Abstract:
An apparatus for playing pre-recorded audio data. The apparatus includes a loop of material wearable around a user&#39;s neck. The loop supports a housing and an attachment mechanism for suspending an object therefrom. The apparatus also includes a digital memory adapted to store digital audio data, at least one sound generating device and an electrical circuit operably coupling the digital memory and sound generating device whereby audio data stored on the digital memory is reproducible by the sound generating device. The digital memory and at least a portion of the electrical circuit are disposed in the housing. The housing is stably locatable at a position spaced from the attachment mechanism when the loop of material is positioned around the neck of a person with the attachment mechanism being suspended at a lowermost position of the loop of material. A method of using such apparatus to distribute information is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/782,400 filed on Mar. 15, 2006 entitled LANYARD WITH INTEGRAL DEVICE FOR PLAYING PRERECORDED SOUNDS the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the use of pre-recorded audio messages and, more particularly but not exclusively, to a lanyard supported device for reproducing pre-recorded audio messages that is adapted for use at a trade show or convention. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Tradeshows, conventions, organization sponsored events and similar venues are widely used to promote goods and services and distribute information to significant numbers of people at a common physical location. Typically, the individual attendees at such events must register with the sponsoring organization. The sponsoring organization typically collects contact information from the attendees and, for some venues, may also collect an attendance fee. 
         [0006]    To ensure that all of the attendees have registered and/or paid the attendance fee, it is quite common for the sponsoring organization to hand out badges or tags to the attendees to designate that they have registered and/or paid the entrance fee. It is quite common for the badges or tags to be supported by a lanyard or similar loop of material that can be placed around the neck of the attendee so that the badge is supported by the lanyard and displayed on the chest of the attendee. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides an inexpensive device that can be integrated with a lanyard and play a pre-recorded message. This device is particularly well-suited for use at tradeshows, conventions and similar events where it can be used to promote the goods of an organization participating in the event or provide information useful to an attendee of the event. 
         [0008]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an apparatus for playing pre-recorded audio data that is wearable around a user&#39;s neck. The apparatus includes a loop of material and an attachment mechanism supported on the loop of material which is adapted to secure an object such as a badge thereto. A housing is also supported on the loop of material. The apparatus also includes a digital memory adapted to store digital audio data, at least one sound generating device and an electrical circuit operably coupling the digital memory and the sound generating device whereby audio data stored on the digital memory is reproducible by the sound generating device. The digital memory and at least a portion of the electrical circuit are disposed in the housing. The housing is stably locatable at a position spaced from the attachment mechanism when the loop of material is positioned around the neck of a person with the attachment mechanism being suspended at a lowermost position of the loop of material. 
         [0009]    The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a method of distributing information. The method includes providing a plurality of disposable lanyard assemblies wherein each of the lanyard assemblies includes a loop of material adapted to be worn about the neck of a user. Each of the lanyard assemblies further includes a housing supported on the loop of material, a digital memory adapted to store digital audio data, at least one sound generating device and an electrical circuit operably coupling the digital memory and the sound generating device whereby audio data stored on the digital memory is reproducible by the sound generating device. The digital memory and at least a portion of the electrical circuit are disposed in the housing. The method also includes storing the information as audio data on the digital memory of each of the plurality of lanyard assemblies, attaching a badge to each of the plurality of lanyard assemblies wherein the loop of material of each of the lanyard assemblies is positionable around the neck of a user with the badge being suspended at a lowermost position of the loop of material and the housing being spaced from the badge, and providing the plurality of lanyard assemblies to a corresponding plurality of users. 
         [0010]    The method may also include an organizer collecting payment from a sponsor in return for providing the plurality of lanyard assemblies and wherein audio data approved by the sponsor is stored on the digital memory of each of the plurality of lanyard assemblies. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lanyard in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the audio component housing of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the audio component housing of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in use. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the audio component housing of a second embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the audio component housing of a third embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a view of a fourth embodiment having a speaker. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a view of a fifth embodiment having an LCD screen. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a view of a sixth embodiment displaying the logo of a sponsor. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    An apparatus  20  taking the form of a lanyard assembly having an audio playback device in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Lanyard assembly  20  includes a flexible loop of material  22  that can be placed around a user&#39;s neck to thereby support lanyard assembly  20  on the user. An attachment mechanism  24  is supported by the loop of material  22  and can be used to secure an identification badge  26  or similar item to lanyard assembly  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, audio device housing  30  is located in the loop of material  22  generally opposite attachment mechanism  24 . As a result, housing  30  will be located proximate the back of the user&#39;s neck when loop  22  is placed around the user&#39;s neck. 
         [0023]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , mechanism  24  is a spring biased metal clip that is retained on material loop  22  at a desired location by metal clasp  28  that secures together two portions of material loop  22 . The use of clasp  28  retains mechanism  24  within a small section  23  of loop  22 , in alternative embodiments, however, clasp  28  can be omitted and mechanism  24  can be allowed to slide along the length of loop  22 . In such an alternative embodiment, the light weight of audio device housing  30  and its contents allow audio device housing  30  to be stably located at a position spaced from mechanism  24  when mechanism  24  is suspended at the lowermost portion of loop  22  as exemplified in  FIG. 4 . In other words, housing  30  is sufficiently lightweight that it will not necessarily cause loop  22  to slide on the user&#39;s neck to reposition housing  30  at the lowermost portion of loop  22  as the user is walking or undertaking similar non-strenuous movements due to the weight of housing  30 . 
         [0024]    In the illustrated embodiment, material loop  22  includes a length of fabric material  32  that is joined at opposite ends to housing  30 . Fabric material  32 , clasp  28  and attachment mechanism  24  are items that are commonly used to form a conventional lanyard for supporting an identification tag or other badge around a user&#39;s neck. Conventional lanyards for supporting identification tags utilize a variety of different materials and mechanisms to form material loops and attachment mechanisms for securing badges and similar objects to the loop of material and alternative embodiments of the present invention may utilize such alternative materials and mechanisms when forming loop  22  and support mechanism  24 . 
         [0025]    Unlike conventional lanyards used with identification tags, lanyard assembly  20  includes an audio device housing  30 . Solid state electronics  34  are located within housing  30  and include a digital memory  34   a  and an electrical circuit  34   b  which operably couples digital memory  34   a  and a sound generating device  36 . Digital memory  34   a  may take the form of an EPROM memory for storing a high quality audio recording of between 30 seconds and five minutes. Although it is anticipated that audio recordings of approximately five minutes will be sufficient for most uses of apparatus  20 , increasing the size of digital memory  34   a  would allow a longer recording to be used with apparatus  20 . 
         [0026]    Actuator  38  is coupled to electronics  34  via a microcontroller and is used to activate a pre-recorded audio message stored in digital memory  34   a . A flexible conductive line  35  leads from electronics  34  to sound generating device  36 . A small battery located within housing  30  provides electrical power for the device. 
         [0027]    The design of electronics  34  suitable for device  20  is known to those having ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, electronics  34  could take the form of a CMOS-based device such as those sold under the brand name ChipCorder® by Information Storage Devices, Inc. having a place of business in San Jose, Calif. A microcontroller is operably coupled with actuator  38  and the ChipCorder® device whereby actuator  38  controls the playing of the recorded audio data. A suitable microcontroller can be obtained from Microchip Technology Inc. having a place of business in Chandler, Ariz. 
         [0028]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , sound generating device  36  is a single earbud which is used to reproduce the audio recording in a conventional manner. Earbud  36  is supported on the ear of user  40  by inserting distal portion  37  into the opening of the user&#39;s ear canal. Apparatus  20  includes only a single earbud  36  to minimize the cost of device  20 . Alternative embodiments of apparatus  20 , however, might employ any number of other sound generating devices, e.g., the use of two earbuds, a conventional headphone set with a pair of earphones attached together with a curvilinear support member that is adapted to rest on top of the user&#39;s head, or speakers which broadcast sounds into the surrounding environment at a distance from the user&#39;s ear. 
         [0029]    Apparatus  20  does not have the high-fidelity reproduction of musical recordings as its primary function. Instead, apparatus  20  is primarily intended to reproduce short duration audio recordings which have an informational content. A single earbud should typically be sufficient for such short duration, informational recordings. 
         [0030]    When apparatus  20  is used to reproduce a short duration audio recording, such as a promotional message for attendees at a tradeshow, and it is expected that apparatus  20  will be discarded after only one or a few days use, the ability to inexpensively manufacture apparatus  20  is significant advantage. 
         [0031]    Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, earbud line  35  is non-detachably coupled to electronics  34  and there is no output port on apparatus  20  into which a headphone seat or conventional set of earbuds could be plugged. The omission of a headphone jack on apparatus  20  and a corresponding plug on earbud line  35  facilitates the cost-efficient manufacture of apparatus  20 . 
         [0032]    Another aspect of apparatus  20  that facilitates its cost-efficient manufacture is the use of conventional identification tag lanyard materials to form a material loop  32  without any electrically conductive elements running therethrough. By using a audio device located in housing  30  that is self-contained and does not require communication with another separate electronic device, such as a radio receiver or MP3 player suspended by loop  32 , there is no need to run electrically conductive wires through loop  32  to connect such separate device to housing  30  or earbud  36 . Moreover, since housing  30  and its contents are relatively lightweight, it can be positioned at location spaced from the lowermost position of loop  32 , thereby minimizing the length of wire  35  and eliminating the possible need to run wire  35  within loop  32 . 
         [0033]    Still another aspect of apparatus  20  that facilitates its cost-efficient manufacture is that, in the illustrated embodiment, actuator  38  is the sole user-operable control and no provision is provided for changing the pre-recorded audio data stored on digital memory  34   a  with the functionality of user-operated actuator  38  being limited solely to activating circuit  34   b  to play the pre-recorded audio data stored on memory  34   a . In its final assembled form, the illustrated apparatus  20  does not include any input or output ports or antennas for receiving or transmitting wireless messages and, thus, cannot communicate with other devices. 
         [0034]    While these various cost-efficient aspects of apparatus  20  can be utilized in various combinations and remain within the scope of the present invention, one particular combination is the provision of a sound generating device that is in non-detachable communication with electrical circuit  34   b  wherein the entirety of electrical circuit  34   b , digital memory  34   a  and sound generating device  36  consists of a first portion  31  located within housing  30  and a second portion  33  that is supportable on the head of user  40  and wherein apparatus  20  is uncommunicative with other electronic devices when in its final assembled form. The use of only a single earbud  36  in such a combination provides further cost advantages. 
         [0035]    The pre-recorded audio data is stored on digital memory  34   a  during the manufacture of apparatus  20  using conventional methods. While a person having the necessary technological knowledge might be able to disassemble housing  30  and possibly record new audio data on memory  34   a  or copy the original data recorded on memory  34   a , this would likely be beyond the capacity of most users and even those with the required knowledge would likely find the task relatively cumbersome. Moreover, for most uses of apparatus  20 , the audio data stored on digital memory  34   a  will be unlikely to be of sufficient commercial value or interest to entice individuals to seek to copy such data. 
         [0036]    Apparatus  20  is well suited for distributing an audio message concerning a product or informational display  41  at a tradeshow or similar event. When user  40  is near the display  41 , the user  40  presses actuator  38  which then initiates the playback of the prerecorded audio message. Such pre-recorded messages can be used to provide information about the display. Although such pre-recorded messages can be used in cooperation with physical displays  41 , such recordings may also be used to present information to user  40  without any accompanying physical display. 
         [0037]    The housing can be attached to material loop  22  in various manners and several alternative embodiments of the housing are illustrated in the figures. Housing  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is formed out of a plastic material and includes receptacles  44  at each end of housing  30 . The opposite ends of fabric material  32  are inserted into receptacles  44 . Material  32  is secured to receptacles  44  with stitching  42  in the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0038]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  has a housing  30   a  with outwardly extending tabs  46 . In this embodiment, material  32   a  forms an uninterrupted loop and housing  30   a  is secured to exterior surface  21  of material  32   a  with adhesives or other suitable means at tabs  46 . 
         [0039]    The embodiment of  FIG. 6  is similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  in that opposite ends of a length of flexible material  32  are attached to opposite ends of housing  30 ,  30   b , instead of the housing being attached to an exterior surface of flexible material  32 . More specifically, and with reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , first and second ends  47 ,  48  of housing  30   b  are respectively attachable to third and fourth ends  49 ,  50  of loop of material  32   b  to form a closed loop. 
         [0040]    The embodiment of  FIG. 6  differs from that of  FIGS. 1-4  in that the housing  30   b  of  FIG. 6  includes a modified receptacle  48  that disengageably receives a male member  50  positioned on an end of material  32   b . Member  50  can be securely engaged when inserted into receptacle  48  but will disengage when subjected to a moderate force. Such attachment devices are commonly found on lanyards used in manufacturing facilities and other locations having rotating machinery where it is undesirable to have a strong loop of material around a person&#39;s neck. Receptacle  48  and member  50  have a conventional construction for providing such a break-away connection. Housing end  47  and loop end  49  are joined together with stitching as used in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0041]    The embodiment of  FIG. 7  utilizes a speaker  51  located within the housing to reproduce the audio recording instead of an earbud. Housing  30   c  has a plurality of speaker openings  52  to allow for the transmission of the sound generated by internal speaker  51  and a volume knob  54 . The volume of speaker  51  can be adjusted by sliding knob  54  as indicated by arrows  56 . 
         [0042]    The embodiment of  FIG. 8  has a housing  30   d  and a small alphanumeric display in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen  58 . LCD screen  58  can be used to display short alphanumeric messages. For example, it may display, “listen now” when the audio recording is initiated. Such a textual display is particularly useful when the device employs an earbud to reproduce the audio message. In addition to instructions regarding the operation of device  20 , LCD screen  58  may also be used for other purposes. For example, user  40  could be directed to a sponsor&#39;s website where user  40  would input an alphanumeric code displayed on LCD screen  58  for a chance to win a prize. By directing user  40  to the sponsor&#39;s website, the sponsor could also receive feedback from user  40  on the items being promoted by apparatus  20  and allow potential customers to provide their contact information to the sponsor. 
         [0043]    The embodiment of  FIG. 9  illustrates how the device can be branded by a sponsor. As shown in  FIG. 9 , material  32   e  may have the sponsor&#39;s logo  60  printed or formed thereon. The sponsor&#39;s logo could also be displayed on housing  30   e . In the illustrated embodiment, logo  60  is displayed on housing  30   e  by affixing an adhesive label  62  thereon, however, logo  60  could alternatively be printed directly on housing  30   e , physically formed in housing  30   e , or otherwise displayed on housing  30   e . For example, in yet another embodiment, the overall shape of the housing could conform to the shape of the sponsor&#39;s logo. The embodiment of  FIG. 9  also includes a light  64 . Similarly to the “listen now” message of LCD  58 , light  64  can be used as a playback indicator that changes its visual appearance, e.g., activation of light  64 , to indicate when the pre-recorded audio data is being played. Light  64  might also be used for some other purpose, e.g., to draw attention to device  20 . 
         [0044]    Apparatus  20  can be used in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes. A particular useful application of apparatus  20  is to distribute information, in the form of a pre-recorded audio message stored on digital memory  34   a , to attendees of a tradeshow, convention or similar event. Generally, attendees of such events must register to obtain entry to the event. This will often be the case even when there is no admittance fee charged. 
         [0045]    It is also quite common for attendees at such events to wear a badge of some type. As used herein badge simply refers to an object, e.g., object  26 , that provides some minimal information about the person associated with the badge but does not have to be specific to the user. For example, an admittance ticket placed in a plastic sleeve and which is identical to thousands of other admittance tickets would be considered a badge that designates that the person associated with the ticket is properly admitted to the event. Self-printed name tags, identification tags and various other forms of devices may also constitute badges. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , attendees at tradeshows are often given badges  26  that include indicia  27  of some kind indicating user  40  to be a proper attendee of the event. 
         [0046]    When entering the event, a lanyard assembly  20  with an appropriate badge  26  can be given to each of the attendees. Often times, there is a checkpoint, registration desk or similar monitoring station, either staffed by persons or utilizing automated kiosks or similar devices, at the entry to such events where each of the attendees must verify that they have properly registered for the event. This might be done by checking the name of the attendees against a list of registered individuals, obtaining information from the individual necessary to register that person, and/or verifying that they have already obtained a badge  26  (which might have been previously mailed to them). The individuals who demonstrate that they are proper attendees of the event can be provided with a lanyard assembly  20  at this same time. 
         [0047]    The organizer of the event providing the lanyard assemblies  20  to the attendees may offset the cost of lanyard assemblies  20  by collecting payment from a sponsor. In return, the logo of the sponsor might be printed on the lanyard assemblies  20  and the sponsor would determine what audio data would be stored on the digital memory  34   a  of the lanyard assemblies  20 . While it is also possible to charge individual attendees for lanyard assemblies  20 , it will often be more efficient and desirable to have a sponsor pay for the expense of lanyard assemblies  20  and not charge the individual attendees a separate charge for the lanyard assembly. The relatively inexpensive nature of lanyard assemblies  20  allows assemblies  20  to be single use or “disposable” devices that are given to attendees without requiring the attendees to return lanyard assemblies  20 . 
         [0048]    While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles.