Musical adaptor for baby nursing bottles

An electronic musical adaptor for removable attachment to a baby nursing bottle to produce a musical tune to soothe and amuse the baby upon movement of the bottle during the feeding process. The adaptor comprising a cup-shaped housing, a melody producing circuit including an integrated circuit microchip within which is stored musical tune information, a battery power source, a buzzer-type speaker and a motion-activated microswitch for activating the microchip, and a wafer-like container encapsulating the melody producing circuit removably situated within the cup-shaped housing proximate the bottom thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a musical adaptor for use with baby 
nursing and feeding bottles. More particularly, the invention relates to a 
musical adaptor unit which may be removably attached to the bottom of a 
baby nursing bottle whereby when the baby tips the bottle an electronic 
musical device inside the adaptor produces a musical tune which can soothe 
and amuse the baby during the feeding process. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Baby bottles have been in use in the liquid feeding of infant children for 
many years. Over the years, baby bottles have been provided in many 
shapes, forms and configurations. Infant children are frequently 
temperamental during the normal bottle feeding process and during attempts 
to have them fall asleep by providing a nursing bottle for suckling in 
their crib environment. Pleasant music can often divert a temperamental 
child's attention from the feeding process and can often help to induce 
the infant into sleep. 
Early attempts to combine a musical unit with a baby bottle comprised 
spring wound musical devices affixed to the bottom of such bottles. In 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,093 S. G. Allen disclosed a musical bottom section for 
attachment to an open ended baby bottle with such section encapsulating: a 
microchip having musical information, a speaker electrically connected to 
the microchip, a battery electrically connected to the microchip, and 
mercury type microswitches electrically connected to the microchip for 
selectively activating the chip. The musical microchip is activated by 
each movement of the baby bottle through like movement of the mercury 
globs within the mercury microswitches. In one alternative form of the 
invention, Allen provides an on-off toggle switch at the exterior of the 
musical bottom section so that the user of the device can selectively 
choose whether to turn the music on or off. The Allen musical unit, for 
attachment to a baby bottle, is unacceptable in a baby's environment in 
that it incorporates switches which, although encapsulated in an 
insulative fill material, contain potentially harmful mercury. Further, 
the Allen musical unit is relatively heavy and thereby adversely affects 
the baby's ability to maneuver the bottle during the nursing procedure. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,060 granted to P.K. To there is also disclosed a 
musical adapter for nursing bottles which incorporates: an electronic 
microchip having musical tune information, a speaker electrically 
connected to the microchip, a battery electrically connected to the 
microchip, and a microswitch (preferably of mercury type) electrically 
connected to the microchip to selectively activate the chip and the 
playing of the musical tune information. The musical adaptor of To is 
comprised of a two part molded plastic structure with an upper cup-like 
portion which fits over the lower end of a baby bottle and a lower 
bowl-shaped base portion which contains the electrical components of the 
musical adaptor and which is threaded onto a lower cylindrical joint end 
of the upper cup-like portion. Alternatively, the lower base portion of 
the adaptor may be affixed to the upper cup-like portion by channels in 
such base portion which twist-lock onto engaging bars of the lower 
cylindrical joint end of the cup-like portion. The bowl-shaped base 
portion requires in its bottom wall sound holes for causing sound produced 
within such portion to be transmitted out of the adaptor--such holes 
providing access of harmful dirt particles and liquids to the electrical 
components of the adaptor. Further, in the principal embodiments of the To 
adaptor, the device is subject to the activation of the electrical circuit 
and playing of the musical information upon any motion of the device 
whether it is in place associated with a baby bottle or disassociated from 
a bottle. In one embodiment of the To adaptor, a secondary switch is 
provided which activates the circuitry when the adaptor is associated with 
the bottom of a baby bottle but such switch does not preclude its 
activation, and that of the musical circuitry of the device, by other 
means when the adaptor is not in place on the bottom of a baby bottle. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a unique electronic 
musical adaptor for use with a baby nursing bottle, which adaptor is 
readily detachable from the bottle, and which, when the bottle is tipped 
from its vertical orientation for suckling by a baby, produces a musical 
tune to soothe and amuse the infant. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide an electronic musical 
adaptor of light-weight construction which can be easily placed on and 
removed from the bottom of a baby bottle thereby to avoid being washed 
with the bottle. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a musical adaptor of 
cup-shaped configuration which can be easily placed on and removed from 
the bottom of a baby bottle and which includes an exchangeable, relatively 
thin, wafer-like sealed container for housing electronic melody producing 
means whereby when the bottle is tipped from its vertical orientation, for 
suckling by a baby, there is produced one or more musical tunes. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the 
following summary and descriptions of the invention, taken together with 
the accompanying drawing figures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a novel musical adaptor for removable 
attachment to baby nursing and feeding bottles. The adaptor is of molded 
plastic cup-shaped configuration with upper annular bottle-gripping 
segments and a lower cylindrical base portion for removably holding 
interchangeable sealed wafer-like containers housing electronic melody 
producing means. The melody producing means of the invention within each 
sealed wafer-like container is comprised of an integrated circuit (IC) 
microchip (storing musical tune information) which is electrically 
interconnected to: a battery power source, a buzzer-type speaker, and a 
motion-activated microswitch which is only operable when the wafer-like 
container is inserted into the base portion of the adaptor. Thus, the 
operability of the interconnecting circuitry of the melody producing means 
is dependent upon closure of the circuitry by a separate microswitch which 
is activated upon insertion of the container into the base portion of the 
adaptor or by the interconnection of a pair of separated electrical 
contacts of the circuitry on the outer periphery of the container which 
are interconnected by bus bar means associated with such base portion upon 
insertion of the container into the adaptor. 
In accordance with the present invention a series of electronic melody 
producing means, each holding different musical tune information (one tune 
or a combination of two or more tunes), may be provided in separate sealed 
wafer-like containers. Each of such containers, interchangeably insertable 
into the base portion of the musical adaptor, bears outer written tune 
identification information so that the user can select the tune or tunes 
that are desired to be played as the baby manipulates (tips) the 
associated bottle during a nursing or feeding procedure. Tipping or 
tilting movement of the baby bottle, with the musical adaptor of the 
invention in place at the bottom thereof, causes the motion-activated 
microswitch of the melody producing means (within the sealed wafer-like 
container) to initiate the production of the musical tune information of 
the IC microchip via the buzzer-type speaker. 
The wafer-like containers holding the components of the melody producing 
means of the invention are formed of light-weight plastic material 
sections which are sealed together about their peripheries. The containers 
form a resonance sound chamber for the musical tunes produced via the IC 
microchip and speaker therein and therefore no sound holes are required 
for transmitting the musical sounds out of the containers thereby 
maintaining a closed dirt and liquid free environment for the enclosed 
components of the melody producing means. The power source for the melody 
producing means comprises one or two watch-type disc batteries which have 
a life of one or more years.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to novel musical adaptors for removable 
attachment to baby nursing and feeding bottles. Referring initially to 
FIG. 1 of the drawing sheet, there is illustrated in a perspective view a 
typical baby nursing or feeding bottle 4 with a screw-on cap 6 and nipple 
8. Removably attached to the lower end of the bottle 4 is a musical 
adaptor housing 10 of generally cup-shaped configuration. The adaptor 
housing 10 is more particularly shown in FIG, 2 which is a front exploded 
perspective view of the musical adaptor of the invention including a first 
alternative form of the wafer-like container and enclosed electronic 
melody producing means of the adaptor. The wafer-like container is 
normally seated within the adaptor housing in the bottom portion thereof. 
The adaptor housing 10 is preferably composed of suitable molded plastic 
material and includes an annular series of upper bottle-gripping segments 
12 (including inwardly projecting gripping lips 12a) which are separated 
by slots 12b so that the segments may be flexed outwardly during placement 
of the housing on the lower end of a nursing bottle and provide gripping 
action for the housing with respect to the bottle. The lower cylindrical 
base portion 14 of the adaptor housing 10 includes a bottom wall or floor 
14a with a central finger hole 14b for dislodging the wafer-like container 
which encloses the melody producing means. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the wafer-like container 16 is comprised of a base 
section and a top section for closing the container and its internal 
melody producing means. The base section 16a of the container 16 includes 
an shallow annular side wall 16b and a bottom wall or floor 16c. The top 
section 16d of the container 16 includes an annular side wall 16e and a 
top wall 16f. There may be located on the top wall 16f a melody 
identification label 16g. 
Carried within the base section 16a of the wafer-like container 16 are the 
components of the electronic melody producing means 18. In accordance with 
the invention, the melody producing means 18 is comprised of an integrated 
circuit microchip IC (stores musical tune information) which is 
electrically interconnected to: a battery power source B, a buzzer-type 
speaker S, and a motion-activated microswitch MS. The microswitch MS, as 
shown in FIG. 2, is described in detail hereinafter in connection with its 
operation as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. One of the electrical leads of the 
microswitch MS is connected to an electrical contact EC1 located on the 
outer periphery of the side wall 16b of the base section 16a of container 
16. A second electrical contact EC2, also located on the side wall 16b of 
the base section 16a, is connected by an electrical lead to the microchip 
IC. 
Located within the base portion 14 of the adaptor housing 10, about the 
periphery thereof above the floor 14a, is an annular electrical conductor 
or bus bar BB. Thus, when the wafer-like container 16 is inserted into the 
housing, the outer electrical contacts EC1 and EC2 of the container are 
interconnected by bus bar BB (regardless of the position of the container 
within the adaptor housing). Thereby, the circuitry of the melody 
producing means 18 (within the container 16) is closed except for the 
closing action of microswitch MS caused by tilting motion of the baby 
bottle 4 and the musical adaptor. Through this construction of adaptor 
housing 10 and the interacting structure of the insertable wafer-like 
container 16, the melody producing means 18 within the container is 
precluded from having its circuitry closed to render a melody when the 
container is outside of the adaptor housing. 
Following the placement and electrical interconnection of the components of 
the melody producing means within the container base section 16a, the top 
section 16d of the container is sealed to the base section yielding a 
closed environment for such components. A series of the wafer-like 
containers 16 may be provided with each container including in its melody 
producing means a microchip IC having stored therein a different melody or 
series of melodies. Thereby, by interchangeable placement of such 
containers in the adaptor housing 10 (and affixation of the housing to a 
baby bottle), a selection of melodies may be presented to the baby holding 
and moving the bottle during its feeding time. In accordance with the 
embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the circuitry of the melody 
producing means 18 of the closed (sealed) wafer-like container 16 is only 
capable of being closed by the motion-activated microswitch NS when the 
container is seated within housing 10 with the electrical contacts EC1 and 
EC2 conductively joined through their respective engagement with the bus 
bar BB of the housing. Thus, a series of different melody producing means 
18 may be provided in their respective containers 16 and stored without 
use of their battery sources over a long period of time. 
A second alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in 
FIGS. 3 and 4. In such embodiment, the bottom section 26a of a wafer-like 
container for a melody producing means (shown in FIG. 3) includes a 
shallow annular side wall 26b and a bottom wall or floor 26c. The battery 
component B, speaker component S and motion-activated microswitch 
component MS of the melody producing means are mounted to the bottom wall 
26c of the bottom section of the container. Each of such components are 
appropriately interconnected by leads to a series of electrical contacts 
Ca-Cf. 
The underside of a disc-like top or closure section 26d for the wafer-like 
container is shown in FIG. 4 and has mounted thereon a microchip IC with 
its internally stored musical tune information. The microchip has leads 
interconnected to electrical contacts C'a-C'f which are appropriately 
placed so as to interface electrically with the contacts Ca-Cf of the 
bottom section 26a of the container when the top section 26d is inverted 
and placed in closure position on the bottom section. To assure 
appropriate alignment of the contacts C'a-C'f of closure section 26d with 
the contacts Ca-Cf of the bottom section 26a, the annular side wall 26b of 
the bottom section may be provided with means (such as a notch 26e) into 
which mating means (such as a tab 26f) of the top section is seated. Snap 
fitment of the top section 26d into the bottom section 26a by any 
appropriate means may be provided. Thus, interchangeability of top 
sections, with different musical tune information microchips, provides 
means for selection of the melodies that may be provided via the musical 
adaptor of the invention. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a third alternative 
embodiment of a melody producing means in accordance with the invention. 
Again, a bottom section 36a to a wafer-like container for the melody 
producing means includes an annular side wall 36b and a bottom wall 36c. 
The components of the melody producing means include microchip IC 
(contains stored musical tune information), batteries B, motion-activated 
microswitch MS' and a buzzer-type speaker (not shown). These components 
are connected to the microchip by appropriate leads. The speaker is 
mounted under the microchip and is connected to the microchip via leads 
SL. Also provided in the circuitry of the melody producing means is a 
second microswitch MS" which includes external touch button means which 
when actuated closes the circuitry (except for the motion-activated 
microswitch). Actuation of the microswitch MS" is accomplished when the 
closed wafer-like container (enclosing the melody producing means) is 
inserted into a housing such as the adaptor housing 10 shown in FIGS. 1 
and 2. The microswitch MS' is comprised of a spring arm SA, a weight ball 
WB and a contact plate CP. 
Operation of the motion-activated microswitch MS' of the melody producing 
means of FIG. 5 is illustrated via the "off" and "on" positional views of 
the switch in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6 the switch is shown in one of the 
many possible "off" positions determined by manipulation of the baby 
bottle with the musical adaptor containing the melody producing means. In 
such position the spring arm SA (in electrical circuit communication with 
a microchip [not shown] via a lead EL) is oriented out of contact with 
contact plate CP (also in electrical circuit communication with the 
microchip [not shown] through a lead EL). The spring arm encloses the 
weight ball WB which is free to shift within the spring portion of such 
arm. In FIG. 7 the microswitch MS' is shown in an "on" position (achieved 
periodically during manipulation of the baby bottle) with the spring arm 
SA (formed of conductive spring wire) flexed by the weight ball WB into 
electrical contact with the contact plate CP. In such an "on" position the 
microswitch Ms' closes the circuitry of the melody producing means, 
provided, the wafer-like container enclosing such means is in place within 
a cup-shaped adaptor on a baby bottle with the microswitch MS" closed. 
Operation of the motion-activated microswitch MS of the melody producing 
means of FIGS. 2 and 3 is illustrated via the "off" and "on" positional 
views of the switch in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8 the switch, comprised of 
like but not contacting conductive cylinders (in electrical circuit 
communication with a microchip [not shown] via leads EL), is shown an 
"off" position with metal contact balls CB out of contact with one 
another. In FIG. 9 the microswitch MS is shown in an "on" position 
(achieved periodically during manipulation of the baby bottle) with the 
contact balls in electrical contact with one another to bridge the gap 
between the conductive cylinders to complete the circuit for initiation of 
the stored melody producing information of the microchip IC (not shown in 
FIGS. 8 and 9). As in the case of the microswitch MS' of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, 
secondary microswitch means may be provide in the circuitry of the melody 
producing means so that the microchip melody program can not be initiated 
until such secondary switch is closed. 
In FIG. 10 there is shown a schematic drawing of the circuitry of one form 
of the melody producing means of the invention. The components of the 
circuitry are: an eight terminal musical tune microchip IC; a 
motion-activated microswitch MS of the type shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9; 
a battery B; a buzzer-type speaker S; and a secondary microswitch MS" for 
external activation of the circuitry of the melody producing means, all of 
the components of such melody producing means being appropriately 
interconnected to terminals of the microchip IC. 
It is to be understood that once initiated the stored musical tune program 
of the microchips (utilized in the melody producing means of the 
invention) continues uninterrupted until completed. Thus, once the program 
is initiated further movement of the baby bottle and its musical adaptor 
(including the melody producing means and its motion-activated 
microswitch) will not terminate the program (even if the motion-activated 
switches as described hereinbefore are in an "off" position) and the 
replaying of the program (caused by the motion-activated switches being 
moved to an "on" position) will not occur until the full program is played 
out. Where a secondary microswitch is incorporated into the circuitry of 
the melody producing means, de-activation of such switch (as by removal of 
the wafer-like container of FIG. 2 from the musical adaptor housing) will 
terminate the playing of the musical tune program of the microchip. It 
should also be understood that the melody producing means of the invention 
can be energized by one or more watch-type batteries of mercury cell 
design each of which should produce an energizing life to the circuitry of 
at least a year of intermittent use during movement of such device with a 
feeding or nursing baby bottle. The buzzer-type speaker may preferably be 
formed of a piezoelectric semiconductor element. 
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed 
herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures, it will be 
apparent to one skilled in the art that many variations and modifications 
may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention 
as defined by the following claims.