Talking business card

• US 5,836,616 A
• Filed: 04/08/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David S. Cooper
• Original Assignee: David S. Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US08/833,693
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 283/72, 283/74, 283/75, 283/77, 283/76, 283/56, 283/99, 283/100
• US Class Current: 283/56
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records

Abstract

A self-contained, electronic message-emitting device in the form of a talking business card for providing a recorded message. The talking business card includes a card holding member having a base member and opposite side wall members thereon which form a first receiving channel on one side and a second receiving channel on the opposite side for slidably receiving therein the opposite sides of the business card. The base member includes a compartment for receiving an electronic message emitting assembly. The electronic message emitting assembly includes an electronic voice microchip for recording a message, a record button to initiate and activate the voice microchip to record a given message and/or sound, a play back button to play back the given message and/or sound for audio listening by the user, and a power source component for energizing the voice microchip. The business card holding member may be made of plastic or metal.

Claims

1. A self-contained, electronic message-emitting device in the form of a talking business card for providing a recorded message, comprising:

a) a card holding member including a base member and opposite side wall members thereon which form a first receiving channel on one side and a second receiving channel on the opposite side for slidably receiving therein the opposite edges of a business card;

b) said base member including a compartment for receiving an electronic message emitting assembly; and

c) said electronic message emitting assembly including an electronic voice microchip for recording a message or sound, a record button to initiate and activate said voice microchip to record said message or sound, a play back button to play back said message or sound for audio listening by the user, and a power source component for energizing said voice microchip.

2. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, further including a metallic foil cover for covering said compartment having said electronic message emitting assembly therein.

3. A talking business card in accordance with claim 2, wherein said metallic foil cover includes a designated area having a plurality of small hole openings for passing through said message or sound to said voice microchip.

4. A talking business card in accordance with claim 2, wherein said metallic foil cover includes a designated area for indicating the location of said play back button to play back said message or sound for audio listening when pushed by the user.

5. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said card holding member is made of a material selected from the group consisting of durable plastic, steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

6. A talking business card in accordance with claim 5, wherein said card holding member is molded or stamped from said materials selected from the group consisting of durable plastic, steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

7. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said card holding member further includes a retaining stop wall member having a third receiving channel to stop the forward movement of the business card after insertion into said first and second receiving channels.

8. A talking business card in accordance with claim 7, wherein said card holding member further includes a retaining stop tab to prevent the unintentional removal of the business card after insertion into said first, second and third channels.

9. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voice microchip has a 15 second to 120 second length of time duration for retaining a recorded message therein.

10. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power source component is a microbattery.

11. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said record button includes a removable component associated with said record button for inactivating said voice microchip from further recordings.

12. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said card holding member for holding in place a business card therein has a width measurement of fifty-five millimeters (55 mm), a length measurement of ninety-five millimeters (95 mm), and a height measurement of six millimeters (6 mm).

13. A talking business card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said compartment for receiving said electronic message emitting assembly therein has a width measurement of twenty millimeters (20 mm), a length measurement of eighty millimeters (80 mm) and a depth measurement of four millimeters (4 mm).

14. A talking business card in accordance with claim 2, wherein said metallic foil cover for covering over said compartment has a width measurement of thirty-five millimeters (35 mm), a length measurement of eighty-five (85 mm) and thickness measurement of five mils (5 mil).