Playground device with motion dependent sound feedback

• US 8,047,925 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Play It Sound APS
• Original Assignee: Play It Sound APS
• Inventors: Nielsen, Jonas Gam, Olesen, Tina Rosholm, Stubkjær, Mette Keller, Poulsen, Henrik Sommer, Burgaard, Peder
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US11/990,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 446/219, 446/298, 446/397, 446/175, 446/438, 472118-125, 472 59- 61, 472/130, 472/43
• US Class Current: 472/118
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 11/00 See-saws
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 13/00 Cradle swings; Rocking-horses; Like devices resting on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/02 with moving substructures
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 9/00 Swings

Abstract

Playground device, for example a swing or a see saw, having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part. The motion sensor is functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback in response to the motion of the movable part. The sensors are mechanically connected only to the movable part in order to provide system with a large number of variations of embodiments.

Claims

1. Playground device having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part, the motion sensor being functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback in response to the motion of the movable part, wherein at least one sensor is mechanically connected only to the movable part, wherein the sound signal feedback generator and the motion sensor are located in a single unit.

2. Playground device according to claim 1, wherein the single unit is an add-on unit for installation on or in existing playground devices.

3. Playground device according to claim 2, wherein the add-on unit comprises a sound amplifier and a loudspeaker.

4. Playground device according to claim 2, wherein the add-on unit is a seat or standing support for a person in which the sound feedbaack signal generator and the motion sensor and, optionally, the sound amplifier and a loudspeaker are integrated.

5. Playground device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a swing and the movable part is a seat or stand support.

6. Playground device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a see saw and the moving part is a see saw beam cross with a seat on four sides of a rotational support of the beam cross.

7. Playground device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a ropeway with a seat or standing support held movably by a rope or wire fastened between ground supports.

8. Playground device having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part, the motion sensor being functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback in response to the motion of the movable part, wherein at least one sensor is mechanically connected only to the movable part, wherein the sound feedback signal generator comprises an interface for a data storage medium.

9. Playground device according to claim 8, wherein the data storage medium is a memory card or memory stick.

10. Playground device according to claim 8, wherein the interface is configured for connection with a memory stick, memory card, mobile telephone, MP3 player, or PDA.

11. Playground device according to claim 8, wherein the device is a swing and the movable part is a seat or stand support.

12. Playground device according to claim 8, wherein the device is a see saw and the moving part is a see saw beam cross with a seat on four sides of a rotational support of the beam cross.

13. Playground device according to claim 8, wherein the device is a ropeway with a seat or standing support held movably by a rope or wire fastened between ground supports.

14. Playground device having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part, the motion sensor being functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback in response to the motion of the movable part wherein at least one sensor is mechanically connected only to the movable part, wherein the device has a stationary, ground supported frame and the movable part connected to the frame.

15. Playground device according to claim 14, wherein at least one sensor is electronically connected to a data sending unit configured for wireless transmission of data to the sound signal feedback generator, wherein the sound signal feedback generator comprises a data receiver for wireless receiving of the transmitted data.

16. Playground device according to claim 14, wherein the movable part comprises a seat or stand support configured for supporting a person, and wherein the seat or stand support has integrated therein at least one motion sensor.

17. Playground device having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part, the motion sensor being functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback response to the motion of the movable part, wherein at least one sensor is mechanically connected only to the movable part, wherein the at least one motion sensor is configured to measure independently in three dimensions, and wherein the sound signal feedback generator is configured to give a sound signal feedback varying dependent on, whether the movement is in a first dimension, in a second dimension, in a third dimension or in a combination of the first, the second dimension and the third dimension.

18. Playground device according to claim 17, wherein the motion sensor is configured to measure acceleration of the movable part.

19. Playground device having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part, the motion sensor being functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback in response to the motion of the movable part, wherein at least one sensor is mechanically connected only to the movable part, wherein the device also comprises a sound sensor for measuring the background sound level around the movable part, the sound sensor being electronically connected to the sound feedback generator is, and wherein the sound feedback generator is configured for adjusting the feedback sound level in dependence of the background sound level.

20. Playground device having a ground supported, movable part and at least one motion sensor configured for sensing the motion of the movable part, the motion sensor being functionally connected to a sound signal feedback generator that is configured for converting the signals from the motion sensor into a sound feedback in response to the motion of the movable part, wherein at least one sensor is mechanically connected only to the movable part, wherein the device is a swing and the movable part is a seat or stand support, wherein the playground device is configured to give a sound feedback depending on the position of the seat or stand support during swinging, wherein the sound feedback signal generator is programmed to give a first feedback if the seat or standing support is in a first predetermined region with web defined region boundaries and to give a second, different feedback if the seat or standing support is in is different, second, predetermined region with well defined boundaries.