Sound-effects generating device for activity toys or vehicles

• US 5,130,693 A
• Filed: 01/31/1990
• Issued: 07/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henri J. Gigandet
• Original Assignee: Henri J. Gigandet
• Inventors: Gigandet, Henri J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/473,063
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 340/326, 340/573, 340/691, 340/384 E, 455/344, 362/157, 362/802, 446/397, 446/404, 446/408, 446/409
• US Class Current: 340/815.69
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A battery-powered, electro-mechanical device which automatically generates sound-effects and flashing lights depending on its position or tilt is disclosed. The device, housed in a rigid encasement, consists of a position/tilt actuator and sensor, an electronic circuit board, a sound-effects generator, an amplifier, a speaker, LED lamps and driver. The device can be attached to the underside of a skateboard between the forward and rearward trucks.

Claims

1. A battery-powered, electro-mechanical device, housed in a rigid encasement, for automatically generating sound-effects and flashing lights with a change in position and/or tilt of said device, characterized by:

a) an actuator with sensors symmetrically spaced within the periphery of the actuator which reacts to

i) moments of inertia whenever the position of said device is moved, and

ii) forces of gravity whenever said device is tilted from its normal horizontal operating level,

said actuator activating said sensors such that when any one sensor or two adjacent sensors are activated, separate detected states corresponding to the position or tilt of said device are determined, whereby said detected states produce distinct electronic signals;

b) means for directing said distinct electronic signals to inputs of a sound-effects generator programed to assign from its internal memory of pre-programmed sound-effects, a different sound-effect for each distinct electronic signal representative of a particular position or tilt state detected;

the assignment of said sound-effects constitutes a sound pattern relative to detected position or tilt states of said device,

c) said sound-effects generator programmed to generate waveform outputs representative of said assigned sound-effects relative to said detected states, said waveform outputs are applied to;

i) the input of an audio amplifier which drives a loudspeaker to produce said sound-effects and,

ii) the input of an LED driver which drives a set of LED lamps producing visible effects.

2. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the sensors and sensor activating means of said actuator consists of either:

a) sealed mercury or electrolytic tilt switch;

or

b) mechanical contacts with an appropriate activator;

or

c) reed switches activated by permanent or electrical magnet or magnets;

or

d) optical photo-transmissive or reflective switches and actuator or activators.

3. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said sound-effects generator has a built-in timer programmed to shift said sound-effects relative from their assigned positions to adjacent positions after a predetermined time interval;

successive time intervals and shifts result in a rotating sound pattern as said sound pattern shifts to newly assigned positions relative to their previously assigned positions;

a whole cycle is completed when said rotating sound pattern has shifted through all positions relative to said detected states, and has returned to the originally assigned positions.

4. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that said sound-effects generator produces more sound-effects relative to said detected position or tilt states, said sound-effects generator having memory means which stores a multitude of sound-effects and after said predetermined time interval, introduces a new sound-effect into said rotating sound pattern relative to a particular position by replacing the sound-effect previously assigned relative to that position, successive shifts introduces new sound-effects into said rotating sound pattern thereby expanding the number of sound-effects assigned relative to each position or tilt state detected.

5. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that the number of sound-effects produced is limited only by the size of the memory within said sound-effects generator and that when all said sound-effects have been produced, the whole cycle repeats itself when the original sound-effects are reintroduced into said rotating sound pattern and then consequently followed by the remaining sound-effects.

6. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that a timer switch position is sensed by an input to said sound-effects generator which then controls the operation of said built-in timer to freeze or hold said rotating sound pattern relative to their currently assigned positions by disabling the built-in timer when said switch is OFF, and to allow the resumption of the rotating sound pattern by enabling the built-in timer when the switch is ON.

7. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 1 characterized by LEDs positioned on the outer perimeter of said encasement, activated to flash at fixed or variable duty cycles relative to said detected states by said sound-effects generator through an LED driver.

8. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said device is mounted on or incorporated into a moving object or vehicle.

9. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that one vehicle consists of a skateboard and said device is mounted on the underside of, or incorporated into, said skateboard.

10. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said sound-effects are electronically generated and are typically machine guns, sirens, phases, death-rays, bombs and other sounds including multiple-tone melody sounds.

11. A battery-powered, electro-mechanical device, housed in a rigid encasement, for automatically generating sound-effects and flashing lights with a change in position and/or tilt of the device characterized by:

a) a sealed actuator having a non-metallic body, a spherical concave well surrounded by a cushioned circular wall in which a magnet glides or rolls as it reacts to;

i) movements of inertia whenever the position of said device moved, and

ii) forces of gravity whenever said device is tilted from its normal horizontal operating level,

b) four sensors consisting of reed switches symmetrically spaced and mounted within the periphery of said actuator to detector position or tilt states of said device by the magnetic influence of the magnet on said reed switches such that when any one switch or two adjacent switches are closed by said magnetic influence, eight separate detected states corresponding to the position or tilt state of said device are determined, whereby said detected states produce eight distinct electronic signals;

c) an electronic circuit board, on which said reed switches are installed, is positioned above said actuator and routes said distinct electronic signals to inputs of said sound-effects generator programmed to assign from its internal memory of pre-programmed sound-effects, a different sound-effect for each distinct electronic signal representative of a particular position or tilt state detected;

the assignment of eight said sound-effects constitutes a sound pattern relative to said detected positions or tilt states of said device,

d) said sound-effects generator programmed to generate waveform outputs representative of said assigned sound-effects relative to said detected states, said waveform outputs are applied to;

i) the input of an audio amplifier which drives a loudspeaker to produce said sound-effects, and

ii) the input of an LED driver which drives a set of LED lamps producing visible effects.

12. An electro-mechanical device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said device is mounted on the underside of a skateboard between its forward and rearward trucks.