Combined monitor and light box assembly

• US 6,084,527 A
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Spector
• Original Assignee: Donald Spector
• Inventors: Spector, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/065,732
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/573.1, 340/573.2, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/539, 704/275, 446/227
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 15/00 Accessories for children's furniture, e.g. safety belts or baby-bottle holders
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/12 using a transparent mirror or other light reflecting surface transparent to transmitted light whereby a sign, symbol, picture or other is visible only when illuminated

Abstract

A combined monitor and light box assembly installable in a crib enclosure occupied by an infant. The assembly which is interactive with the infant includes a light box on whose front face is mounted a semi-reflective mirror behind which is a film transparency having a photographic image of the infant'"'"'s mother. When a light bulb in the box is energized to illuminate the transparency, the image of the mother becomes visible to the infant through the mirror which is then effectively transparent. Associated with the light box is a sound-activated switching device connected between the bulb and a power source. The switching device, when activated by crying sounds emanating from the infant, remains activated for a predetermined period to energize the bulb and illuminate the transparency. Also associated with the light box is a record playback unit having stored therein a voice message recorded by the mother addressed to her infant, the unit being rendered operative only when the bulb is energized. Hence when the infant cries, it is then presented with an image of its mother and hears her comforting message, as a consequence of which the infant is induced to stop crying. The monitor which is operative only after the switch is activated, radio-transmits the crying sounds then emanating from the infant to a receiver that can be heard by the mother.

Claims

1. A combined monitor light box assembly installable in an enclosure occupied by an infant having a mother, said assembly comprising:

A. a light box having a front face on which is mounted a semi-reflecting mirror behind which is a film transparency which is a photographic image of the mother;

B. a light producing means within the box which when activated then illuminates the transparency to render the image visible to the infant through the mirror which is then effectively transparent;

C. a record playback unit associated with the box which when activated, reproduces a voice message recorded by the mother addressed to her infant;

D. a miniature radio transmitter mounted in the box to radio-transmit a signal that is intercepted by a radio receiver that can be heard by the mother at a site remote from the enclosure; and

E. means responsive to sounds of crying emanating from the infant to concurrently activate the light producing means, the playback unit and the radio transmitter whereby when the infant cries, it is then presented with and comforted by an image of its mother and her voice message, and the cries are radio-transmitted and picked up by the receiver so that they are heard by the mother.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the enclosure is a crib, and the assembly is provided with means to suspend the box from a rail in said crib.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said light-producing means includes a light bulb and a power source therefor.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which said light-producing means is actuated by a sound-activated switching device connected between said bulb and said power source.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which said switching device includes a microphone which picks up the cries of the infant to produce a signal which activates a timer switch to connect said bulb to concurrently the power source for a predetermined time period, and to activate the radio-transmitter which is coupled to the microphone.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5, further including a threshold device interposed between the microphone and the timer switch to cause said signal to activate the timer only when the amplitude of the infant'"'"'s cries exceed a predetermined threshold level.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which the threshold device includes setting means to adjust the threshold level.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the voice message is reproduced by a loud speaker mounted below the mirror on the face of the box.