VERBAL WARNING SYSTEMS AND OTHER AUDIBLE WARNING SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF DEVICES, CONTAINERS, PRODUCTS AND OTHER THINGS

• US 20080111685A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Inventors: Olson, Marty, Olson, Josiah N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,772,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/028 initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by the presence or absence of an audible or electrical signal
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/003 Indicating devices, e.g. user warnings or inclinators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Verbal warning labels and other audible warning systems for use with different devices, containers, products and other things in various environments are disclosed herein. An audible warning system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a device having a standardized textual warning associated therewith, and a sound playback system operably coupled to the device. The sound playback device can be configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to the textual warning. The verbal warning can be provided by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device, and the verbal warning can supplement or replace the standardized textual warning.

Claims

1. A verbal warning system, the verbal warning system comprising:

a device having a standardized textual warning associated therewith; and

a sound playback system operably coupled to the device and configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to the textual warning, wherein the verbal warning is provided by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device, and wherein the verbal warning supplements or replaces the standardized textual warning.

2. The verbal warning system of claim 1 wherein the sound playback system includes:

a sensor for activating the sound playback system in response to a predetermined input;

a processor operably coupled to the sensor,

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing the verbal warning; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the verbal warning in response to a signal from the sensor associated with the predetermined input.

3. The verbal warning system of claim 2 wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning in English and the data storage medium contains a second verbal warning in a language other than English, and wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the first and second verbal warnings in response to the signal from the sensor.

4. The verbal warning system of claim 2 wherein the data storage medium includes one or more non-verbal sounds and the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the non-verbal sounds in response to the signal from the sensor.

5. The verbal warning system of claim 1 wherein the verbal warning is a prerecorded message that is unalterable by a user of the device.

6. The verbal warning system of claim 1 wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning and the sound playback system contains a second verbal warning related to use of the device different from the first verbal warning, wherein the sound playback system is configured to announce one of the first and second verbal warnings in response to the signal from the sensor.

7. The verbal warning system of claim 1 wherein the audible warning system is configured to announce the verbal warning a predetermined number of times.

8. A product container, the container comprising:

a body having an opening associated with an interior portion;

a product disposed within the interior portion;

an enclosure member positioned proximate to the opening and movable between a first position in which the product is retained in the interior portion and a second position in which the product can exit the interior portion via the opening;

a warning label displayed on an exterior surface of the body, the warning label including textual information regarding the product;

a sensor operably coupled to at least one of the body and the enclosure member; and

an audible warning system carried by the container and operably coupled to the sensor, wherein the audible warning system is configured to audibly output a spoken warning reciting at least a portion of the textual information in response to receiving an indication from the sensor associated with movement of the enclosure member from the first position to the second position.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the audible warning system includes:

a controller operably coupled to the sensor;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the controller, the data storage medium containing the spoken warning;

a power source operably coupled to the controller; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving the indication from the sensor.

10. The container of claim 8 wherein the warning label includes graphical information regarding use of the product, and wherein the spoken warning corresponds to at least a portion of the graphical information.

11. The container of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the container further comprising a second sensor operably coupled to the body, wherein the controller causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal from at least one of the first and second sensors.

12. The container of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a light sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with a change in light received by the sensor.

13. The product of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a motion sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with movement of the container.

14. The container of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a touch sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with physical contact with the sensor from a user.

15. The container of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with an object moving within a predetermined area surrounding the sensor.

16. The container of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with a detected temperature outside of a predetermined temperature range.

17. A product comprising:

a container, the container including a body having an interior portion and an exterior surface;

a detector coupled to the body;

an audible warning system operably coupled to the detector; and

a consumable good disposed within the interior portion of the body, wherein the audible warning system is configured to broadcast a verbal warning relating to the product in response to receiving a notification from the detector indicating access to the consumable product.

18. The product of claim 17:

wherein the container further includes;

an opening associated with the interior portion;

a cover positioned proximate to the opening and movable between a first position in which the interior portion is inaccessible via the opening and a second position in which the interior portion is accessible via the opening;

wherein the notification from the detector is associated with moving the cover from the first position to the second position; and

wherein the audible warning system includes;

a processor operably coupled to the detector;

a recording medium operably coupled to the processor, the recording medium containing the verbal warning; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to announce the verbal warning in response to the signal.

19. The product of claim 17, further comprising a silencing control operably coupled to the processor and selectively actuatable by a user, the silencing control being configured to disable the audible warning system when actuated by a user.

20. The product of claim 17, further comprising a warning label displayed on the body, wherein the warning label contains textual information regarding use of the product and the prerecorded verbal warning corresponds to at least a portion of the textual information.

21. The product of claim 17, further comprising a warning label displayed on the body, wherein the warning label contains graphical information regarding use of the product, and wherein the prerecorded verbal warning corresponds to at least a portion of the graphical information.

22. The product of claim 17 wherein:

the container is a first container;

the audible warning system is a first audible warning system configured to announce a first prerecorded verbal warning, and

the product is positioned inside a second container within the first container, wherein the second container includes a second audible warning system configured to announce a second prerecorded verbal warning relating to use of the product different from the first verbal warning in response to removal of the product from the second container.

23. A method of providing audio content to a user of a product container, the method comprising:

receiving an input with a sensor operably coupled to a cover of the container, the cover being associated with an opening in the container and the container having an interior portion accessible through the opening and a product disposed within the interior portion; and

in response to the input, alerting a user with an audible warning broadcast by an audible warning system operably coupled to the container.

24. The method of claim 23:

wherein receiving an input includes detecting movement of the cover from a closed position to an open position, the open position providing access to the product; and

wherein alerting the user includes broadcasting a spoken safety message relating to use of the product.

25. The method of claim 23:

wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the input is a first input, the method further comprising receiving a second input with a second sensor carried by the container; and

in response to the second input, alerting the user with the audible warning system.

26. A system for providing audio content to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving an input associated with removing a product from an interior portion of a container; and

in response to the input, means for outputting a spoken a safety message relating to use of the product, the means for outputting the spoken message being operably coupled to the container.

27. The system of claim 26:

wherein the means for receiving an input includes a sensor; and

wherein the means for outputting a spoken safety message includes;

a processor;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing the spoken safety message; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to output the spoken message in response to a signal from the sensor.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the spoken safety message is a standardized warning associated with the product, wherein the spoken safety message is unalterable by the user.

29. A user-operable appliance comprising:

an on-off control for activating and deactivating the user-operable appliance; and

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a processor operably coupled to the on-off control;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing a spoken warning relating to use of the appliance; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal from the on-off control associated with activation of the appliance.

30. The user-operable appliance of claim 29 wherein the spoken warning includes safety information associated with use of the appliance.

31. The user-operable appliance of claim 29, further comprising a motor operably coupled to the on-off control, wherein the processor is configured to enable the on-off control to activate the motor after the spoken warning is audibly output by the audible warning system.

32. The user-operable appliance of claim 29, further comprising a time delay mechanism operably coupled to the processor, wherein the time delay mechanism activates the appliance after a predetermined amount of time from receiving the signal from the on-off control associated with activation of the appliance.

33. The user-operable appliance of claim 29 wherein the user-operable appliance is electrically powered by a power source and the audible warning system is powered by the power source.

34. The user-operable appliance of claim 29, further comprising a warning label displayed on the appliance, the warning label containing textual information relating to use of the appliance, wherein the spoken warning corresponds to at least a portion of the textual information.

35. The user-operable appliance of claim 29, further comprising a warning label displayed on the appliance, the warning label containing graphical information warning relating to the use of the appliance, wherein the spoken message corresponds to the graphical warning.

36. The user-operable appliance of claim 29 wherein the spoken warning is prerecorded on the data storage medium and is unalterable by a user.

37. The user-operable appliance of claim 29 wherein the audible warning system further includes a silencing control operably coupled to the processor and selectively actuatable by a user, the silencing control configured to disable the audible warning system when actuated by the user.

38. A hand-held user appliance comprising:

an electric motor;

an activation switch operably coupled to the electric motor for activating and deactivating the electric motor;

a time delay mechanism operably coupled to the activation switch and the electric motor, wherein the time delay relay activates the motor after a predetermined amount of time from receiving a notification from the activation switch; and

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a controller operably coupled to the activation switch;

a memory operably coupled to the controller, the memory containing a prerecorded verbal warning relating to operation of the appliance; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller causes the speaker to announce the verbal warning in response to the notification from the activation switch before the motor is activated.

39. The hand-held user appliance of claim 38 wherein the controller is configured to cause the speaker to announce the verbal warning in response to a predetermined number of signals from the activation switch.

40. The hand-held user appliance of claim 38 wherein the controller is configured to cause the speaker to announce the verbal warning a predetermined number of times in a predetermined amount of time.

41. The hand-held user appliance of claim 38, further comprising a battery power source operably coupled to the motor and the audible warning system.

42. The hand-held user appliance of claim 38 wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning in English and the memory contains a second verbal warning in a language other than English, wherein the controller causes the speaker to announce the first and second verbal warnings.

43. The hand-held user appliance of claim 38 wherein the memory includes non-verbal sounds and the verbal warning system is configured to announce the non-verbal sounds with the verbal warning.

44. A user operable device comprising:

a body;

a warning label displayed on the body, the warning label including textual information relating to safe use of the user operable device;

a sensor attached to the body; and

an audible warning system carried by the body and operably coupled to the sensor, wherein the audible warning system is configured to announce a prerecorded verbal warning in response to an indication from the sensor associated with use of the device, the verbal warning corresponding to at least a portion of the textual information on the label.

45. The user operable device of claim 44 wherein the audible warning system includes:

a power source;

a processor operably coupled to the power source;

a recording medium operably coupled to the processor, the recording medium containing the prerecorded verbal warning; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the verbal warning in response to the indication from the sensor.

46. The user operable device of claim 44 wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor carried on the body and configured to detect a presence of an object within a predetermined distance of the user operable device.

47. The user operable device of claim 44 wherein the sensor is a touch sensor carried on the body and configured to detect physical contact from a user.

48. The user operable device of claim 44 wherein the prerecorded verbal warning is a first prerecorded verbal warning and the audible warning system includes a second prerecorded verbal warning associated with the use of the device different from the first verbal warning, wherein the audible warning system is configured to announce one of the first and second verbal warnings in response to the indication from the sensor.

49. The user operable device of claim 44:

wherein the prerecorded verbal warning is unalterable by a user; and

wherein the audible warning system is configured to announce the verbal warning before a use of the device.

50. A method of providing audio content to a user of an electrical appliance, the method comprising:

receiving an input from an activation switch operably coupled to the appliance, the activation switch having a first position for activating the appliance and a second position for deactivating the appliance, the input corresponding to moving the activation switch from the second position to the first position; and

in response to the input, alerting a user of the appliance with a spoken safety warning by announcing the spoken warning with an audible warning system carried by the appliance and operably coupled to the activation switch.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising activating the appliance in response to the input, wherein the appliance is activated after announcing the spoken safety warning.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the spoken warning is an standardized warning that is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the appliance, and wherein the spoken warning is unalterable by a user of the appliance.

53. The method of claim 50, further comprising silencing the audible warning system after a predetermined number of inputs from the activation switch.

54. A System for providing audio content to a user of an appliance, the system comprising:

means for receiving an input associated with use of the appliance; and

in response to the input, means for broadcasting a verbal warning including safety information associated with operation of the appliance.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein means for receiving an input associated with use of the appliance includes at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a touch sensor, a biometric sensor or a light sensor.

56. The system of claim 54 wherein the means for broadcasting a verbal warning includes:

a power source;

a processor operably coupled to the power source;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing the verbal warning; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the verbal warning in response receiving a signal from the receiving means associated with use of the appliance.

57. A warning label comprising:

a body having a display area for presenting standardized safety information, wherein the standardized safety information includes at least one of textual or graphical content, and wherein the standardized safety information is supplied by one or more of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor; and

an audible warning system carried by the body and configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to at least a portion of the standardized safety information.

58. The warning label of claim 57 wherein the audible warning system includes:

a processor;

a power source operably coupled to the processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory containing the verbal warning;

a sensor operably coupled to the power source; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the verbal warning in response to an indication from the sensor.

59. The warning label of claim 57 wherein the verbal warning is a prerecorded standardized warning supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the label.

60. A consumer electronic device, the device comprising:

a computer readable medium containing instructions that cause the device to play audio content;

wherein the instructions further cause the device to play a standardized verbal warning prior to playing the audio content; and

wherein the verbal warning is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device.

61. The device of claim 60, further comprising a volume control to control a volume level of audio content played by the device, wherein the instructions further cause the device to play the verbal warning in response to receiving a indication from the volume control associated with a predetermined volume level.

62. The device of claim 60:

wherein the device contains video content including information associated with operating the device;

the device further comprising;

a display to present the video content, wherein the verbal warning corresponds to at least a portion of the video content.

63. The device of claim 60 wherein the device is a portable music player and the audio content includes music.

64. The device of claim 60 wherein the device is a global positioning navigational unit.

65. A communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an activation control;

a processor operably coupled to the activation control;

a recording medium operably coupled to the processor, the recording medium containing a verbal warning relating to use of the communication apparatus;

an antenna operably coupled to the processor and configured to receive an audio signal; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, the processor causing the speaker to broadcast the verbal warning in response to a notification from the activation control associated with activation of the communication apparatus, and wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the audio signal after the verbal warning.

66. The communication apparatus of claim 65 wherein the verbal warning is a safety message relating to use of the apparatus for a predetermined amount of time.

67. The communication apparatus of claim 65:

wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning and the recording medium contains a second verbal warning in a language different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the first and second verbal warnings.

68. The communication apparatus of claim 65 wherein the verbal warning is a prerecorded verbal warning that is unalterable by an end user of the communication apparatus.

69. The communication apparatus of claim 65:

wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning, the recording medium containing a second verbal warning relating to a use of the apparatus different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast one of the first and second verbal warnings in response to the notification from the activation control.

70. The communication apparatus of claim 65, further comprising a disable control operably coupled to the processor, the disable control being configured to allow a user to disable the broadcasting of the verbal warning.

71. The communication apparatus of claim 65:

wherein the recording medium contains video content including a graphical warning; and

the apparatus further comprises;

a display operably coupled to the processor to present the video content in response to an indication from the processor, wherein verbal warning corresponds to the graphical warning and is broadcast simultaneously when presenting the warning symbol.

72. The communication apparatus of claim 65:

wherein the apparatus includes a body having an exterior surface displaying a warning label including textual information relating to use of the apparatus; and

wherein the recording medium contains audio content corresponding to at least a portion of the textual information.

73. The communication apparatus of claim 72 wherein the audio content includes information not presented by the textual information.

74. The communication apparatus of claim 65:

wherein the apparatus includes a body having an exterior surface displaying a warning label including graphical information relating to use of the apparatus; and

wherein the recording medium contains audio content corresponding to at least a portion of the textual information.

75. A multimedia electronic device, the device comprising:

a body;

an on-off control attached to the body;

a controller contained within the body and operably coupled to the on-off control;

a memory contained within the body and operably coupled to the controller, the memory containing video content and audio content, the audio content including a verbal warning relating to use of the device;

a display attached to the body and operably coupled to the controller, the controller causing the display to present at least a portion of the video content in response to a signal from the on-off control associated with activation of the device; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, the controller causing the speaker to broadcast the verbal in response to the signal from the on-off control, wherein the verbal warning is broadcast before broadcasting other audio content on the memory.

76. The electronic device of claim 75:

wherein the memory includes video content having textual information relating to use of the device;

wherein the controller causes the display to present the textual information before displaying other video content on the memory; and

wherein the verbal warning corresponds to at least a portion of the textual information while the textual information is being displayed.

77. The electronic device of claim 75:

wherein the memory includes video content having graphical information relating to use of the device; and

wherein the controller causes the display to present the graphical information while the verbal warning is being announced.

78. The electronic device of claim 75:

wherein the memory includes audio content having a second verbal warning relating to use of the device different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein the controller causes the speaker to alternate between broadcasting the first and second verbal warnings.

79. The electronic device of claim 75 wherein the verbal warning is a prerecorded message that is unalterable by an end user.

80. A method of providing audio content to a user of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user for the audio content contained on a data storage medium of the electronic device;

in response to the request, audibly outputting a verbal warning contained on the data storage medium relating to use of the electronic device;

after audibly outputting the verbal warning, providing the audio content.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein the data storage medium further includes video content presented on a display of the device and corresponding to at least a portion of the verbal warning, the method further comprising presenting the video content in response to the request.

82. The method of claim 80, further comprising disabling the verbal warning after a predetermined number of requests for the audio content.

83. The method of claim 80:

wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning and the data storage medium contains a second verbal warning including information different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein audibly outputting the verbal warning in response to the request includes audibly outputting one of the first and second verbal warnings.

84. A system for providing audio content to a user of an electronic device, the system comprising:

means for receiving an indication requesting the audio content contained on the electronic device;

means for storing a verbal warning relating to use of the device; and

means for audibly outputting the verbal warning prior to outputting the audio content.

85. The system of claim 84 wherein the means for audibly outputting the verbal warning includes a computer readable medium containing instructions that cause the device to audibly output the verbal warning.

86. The system of claim 84 wherein the verbal warning is a standardized safety warning related to use of the device, wherein the verbal warning is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device.