Combined audio/video monitor and light box assembly

• US 6,812,822 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Spector
• Original Assignee: Donald Spector
• Inventors: Spector, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/604,644
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/573.1, 340/573.2, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/5.61, 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 display assembly at an infant location, and at a caregiver location. The apparatus includes a light box having 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. There is a sound-activated switching device connected between the bulb and a power source. The switching device, when activated by the infant'"'"'s crying, remains activated for a predetermined period to energize the bulb and illuminate the transparency. There is a record playback unit having a stored voice message recorded by the mother, the unit being rendered operative when the bulb is energized. When the infant cries, it is presented with an image of its mother and hears her comforting message.

Claims

1. Apparatus installable in an enclosure occupied by an infant having a mother- said apparatus comprising:

A) means for displaying an image of the mother to the infant;

B) a record playback unit associated with the displaying means which when activated, reproduces a voice message recorded by the mother addressed to her infant;

C) a microphone and video camera associated with the displaying means to provide sounds generated by the infant and an image of the infant,

D) an audio and video transmitter associated with the displaying means to transmit a signal from said microphone and said video camera that is intercepted by a video and audio monitor that can be heard and seen 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 displaying means, the playback unit and the audio and video 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 and image are transmitted and picked up by the monitor so that they are seen and heard by the mother.

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

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said activate means further includes a threshold device to enable said activate means only when the amplitude of the infant'"'"'s cries exceed a predetermined threshold level.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said threshold device includes setting means to adjust the threshold level.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the voice message is reproduced by a loud speaker mounted within said apparatus.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the audio and video transmitter is at least one of a radio transmitter and an infrared transmitter.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the video and audio monitor is connected to the audio and visual transmitter over the Internet.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means to permit the voice of the mother to be transmitted back to the audio and video monitor so as to override the voice message.