animal, said microphone being concealed in said stuffed animal, said microphone being operationally coupled to said plug wherein said microphone is configured to transmit audio from said microphone to the extrinsic device through said transceiver, said microphone being positioned in a mouth of said stuffed animal; and
a closure coupled to said stuffed animal, said closure closing said opening wherein said transceiver is securable within said stuffed animal.
Patent History
Publication number: 20160074760
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 11, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2016
Inventor: Christopher Parker (Philadelphia, PA)
Application Number: 14/483,333
Classifications
International Classification: A63H 3/02 (20060101); A63H 33/26 (20060101); A63H 33/00 (20060101);