Denta-mandibular sound-transmitting system

• US 6,115,477 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonic Bites, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sonic Bites, LLC
• Inventors: Capper, David G., Filo, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/984,004
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 381/326, 381/380, 381/151, 381/385, 381/74, 381/328, 381/322, 381/324, 381/327, 381/FOR 130, 446/81, 446/404, 446/397
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/50 characterised by shape, structure or physical form, e.g. products with supported structure
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/00 Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/09 Control elements or operating handles movable from an operative to an out-of-the way position, e.g. pedals, switch knobs, window cranks specially adapted for brake pedals, e.g. by venting of master cylinder or destruction of force transmitting rod, B60T7/065
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/52 Controlling members specially adapted for actuation by other parts of the human body than hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/24 for conducting sound through solid bodies, e.g. wires
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/04 Sound-producing devices G10K15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces

Abstract

A device for transmitting sound waves between a signal source and a user'"'"'s ears, wherein the sound waves bypass the air. The invention generally comprises a signal source configured to produce signals representative of sound, and a sound-transmitting element operatively associated with the signal source to which the signal source can transmit such signals for transmission through the sound-transmitting element to a user'"'"'s mouth, from which the signals are conducted by teeth and bones to the user'"'"'s ears to be perceived as sound. The signal source generally comprises an source that may produce sound waves directly or indirectly with the assistance of a transducer. The sound-transmitting element generally comprises any element that may transmit signals representative of sound upon contact with a user'"'"'s mouth and may include edible substances, eating utensils, and writing implements, among others. The device further may comprise an independent-selective-activity structure, a hand-manipulable structure, or an activity means that permits a user to practice a volitional function independent of sound transmission. The invention provides for the construction of a nearly limitless number of useful and novel devices.

Claims

1. A device to communicate sound to a user by the transmission of signals through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear, the device comprising:

a signal source configured to produce signals representative of sound;

a transducer operatively associated with the signal source to produce vibrations from the signals representative of sound;

a sound-transmitting element operatively associated with the transducer to which the transducer can transmit vibrations;

a power supply associated with the signal source;

a housing for at least the signal source, transducer and power supply; and

an independent-selective-activity structure, associated with the sound-transmitting element and housing, configured for use in a predetermined and selectable activity different from denta-mandibular sound transmission;

where the sound-transmitting element can transmit the vibrations to the user'"'"'s mouth upon contact of the element with the mouth, so that the vibrations travel from the mouth to the user'"'"'s ear where they can be perceived by the user as sound;

where the sound-transmitting element is positioned adjacent the transducer so that vibrations transmitted from the signal source to the sound-transmitting element are sufficient to be perceivable by the user as sound when the sound-transmitting element is in contact with the user'"'"'s mouth; and

where the signal source, transducer and power supply are configured within the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, where the independent-selective-activity structure comprises a holder for an edible substance, and the selectable activity is holding the edible substance.

3. The device of claim 1, where the independent-selective-activity structure comprises an eating utensil, and the selectable activity is consuming an edible substance.

4. The device of claim 1, where the independent-selective-activity structure comprises a writing implement, and the selectable activity is writing.

5. The device of claim 1, where the independent-selective-activity structure comprises a toy, and the selectable activity is playing.

6. A device to communicate sound to a user by the transmission of signals through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear, the device comprising:

a signal source configured to produce signals representative of sound;

a transducer operatively associated with the signal source to produce vibrations from the signals representative of sound;

a sound-transmitting element operatively associated with the transducer to which the transducer can transmit vibrations;

a power supply associated with the signal source;

a housing for at least the signal source, transducer and power supply; and

a hand-manipulable structure associated with the sound-transmitting element and housing;

where the hand-manipulable structure is configured to accomplish a predetermined function different from denta-mandibular sound transmission by and during manipulation of the structure with the user'"'"'s hand;

where the sound-transmitting element can transmit the vibrations to the user'"'"'s mouth upon contact of the element with the mouth, so that the vibrations travel from the mouth to the user'"'"'s ear where they can be perceived by the user as sound; and

where the sound-transmitting element is positioned adjacent the transducer so that vibrations transmitted from the signal source to the sound-transmitting element are sufficient to be perceivable by the user as sound in the sound-transmitting element is in contact with the user'"'"'s mouth; and

where the signal source, transducer and power supply are configured within the housing.

7. The device of claim 6, where the hand-manipulable structure comprises a holder for an edible substance, where the holder may be held by hand and used to hold an edible substance.

8. The device of claim 6, where the hand-manipulable structure comprises an eating utensil that may be held by hand and used to consume an edible substance.

9. The device of claim 6, where the hand-manipulable structure comprises a writing implement that may be held by hand and used to form marks on a surface.

10. The device of claim 6, where the hand-manipulable structure comprises a toy that may be held by hand and used to play.

11. A device to communicate sound to a user by the transmission of signals through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear, the device comprising:

a signal source configured to produce signals representative of sound;

a sound-transmitting element operatively associated with the signal source to which the signal source can transmit signals representative of sound; and

an activity means, associated with the signal source and sound-transmitting element, for providing a predetermined, selectable activity different from denta-mandibular sound transmission;

where the sound-transmitting element can transmit the signals to the user'"'"'s mouth upon contact of the element with the mouth, so that the signals travel from the mouth to the user'"'"'s ear where they can be perceived by the user as sound;

where signals transmitted from the signal source to the sound-transmitting element are sufficient to be perceivable by the user as sound when the sound-transmitting element is in contact with the user'"'"'s mouth; and

where the sound perceivable by the user from the signals produced by the signal source is predominantly from signals transmitted from the sound-transmitting element through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear rather than from the signals fiom the signal source that otherwise may be transmitted to the user'"'"'s ear.

12. A device to communicate sound to a user by the transmission of signals through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear, the device comprising:

an amusement structure configured to provide amusement independent of denta-mandibular sound transmission;

a sound-transmitting portion of the amusement structure capable of being placed into contact with the user'"'"'s mouth; and

a signal source operatively associated with the amusement structure and configured to produce signals representative of sound and to transmit the signals tluough the sound-transmitting portion of the amusement structure;

where the sound-transmitting poition can transmit the signals to the user'"'"'s mouth upon contact of the sound-transmitting portion with the mouth, so that the signals travel from the mouth to the user'"'"'s ear where they can be perceived by the user as sound;

where signals transmitted from the signal source to the sound-transmitting portion are sufficient to be perceivable by the user as sound when the sound-transmitting portion is in contact with the user'"'"'s mouth; and

where the sound perceivable by the user from the signals produced by the signal source is predominantly from signals transmitted from the sound-transmitting portion through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear rather than from the signals from the signal source that otherwise may be transmitted to the user'"'"'s ear.

13. The device of claim 12, where at least a part of the amusement structure comprises a holder for an edible substance.

14. The device of claim 12, where the amusement structure comprises a toy.

15. A device to communicate sound to a user by the transmission of signals through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear, the device comprising:

a signal source configured to produce signals representative of sound;

an integrated circuit associated with the signal source, where the integrated circuit contains preprogrammed sounds, and is used to produce the signals representative of such sound; and

a sound-transmitting element operatively associated with the signal source to which the signal source can transmit signals representative of sound;

where the sound-transmitting element can transmit the signals to the user'"'"'s mouth upon contact of the element with the mouth, so that the signals travel from the mouth to the user'"'"'s ear where they can be perceived by the user as sounds;

where signals transmitted from the signal source to the sound-transmitting portion are sufficient to be perceivable by the user as sound when the sound-transmitting portion is in contact with the user'"'"'s mouth; and

where the sound perceivable by the user from the signals produced by the signal source is predominantly from signals transmitted from the sound-transmitting portion through the user'"'"'s mouth to the user'"'"'s ear rather than from the signals from the signal source that otherwise may be transmitted to the user'"'"'s ear.