Impact sensitive talking ball

• US 5,375,839 A
• Filed: 05/21/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Ventures (Government of Singapore)
• Original Assignee: New Ventures Incorporated
• Inventors: Pagani, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/065,667
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 446/242, 446/265, 446/297, 446/397, 446/409, 446/486, 273/58 R, 273/213, 273/58 E, 273/58 G
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

A talking ball has a speaking unit mounted inside including an adapter 30 which fits in an aperture in the ball to hold the unit in position. A plunger 21 fits against an inside surface and operates a test switch 16 when the ball is squeezed. The speaking unit is provided with a voice record chip, batteries and a vibration switch. When the ball is hit or bounced a message broadcast is initiated by the vibration switch.

Claims

1. An impact sensitive talking ball comprising:

a speaking unit having a housing enclosing a voice message chip, a vibration switch, a loudspeaker and a battery power supply compartment;

an adapter for holding said speaking unit in said ball, said adapter including peripheral formations which cooperate with edges of an aperture formed in a surface of said ball, said adapter having a perforated front surface covering said aperture and lying flush with said ball surface surrounding said aperture;

a mechanically operated electric switch mounted in said housing; and

a plunger extending from said housing to adjacent an inner surface of said ball, said plunger arranged to operate said electric switch whenever said ball is squeezed, such that said inner surface presses said plunger against said electric switch.

2. A talking ball comprising:

a speaking unit having a housing enclosing a voice message chip, a vibration switch, a loudspeaker and a battery power supply compartment;

an adapter for holding said speaking unit in said ball, said adapter including peripheral formations which cooperate with edges of an aperture formed in a surface of said ball, said adapter having a perforated front surface covering said aperture and lying flush with said ball surface surrounding said aperture; and

a loudspeaker cover attached to said housing, said cover having a nose extending forwards of said housing, said adapter fitting around and gripping said nose.

3. A sound-emitting toy comprising:

a sound unit having a housing enclosing a vibration switch, a loudspeaker, a battery power supply compartment, and means for emitting predetermined sound;

an adapter for holding said sound unit in said toy, said adapter including peripheral formations which cooperate with edges of an aperture formed in a surface of said toy, said adapter having a perforated front surface covering said aperture and being flush with said toy surface surrounding said aperture;

a mechanically operated electric switch mounted in said housing and connected to activate said sound unit; and

a plunger extending from said housing to an inner surface of said toy, said plunger being positioned to operate said electric switch when said toy is squeezed, such that said inner surface presses said plunger against said electric switch to close said switch and activate said sound unit.

5. The toy of claim 3 wherein said sound is speech.

6. The toy of claim 5 wherein said sound emitting means is a voice message chip.

7. The toy of claim 6 wherein said toy is a ball.

4. A sound-emitting toy comprising:

a sound unit having a housing enclosing a vibration switch, a loudspeaker, a battery power supply compartment and means for emitting predetermined sound;

an adapter for holding said sound unit in said toy, said adapter including peripheral formations which cooperate with edges of an aperture formed in a surface of said toy, said adapter having a perforated front surface covering said aperture and being flush with said toy surface surrounding said aperture; and

a loudspeaker cover attached to said housing, said cover having a nose extending forwards of said housing, said adapter fitting around and gripping said nose.

8. The toy of claim 4 wherein said sound is speech.

9. The toy of claim 8 wherein said sound emitting means is a voice message chip.

10. The toy of claim 9, wherein said toy is a ball.