Abstract:
A flexible and washable band is worn around the abdomen of an expectant woman. The band has waterproof speakers safely and comfortably integrated into an interior pocket of the band it to provide sound to prenatal babies. The speakers connect to an audio device that may be stored in an outer pocket of the band. A wire path is defined from the inner pocket to the outer pocket, the inner pocket completely containing the speakers except for a wire opening and the outer pocket comprising a wire opening and a device opening.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/757,176 filed Apr. 9, 2010. The subject matter of that application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to prenatal baby care and, more particularly, to an apparatus for safely and comfortably delivering sound to prenatal babies and/or to expectant mothers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The ear first appears in the 3rd week of gestation and it becomes functional by the 16th week. The fetus begins active listening by the 24th week. It is known from ultrasound observations that the fetus hears and responds to a sound pulse starting about 16 weeks of age. This is even before the ear construction is complete. The cochlear structures of the ear appear to function by the 20th week and mature synapses have been found between the 24th and 28th weeks. The sense of hearing is probably the most developed of all the senses before birth. The powerful connection between sound/music and prenatal memory/learning has been revealed in formal experiments, parental observations, clinical records, and first person reports. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a safe and comfortable apparatus to deliver sound to prenatal babies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a prenatal sound system comprises a flexible band forming a vertically seamless and horizontally endless closed loop that is configured to fit around the abdomen of a user; at least one waterproof speaker integrated into the flexible band; a first pocket attached to an outer face of an outer layer of the flexible band for housing a portable sound playing device; and a wire for connecting the speakers to the portable sound playing device. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a prenatal sound system comprises a flexible band forming a vertically seamless and horizontally endless closed loop that is configured to fit around the abdomen of a user; a first pocket attached to an outer face of an outer layer of the flexible band for housing a portable sound playing device; first and second waterproof speakers housed in a vinyl housing and integrated into a second pocket disposed between an inner layer and the outer layer of the flexible band; and a wire connecting to the speakers at a first end thereof, the wire adapted to electrically connect the speakers to the portable sound playing device. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sound delivery system according to an embodiment of the present invention showing the system as worn by an expectant woman. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the sound delivery system of  FIG. 1  and showing the system in an unworn position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectioned side elevational view of the sound delivery system taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged and partially cross-sectioned top plan view of the sound delivery system taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the electronics portion of the sound delivery system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0015]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a band worn  12  around the stomach of a pregnant woman  1 . See  FIG. 1 . The band  12  has at least one speaker safely and comfortably integrated therein to provide sound to a prenatal baby being carried by the woman  1 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , it will be seen that the band  12  is one element of the sound delivery system of the present invention, generally identified  10 , which comprises the flexible band  12  and the flexible band  12  having an external pocket  14  attached thereto. The flexible band  12  is a single piece of material formed of Lycra® (Lycra is a registered mark of invista North America S.A.R.L.), spandex or any similar flexible material. The flexible band  12  is machine washable and has sufficient elasticity to stretch to fit a user. The flexible band  12  is formed by folding the band  12  over onto itself, thereby forming an inverted U-shaped structure that is stitched  13  together at the bottom ends  12 - 8 ,  12 - 9  of the band  12 . Once folded over, the band  12  comprises an inner layer of material  12 - 1  and an outer layer  12 - 2  of flexible material, respectively. See  FIG. 3 . Stitching is also used at the top of the band  12 . 
         [0017]    The inner layer  12 - 1  of the band  12  comprises an inner face  12 - 3  that is positioned immediately adjacent the woman&#39;s abdomen  2  and an outer face  12 - 5 . Similarly, the outer layer  12 - 2  of the band  12  comprises an outer face  12 - 4  and an inner face  12 - 6  when the continuous flexible band  12  is worn as intended. As configured, the outer face  12 - 5  of the inner layer  12 - 1  is juxtaposed to the inner face  12 - 6  of the outer layer  12 - 2 . See  FIG. 3 . 
         [0018]    The flexible band  12  is a closed loop that is configured such that a user can step into the continuous flexible band  12  and pull it upwardly over her legs and hips  3 , or could be pulled downwardly over her arms  4 , head  6  and shoulders  8 , although the former approach is much preferred by this inventor. 
         [0019]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , it will again be noted that the continuous flexible band  12  forms a vertically seamless and horizontally endless closed loop structure. This continuous flexible band  12  is a structure that further comprises a uniform height about the periphery of the band  12 , which allows for added comfort and back support for the user  1 . 
         [0020]    A first, or outer, pocket  14  is formed from a third layer of material that is permanently attached to the outer face  12 - 4  of the outer layer  12 - 2  of the continuous flexible band  12  by conventional means. For example, the pocket  14  has a perimeter and is stitched  15  to the outer face  12 - 4  of the outer layer  12 - 2 . The pocket  14  is sized to hold a portable sound playing device, such as an MP3 player  11 , which is shown in phantom view in  FIG. 2 . The pocket  14  further has a top opening  14 - 1  and a closure material  18  disposed at the top of the pocket  14 , such as a hook and loop fastener (Velcro® for example (Velcro is a registered mark of Velcro Industries B.V.)), to prevent the music playing device  11  from inadvertently falling out of the pocket  14  during use and to hold a wire  24 , or the wire  24  and a connector  26 , during machine or hand washing, although removal of the connector  26  is preferred prior to washing. 
         [0021]    The flexible band  12  comprises at least one waterproof mini-speaker  16 . In a typical embodiment, two mini-speakers  16  are disposed within a second, or inner, pocket  22 , the second pocket  22  being formed by a fourth layer of material that is permanently attached to the outer face  12 - 5  of the inner layer  12 - 1  and further being disposed between the inner and outer layers  12 - 1 ,  12 - 2 , respectively, of the band  12 , The second pocket  22  is formed by permanently securing the fourth layer of material  21  to the outer face  12 - 5  of the inner layer  12 - 1  by stitching  20 . The mini-speakers  16  may be a conventional design but must be waterproof since they are not configured to be removed or removable from the band  12 . See  FIG. 4 . 
         [0022]    The mini-speakers  16  may have a metal housing and the magnet used may be neodymium (Nd) magnets. The mini-speakers  16  may weigh from about 1.5 to about 2.5 grams, typically about 1.8 grams. The mini-speakers  16  may use a voltage between about 0.2 to about 0.5 watts with a maximum decibel level (dBA) of about 88 sound pressure. The voltage may be selected to allow the speakers  16  to run without a separate power source and without draining an independently powered sound device. The speakers  16  may have low heat output to ensure the safety and comfort of the user. Alternate designs for the speakers  16  may be available. As examples of alternate designs, the speakers  16  may have a plastic housing  26 , a paper cone, or may use neodymium-iron-boron (Nd—Fe—B) magnets. The stitching  20  creates an inner pocket  22  to limit movement of the speakers  16  between the inner and outer layers  12 - 1 ,  12 - 2 . See  FIG. 4 . 
         [0023]    The speakers  16  are permanently secured within the second or inner pocket  22  as previously described. The speakers  16  are electrically attached to a wire  24 . The wire  24  leading from the speakers  16  is fed through an opening  22 - 1  that is defined within a small gap  20 - 1  in the stitching  20  of the inner pocket  22 . From there, the wire  24  is knotted  24 - 1  to allow the wire  24  to pass through the outer layer  12 - 1  via an opening  12 - 7  that is defined behind the first pocket  14  and that then leads the wire  24  to the pocket  14  attached to the outer face  12 - 4  of the outer layer  12 - 1  and to prevent it from passing through the opening  12 - 7 . See  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    The wire  24  has a connector  26  at the opposite end thereof. See  FIG. 5 . The connector  26  may be, for example, a ⅛″ male stereo connector. The connector  26  may include a female stereo connector  30  to allow the user to attach external speakers (shown in phantom view in  FIG. 2 ), such as headphones or ear buds  32 , so that she is able to listen to the same sounds as the prenatal baby. See also  FIG. 1 . The wire  24  may be an insulated braided copper wire, for example. The wire  24  may be long enough to allow the connector  26  to extend from the pocket  14  of the flexible band  12 . 
         [0025]    The wire  24  may include at least one resistor  28  in series between the connector  26  and the speakers  16 . The resistor  28  may limit the number of decibels allowed through the speakers to, for example, about 75 dBA. A variety of resistors  28  may be used to coordinate with the selected speakers  16 , depending on the wattage of the chosen speakers. 
         [0026]    The speakers  16  may be covered with a casing  26  such as vinyl A vinyl casing on the speakers  16  may help cover, insulate and make them moisture proof such that the band  12  is washable. See  FIG. 4 . 
         [0027]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.