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

• US 8,638,232 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Inventors: Olson, Josiah N., Olson, Marty
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/626,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/686.5, 340/679
• 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 user-operable appliance comprising:

an on-off control for activating and deactivating the user-operable appliance;

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a processor operably coupled to the on-off control;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing a spoken warning relating to the appliance; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal associated with activation of the appliance; and

a motor operably coupled to the on-off control, wherein the processor is configured to enable the on-off control to activate the motor after the spoken warning is audibly output by the audible warning system.

2. The user-operable appliance of claim 1 wherein the spoken warning includes safety information associated with use of the appliance.

3. The user-operable appliance of claim 1 wherein the user-operable appliance is electrically powered by a power source and the audible warning system is powered by the power source.

4. The user-operable appliance of claim 1 wherein the spoken warning is prerecorded on the data storage medium and is unalterable by a user.

5. A user-operable appliance comprising:

an on-off control for activating and deactivating the user-operable appliance; and

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a processor operably coupled to the on-off control;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing a spoken warning relating to the appliance;

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal associated with activation of the appliance; and

a time delay mechanism operably coupled to the processor, wherein the time delay mechanism activates the appliance after a predetermined amount of time from receiving the signal from the on-off control associated with activation of the appliance.

6. A user-operable appliance comprising:

an on-off control for activating and deactivating the user-operable appliance;

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a processor operably coupled to the on-off control;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing a spoken warning relating to the appliance; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal associated with activation of the appliance; and

a warning label displayed on the appliance, the warning label containing textual information relating to use of the appliance, wherein the spoken warning corresponds to at least a portion of the textual information.

7. A user-operable appliance comprising:

an on-off control for activating and deactivating the user-operable appliance;

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a processor operably coupled to the on-off control;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing a spoken warning relating to the appliance; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal associated with activation of the appliance; and

a warning label displayed on the appliance, the warning label containing graphical information relating to the use of the appliance, wherein the spoken message corresponds to the graphical information.

8. A user-operable appliance comprising:

an on-off control for activating and deactivating the user-operable appliance; and

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a processor operably coupled to the on-off control;

a data storage medium operably coupled to the processor, the data storage medium containing a spoken warning relating to the appliance;

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor causes the speaker to audibly output the spoken warning in response to receiving a signal associated with activation of the appliance; and

a silencing control operably coupled to the processor and selectively actuatable by a user, the silencing control configured to disable the audible warning system when actuated by the user.

9. A hand-held user appliance comprising:

an electric motor;

an activation switch operably coupled to the electric motor for activating and deactivating the electric motor;

a time delay mechanism operably coupled to the activation switch and the electric motor, wherein the time delay mechanism activates the motor after a predetermined amount of time from receiving a notification from the activation switch; and

an audible warning system, the audible warning system including;

a controller operably coupled to the activation switch;

a memory operably coupled to the controller, the memory containing a prerecorded verbal warning relating to operation of the appliance; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller causes the speaker to announce the verbal warning in response to the notification from the activation switch before the motor is activated.

10. The hand-held user appliance of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to cause the speaker to announce the verbal warning in response to a predetermined number of signals from the activation switch.

11. The hand-held user appliance of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to cause the speaker to announce the verbal warning a predetermined number of times in a predetermined amount of time.

12. The hand-held user appliance of claim 9, further comprising a battery power source operably coupled to the motor and the audible warning system.

13. The hand-held user appliance of claim 9 wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning in English and the memory contains a second verbal warning in a language other than English, wherein the controller causes the speaker to announce the first and second verbal warnings.

14. The hand-held user appliance of claim 9 wherein the memory includes non-verbal sounds and the verbal warning system is configured to announce the non-verbal sounds with the verbal warning.