Talking trading card

• US 5,588,678 A
• Filed: 03/14/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Great Western Press, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Great Western Press, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US08/403,637
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 283/56, 283/67, 283/117, 283/904, 379/355, 273/460, 273/439, 446/297, 446/302
• US Class Current: 704/272
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records

Abstract

A talking trading card having two printed trading cards attached to the top and bottom sides of a substrate in which is housed the mechanism for powering, storing, activating, and emitting recorded sounds. The sounds may be prerecorded in a voice chip or may be programmed into the voice chip after the manufacture of the unit through a receptacle placed on the side of the unit.

Claims

1. A method of providing a consumer with information concerning a particular subject with the use of a talking trading card comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate housing having a top and a bottom side;

attaching a trading card surface to each side of said housing;

providing indicia on at least one of said trading card surfaces pertaining to a person, place, object, or cartoon character;

providing a voice-chip circuit in the housing for storing a predetermined voice message that is related to the printed indicia to create a talking trading card;

energizing the voice chip through power terminals thereon;

coupling a loudspeaker means in the housing to the voice-chip circuit for generating the message audibly; and

coupling switch means to the voice-chip circuit for selectively causing the voice-chip circuit to provide the consumer with the predetermined talking trading card voice message through the loudspeaker.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of preprogramming a voice chip in the voice-chip circuit with the talking trading card message related to the printed indicia prior to the voice chip being provided in said housing.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical terminal jack on the substrate housing external surface; and

connecting the terminal jack to the voice chip such that the voice chip can be programmed with the talking trading card message relating to the indicia after the manufacture of the talking trading card.

4. A method as in claim 1 further including the step of relating the indicia and talking trading card message to athletes.

5. A method as in claim 1 further including the step of relating the indicia and talking trading card message to mammals such as horses, birds, and the like.

6. A method as in claim 1 further including the step of relating the indicia and talking trading card message to places such as the Grand Canyon, ancient ruins, and the like.

7. A method as in claim 1 further including the step of relating the indicia and talking trading card message to animated characters such as cartoon characters.