Abstract:
The subject device is an alarm mechanism having a voice message or other sound input wherein the mechanism incorporates a taping mechanism to receive and store voice or other audio sounds to be subsequently or simultaneously projected audibly as a signal to awaken the user of the alarm at a designated time comprising generally a caller mode coupled to a recording controller to activate an audio recorder which is in turn activated by a pre-set timer to project the recorded sound.

Description:
KNOW PRIOR ART LIST  
       [0001]     None.  
       DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     Alarm clock systems are adapted to project audible sounds to awaken the user of the alarm. In more general terms the alarm system is used for main purpose to project an audible sound when needed as a wake up alarm, as usually with an alarm buzzer.  
         [0003]     One of the problems encountered with the existing alarm systems is that almost all alarm clocks are adapted to project a ringing sound where is generally unpleasant to the individual user and which does not otherwise serve a useful purpose.  
         [0004]     In an attempt to alleviate this problem to some degree, certain alarms have been conceived using softer sounds. Radios have been equipped with alarms to project a predetermined radio frequency at a designated time. In light of the above, the following objects are set forth herein.  
       OBJECTS  
       [0005]     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the subject invention to provide an improved alarm clock device for wall type electrical outlets;  
         [0006]     It is also an object of the subject invention to provide an alternate signaling system upon activation of an alarm clock that includes a pre-recorded message or sound;  
         [0007]     A further object of the subject invention is to provide an improved sound feature for an alarm system;  
         [0008]     A further object of the subject invention is to provide an improved safety device for alarm clock systems;  
         [0009]     Still another object of the subject invention is to provide an improved voice message system;  
         [0010]     Other objects of the subject invention of the subject invention include the concept of improving the alarm signal output;  
         [0011]     Another object of the subject invention is to provide an improved wake-up system. Other and further objects of the subject invention will become manifest upon review of the following description taken in conjunction with the claims.  
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the overall system used in conjunction with the subject invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL EMBODIMENT AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0013]     The subject device is an alarm clock having a voice message input wherein the clock mechanism incorporates a taping mechanism or other audible transmission system to receive and send voice or other audio sounds to be subsequently or simultaneously projecting audibly as a signal to awaken the user of the alarm at a designated time, the subject invention comprising voice or audible receiving means which then transmits the received to a recorder or other audible storage means. A time-activated mechanism is utilized to activate the recorded audible sound or message through a speaker unit to awaken the user at a pre-determined or other time sequence based in real time parameters.  
         [0014]     In general, the subject invention is an alarm clock or mechanism for awakening individuals from their sleep with variant sounds, including voice messages, either previously recorded or transmitted instantly through the alarm system.  
         [0015]     In summary, the alarm system incorporating the features of this invention has as a base system, an otherwise conventional alarm clock or other timing device, such alarm clock having an integrated system either within the clock mechanism or associated therewith a sound recorder that is adapted to record voice messages or other sounds into the subject system. This sound recorder is, in turn, interconnected to a sound transmission system that is adapted to project the sounds through a speaker system. This system is structured to project the recorded sound upon activation of the alarm clock alarm system or other timing mechanism at a pre-selected time or at other variant time as desired. When the alarm clock time activates the sound transmission system, the sound recorder will be activated to project the sound to the speaker, either within the alarm clock mechanism or associated therein through a separate system.  
         [0016]     The sound projected through the speaker will either supplement or substitute for the usual alarm buzzer. Other variant structural and electronic systems may be used in conjunction with the overall system.  
       DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     In describing a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it is stressed that the following description is of only one embodiment, and that such description should not limit the scope of the invention herein to one such embodiment, as more than one embodiment may fall within the scope of the subject invention as set forth in the claims.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  in which a schematic representation of the preferred embodiment of the subject invention is shown, the basic elements of the subject system incorporating the subject system are shown. For purposes of further orientation in describing the preferred embodiment herein, the word “inner” will refer to those parts of the system directly incorporated in the alarm system while the work “external” will be used relative to those elements outside the described alarm system.  
         [0019]     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly  FIG. 1  in which a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is shown, setting forth schematically the sub elements of the subject invention. Specifically in  FIG. 1  is shown schematically a calling mechanism  10  which may be in the form of a telephone integrated directly or indirectly into the overall system. A ring or call detector  20  which has a recording control device generally of an electromechanical structure. The ring or call detector is directly linked to an audio recorder  30  the output of which is fed through an And Gate  40 , which in turn leads to an audio amplifier  50  to amplify the sound signal to the speaker  60 .  
         [0020]     Moreover, the subject system integrally includes a timing mechanism  70 , generally in the form of a clock having means to set a signal at a predetermined time for alarm or other purposes. The clock  70  is interconnected to the Audio Recorder  30  with means to activate the audio recorder at the time preset in the timing mechanism  70 . A reset device  80  enables the user to reset the alarm set system in the timing mechanism in the timing mechanism. Additionally, the timing mechanism may be equipped with a manually replay switch  100  that the user can replay the sound or voice received through the audio recorder  30 .  
         [0021]     Moreover, there is a recorder reset switch  110  integrated with the audio recorder which functions to reset the audio recorder for possible replay. The specific interactions of elements are more fully described below.  
         [0022]     Attention is again addressed to the schematic display shown in  FIG. 1 , as seen the caller mechanism  10  is the first element both from the sequential aspect and a real time perspective. A caller will initiate a call to the telephone  10  and upon the detection of a call the detector  20  is automatically activated which in turn relays an electrical signal through electrical lead  130  to the audio recorder  30  in order to turn on the audio recorder. The audio recorder  30  may be used either with an analog system or a digital recording system.  
         [0023]     Specifically, in an analog recording system, a presentation of the sound wave is stored directly in the recording medium and on the other hand in digital recording a description of the sound wave is stored in the form of binary or two-state numbers that are recorded as simple on-off signals. The latter method used to encode a sound wave in a numeric form accurately reconstructs in playback through the use of integrated-circuit chips or other means. The digital audio recording is preferably but not necessarily accomplished on compact disc. The compact disc or other means may be reproductions systems monophonic or stereophonic, or quadraphonic sound.  
         [0024]     Once the audio recorder records the signal voice or sound message it is stored as discussed above, using one of the recording system discussed above or by way of other recording methods. The sound message is retained in such recorded and stored status until such time as the pre-set time signal in the timing mechanism  70  is set. The timing mechanism in clock  70  is interconnected through lead  1160  which in turn leads to the And Gate  40 , with the electrical impulse being withheld from the clock to the And Gate until such time as the pre-set time is reached to activate the play back system. For this purpose the clock timer sends dual signals to the audio recorder and the And Switch  40  through electrical leads  170  and  180  respectively. As stated above, the audio recorder  30  is linked to the And Gate  40  through electrical lead  195  which will transfer the recorded sound signal through the And Gate  40  and ultimately to the audio amplified  50 . The output of the And Gate  40  is thus governed and controlled by both the input signals through leads  170  from the clock timer and lead  195  from the audio recorder. Alternately stated there will be no output for the audio recorder signal to the audio recorder through the And Gate  40  until both the clock signal and recorder signal is activated and relays those signals through the And Gaate  40  thence to the amplifier  50  and speaker  60 .  
         [0025]     The And Gate having received both signals will in turn send the ultimate recorded sound signal to the audio amplifier and speaker. An attendant optional attribute of the subject invention is a manual replay switch interconnected to either the clock or recorder which will activate a replay of the recorded source.