Infant simulator

• US 6,454,571 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Realityworks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Btio Educational Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Oium, S. R., Jurmain, Mary M., Jurmain, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/928,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/238, 434/247, 434/262, 434/265-268, 434/395, 434/396, 446/267, 446/268, 446/295-299, 446/484, 340/384.1
• US Class Current: 434/238
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/24 Drinking dolls; Dolls producing tears; Wetting dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

An infant simulator capable of emulating the care requirements of an infant and recording the quality of care and responsiveness of a person caring for the infant simulator and/or signaling the person caring for the infant simulator when care is required. The infant simulator is capable of (i) sensing the environmental conditions of position, temperature and compression to which the infant simulator is subjected, and (ii) periodically demanding that the care-provider change the diaper, rock the infant, feeding the infant, or burp the infant simulator. The infant simulator is also programmed with the ancillary features of providing positive feedback when the proper interaction is provided in a timely fashion, an escalating demand signal when the proper interaction is not provided in a timely fashion, an identification system requiring the assigned care-provider to be present in order to satisfy a demand event, an unsatisfiable fussy period, and multiple behavior modes (i.e., differences in the frequency of the demand events and/or the duration of the demand events).

Claims

1. An infant simulator, comprising:

(a) a doll;

(b) a feeding-request system within the doll for periodically effecting feeding-request episodes, including at least;

(i) a means for generating a perceptible feeding-request signal; and

(ii) a means in communication with the feeding-request signal generating means for arresting the feeding-request signal in response to receipt of a feeding signal;

(c) a means effective for transmitting the feeding signal to the feeding-request signal arresting means when placed in communicative proximity to the doll so as to arrest the feeding-request signal; and

(d) a burping-request system within the doll for effecting burping-request episodes, including at least;

(i) a means for generating a perceptible burping-request signal;

(ii) a means for initiating generation of the burping-request signal in communication with both the feeding-request system and the burping-request signal generating means for initiating generation of the burping-request signal after the feeding signal has been received by the feeding-request system; and

(iii) a means in communication with the burping-request signal generating means for detecting patting of the doll and arresting the burping-request signal when patting is detected.

2. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a feeding-request interval timer in communication with the feeding-request signal generating means for initiating generation of the feeding-request signal at intervals.

3. The infant simulator of claim 2 wherein the time interval between the generation of sequential feeding-request signals is a random variable occurring within a predetermined time range.

4. The infant simulator of claim 3 further comprising a means for adjusting the potential duration of the time interval between the generation of sequential feeding-request signals at the beginning of an assignment period, whereby the potential number of feeding-request signals generated by the feeding-request system during an assignment period is correspondingly increased or decreased.

5. The infant simulator of claim 4 wherein the feeding-request interval duration-adjustment means is effective for adjusting the time interval between the generation of sequential feeding-request signals to one of at least three time interval options of short duration, average duration and long duration, whereby the infant simulator can be programmed to simulate the relative care requirements of an easy infant, an average infant and a difficult infant.

6. The infant simulator of claim 2 wherein the time interval between the generation of sequential feeding-request signals is a predetermined value.

7. The infant simulator of claim 6 further comprising a means for adjusting the duration of the between the generation of sequential feeding-request signals at the beginning of an assignment period, whereby the number of feeding-request signals generated by the feeding-request system during an assignment period is correspondingly increased or decreased.

8. The infant simulator of claim 7 wherein the feeding-request time interval-duration adjustment means is effective for adjusting the between the generation of sequential feeding-request signals to one of at least three time interval options of short duration, average duration and long duration, whereby the infant simulator can be programmed to simulate the relative care requirements of an easy infant, an average infant and a difficult infant.

9. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a care-provider identification system within the doll, including at least (i) a means for receiving an identification signal, and (ii) a means in communication with the identification-signal receiving means and the feeding-request system effective for preventing arresting of the feeding-request signal until the identification signal is received by the identification-signal receiving means.

10. The infant simulator of claim 9 wherein the care-provider identification system includes a voice recognition system.

11. The infant simulator of claim 9 wherein the care-provider identification system includes a fingerprint recognition system.

12. The infant simulator of claim 9 wherein the identification-signal receiving means comprises a keyhole effective for transmitting the identification signal upon insertion of an identification key.

13. The infant simulator of claim 12 further comprising an identification key effective for transmitting the identification signal when inserted into the keyhole, wherein the identification key includes a means for attaching the identification key to a selected care-provider and a means for indicating detachment of the identification key from the selected care-provider.

14. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a means effective for measuring and recording the duration of the feeding-request episode.

15. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a means in communication with the feeding-request signal generating means for escalating the intensity of the feeding-request signal as the duration of the feeding-request episode increases.

16. The infant simulator of claim 15 wherein the feeding-request signal intensity-escalating means is effective for escalating the intensity of the feeding-request signal to at least two higher intensity feeding-request signals.

17. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a means in communication with the burping-request signal generating means for escalating the intensity of the burping-request signal as the duration of the burping-request episode increases.

18. The infant simulator of claim 17 wherein the burping-request signal intensity-escalating means is effective for escalating the intensity of the burping-request signal to at least two higher intensity burping-request signals.

19. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the infant simulator has an approximate shape and weight of an infant.

20. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising an energy source retained within the doll for supplying the energy requirements of the infant simulator, and a means for indicating that the energy source has been accessed.

21. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the perceptible feeding-request signal is expressed as a signal selected from the group consisting of an audible cry, an audible sucking, outstretched arms and a combination thereof.

22. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the feeding signal transmitting means is a key bearing indicia of a bottle.

23. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the doll has a mouth, and the feeding signal transmitting means is a bottle configured and arranged to be inserted within the mouth of the doll for transmitting the feeding signal to the feeding-request signal arresting means.

24. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a means effective for measuring and recording the duration of the burping-request episode.

25. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a means effective for measuring and recording the sum total of the duration of all burping-request episodes occurring within an assignment period.

26. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a means effective for measuring and separately recording the duration of each and every burping-request episode occurring within an assignment period.

27. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a burping-request duration timer in communication with the burping-request signal generating means for terminating generation of the burping-request signal at the end of a burping period.

28. The infant simulator of claim 27 further comprising (i) a means in communication with the patting detection means for recording the duration of actual patting received by the infant simulator during a burping-request period, and (ii) a means in communication with the actual patting duration timer and the burping-request duration timer for generating an audible burp at the end of a burping-period only when a minimum duration of actual patting has been recorded.

29. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the perceptible burping-request signal is expressed as a signal selected from the group consisting of an audible cry, an audible whimper, fidgeting, and a combination thereof.

30. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the burping-request signal arresting means is only effective for inhibiting the burping-request signal upon the detection of continuous patting, and the infant simulator further comprises a burping-request duration timer in communication with the burping-request signal generating means for terminating generation of the burping-request signal at the end of a burping period.

31. The infant simulator of claim 30 wherein the duration of the burping period is a random variable lasting for a time period falling within a predetermined time range.

32. The infant simulator of claim 31 further comprising a means for adjusting the potential duration of a burping period at the beginning of an assignment period.

33. The infant simulator of claim 32 wherein the burping period duration adjusting means is effective for adjusting the burping period duration to one of at least three duration options of short duration, average duration and long duration, whereby the infant simulator can be programmed to simulate the relative care requirements of an easy infant, an average infant and a difficult infant.

34. The infant simulator of claim 31 wherein the duration of the burping period is between 2 and 60 minutes.

35. The infant simulator of claim 30 wherein the duration of the burping period is a predetermined value.

36. The infant simulator of claim 35 further comprising a means for adjusting the duration the burping period at the beginning of an assignment period.

37. The infant simulator of claim 36 wherein the burping period duration adjustment means is effective for adjusting the burping period duration to one of at least three duration options of short duration, average duration and long duration, whereby the infant simulator can be programmed to simulate the relative care requirements of an easy infant, an average infant and a difficult infant.

38. The infant simulator of claim 35 wherein the duration of the burping period is between 5 and 20 minutes.

39. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the perceptible feeding-request signal and the perceptible burping-request signal are perceptibly different signals.

40. The infant simulator of claim 1 further comprising a burping-request delay timer in communication with the burping-request signal initiating means for delaying generation of the burping-request signal for a feed-to-burp delay period.

41. The infant simulator of claim 40 wherein the feed-to-burp delay period is a random variable falling within a predetermined time range.

42. The infant simulator of claim 41 wherein the feed-to-burp delay period is between 0 and 30 minutes, with a statistical preference for a delay period of between about 2 and 10 minutes.

43. The infant simulator of claim 40 wherein the feed-to-burp delay period is a predetermined variable.

44. The infant simulator of claim 43 wherein the feed-to-burp delay period is between 0 and 30 minutes.

45. The infant simulator of claim 1 wherein the patting detection means is effective for detecting patting and inhibiting the burping-request signal during the burping time period only so long as patting is continuous.

46. The infant simulator of claim 45 wherein the patting detection means is a motion sensor within the doll.

47. The infant simulator of claims 1 wherein the burping-request signal generating means can only be arrested by the means for detecting patting of the doll.

48. The infant simulator of claims 1 wherein the means for initiating generation of the burping-request signal initiates generation of the burping-request signal independently of any environmentally sensed conditions.

49. The infant simulator of claims 1 wherein a burping-request episode is initiated each and every time the feeding signal is received by the feeding-request system.

50. An infant simulator, comprising:

(a) a doll;

(b) a feeding-request system within the doll for periodically effecting feeding-request episodes, including at least;

(i) a means for generating a perceptible feeding-request signal;

(ii) a feeding-request duration timer in communication with the feeding-request signal generating means for terminating generation of the feeding-request signal at the end of a feeding period; and

(iii) a means in communication with the feeding-request signal generating means for inhibiting the feeding-request signal upon continuous receipt of a feeding signal;

(c) a means effective for transmitting the feeding signal to the feeding-request signal inhibiting means when placed in communicative proximity to the doll so as to arrest the feeding-request signal; and

(d) a burping-request system within the doll for effecting burping-request episodes, including at least;

(i) a means for generating a perceptible burping-request signal;

(ii) a means for initiating generation of the burping-request signal in communication with both the feeding-request system and the burping-request signal generating means for initiating generation of the burping-request signal after the feeding period; and

(iii) a means in communication with the burping-request signal generating means for detecting patting of the doll and arresting the burping-request signal when patting is detected.

51. The infant simulator of claim 50 wherein the duration of the feeding period is a random variable lasting for a time period falling within a predetermined time range.

52. The infant simulator of claim 51 further comprising a means for adjusting the potential duration of a feeding period at the beginning of an assignment period.

53. The infant simulator of claim 52 wherein the feeding period duration adjusting means is effective for adjusting the feeding period duration to one of at least three duration options of short duration, average duration and long duration, whereby the infant simulator can be programmed to simulate the relative care requirements of an easy infant, an average infant and a difficult infant.

54. The infant simulator of claim 50 wherein the duration of the feeding period is a predetermined value.

55. The infant simulator of claim 54 further comprising a means for adjusting the duration the feeding period at the beginning of an assignment period.

56. The infant simulator of claim 55 wherein the feeding period duration adjustment means is effective for adjusting the feeding period duration to one of at least three duration options of short duration, average duration and long duration, whereby the infant simulator can be programmed to simulate the relative care requirements of an easy infant, an average infant and a difficult infant.

57. The infant simulator of claim 50 wherein the feeding-request signal inhibiting means is effective for inhibiting the feeding-request signal during the feeding period only so long as the feeding signal transmitting means is continuously held in a communicative position relative to the doll against a biasing means by a care provider.

58. The infant simulator of claim 50 wherein a burping-request episode is initiated only after selected feeding periods.