Package provided with a sound-reproducing device

• US 20050166864A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhurin, Dmitry Vyacheslavovich
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/707
• 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 25/00 Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers

Abstract

A sound-reproducing package comprises a housing for storing a consumer product, a disposed therein sound signal reproducing unit electronically connected to a power supply and a loudspeaker, at least one external activation sensor connected to the sound signal reproducing unit, and a package state sensor operative to form a signal corresponding to an open or closed state of the package, or the presence or absence of a consumer product in it. The package state sensor is connected to the sound signal reproducing unit operative to select from its memory sound signals for reproducing depending on the signal from the package state sensor.

Claims

1. A sound-reproducing package comprising:

a housing for storing a consumer product therein,

a power supply,

a loudspeaker,

a sound signal reproducing unit disposed in said housing and electrically connected to said power supply and said loudspeaker, at least one external activation sensor connected to said sound signal reproducing unit,

a package state sensor connected to said sound signal reproducing unit and operative to form a signal corresponding to a package state selected from the group consisting of an opened package and closed package, presence of a consumer product inside said package and absence of consumer product inside said package;

said sound signal reproducing unit being operative to select in its memory sound signals for the reproduction depending on the signal received from said package state sensor.

2. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said housing has a form of a box with an openable upper side.

3. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said external activation sensor is operative to form a signal corresponding to the presence or absence of acceleration.

4. The sound-reproducing package of claim 3, wherein said external activation sensor comprises a housing and a spring serving its two contacts, said spring being located inside said housing and able to touch the inner walls of said housing upon acceleration.

5. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit, said power supply, said loudspeaker, said external activation sensor, and said package state sensor are constructively united into a sound-reproducing module fastened to the inner surface of said package housing.

6. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit is operative to begin the reproduction of sound signals upon voltage changes on its input connected to said package state sensor.

7. The sound-reproducing package of claim 6, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit is operative to select the corresponding reproduction of sound signals depending on the polarity of voltage change on its input connected to said package state sensor.

8. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit is operative to reproduce at least one additional sound signal at the end of a pre-programmed period of time after the termination of the sound signal reproduction.

9. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit is operative to consequently reproduce sound signals out of a pre-programmed set of sound signals in a pre-programmed order.

10. The sound-reproducing package of claim 9, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit is operative to provide said pre-programmed order of sound signals reproduction in the way of their cyclic repetition.

11. The sound-reproducing package of claim 1, wherein said package serves for storing pet food.

12. The sound-reproducing package of claim 11, wherein said packages serves for storing cat food.

13. The sound-reproducing package of claim 12, wherein said sound signal reproducing unit is operative to reproduce sound signals attracting attention of cats.