Baby monitor system

• US 7,417,539 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Swan, Jeffrey, Pollack, Thomas, Mathews, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W.
• Application Number:
  US11/126,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.15, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 379/433.11, D14/137
• US Class Current: 340/539.15
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A baby monitor system includes a transmitter unit that has a first receiver to receive baby sounds, a transmitter to transmit a signal corresponding to the baby sounds, and a transmitter housing to house the first receiver and the transmitter. The transmitter housing includes a faceplate connector. The baby monitor system also includes a receiver unit having a second receiver to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter unit. The baby monitor system further includes a plurality of transmitter faceplates that can be interchangeably connected to the faceplate connector of the transmitter housing.

Claims

1. A baby monitor system comprising:

a transmitter unit including a first receiver to receive baby sounds, a transmitter to transmit a signal corresponding to the baby sounds, and a transmitter housing to house the first receiver and the transmitter, the transmitter housing having an exterior surface and a faceplate connector extending outward from a recessed region in the exterior surface;

a receiver unit having a second receiver to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter unit; and

a plurality of transmitter faceplates each being independently selectable for removable attachment to the faceplate connector of the transmitter housing;

wherein each transmitter faceplate includes a plate to be received by the recessed region and engaged by the faceplate connector such that the recessed region, the faceplate connector, and the plate are exposed along the exterior surface of the transmitter housing to facilitate disengagement of the plate from the faceplate connector.

2. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the each transmitter faceplate has a color, and the color of each of the transmitter faceplates differs from the color of the other transmitter faceplates.

3. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein each transmitter faceplate has a texture, and the texture of each of the transmitter faceplates differs from the texture of the other transmitter faceplates.

4. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein each transmitter faceplate has a surface indicia, and the surface indicia of each of the transmitter faceplates differs from the surface indicia of the other transmitter faceplates.

5. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit includes a receiver housing to house the second receiver, the receiver housing having a faceplate connector, and wherein the baby monitor system further comprises a plurality of receiver faceplates each being independently selectable for removable attachment to the faceplate connector of the receiver housing.

6. The baby monitor system according to claim 5, wherein each receiver faceplate has a color, and the color of each of the receiver faceplates differs from the color of the other receiver faceplates.

7. The baby monitor system according to claim 5, wherein each receiver faceplate has a texture, and the texture of each of the receiver faceplates differs from the texture of the other receiver faceplates.

8. The baby monitor system according to claim 5, wherein each receiver faceplate has a surface indicia, and the surface indicia of each of the receiver faceplates differs from the surface indicia of the other receiver faceplates.

9. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface is on a bottom side of the transmitter housing such that the faceplate connector extends outward from the bottom side of the transmitter housing.

10. The baby monitor system according to claim 9, wherein the exterior surface is on a rear side of the transmitter housing such that the faceplate connector extends outward from the rear side of the transmitter housing.

11. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein each of the faceplates includes an attachment tab to further engage the transmitter housing.

12. The baby monitor system according to claim 11, wherein the faceplate connector of the transmitter housing comprises a tab-receiving slot, and the attachment tab fits within the tab-receiving slot.

13. The baby monitor system of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is a microphone, and the transmitter unit further includes a converter to convert the baby sounds to the signal for transmission to the receiver unit.

14. The baby monitor system of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit further includes a speaker.

19. A baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein each of the transmitter faceplates has unique indicia to coordinate with decor in a vicinity of the transmitter unit.

20. The baby monitor system according to claim 19, wherein the unique indicia includes at least one of a color, a pattern, a texture, an embossing, and a decal.

21. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter housing has a bottom with the recessed region, and wherein the panel of each transmitter faceplate is a lateral panel configured to be received in the recessed region on the bottom of the housing.

22. The baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit has a recessed area around the transmitter housing, and wherein each of the plurality of transmitter faceplates is a sleeve sized to fit over the recessed area.

15. A baby monitor system comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver provided in a vicinity of a baby;

a housing that houses the transmitter and the receiver, the housing having an exterior surface and a faceplate connector extending outward from a recessed region in the exterior surface; and

a plurality of faceplates each being independently selectable for removable attachment to the faceplate connector of the housing;

wherein each faceplate includes a plate to be received by the recessed region and engaged by the faceplate connector such that the recessed region, the faceplate connector, and the plate are exposed along the exterior surface of the housing to facilitate disengagement of the plate from the faceplate connector.

16. The baby monitor system according to claim 15, wherein each faceplate has a different color, and the color of each of the faceplates differs from the color of the other faceplates.

17. The baby monitor system according to claim 15, wherein each faceplate has a different texture, and the texture of each of the faceplates differs from the texture of the other faceplates.

18. The baby monitor system according to claim 15, wherein each faceplate has surface indicia, and the surface indicia of each of the faceplates differs from surface indicia of the other faceplates.

23. The baby monitor system according to claim 15, wherein the housing has a bottom with the recessed region, and the panel of each faceplate is a lateral panel configured to be received in the recessed region on the bottom of the housing.

24. A baby monitor system comprising:

a transmitter unit including housing, a microphone in the housing to receive baby sounds, and a transmitter in the housing to transmit a signal corresponding to the baby sounds, the housing having an exterior surface and a faceplate connector extending outward from a recessed region in the exterior surface;

a receiver unit having a receiver to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter unit; and

an array of different faceplates each configured to removably attach to the transmitter housing and each being independently selectable by a user for attachment to the transmitter housing to alter a visible characteristic of the transmitter unit;

wherein each faceplate includes a plate to be received by the recessed region and engaged by the faceplate connector such that the recessed region, the faceplate connector, and the plate are exposed along the exterior surface of the transmitter housing to facilitate disengagement of the plate from the faceplate connector.