Self-contained, mailable audio recording and reproducing apparatus having in certain embodiments a space adapted to receive indicia

An "audio mailer," including a tape recorder or other sound recording and reproducing device non-removably encased and configured as a mailer, so that a user can conveniently and confidentially send or receive voice or other sound messages through the mail. The mailer may further have a crevice space for an inserted enclosure, such as a letter, document, photograph or other indicia. A customized or commercially available small tape recorder and audiotape sound storage medium may be employed in the preferred embodiment. The audiotape may be either built-in or contained in a removable microcassette. Duplicate removable audiotape microcassettes may be employed to enable a sender to simultaneously record a copy of a mailed audio message and preserve it for future reference. In an alternate embodiment, computer microchip-based sound recording and reproducing technology and storage medium may be employed. The non-removable casing for the recording and playback device and sound storage medium is made of durable cardboard or other durable lightweight material upon which an address and return address may be placed and postage affixed. The recorder's controls are positioned at the top of the casing opening and are fully concealed when the casing is sealed. After initial use, the audio mailer may be either preserved as a keepsake for repeat listening, or reused. The mailer in the preferred embodiment is approximately 31/2" (width).times.71/2" (legnth).times.3/4" (depth) in dimension, weighing approximately 6 ounces.

REFERENCES CITED 
______________________________________ 
DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT 
189818 3/31/1988 Eric C. Jacobson 
U.S. PAT. DOCUMENTS 
2,580,071 12/1951 Bunyard 369/68X 
3,000,638 9/1961 Dennis 369/63X 
3,184,241 5/1965 Jones 369/63X 
3,312,475 4/1967 Mazuranic 369/31 
3,462,157 8/1969 Barnett et al 
369/68 
4,525,821 6/1985 Garcia 369/31 
4,636,881 1/1987 Brefka et al 369/31 
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 
2052395 4/1972 West Germany 369/68 
______________________________________ 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to mailers and specifically to an apparatus "audio 
mailer" apparatus, including a tape recorder or other sound recording and 
reproducing device non-removably encased and configured as a mailer. 
The object of this invention is to enable people to more conveniently send 
or receive voice or other sound messages through the mail or other forms 
of transit. It is currently a not uncommon practice for people to send one 
another individual cassette audiotapes through the mail, sometimes in 
rectangular cardboard mailers conforming to the size of a standard 
cassette audiotape. Encasing and configuring a small, inexpensive tape 
recorder or other sound recording and reproducing device as a mailer makes 
this practice more convenient by obviating the necessity for the sending 
or receiving party to locate a tape recorder unit and insert the audiotape 
cassette for recording or playback purposes. 
The audio mailer is a new option among the arsenal of routine communicative 
methods and instruments such as written letters, telegrams, facsimile 
transmissions, telephone calls, answering machine messages, or separately 
conveyed audiotape cassettes. As such, it is designed with the 
requirements of inexpensive mass production and use, light weight and low 
retailand postal costs in mind. The invention is of general utility to 
those who find conveying a message through dictation a more personal 
and/or efficient alternative to (or addition to) written or typed 
communication, or a desirable substitute for a telephone call. It is of 
particular utility to specially situated individuals such as the non-or 
marginally literate, the physically disabled, or widely separated 
intimates without ready access to telephones (or requiring a less 
expensive alternative to calling), among others, for whom sending a verbal 
communication by mail is preferable to, and more practical than, other 
communicative forms. The audio mailer is also of potential use to certain 
individuals, such as musical artists, who regularly send others audio 
exemplars of their work product. 
Tangentially hereto, as referenced above, audio devices have been previosly 
fashioned for mailing in the form of a postcard carrying a sound record 
[Mazuranic] and an audible greeting card [Barnett et al.], have been 
simply packaged in the form of a toy cardboard record player [von Ronn, W. 
Germany], and have been encased in the recess of a religious cross bearing 
an audiotape message [Garcia].

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
The audio mailer is a mailer which in its preferred embodiment is designed 
for one time use as such, and thereafter may be either preserved as a 
keepsake for repeat listening by the recipient, or reused by taping over 
the original message. In this preferred embodiment the audio mailer is 
comprised of a small tape recorder device and built-in audiotape cassette 
of (or approximately of) "microcassette" size, and a surrounding casing, 
approximately 31/2" (width).times.71/2" (length).times.3/4" (depth) in 
dimension and weighing approximately 6 ounces. A customized or 
commercially available small tape recorder device with standard control 
means including record, play, rewind, fast forward and (optionally) stop 
buttons, capable at a minimum of adequate, rudimentary recording and 
playback sound quality (comparable to that achieved via telephone), may be 
employed. Control buttons, speaker, microphone, and battery components are 
positioned at the opening of the casing for easy access. The device's 
electronic integrated circuitry is contained below the control buttons and 
components at the opening of the casing. The cassette in given audio 
mailer units may contain differing amounts of audiotape so that the time 
duration of a message may range from one minute and up (thus permitting 
the weight of--and postage for--the unit to be no higher than necessary 
for a user's particular communicative purpose). The tape recorder device 
and audiotape cassette are securely encased in durable cardboard or other 
durable lightweight material of rectangular dimension which is sealable 
and stampable, so as to be suitable in all respects for transit through 
the mail and other messenger, letter, and package delivery services, or 
direct personal conveyance. A crevice space is adapted for the optional 
insertion of an enclosure such as a letter, document, photograph or other 
indicia, with the audiotape communication. 
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a rectangular casing 
of cardboard 15 surrounds and securely, non-removably encases a tape 
recorder device, the speaker 23 of which is partially shown. 
Referring to FIG. 2, speaker 23, control buttons (record, play, rewind, 
fast forward) 19, microphone 21, and battery 25 are positioned for easy 
access by user at the opening of casing. An area for an optional stop 
button 20 is also shown. Tape recorder device electronic integrated 
circuitry 45 is positioned just below the control buttons and above the 
built-in audiotape cassette 17. The cassette 17 in a given audio letter 
unit may contain differing amounts of audiotape 33 so that the time 
duration of a message may range from one minute and up (thus permitting 
the weight of--and postage for--the mailer to be no higher than necessary 
for the user's particular communicative purpose). The sender bends back 
the casing flap 27 and records a voice or other sound communication by 
working the control buttons 19. Upon recording a message, the sender may 
cue the message for the recipient's immediate listening by further working 
the rewind and other control buttons. 
Referring to FIG. 3, in this second embodiment the sender removes one of 
the duplicate audiotape cassettes 17, 35 by opening one of the side access 
adhesive flaps 41, 43 and pressing an eject button (or optionally, a 
stop/eject button), an area for which is shown 20. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, after recording and cuing a message, the sender 
addresses the mailer and affixes postage in the designated areas 29, 31. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the sender may optionally insert an enclosure such as 
a letter, document, photograph or other indicia, in the indicated crevice 
space 39. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when ready for transit, the sender seals the 
mailer by sealing the casing flap 27 to the adhesive area 37 at the rear 
of the cardboard casing. 
While the audio letter is shown and detailed in a preferred embodiment, 
variations in embodying the invention may be practiced. For example, a 
sound recording and reproducing device other than a tape recorder, and a 
storage medium means other than audiotape, such as computer 
microchip-based sound wording and reproducing technology, may be employed. 
Additional variations include: a removable audiotape cassette or microchip 
storage medium means, accessed by an adhesive side flap (or otherwise); 
duplicate, removable audiotape cassettes FIG. 3, 17, 35 or microchip 
storage medium means in which recorded sound is simultaneously stored, 
accessed by an adhesive side flaps FIG. 3, 41, 43 (or otherwise), enabling 
a sender to retain a duplicate "copy" of his audio message for future 
reference; a tape recorder with audiotape not contained in a cassette; a 
tape recorder other than of small size or type; standard control means or 
components (such as microphone, speaker or battery) positioned other than 
at the opening of the casing; electronic-or computer integrated circuitry 
positioned other than below the control buttons at the opening of the 
casing; consolidated instrumentation wherein a speaker and microphone are 
configured "in one," such that the same component functions as a 
microphone when the device is recording and a speaker when the device is 
playing; where the speaker is not positioned at the opening of the casing, 
a casing with perforated holes covering the speaker to allow sound to 
escape; an embodiment with no crevice space for an enclosure; a casing of 
durable lightweight material other than durable cardboard; a means of 
sealing the mailer other than an adhesive flap or flaps. These and other 
modifications of and departures from the specific preferred embodiment 
described herein may be made without departing from the inventive concept 
and the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The invention is therefor 
not to be limited except as set forth in the claims which follow and 
within the doctrine of equivalents.