A sound box has a generally spherical container provided on its surface with graphic fields associated with respective contacts connected to a microprocessor within the container, a loudspeaker and circuitry which, upon pressing of one of the fields generates a sound sequence representing the graphic depiction of that field.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a sound-box device. Various devices, such 
as carillons and the like, which can produce simple musical tunes are 
currently known. Such devices are generally actuated mechanically, for 
example by rotating a cylinder which rotates a series of metallic laminae. 
Such devices have very limited sound possibilities; in particular they can 
produce only one musical tune and furthermore require the recharge of the 
actuation mechanism after every execution. This currently limits the 
distribution of said devices. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to overcome the above problem by 
providing a sound-box device which allows automatic production of a wide 
variety of musical tunes or sound patterns which can be easily selected 
for listening by the user. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sound-box device 
which is simple in concept, safely reliable in operation and versatile in 
use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These objects are achieved, according to the invention, by the present 
sound-box device, which comprises a container, an electronic control 
element which is arranged inside said container and is adapted to produce 
a plurality of electric signals which can be transduced into sound signals 
ordered according to at least one sound sequence, at least one sensor 
element which is arranged on the internal surface of said container, is 
connected to said electronic control element and is adapted to be actuated 
on a corresponding symbol provided on the outer surface of said container 
for selecting said sound sequence, a loudspeaker accommodated inside said 
container for the emission of said sound signals, and means for the 
electric power supply of said electronic control element and of said 
loudspeaker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With particular reference to the above figures, the sound-box device 
comprises a container 1 advantageously consisting of a first container 
portion and a second container portion which are adapted to be mutually 
associated by suitable sontainer portion connection means. The first 
container portion is advantageously constituted by a first half-shell 2 
and the second container portion is advantageously constituted by a second 
half-shell 3 which are adapted to be mutually associated by suitable 
container portion connection means. Each of said half-shells 2, 3 defines 
a hemisphere, so that the container has an overall spherical shape in 
operative configuration. 
The container 1 has a hole 1a through which an attachment or coupling 
string 50 of the device passes. 
Each container portion may be comprised of a supporting frame portion and a 
related covering membrane portion which are both mutually attached by 
suitable coupling means. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, 
for example, the half-shells 2, 3 are advantageously constituted by a 
supporting frame made of significantly rigid material, in particular 
provided by molding in plastic material in the shape of hemispherical 
domes 4, 5. The domes 4, 5 of the supporting frame are externally covered 
by related membranes 6, 7 made of deformable plastic material which are 
adapted to act as covering. 
The outer surface of the membranes 6, 7 conveniently has a grid with 
polygonal elements 8 drawn thereon; said elements partly enclose 
pentagonal portions 9 of a dark color, so as to give the container 1 the 
appearance of a soccer ball. A plurality of graphic symbols 10, such as 
for example flags of various national states, is furthermore defined on 
said surface. 
The membranes 6, 7 are rigidly associated with the domes 4, 5 by means of 
conventional double-adhesive elements, not illustrated in the drawing, or 
by analogous coupling means. 
The domes 4, 5 are joined to one another at their edges for a portion 11 
adapted to act as a hinge. In a diametrically opposite position with 
respect to said hinge, the first dome 4 has a slot 12 which is adapted to 
be elastically engaged by a tooth 13 defined at the end of a tab 13a which 
extends from the corresponding edge of the second dome 5. The domes 4, 5 
can be connected by any other suitable container portion connection means. 
A plurality of teeth 14 furthermore extends along the edge of the first 
dome 4; the thickness of said teeth is half that of the dome itself, and 
the teeth 14 are adapted to act as centering means in the coupling of the 
two domes 4, 5. 
Arranged inside the container 1 there is an electronic control element 15 
provided with a microprocessor which is per se known and is adapted to 
drive the device and produce a plurality of electric signals which can be 
transduced into sound signals ordered in a plurality of sound sequences. 
The control element 15 is advantageously mounted on a base 16 arranged 
substantially at the connecting plane of the half-shells 2, 3. Said base 
16 has a circular shape and peripherally rests on a plurality of shaped 
teeth 17 which are angularly distributed on the inner surface of the first 
dome 4. The base 16 is locked elastically along the outer edge by a 
plurality of engagement teeth 18 defined by the dome 4 at related notches 
19; said base 16 is furthermore locked by a plurality of dowels 20 which 
protrude from the edge of the second dome 5. 
It will be noted that the control element 5 can suitably be mounted upon 
any type of supporting means which are fixed to the inside of the 
container 1 by appropriate supporting locking means. 
Electric power supply means advantageously constituted by a pair of 
electric batteries 21 for supplying power to the device, are intended to 
be provided inside the container 1 and can advantageously be mounted on 
the base 16. The batteries 21 can be accomodated in the seats defined by a 
support 22 which defines a pair of heads 23 joined by a partition 24 
intended to separate said batteries. A respective pair of spring elements 
25, 26, adapted to act as electric contacts for connection to the 
batteries 21, are associated on the heads 23 at notches 23a. 
The batteries 21 are secured in their related seats, after the closure of 
the container 1, by a pair of partitions 27 defined inside the second dome 
5 in a transverse direction with respect to said batteries; the partitions 
27 are reinforced by longitudinal ridges 28. 
Sound signal emission means advantageously constituted by a loudspeaker 29 
for emitting the sound signals is accommodated in loudspeaker 
accommodation means inside the container, advantageously inside the first 
half-shell 2, and is arranged with its emission diaphragm 30 directed 
toward the inside of the container 1, in practice advantageously facing 
the base 16. Advantageously, the loudspeaker accommodation means are such 
that the loudspeaker 29 is centered on an annular ridge 31 defined on the 
internal surface of the dome 4, parallel to its edge, and is locked 
elastically by a plurality of engagement teeth 32 defined by said dome 4 
at related notches 33. The loudspeaker 29 is connected to the control 
element 15 by means of a pair of electric wires 34. 
Sensor means communicating with the electronic control element 15 for 
activating or selecting the electric signals transducible into sound 
signals are associated with the container 1 such that the sensor means are 
activated at the outside surface of the container 1. In the preferred 
embodiment shown in the figures, such sensor means are advantageously 
constituted by a plurality of sensor elements 35 applied on the outer 
surface of the domes 4, 5; said sensor elements are connected to the 
electronic control element 15 and are adapted to be actuated on 
corresponding graphic symbols 10 defined on the outer surface of the 
container 1 for selecting related sound sequences. The sensor elements 35 
are constituted by a membrane keyboard formed by a plurality of contact 
switches 36 which are electrically connected in parallel to the electronic 
control element 15. The keyboard is provided by depositing conducting 
material on a pair of films 37 intended to be glued respectively on the 
domes 4, 5. 
More precisely, the switches 36 are constituted by a circular external 
terminal 38 and by an internal terminal 39 which extend from respective 
conductors arranged so as to form a radial pattern on the film 37; the 
terminals 38, 39 of the switches 36 have respective branchings 38a, 39a 
which interpenetrate so as to facilitate the closure of the electric 
contact. Said contact is closed by contacting the switches 36 with 
respective graphite layers 40 applied on the internal surface of the 
membranes 6, 7 at respective graphic symbols 10. 
The switches 36 are applied at respective flattened portions 41 defined on 
the outer surface of the domes 4, 5; said flattened portions 41 are 
distributed along substantially meridian lines, at which the surface of 
the dome has chamfers 41a of reduced width with respect to said flattened 
portions. Said flattened portions 41 therefore define an interspace 
between each switch 36 and the covering membrane 6, 7, so that the 
electric contacts are normally not closed. 
The two halves of the keyboard are connected to the control element 15 by 
means of related loose strips 42, 43 of the films 37; said strips insert 
in the domes 4, 5 through respective slots 44, 45. The ends of the strips 
42, 43 are retained, by means of opposite recesses 42a, 43a, on a pair of 
couplings 46. 
Said couplings 46 have a tab 46a for the elastic securing of the strips 42, 
43 and are adapted to be engaged, by means of a pair of teeth 46b, in 
holes 47 provided on the base 16. The heads 23 of the support 22 of the 
batteries 21 couple on the base 16 in a similar manner. 
The couplings 46 are fixed on the face of the base 16 which is directed 
toward the first half-shell 2, i.e. on the side opposite to the batteries 
21. A chamfer 48 is provided on the base 16 to allow the passage of the 
strip 43, which extends from the second half-shell 3, to the coupling 
region. The base 16 is furthermore provided with a recess 49 at the region 
where the tooth 13 couples to the slot 12. 
The operation of the described device is easily understandable. By pressing 
the outer surface of the container 1 at one of the symbols 10 defined 
thereon, a corresponding sound sequence is emitted. The deformation of the 
covering membrane 6, 7 of the container in fact places the graphite layer 
40 arranged below each symbol 10 in contact with the respective switch 36, 
closing the electric contact between the related terminals 38, 39. The 
branchings 38a, 39a of the terminals ensure the closure of the electric 
contact even in case of an imperfect pressing of the graphic symbols 10. 
In a preferred embodiment of the device, the selectable sound sequences are 
constituted by the national anthems of a plurality of nations whose flags 
are correspondingly defined on the outer surface of the ball so as to 
constitute said symbols 10. In particular, the nations provided may be 
those which participate in sports championships and the like. 
It is naturally possible to provide that said sound sequences reproduce 
musical tunes or sounds of different kinds, such as for example animal 
sounds, sounds of musical instruments, characteristic voices of 
celebrities and the like. 
Different graphic symbols, such as for example pictures of animals, musical 
instruments, celebrities and the like, can be provided correspondingly on 
the outer surface of the container of the device. 
The outer shape of the container of the device may equally be different 
from the one described. In particular, said container may have a generally 
rounded shape, such as that of a rugby-ball, or the shape of a polyhedron 
or of other similar geometrical solids. 
To conclude, the device according to the invention allows to produce a 
plurality of sound patterns or musical tunes, matching their selection 
with appropriate graphic representations capable of easily recalling them. 
The device has a very small size by virtue of the optimum arrangement of 
the components inside the container; it furthermore has no visible 
actuation elements. The device is conveniently provided with a string 50, 
inserted in the hole 1a of the container, which facilitates its transport 
for example hung from the wrist or neck. 
The device is very easy to use, since it is sufficient to actuate the 
contact switches concealed below the covering to obtain the emission of 
the sound patterns or musical tunes. 
The device can be easily opened to allow the insertion of the batteries. 
For this purpose it is sufficient to exert pressure on the edge of the 
second half-shell 3 at the tab 13a, so as to cause the disengagement of 
the tooth 13 from the slot 12 provided on the first half-shell 2. 
In the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials employed, as 
well as the shape and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements 
.