Device with interval playbacks for pets and infants

• US 6,369,698 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nancy Ann Valente
• Original Assignee: Nancy Ann Valente
• Inventors: Valente, Nancy Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/456,722
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/309.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/692, 340/322, 340/384.71
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/00 Producing acoustic time signals
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/06 using voice

Abstract

A device for playing back messages recorded by a pet owner or the parent of an infant at selected time intervals so that the pet or infant is comforted in the owner'"'"'s or parent'"'"'s absence. The device includes a housing containing a voice chip that is utilized to record and play back the comforting messages. Accordingly, a microphone and speaker are in communication with the voice chip. A clock function is programmed into a microprocessor chip and is in communication with a switch and the voice chip so that the time interval for playbacks may be selected by a user. The device also features a number of indicator lights or a digital display to indicate the selected time interval for playback. The device may optionally include a system for recording and playing back emergency information such as a pet owner'"'"'s name, address and telephone number.

Claims

1. A device for recording and playing back at a selected time interval a comforting message for a listener comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a microphone disposed within said housing;

c) a speaker disposed within said housing;

d) circuitry for recording the comforting message through said microphone and for playing back the comforting message through said speaker;

e) a plurality of indicator lights each of which corresponds to a time interval positioned upon said housing;

f) a switch for selecting a time interval attached to said housing, said switch in communication with the plurality of indicator lights so that a time interval is selected and the indicator light corresponding to the selected time interval illuminates when the switch is actuated; and

g) a clock in communication with the switch for selecting a time interval and the circuitry so that the comforting message is repetitively played back at times corresponding to the selected time interval.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for recording and playing back the comforting message includes a voice chip.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the clock includes a programmed microprocessor chip.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for recording and playing back emergency information.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator lights are two-color lights emitting diodes and the indicator light corresponding to the selected time interval illuminates in a color that is different from that of the remaining indicator lights when the switch is depressed.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein indicator lights corresponding to non-selected time intervals remain extinguished when said switch is depressed.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein each time the switch is depressed, the selected time interval changes.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said time interval is less than twenty-four hours.

9. A device for recording and playing back at a selected time interval a comforting message for a listener comprising:

a) means for recording and playing back the comforting message;

b) a speaker in communication with the means for recording and playing back the comforting message;

c) a microphone in communication with the means for recording and playing back the comforting message;

d) a plurality of indicator lights each of which corresponds to a time interval;

e) a switch for selecting a time interval, said switch in communication with the plurality of lights so that a time interval is selected and the light corresponding to the selected time interval illuminates when the switch is actuated; and

f) a clock in communication with the switch for selecting a time interval and the means for recording and playing back the comforting message, said clock signaling the means for recording and playing back the comforting message so that the comforting message is played back through the speaker periodically in accordance with the selected time interval as computed from a time at which the selected time interval was selected.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the means for recording and playing back the comforting message includes a voice chip.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the indicator lights are two-color light emitting diodes and the indicator light corresponding to the selected time interval illuminates in a color that is different from that of the remaining indicator lights when the switch is depressed.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein indicator lights corresponding to non-selected time intervals remain extinguished when said switch is depressed.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein each time the switch is depressed, the selected time interval changes.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein said time interval is less than twenty-four hours.

15. A device for recording and playing back at a selected time interval a comforting message for a listener comprising:

a) a housing;

b) an integrated circuit chip for recording and playing back the comforting message disposed within said housing;

c) a microphone disposed within said housing and in communication with said integrated circuit chip so that the comforting message may be recorded on said integrated circuit chip;

d) a speaker disposed within said housing and in communication with said integrated circuit chip;

e) a timer in communication with said integrated circuit chip;

f) a switch in communication with said timer so that a time interval between repetitive playbacks of the comforting message may be selected so that the integrated circuit chip plays back the comforting message through the speaker at times corresponding to the selected time interval based upon a time that the selected time interval was selected.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said time interval is less than twenty-four hours.