Verbal warning systems and other audible warning systems for use with various types of devices, containers, products and other things

• US 8,493,229 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Inventors: Olson, Josiah N., Olson, Marty
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/626,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/568.1, 340/691.6, 340/545.6, 340/540, 340/686.6, 340/531, 340/384.1, 340/545.3, 340/815.4, 381/104, 206/216, 283/79, 283/81, 368/89
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/028 initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by the presence or absence of an audible or electrical signal
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/003 Indicating devices, e.g. user warnings or inclinators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Verbal warning labels and other audible warning systems for use with different devices, containers, products and other things in various environments are disclosed herein. An audible warning system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a device having a standardized textual warning associated therewith, and a sound playback system operably coupled to the device. The sound playback device can be configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to the textual warning. The verbal warning can be provided by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device, and the verbal warning can supplement or replace the standardized textual warning.

Claims

1. A product container, the container comprising:

a body having an opening associated with an interior portion;

a product disposed within the interior portion;

an enclosure member positioned proximate to the opening and movable between a first position in which the product is retained in the interior portion and a second position in which the product can exit the interior portion via the opening;

a sensor operably coupled to at least one of the body and the enclosure member; and

an audible warning system carried by the container and operably coupled to the sensor, wherein the audible warning system is configured to audibly output a spoken warning regarding the product in response to receiving an indication from the sensor associated with movement of the enclosure member from the first position toward the second position.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the audible warning system includes:

a controller operably coupled to the sensor;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the controller, the data storage medium containing the spoken warning;

a power source operably coupled to the controller; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving the indication from the sensor.

3. The container of claim 1, further comprising a warning label displayed on an exterior surface of the body, the warning label including textual information regarding use of the product, and wherein the spoken warning corresponds to at least a portion of the textual information.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the container further comprising a second sensor operably coupled to the body, wherein the controller causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal from at least one of the first and second sensors.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a light sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with a change in light received by the sensor.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a motion sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with movement of the container.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a touch sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with physical contact with the sensor from a user.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with an object moving within a predetermined area surrounding the sensor.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, and the indication from the sensor is associated with a detected temperature outside of a predetermined temperature range.

10. An audible warning system comprising:

a product manual having information related to a product;

a sensor operably coupled to the manual to activate the audible warning system in response to a predetermined input;

a controller operably coupled to the sensor;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the controller, the data storage medium containing a verbal warning; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller causes the speaker to audibly output the verbal warning in response to a signal from the sensor associated with the predetermined input.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning in English and the data storage medium contains a second verbal warning in a language other than English, and wherein the controller causes the speaker to audibly output the first verbal warning and the second verbal warning.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising an input device for receiving user input, wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning in English and the data storage medium contains at least one additional verbal warning in a language other than English, and wherein the controller causes the speaker to output one of the verbal warnings in response to user input that selects the language in which the verbal warning will be output.