Sound emitting utensils

• US 5,075,970 A
• Filed: 02/08/1991
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ocean Shore Toys
• Original Assignee: Ocean Shore Toys
• Inventors: Albert, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US07/652,777
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 30/142, 30/324, 30/322, 30/123, 340/384 E, 340/539, 446/297, 446/81, 446/397, 446/419, 272/74, 272/100, 272/129, 272/75, 434/204, 434/169, 434/334, 434/365
• US Class Current: 30/123
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/143 producing means

Abstract

Utensils are provided which incorporate speech synthesis microelectronics. A switch on the exterior of the utensil handle actuates circuitry inside the utensil handle, including a speech synthesizer semi-conductor chip and an amplifier semi-conductor chip. Emulated speech generated by the speech synthesizer semi-conductor chip is processed by the amplifier semi-conductor chip and emitted from the speaker in the utensil.

Claims

1. A utensil which emits emulated human speech, comprising:

a. a hollow tube terminating in a utensil head at one end;

b. a power source fitted inside said tube;

c. a speech synthesizer semi-conductor chip fitted inside said tube and connected by electrical circuit means to said power source;

d. an amplifier semi-conductor chip fitted inside said tube and connected by electrical circuit means to said speech synthesizer semi-conductor chip; and

e. speaker means fitted inside said tube and connected by electrical circuit means to said amplifier semi-conductor chip,

whereby when power generated by said power source is introduced to said speech synthesizer semi-conductor chip, emulated human speech is generated, processed through said amplifier semi-conductor chip and emitted from said speaker means.

2. The utensil of claim 1, further comprising a switch mounted on the exterior of said tube and connected by electrical circuit means to said power source.

3. The utensil of claim 2, further comprising means for generating, continuous synthesized speech.

4. The utensil of claim 2, further comprising means for generating, finite synthesized speech.

5. The utensil of claim 1, wherein said tube is a handle and said handle and said utensil head form a sealed, water-tight implement.

6. The utensil of claim 1, wherein said utensil head is a fork.

7. The utensil of claim 1, wherein said utensil head is a spoon.

8. The utensil of claim 1, wherein said utensil head is a knife.

9. The utensil of claim 1, wherein said speaker means is fitted inside said tube at an end opposite said utensil head.