Teaching toy telephone

• US 6,179,682 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Learning Resources, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Learning Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Siu, Yau Chung, Kim, Wai Hing, Plain, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/195,786
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 496/141, 496/142, 434/227, 434/230, 434/231, 446/397, 446/408, 446/484
• US Class Current: 446/141
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/3016 Telephones

Abstract

An educational toy telephone is provided and includes a telephone base and a removable handset. A numerical keypad is provided by which an input telephone number may be entered into said telephone. The telephone further includes a microprocessor and memory associated therewith for controlling the various functions of the toy telephone and storing a user-defined programmed telephone number. A message controller is provided, responsive to an output signal from the microprocessor. The message controller stores at least one pre-recorded message consisting of at least one of individual tones, patterns of tones, and a voice message. The microprocessor compares telephone numbers entered into the keypad against the pre-defined telephone numbers. The message controller, responsive to the microprocessor, audibly reproduces the at least one pre-recorded message when the comparison performed by the microprocessor determines that the input telephone number matches the pre-defined telephone number.

Claims

1. A toy telephone adapted to teach children how to operate a telephone and to facilitate memorization of important telephone numbers, the toy telephone comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of switches;

a message recorder;

a message controller;

a speaker;

a microphone; and

a microprocessor;

said keypad switches connected as inputs to said microprocessor;

said microprocessor configured to receive input data in the form of both sequential and contemporaneous entries manually entered through said keypad switches, said microprocessor further configured to generate one of a plurality of output control signals, each individual output control signal being associated with a unique predefined sequence of pushbutton entries corresponding to a conventional telephone number, said output control signal operatively connected to at least one of said message controller and said voice recorder, such that in response to various said pre-defined pushbutton sequences corresponding to the entering of a conventional telephone number through said keypad switches, voice messages are recorded and pre-recorded messages are selectively reproduced over said speaker.

2. The toy telephone of claim 1 further comprising a base and a removable handset, said base forming a cradle for receiving said handset, and wherein a switch actuable by said handset is located within said cradle and is further connected as an input to the microprocessor.

3. The toy telephone of claim 1 wherein said keypad switches are discrete pushbuttons each bearing a unique indicium.

4. The toy telephone of claim 1 wherein said message controller controls a plurality of pre-recorded stored messages, said message controller being configured to selectively cause the reproduction of individual pre-recorded messages in response to pre-defined control signals from said microprocessor.

5. The toy telephone of claim 1 wherein said pre-recorded messages comprise at least one of tones, patterns of tones, and voice messages.

6. The toy telephone of claim 3 further comprising a program pushbutton switch connected as an input to said microprocessor and said microprocessor including a programmable memory, said microprocessor entering a program mode to store a subsequently entered sequence of multiple keypad entries corresponding to a conventional telephone number within a said memory when said program button is depressed in conjunction with another designated keypad pushbutton.

7. The toy telephone of claim 6 further comprising a record pushbutton switch connected as an input to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being configured to generate a record signal when said record pushbutton is depressed in conjunction with another designated keypad pushbutton, said message recorder being responsive to said record signal to record a subsequent voice message spoken into said microphone.

8. A toy telephone comprising:

a keypad by which a telephone number may be entered into said telephone;

means for permanently storing a pre-set telephone number;

means for erasibly storing a user-programmed telephone number;

means for recording and storing a user voice message;

means for storing a pre-recorded message, said pre-recorded message comprising at least one of individual tones, patterns of tones, and a voice message;

means for comparing an entered telephone number to said pre-set telephone number and for comparing an entered telephone number to said user-programmed telephone number; and

means responsive to said comparison means for audibly reproducing said pre-recorded message when said comparison means determines that said entered telephone number matches said pre-set telephone number, and said reproduction means audibly reproducing said user voice message when said comparison means determines that said entered telephone number matches said stored telephone number.

9. The toy telephone of claim 8 further comprising a display whereon individual digits of said entered telephone number are displayed as the pushbuttons corresponding to said digits are pressed.

10. A toy telephone comprising:

a keypad by which an input telephone number may be entered into said telephone;

means for permanently storing a plurality of pre-set telephone numbers;

means for storing a plurality of pre-recorded messages, said pre-recorded messages comprising at least one of individual tones, patterns of tones and a voice message;

means for associating on a one-to-one basis each of said pre-recorded messages with one of said pre-defined telephone numbers;

means for comparing said input telephone number to said pre-defined telephone numbers;

means for reproducing said pre-recorded messages responsive to said comparison means such that upon said comparison means determining that said input telephone number matches one of said plurality of pre-defined telephone numbers, said reproducing means audibly reproduces the pre-recorded message associated with the matched pre-defined telephone number.

11. The toy telephone of claim 10 further comprising:

means for storing a user-programmed telephone number; and

means for recording and storing a user voice message;

said comparison means further comparing said input telephone number to said user programmed telephone number; and

said reproducing means audibly reproducing said user voice message when said comparison means determines that said input telephone number matches said user-programmed telephone number.

12. The toy telephone of claim 11 further comprising a base unit and a removable handset, said base unit including a cradle for receiving the handset, and an override switch actuated when said handset is placed in said cradle, said reproducing means being disabled during those periods when said override switch is actuated.

13. A teaching toy telephone comprising:

a keypad for entering telephone numbers;

a plurality of stored telephone numbers;

a plurality of stored audio messages;

a microprocessor responsive to said keypad configured to compare telephone numbers manually entered into said keypad to said stored telephone numbers; and

a message controller configured to reproduce one of said stored messages associated with one of said plurality of stored telephone numbers when said microprocessor determines that a telephone number input into said keypad matches one of said stored telephone number.

14. A method of teaching a child how to dial a telephone number comprising the steps of:

providing a toy telephone having the appearance of a real telephone, including a handset, a base, a keypad, a microprocessor, a microphone, voice message storage means, programmable telephone number storage means and a speaker;

entering a telephone number into said programmable telephone number storage means;

storing a voice message within said voice storage means;

allowing said child to enter numbers into said key pad;

comparing the numbers entered into the keypad against the telephone number stored in said programmable telephone storage means;

playing the voice message stored in said voice storage means when it has been determined that the numbers entered into the keypad match the telephone number stored in said programmable telephone number storage means.

15. A toy telephone adapted to teach children how to operate a real telephone and to facilitate memorization of important telephone numbers, the toy telephone comprising:

a plurality of pushbutton switches, including a first speed dial button;

a message recorder;

a message controller;

a speaker;

a microphone;

a microprocessor; and

a memory;

a plurality of prerecorded messages, including a first plurality of speed dial messages, stored in said memory, each massage comprising at least one of tones, patterns of tones, and voice messages;

said pushbutton switches being connected as inputs to said microprocessor, whereby said microprocessor receives input data in the form of both sequential and contemporaneous entries manually entered through said pushbutton switches, said microprocessor being configured to generate various output control signals operatively connected to at least one of said message controller and said voice recorder such that in response to pre-defined pushbutton sequences entered through said pushbutton switches, voice messages are recorded and individual said pre-recorded messages are selectively reproduced over said speaker;

said microprocessor being further configured to generate a play speed dial message command associated with a randomly selected one of said first plurality of speed dial messages in response to receiving an input from said first speed dial pushbutton, said message controller reproducing said randomly selected one of said first plurality of speed dial messages in response to said play speed dial message command.

16. The toy telephone of claim 15 further comprising a second speed dial button, and said pre-recorded stored messages comprising a second plurality of speed dial messages said microprocessor being further configured to generate a play speed dial message associated with a randomly selected one of said second plurality of speed dial messages in response to receiving an input from said second speed dial pushbutton, said message controller reproducing said randomly selected one of said second plurality of speed dial messages in response to said play speed dial massage command.

17. A toy telephone adapted to teach children how to operate a real telephone and to facilitate memorization of important telephone numbers, the toy telephone comprising:

a microprocessor having a programmable memory;

a keypad comprising a plurality of pushbutton switches including a program pushbutton switch and a record pushbutton switch, each said pushbutton switch bearing a unique indicium;

a message recorder, a message controller, a speaker, and a microphone;

said microprocessor being configured to receive input data in the form of both sequential and contemporaneous entries manually entered through said keypad pushbutton switches, said microprocessor entering a program mode upon receiving simultaneous inputs from said program switch and a second designated keypad pushbutton switch, wherein said microprocessor acts to store a subsequently entered sequence of keypad entries representing a telephone number in said memory;

said microprocessor also being configured to generate a record signal upon receiving simultaneous inputs from said record pushbutton switch and another designated pushbutton switch, said message recorder being responsive to said record signal to record a user'"'"'s message subsequently spoken into said microphone;

said microprocessor generating a plurality of output control signals operatively connected to said message controller and said voice recorder such that in response to pre-defined pushbutton sequences entered through said keypad switches, said user'"'"'s message or various said pre-recorded messages are selectively reproduced over said speaker, said microprocessor generating said play user'"'"'s message signal upon receiving a keypad input sequence corresponding to the telephone number stored in said memory, said message recorder being responsive to said play said play user'"'"'s message signal to reproduce the user'"'"'s message.

18. A toy telephone adapted to teach children how to operate a real telephone and to facilitate memorization of important telephone numbers, the toy telephone comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of pushbutton switches, each bearing a unique indicium;

a message recorder;

a message controller;

a speaker;

a microphone;

a microprocessor; and

a memory;

wherein said keypad switches are connected as inputs to said microprocessor such that said microprocessor receives input data in the form of both sequential and contemporaneous entries manually entered through said keypad switches, said microprocessor generating a plurality of output control signals operatively connected to at least one of said message controller and said voice recorder, such that in response to predefined pushbutton sequences entered through said keypad switches, voice messages are recorded and pre-recorded messages are selectively reproduced over said speaker;

a plurality of keypad input sequences and a corresponding plurality of pre-recorded messages, each message being associated with a unique one of said keypad input sequences, said keypad input sequences and said pre-recorded messages being stored in said memory;

said microprocessor generating a particular one of a plurality of unique play pre-recorded message signals in response to a particular one of said plurality of stored keypad input sequences manually entered into said keypad, whereby said voice controller, responsive to said particular one of said plurality of unique play pre-recorded message signals, reproduces the particular one of said pre-recorded messages corresponding to the particular one of said plurality of stored keypad input sequences entered.

19. A toy telephone comprising:

a keypad by which an input telephone number may be entered into said telephone, said keypad including a first speed dial button;

means for permanently storing a plurality of pre-set telephone numbers;

means for storing a plurality of pre-recorded messages, including a first plurality of speed dial messages, said pre-recorded messages comprising at least one of individual tones, patterns of tones and a voice message;

means for associating on a one-to-one basis each of said pre-recorded messages with one of said pre-defined telephone numbers;

means for comparing said input telephone number to said pre-defined telephone numbers;

means for reproducing said pre-recorded messages responsive to said comparison means such that upon said comparison means determining that said input telephone number matches one of said plurality of predefined telephone numbers, said reproducing means audibly reproduces the pre-recorded message associated with the matched pre-defined telephone number, and said means for reproducing pre-recorded messages being responsive to said first speed dial button such that said reproducing means reproduces a message randomly selected from said first plurality of speed dial messages when said speed dial button is pressed.

20. The toy telephone of claim 19 further comprising a second speed dial button, said means for storing pre-recorded messages further storing a second plurality of speed dial messages, and said means for reproducing pre-recorded messages being responsive to said second speed dial button such that said reproducing means reproduces a message randomly selected from said second plurality of speed dial messages when said second speed dial button is pressed.