MULTIMEDIA KEEPSAKES AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE

• US 20140200897A1
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Talking PIX Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Talking PIX Systems LLC
• Inventors: Stern, Geoffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US13/740,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20140200897A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/272
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 3/12 combined with other articles loose leaf-binders combined with other articles B42F13/40
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 3/123 incorporating sound producing or light emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• 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 audio or multimedia unit is provided which may be attached to or mounted within an existing book. In a record mode of operation, it permits a user to select a particular page of the book and record audio or multimedia information relative to that page. In a playback mode of operation the user may select any page and play back audio or multimedia previously recorded with respect to that page.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing recorded audible signals in association with visible media, comprising:

display means exhibiting a plurality of visible media elements, each element showing a unique indicium;

a plurality of storage elements each containing one of the audible signals;

a selector operable by a user to select one of said storage elements, the selector exhibiting one of said unique indicia for a selected storage element; and

a playback device which plays the audible signal contained in the selected storage element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display means is one of a photo album and a book and further comprising a retainer securing the playback device to the display means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a channel therein constructed to receive a portion of the playback device for sliding movement therein so that the device may be selectively housed within the apparatus or moved to protrude therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a stop element limiting the amount of movement of the device within in the channel so as to prevent removal of the device from the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a release element operable by the user to override the stop element to enable removal of the device from the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selector includes a rotary dial exhibiting the unique indicia in spaced relationship thereon.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selector includes an electronic display utilized to enter indicia.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the storage elements being contained in a memory card and further comprising a connector for removably receiving the memory card.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an audio pick up device;

a encoder responsive to the pick up device and converting the output of the pickup device to a signal storable in a storage element; and

switching means modifying the operation of the apparatus from a record mode in which signals from the encoder are stored and a playback mode in which signals from the storage elements are played by the playback device.

10. Apparatus for playing recorded multimedia signals in association with visible media, comprising:

display means exhibiting a plurality of visible media elements, each element showing a unique indicium;

a plurality of storage elements each containing one of the multimedia signals;

a selector operable by a user to select one of said storage elements, the selector exhibiting one of said unique indicia for a selected storage element; and

a playback device which plays the multimedia signal contained in the selected storage element, the playback device including a visual display component and an audio reproducing component.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means mounting at least a component of the playback device to the display means.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the visual display component is mounted to said apparatus so as to pivot away from a surface thereof into a viewing position outside said apparatus, the visual display component being stored within said apparatus when not pivoted into the viewing position.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the display means is one of a photo album and a book and further comprising a retainer securing the playback device to the display means.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a channel therein constructed to receive a portion of the playback device for sliding movement therein so that the device may be selectively housed within the apparatus or moved to protrude therefrom.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the visual display component is mounted to said device so as to pivot away from a surface thereof into a viewing position outside said apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a stop element limiting the amount of movement of the device within in the channel so as to prevent removal of the device from the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a release element operable by the user to override the stop element to enable removal of the device from the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means mounting said playback device for pivotal movement relative to said apparatus from a stored position within the apparatus to a position of use wherein it protrudes from said apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the visual display component is mounted to said device so as to pivot away from a surface thereof into a viewing position outside said apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the selector includes a rotary dial exhibiting the unique indicia in spaced relationship thereon.

21. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the selector includes an electronic display utilized to enter indicia.

22. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising the storage elements being contained in a memory card and further comprising a connector for removably receiving the memory card.

23. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

an audio pick up device;

a encoder responsive to the pick up device and converting the output of the pickup device to a signal storable in a storage element; and

switching means modifying the operation of the apparatus from a record mode in which signals from the encoder are stored and a playback mode in which signals from the storage elements are played by the audio component playback device.

24. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means enabling storage multimedia signals in said storage elements and playback from the storage elements by said visual display component.

25. A method for playing recorded media signals in association with visible media, comprising:

exhibiting a plurality of visible media elements, each element showing a unique indicium;

providing a plurality of storage elements each containing one of the media signals;

associating each storage element with one of said indicia;

exhibiting said unique indicia; and

upon selection of one of said indicia by a user, playing back the media signal stored in the associated storage element.