Abstract:
The present invention provides a belly pouch speaker system for delivering music to a pregnant belly for facilitating prenatal development. The system generally includes a pouch having a pair of speaker compartments, each having a corresponding speaker positioned therein. The pouch further includes a central compartment, disposed between the speaker compartments, for maintaining a music player therein and coupled to the speakers by audio speaker lines. A fastener cooperates with the pouch and is disposed such that the pouch may be maintained about the belly of the user by selectively adjusting the the fastener.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to the application entitled BELLY POUCH SPEAKER SYSTEM filed on Oct. 1, 2008 as U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 60/997,206 which is fully incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of portable music and speaker systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a speaker system configured to be selectively worn on a belly of a user, particularly for delivering music to a fetus during pregnancy. 
         [0003]    It has long been proposed that the effects of music, especially certain types of music, are beneficial to the biomedical, behavioral and intellectual performance of the human mind. Additionally, much evidence exists linking the development of a child to the prenatal environment to which the child was exposed. As such, it may be advantageous to provide a system for the delivery of music to a fetus in order to facilitate development thereof. 
         [0004]    It is, therefore, an objective of the present invention to provide such a system. 
         [0005]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a system for the delivery of music for therapeutic benefit of the mother. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a belly pouch speaker system in accordance with the present invention 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a detailed top view of a ribbon fastening mechanism of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a detailed schematic view of the components and inner compartments of the pouch of the peasant invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a music player and audio speaker line in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5-7  show a padding portion for use with the pouch of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the present invention being worn by a user. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of a belly pouch speaker system  10 , hereinafter referred to as a the system  10 . 
         [0013]    The system  10  is configured and disposed to provide a speaker system that is selectively positionable about a belly of a user so as to allow music and/or spoken word broadcasts and recordings to be delivered to the womb. As such, the system  10  of the present invention generally includes a pouch section  12  for housing one or more speakers  14 ,  16  and a fastener section  18  for maintaining the positioning of the pouch  12  about the belly area of the user. It is understood that the phrase “about the belly” refers to the positioning of the pouch  12  anywhere proximate the belly including above, below or directly on the belly of the user. Preferably, however, the pouch  12  is positioned below the belly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0014]    It is understood that the various components of the system  10  of the present invention may take on any number of configurations and arrangements. Described herein with reference to the various figures is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, whereas one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various modifications to the system may be made within the scope and spirit of the preferred embodiment. 
         [0015]    The pouch  12  of the present invention includes a front panel  20  and a rear panel  22  wherein the rear panel  22  is configured to comfortably engage the belly of the user and the front panel  20  is disposed to face outwardly therefrom. The front panel  20  and rear panel  22  are preferably made of a wearable fabric, polymer or blended material as are commonly known in the clothing and fabric arts. 
         [0016]    In the present invention the front panel  20  and rear panel  22  are integrally formed or otherwise affixed to each other along a bottom portion and at opposing side portions therof. As such, an opening  24  is defined in a top portion of the pouch  12 . The opening  24  is selectively openable and closable by any suitable fastening mechanism  26  such as the zipper mechanism shown in the present embodiment. Alternative fastening mechanisms may alternatively be employed as are commonly known in the art, including but not limited to button fasteners, hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro), clips, or any other such mechanism. 
         [0017]    Further defined within the pouch  12  of the present invention is a first speaker compartment  28  and a second speaker compartment  30 . In the present embodiment the speaker compartments  28 ,  30  are defined by an inner stitching or stapling section, spaced from the side edges of the pouch  12 . As such, one or more inner stitching or stapling sections cooperate to partially affix the front panel  20  and rear panel  22  so as to prevent movement of the speakers  14 ,  16  from their corresponding compartments  28 ,  30 . It is understood that a traditional pocket may be utilize to form the speaker compartments or any other such configuration sufficient to maintain the speakers  14 ,  16  therein. However, in the present embodiment, the side compartments  28 ,  30  of the pouch  12  provide a port  32 ,  34  through which audio cable lines  36  are able to extend from an adjacent central compartment  38 . 
         [0018]    Turning now to the central compartment  38  of the pouch  12 , such compartment  38  is disposed to receive a music player  40 , preferably an MP3 player such as an iPod (R) or any other such suitable device through the opening  24 . The compartment  38 , of course, may alternatively receive a cassette player, radio receiver or any other suitable handheld portable music device. 
         [0019]    In accordance with the present invention, the audio cable line  36  will extend from each speaker  14 ,  16  to a common speaker jack  42  that is configured to be connected to the music player  40 . As such, the audio line  36  for each speaker  14 ,  16  will extend through the corresponding port  32 ,  24  in the compartment  28 ,  30 , respectively, to the music player  40  in the central compartment  38 . Preferably, the speakers  14 ,  16 , music player  40 , and audio line  36  provide for stereo sound as is common in the art. 
         [0020]    As shown, the audio cable line  36  may additionally include a splitter  44  wherein a first line of the splitter  44  provides a headphone jack  46  and a second line of the splitter  44  provides the audio cable line  36  for the speakers  14 ,  16 . As such, the user is able to listen to the music from the music player  40  on headphones while the same music is being delivered to the belly of the user via the speakers  14 ,  16 . 
         [0021]    As shown in the figures, the pouch  12  may additionally include a padding layer  48  in order to provide added comfort to the belly of the user as well as additional protection to the speakers  14 ,  16  and music player  40 . The padding  48  may be any suitable material in order to cooperate with the panels of the pouch as are commonly known in the art. 
         [0022]    An adjustable ribbon  50  is connected at opposing sides of the pouch  12  such that a first end of the ribbon is secured to a first side of the pouch  12  and a second end of the ribbon  50  is adjustably connectable to the second side of the pouch  12 . It is understood that any suitable strap, ribbon or belt material may be used in combination with any suitable adjusting mechanism, a variety of which are commonly known in the art. 
         [0023]    However, it is preferable that a ribbon material be used for purposes of comfort to the user. As such, the preferable adjusting mechanism for use with the ribbon  50  is that shown in the figures wherein the ribbon  50  is curled around a loop fastener  52  and may include a belt loop adjuster to adjust the length of the ribbon  50  for fitting around the body of the user/wearer. Additionally, it is preferable that at least one end of the ribbon be selectively fastenable and/or attachable to the pouch such as via a buckle or hook or any other suitable fastening mechanism as is commonly known in the art. 
         [0024]    Whereas the above description is illustrative of the various components and functions of the present invention, discussion now turns to the method for using the present invention. 
         [0025]    A method for providing music to a pregnant belly is provided wherein the pouch  12  is positioned on the pregnant belly such that the first speaker  14  and second speaker  16  are disposed to deliver music thereto. The ribbon  50  fastening system  52  are disposed to extend around the user and adjustably maintain the pouch  12  about the belly of the user. The user may access the inner compartments  28 ,  30 ,  38  of the pouch  12  through the opening  24  in the top portion of the pouch  12  which is accessible by a zipper or other such selective fastening mechanism  26 . The pouch  12  is divided into three compartments  28 ,  30 ,  36  wherein the two opposing side compartments  28 ,  30  maintain corresponding speakers  14 ,  16  therein. The central compartment  38  provides an audio speaker line  36  for connecting the music player  40  to the speakers  14 , 1   6 . The user may then dispose the music player  40  within the central compartment  38  and connect the audio speaker line  36  thereto so as to provide music to the pregnant belly. Additionally, the audio speaker line  36  may provide a splitter  44  such that the user may also selectively connect headphones thereto, allowing the user to simultaneously listen to the music from the music player  40  through the headphones while delivering music to the user&#39;s pregnant belly via the speakers  14 ,  16 . 
         [0026]    The foregoing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the systems, methods and the general principles and features of the system and methods described herein will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments of described above and illustrated in the drawing figures, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.