Sound generator: a piezoelectric buzzer on a flexible, tensioned surface of an inflatable object

• US 20050057343A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John A. Blackman
• Original Assignee: John A. Blackman
• Inventors: Blackman, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/384.600
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/04 Sound-producing devices G10K15/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A sound generator and method of projecting sound that includes a piezoelectric buzzer secured to a tensioned, flexible surface of an inflatable object, the surface being under tension in response to variations of pressure within the object. The sound generator includes a sound source and a piezoelectric buzzer electrically connected with each other so that the sound source generates signals, the piezoelectric buzzer converts the signals into sounds and the tensioned, flexible surface amplifies the sounds.

Claims

1. A balloon for producing polyphonic sounds, comprising:

(a) a balloon having inside and outside surfaces and an enclosed gas expandable interior, where said interior surface encompasses said enclosed expandable interior;

(b) an inlet for the controlled entry of a gas into said enclosed expandable interior of said balloon so as to expand said interior of said balloon;

(c) a piezoelectric buzzer adhered to said balloon for producing polyphonic sounds;

(d) said piezoelectric buzzer adhered to one of said inside or outside surface of said balloon in a fashion so that upon receiving audio signals generated by a voice/sound chip, said signals are converted into said polyphonic sounds that resonate within said balloon, wherein said balloon serves as a sound amplifier, and wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is configured to operate while at least a portion of one of said inside or outside surface to which it is attached is continuously tensioned;

(e) a sound module electrically connected to said piezoelectric buzzer and secured to said balloon;

(f) said sound module including a circuit with said voice/sound chip;

(g) said voice/sound chip adapted to generate the audio signals; and

(h) at least one battery arranged to power the sound module.

2. The balloon of claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is directly adhered to said balloon.

3. The balloon of claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is indirectly adhered to the balloon.

4. The balloon of claim 1, further comprising a common housing, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer and said sound module share said common housing.

5. The balloon of claim 1, wherein said sound module is coupled to said inside surface of said balloon and wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is coupled to said sound module.

6. The balloon of claim 1, further comprising a triggering mechanism.

7. The balloon of claim 6, wherein said triggering mechanism is responsive to touch, wherein said touch actuates said sound module and triggers said voice/sound chip to generate said audio signals.

8. The balloon of claim 1, wherein one of said inside or outside surface of the balloon that is attached to said piezoelectric buzzer is maintained continuously tensioned.

9. The balloon of claim 1, wherein said polyphonic sounds are selected from a group consisting of:

songs, melodies, speech, sound effects, multi-tone sounds, multi-tone frequency sounds, and continuous multiple frequency sounds.

10. The balloon of claim 1, wherein said balloon is manufactured from a material selected from a group consisting of:

plastic, plastic film, metallized nylon-type, non-metallized nylon-type material, EVOH material and other film suitable for inflating.

11. A novelty apparatus for producing polyphonic sounds, comprising:

(a) a balloon having inside and outside surfaces and an enclosed gas expandable interior, where said interior surface encompasses said enclosed expandable interior;

(b) an inlet for the controlled entry of a gas into said enclosed expandable interior of said balloon so as to expand said interior of said balloon;

(c) a piezoelectric buzzer adhered to said balloon for producing polyphonic sounds;

(d) said piezoelectric buzzer adhered to one of said inside or outside surface of said balloon in a fashion so that upon receiving audio signals generated by a voice/sound chip, said signals are converted into said polyphonic sounds that resonate within said balloon, wherein said balloon serves as a sound amplifier, and wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is configured to operate while at least a portion of one of said inside or outside surface to which it is attached is continuously tensioned;

(e) a sound module electrically connected to said piezoelectric buzzer and secured to said balloon;

(f) said sound module including a circuit with said voice/sound chip;

(g) said voice/sound chip adapted to generate the audio signals; and

(h) at least one battery arranged to power the sound module.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is directly adhered to said balloon.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is indirectly adhered to the balloon.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a common housing, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer and said sound module share said common housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sound module is coupled to said inside surface of said balloon and wherein said piezoelectric buzzer is coupled to said sound module.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a triggering mechanism.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said triggering mechanism is responsive to touch, wherein said touch actuates said sound module and triggers said voice/sound chip to generate said audio signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of said inside or outside surface of the balloon that is attached to said piezoelectric buzzer is maintained continuously tensioned.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said polyphonic sounds are selected from a group consisting of:

songs, melodies, speech, sound effects, multi-tone sounds, multi-tone frequency sounds, and continuous multiple frequency sounds.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said balloon is manufactured from a material selected from a group consisting of:

plastic, plastic film, metallized nylon-type, non-metallized nylon-type material, EVOH material and other film suitable for inflating.