INTERACTIVE PICTURE BOOK WITH VOICE RECORDING FEATURES AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20030022143A1
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Debbie Giampapa Kirwan
• Original Assignee: Debbie Giampapa Kirwan
• Inventors: Kirwan, Debbie Giampapa
• Granted Patent: US 6,516,181 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/317
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon

Abstract

An apparatus comprises in combination a storybook and a separate audio recording and playback device which may be joined for using prerecorded or spontaneously recorded information corresponding to the storyline of the storybook. The audio device may be used with several storybooks by recording the storyline of each book separately. Buttons corresponding to the several pages of the storybook are provided so that a young reader is able to correlate a button with each page to hear the story as well as read it.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising in combination:

a storybook having a book binding engaging a front and a back book covers and plural pages positioned between the front and back book covers; and

an audio recording and playback device providing a voice information storing means and an upwardly directed control surface and a side surface adjacent to the control surface;

an engaging means for removably engaging the audio device with the back one of the book covers;

whereby, the audio device enables the audio recording and audio playback of a story illustrated on the pages of the book.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control surface further comprises a microphone circuit for receiving audio information and storing the audio information in the information storing means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control surface further comprises a headphone circuit adapted for receiving a headphone jack for directing the audio information to a headphone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control surface further comprises an audio output circuit adapted for presenting the audio information audibly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control surface further comprises plural buttons, each of the plural buttons visually corresponding to one of the plural pages of the story book, and enabled for initiating a portion of the audio information playback corresponding to a portion of a story written on the corresponding one of the pages of the storybook.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control surface further comprises a means for switching between recording mode and playback mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control surface further comprises a button adapted for initiating playback of a voice message.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storybook provides at least one transparent pocket for receiving a photograph and means for personalizing the storybook.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio device further comprises a key lock circuit adapted for preventing recording of audio information.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a means for recording audio information twice for at least one of the plural buttons so as to achieve voice over effects.

11. An apparatus comprising in combination:

at least two storybooks, each having a book binding engaging a front and a back book covers and plural pages positioned between the front and back book covers; and

an audio recording and playback device providing a voice information storing means and an upwardly directed control surface and a side surface adjacent to the control surface;

an engaging means for removably engaging the audio device with the back one of the book covers of a selected one of the storybooks;

whereby, the audio device enables the audio recording and audio playback of a story illustrated on the pages of the selected one of the storybooks.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control surface further comprises a microphone circuit for receiving audio information and storing the audio information in the information storing means.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control surface further comprises a headphone circuit adapted for receiving a headphone jack for directing the audio information to a headphone.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control surface further comprises an audio output circuit adapted for presenting the audio information audibly.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control surface further comprises plural buttons, each of the plural buttons visually corresponding to one of the plural pages of the story book, and enabled for initiating a portion of the audio information playback corresponding to a portion of a story written on the corresponding one of the pages of the storybook.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control surface further comprises a means for switching between recording mode and playback mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control surface further comprises a button adapted for initiating playback of a voice message.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the storybook provides at least one transparent pocket for receiving a photograph and means for personalizing the storybook.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the audio device further comprises a key lock circuit adapted for preventing recording of audio information.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a means for recording audio information twice for at least one of the plural buttons so as to achieve voice over effects.