Abstract:
A holiday countdown interactive display may include a set of magnetically attachable ornaments that have discrete appearances and functionalities, each ornament being marked with a distinct number associated with the number of days remaining before a holiday. In certain preferred embodiments, the interactive display comprises a plush fabric base generally in the shape of a Christmas tree and containing a plurality of rare earth magnets disposed beneath countdown numbers borne on the exterior of the plush fabric base. The interactive display system may further include a plurality of numbered plush Christmas ornaments each including rare earth magnets, the ornaments adapted to be successively installed on the plush fabric base on the days preceding a holiday event. In various embodiments, the ornaments include power supplies, controllers, vibratory elements, LEDs, speakers, pockets for containing gift items, messages, or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to holiday decorations and, in particular embodiments, to decorative plush articles for interactively counting down the days preceding a holiday.  
         [0002]     Households are often adorned with decorations and ornamentation contemporaneously with the celebration of various holidays and other special events. Various types of decorations and ornamentation have been used to decorate homes, workplaces and retail environments in the months leading up to major holidays such as Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukah. These decorations include trees, wreaths, ornaments, and other festive holiday trimmings. The decorations create a festive spirit and serve as reminders that a special event is nearing.  
         [0003]     While certain decorations are simply aesthetic and provide basic visual satisfaction for the people that see them, other decorations include various types of interactive functionality. These interactive decorations allow their users to take a more active role in the holiday.  
         [0004]     Another form of holiday decoration is a countdown display. Generally speaking, countdown displays are flat cardstock products which have a plurality of die-cut flap sections having distinct numbers printed on them, each number being associated with the days remaining before a major holiday. On each day leading up to the holiday, a user (often a child) lifts the die-cut flap associated with the number of days remaining before the holiday. Under each flap is a distinct image or message. The countdown display thereby helps build excitement in the days leading up the actual holiday.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     A holiday countdown interactive display may include a set of magnetically attachable ornaments that have discrete appearances and functionalities, each ornament being marked with a distinct number associated with the number of days remaining before a holiday. In certain preferred embodiments, the interactive display comprises a plush fabric base generally in the shape of a Christmas tree and containing a plurality of rare earth magnets disposed beneath countdown numbers borne on the exterior of the plush fabric base. The interactive display system may further include a plurality of numbered plush Christmas ornaments each including rare earth magnets, the ornaments adapted to be successively installed on the plush fabric base on the days preceding a holiday event. In various embodiments, the ornaments include power supplies, controllers, vibratory elements, LEDs, speakers, pockets for containing gift items, messages, or the like. In certain embodiments, the fabric base unit may include a power supply, a controller, and one or more electronic element that is activated in response to user stimulus. In some embodiments, the fabric base unit may include a compartment to store unused ornaments or other holiday items.  
         [0006]     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fabric interactive display in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the article shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the fabric article shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of an optional, separately attachable storage unit.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate various aspects of an exemplary countdown ornament.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of an exemplary control circuit for use in connection with the embodiments of  FIGS. 4C, 6C , and  8 .  
         [0013]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate various aspects of a second exemplary countdown ornament.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate various aspects of a third exemplary countdown ornament.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic of a circuit for use in the fabric article of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a partial front view of an additional embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
       [0017]     Like reference symbols in the various figures indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  show a fabric article  100 . The fabric article  100  may include a countdown section  105 , an interactive section  110 , and a hanging device  115 . In some embodiments, the countdown section  105  and the interactive section  110  may be combined, and in other embodiments they may be separate.  FIG. 1  shows eighteen decorative ornaments  120  attached to the countdown section  105  of the fabric article  100 .  FIG. 1  also shows one decorative ornament  120  that is detached from the fabric article  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 3A , the fabric article  100  may be constructed of a front panel  305  and a rear panel  310 . These panels are discussed in further detail in association with  FIG. 3A .  
         [0019]     The countdown section  105  of the fabric article  100  may include a plurality of countdown labels  125  spaced laterally apart from one another. The countdown labels  125  may be consecutively numbered to indicate the number of days remaining until a holiday. For example, a countdown to Christmas may include countdown labels  125  numbered consecutively from twenty-five to one to represent each of the twenty-five days in December leading up to and including Christmas day. The countdown labels  125  may also reflect the number of days remaining until a holiday using other indicia, such as days of the week or pictures instead of numbers. For example, the countdown labels  125  may include pictures associated with the Twelve Days of Christmas, such that with two days left before Christmas, the countdown label  125  would resemble two turtledoves.  
         [0020]     The countdown labels  125  may be attachments that are separate from the fabric article  100 , thus allowing for compatibility with other fabric articles  100 . An example of this type of detachable countdown label  125  could be removable buttons attached to stems, where the stems are permanently affixed to the fabric article  100  but the buttons could attach to any of the different stems on any given fabric article  100 . These detachable buttons would allow for several different variations and decoration schemes rather than a predictable and fixed numbering scheme for the countdown labels  125 . In a different embodiment, the countdown labels  125  may be permanently affixed to the fabric article  100  or even printed directly on the fabric article  100 . The countdown labels  125  may also be used as mechanical attachment devices that allow affixation of the decorative ornaments  120  via mechanical means, such as where the countdown label buttons receive a loop of string attached to an ornament. Alternately, a decorative ornament  120  having a hook  905  may allow for mechanical attachment to certain embodiments of countdown labels  125  as shown in  FIG. 9  and described in more detail below.  
         [0021]     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the interactive section  110  of the fabric article  100  includes one or more electrically active devices  130  that may be activated in response to different types of stimuli. These electrically active devices  130  may include speakers, lights, and or vibratory devices, for example. For instance, the interactive section  110  may include a controller, a series of lights and a speaker, the controller being programmed to illuminate the lights in synchronicity with music.  
         [0022]     In some embodiments, the controller disposed in the interactive section  110  may respond to a signal from a pressure sensitive switch so that the reactive section  110  responds to the touch or grasp of a user. In other embodiments, the reactive section  110  may respond to a magnetic stimulus such as the attachment of a magnetic decorative ornament  120  to the fabric article  100 . In such embodiments, a Reed switch may be used in lieu of a pressure sensitive switch to sense the proximity of magnetic materials. The electrically active devices  130  in the interactive section  110  are controlled by a controller  215 , which is further described along with  FIG. 8 .  
         [0023]     The hanging device  115  allows the fabric article  100  to be attached to a surface for display. The hanging device  115  may be a loop attached to the fabric article  100  for hanging the fabric article  100  from a surface. The hanging device  115  may also comprise a hook-and-loop fastener system or adhesive tape for attaching the fabric article  100  to a surface. Rather than using a mechanical coupling, the hanging device  115  may have a non-mechanical attachment means such as cooperating magnets. For example, the fabric article  100  may be hung on a refrigerator door using primary magnets  210  that are already contained within the fabric article  100 . These primary magnets  210  are discussed in greater detail in association with  FIG. 2 . In other embodiments, the hanging device  115  may be made up of a combination of mechanical devices and/or non-mechanical devices. If outwardly exposed, the hanging device  115  may be festively decorated with designs associated with a holiday.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the fabric article  100  and a rear view of a decorative ornament  120 . The back side of a decorative ornament  120  may include an outwardly exposed ornament label  205  to display the number of days leading up to a given holiday. As with the countdown labels  125  discussed previously, the ornament labels  205  may either numerically or symbolically represent the number of days remaining until a holiday. These outwardly exposed ornament labels  205  also allow the user of the device to match up the decorative ornaments  120  with the corresponding countdown labels  125  disposed on the front of the fabric article  100 . For example, the user may attach a decorative ornament  120  with an ornament label  205  numbered with a nineteen to the fabric article  100  where the countdown label  125  is also numbered with a nineteen, thus indicating that there are nineteen days remaining before the holiday. In some embodiments, the decorative ornaments  120  may not have ornament labels  205 , or the ornament labels  205  may be detachable or otherwise interchangeable. In either of these embodiments, the decorative ornaments  120  may be placed on the fabric article  100  in association with any of the countdown labels  125 . Also, although the previously mentioned embodiments discuss a rearward facing ornament label  205 , the ornament labels  205  may be outwardly exposed on the front side of the decorative ornaments  120  as well.  
         [0025]     As shown from the rear in  FIG. 2 , the aforementioned countdown section  105  of the fabric article  100  includes a plurality of primary magnets  210 . The primary magnets  210  may optionally comprise a rare earth magnet, which demonstrates significant magnetic field strength with a relatively small footprint. The primary magnets  210  are disposed within the fabric article  100  and each primary magnet  210  is located proximately rearward of one of the countdown labels  125  displayed on the front of the fabric article  100 . The secondary magnets  410  are discussed in greater detail in association with the different types of decorative ornaments  120  shown in  FIGS. 4, 6 , and  7 .  
         [0026]     Also shown in  FIG. 2  is the controller  215  that controls the electrically active elements  130 , which may be included as part of the interactive section  110  of the fabric article  100 . As will be discussed in more detail in association with  FIG. 8 , the controller  215  may control the electrically active elements  130  by selectively applying voltage and/or generating appropriate timing, sequencing, or other control signals.  
         [0027]     A storage compartment  220 , which may be either coupled to or integrated with the fabric article  100 , may be used to store detached decorative ornaments  120  or other items. The storage compartment may include a partially flexible flap  225  and may allow closure via either mechanical or non-mechanical means. For example, the closure mechanism may include a pair of hook-and-loop fastener strips  230 . In other embodiments, the closure mechanism could be implemented with oppositely polarized magnets instead of the hook-and-loop fastener strips  230 . The use of a storage compartment  220  with the fabric article  100  will be discussed further in association with  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  shows both the front panel  305  and the rear panel  310  of the fabric article  100  in a cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, fill material  315  may be enclosed between the front panel  305  and the rear panel  310 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the aforementioned primary magnets  210  may be disposed between the front panel  305  and the rear panel  310  of the fabric article  100 , with the primary magnets  210  being situated generally rearward of each countdown label  125 . In other embodiments, the primary magnets  215  may be disposed within a dual-layer front panel  305 . As an example of this particular embodiment, the primary magnets  215  may be sewn into the front panel  305 . The primary magnets  210  may also be disposed in other areas throughout the fabric article  100 .  
         [0029]     Also shown in  FIG. 3A  is a storage compartment  220  that may be integrated with the rear panel  310  of the fabric article  100 . In such an integrated embodiment, the storage compartment  220  may be defined externally by a separation in the rear panel  310  to allow access to the internal storage compartment  220 . The storage compartment  220  may be defined internally by the inclusion of an internal lining  320  attached above and below the separation to the interior of the rear panel  310 . In other embodiments, the storage compartment  220  may be in the form of an external compartment coupled to the exterior of the fabric article  100 . For example, the storage compartment  220  may be sewn onto the exterior of the rear panel  310  or attached via other means. While each of the previously mentioned embodiments depicts or contemplates rearward facing storage compartments  220 , the storage compartment  220  may also be integrated with or attached to the forward facing side of the fabric article  100 . Such embodiments may include, but are not limited to, either a hidden storage compartment  220  on the front of the fabric article  100  or an externally visible storage compartment  220 .  
         [0030]     The storage compartment  220  shown in  FIG. 3B  is representative of a non-integrated, external storage compartment  220  that may be coupled to the fabric article  100  as previously discussed. As shown in  FIG. 3B , detached decorative ornaments  120  may be stored in the storage compartment  220  for safekeeping while they are not in use. Also depicted is one of the previously mentioned embodiments, namely one where the storage compartment  220  includes a partially flexible flap  225  which may be secured in a “closed” position by way of two hook-and-loop fastener strips  230 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary illuminable decorative ornament  400 . Illuminable decorative ornament  400  have one or more illuminable parts  405  and a main body  406 . The illuminable decorative ornament  400  may also include a secondary magnet  410  for attaching the ornament to the fabric article  100  by magnetic attraction to the primary magnets  210  disposed therein. The pattern and duration of the illumination may be controlled by a ornament controller  415 , which may be included as part of the illuminable decorative ornament  400 . In some embodiments, this ornament controller  415  may also be configured to control other elements such as speakers and vibratory elements.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4C  shows an illustrative embodiment of a ornament controller  415 . The ornament controller  415  may control the illumination of one or more LEDs  420  or other illuminable devices. The ornament controller  415  may comprise a power source  425 , a switch  430 , and an ornament control circuit  435 . The power source  425  may, for example, be a battery. The switch  430  may be designed to respond to different types of stimuli. For example, the switch  430  may be a pressure-activated push button switch that activates the ornament control circuit  435  when pressed and deactivates the ornament control circuit  435  when released. In another embodiment, the switch  430  may be a toggle that provides power to the ornament control circuit  435  from the power supply  425  when toggled on and continues providing power to the ornament control circuit  435  until the switch  430  is toggled off.  
         [0033]     The ornament control circuit  435 , which is shown as part of the ornament controller  415  in  FIG. 4C  and is shown later as part of the sound controller  615  discussed in further detail in association with  FIG. 6C , may be implemented in several different ways. In one embodiment, the ornament control circuit  435  may control the decorative ornament&#39;s  120  lights, sounds, or vibrations using a timer. For example, an LED  420  in a illuminable decorative ornament  400  may illuminate for a predetermined period of time before turning off. In another embodiment, the ornament control circuit  435  may output signals based upon a pattern generator or based on a pattern saved in memory associated with the control circuit  435 . As an example, the speaker  620  in audio decorative ornament  600  may play the tune “Jingle Bells.” A more specific example of a control circuit  435  is shown in  FIG. 5  and is discussed in greater detail in association with that figure.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary of a control circuit  500  suitable for use in the circuits of  FIGS. 4C, 6C , and  8 . The microcontroller  505  illustrated in this embodiment is a Winbond PowerSpeech™W588B Series voice synthesizer chip. The C capacitor  510  shunted between VDD, which is the microcontroller&#39;s  505  operating voltage pin, and ground may have a capacitance of 4.7 μF and is an optional component used to provide power stability to the microcontroller  505 . The C PN  capacitor  515  shunted between VDD and ground may have a much smaller capacitance of 0.1 μF and is required for this particular Winbond microcontroller  505  to filter out noise from the power supply. The R LIMIT  resistor  520  may be used to limit the amount of current that is supplied to the microcontroller  505 . The R OSC  resistor  525  value may vary and depends on the frequency desired for the internal oscillator of the microcontroller  505 . This particular Winbond microcontroller  505  includes memory for storing various speech or other tonal outputs of up to one hundred thirty-three seconds such that a “Ho, ho, ho!” sound effect or a longer holiday tune such as “Jingle Bells” or “Deck the Halls.” Microcontroller  505  includes a built-in driver that provides a signal to the speakers through the pulse wave modulation (PWM) pins  530  on the chip. While this particular embodiment shows a microcontroller configured to activate a speaker, other timing or sequencing microcontrollers may be implemented to control the lights, vibratory elements, or other active devices included in the ornaments or fabric base unit.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows an audio ornament  600 , which is another illustrative embodiment of a decorative ornament  120 . Audio ornaments  600  have one or more audio devices  605  and a main body  406 . Audio ornaments  600  may also include a secondary magnet  410  for attaching the ornament to the fabric article  100  by magnetic attraction to a primary magnet  210  disposed therein. The tune and duration of the sound output by a audio ornament  600  may be controlled by a sound-making ornament controller  615  located within the audio ornament  600 . In some embodiments, this audio ornament controller  615  may also control and trigger other active elements such as LEDs or vibratory elements.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6C  shows a embodiment of an audio ornament controller  615 . The ornament controller  615  may control the sound emitted from a speaker  620  or a different type of audio device. For example, in one embodiment, the ornament controller  615  may send signals to the speaker  620  to play a tune associated with the holiday. The ornament controller  615  may comprise a power source  625 , a switch  630 , and an ornament control circuit  435 . The power source  625  may be a battery. Also, the switch  630  may be designed to respond to different types of stimuli. For example, the switch  630  may be a pressure-activated push button switch that activates the ornament control circuit  635  when pressed and deactivates the ornament control circuit  435  when released. In another embodiment, the switch  630  may be a toggle that provides power to the ornament control circuit  435  from the power supply  625  when toggled on and continues providing power to the ornament control circuit  435  until the switch  630  is toggled off.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 7A-7C  show a mechanically-operable decorative ornament  700 , which is another illustrative embodiment of a decorative ornament  120 . The main body  406  of the mechanically-operable decorative ornament  700  is similar to the main body  406  of other types of decorative ornaments  120 . However, in addition to the main body  406 , some embodiments of mechanically-operable decorative ornaments  700  may include a flap  710  that allows a user to “open” the ornament to reveal a hidden item  715  inside. For example, a mechanically-operable decorative ornament  700  associated with Christmas may resemble a gift box that opens to reveal a hidden item  715  inside. Different types of hidden items  715  may include printed messages, holiday trinkets, or candy. As with the other types of decorative ornaments  120 , mechanically-operable decorative ornaments  700  may contain a secondary magnet  410  for attaching the ornament to the fabric article  100  via coupling with one of the primary magnets  210  disposed within the fabric article  100 . In yet another embodiment, the mechanically-operable decorative ornament  700  may be constructed as a finger puppet or other shape that may be manually operated by the user.  
         [0038]     Each of the different types of decorative ornaments  120  described in association with  FIGS. 4, 6 , and  7  may be labeled with outwardly exposed ornament labels  205  as previously described in association with  FIG. 2 . Also, each different type of decorative ornament  120  may be designed to be child-safe such that even young children may participate in decorating the fabric article  100 . In addition to the main body  406  of each different type of decorative ornament  120 , the ornaments may include a holiday message  408 . An illustrative example of a holiday message  408  displayed on a decorative ornament  120  is shown in  FIG. 4A . In this particular embodiment, the holiday message  408  displayed reads “Merry Christmas,” but the holiday message  408  may be any other suitable message associated with the holiday.  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  shows one embodiment of a controller  215  for operating the interactive section  110  of the fabric article  100 . The controller  215  may comprise a power source  805 , a switch  810 , and a control circuit  815 . When activated, the control circuit  815  may control one or more lights  820  or speakers  825  or any other type of electrically active elements  130  that are included as part of the fabric article  100 . The power source  805  may be a battery, a DC power supply, an AC power supply, or any other type of source sufficient to power the controller  215 . Similarly, the switch  810  may be one of any number of devices to activate the control circuit  815  in response to certain stimuli. For example, the switch  810  may be a Reed switch that is normally open but that activates the control circuit  815  when a magnet is brought into close proximity with the switch  810 . As another example, the switch  810  may be a pressure-activated switch that is normally open but that activates the control circuit  815  when a user presses on a certain portion of the fabric article  100 . In one embodiment, a plurality of switches  810  may be used, each switch being located proximately to the countdown labels  125 , such that whenever a user places a decorative ornament  120  on the fabric article  100 , the controller  215  is activated and the lights  820  are activated or a song is played through the speakers  825 . In certain embodiments, the control circuit  815  may control the electrically active elements  130  using timing circuitry. In this embodiment, the lights  820  or speakers  825  would be activated for a certain period of time and then be deactivated. The control circuit  815  may also control the electrically active elements  130  using sequencing or pattern generating circuitry. In this particular embodiment, the lights  820  or speakers  825  would be activated and deactivated according to a predefined pattern or sequence defined by the control circuit  815 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 9  shows a rear view of a decorative ornament  120  and a front view of the fabric article  100 . The decorative ornament  120  may have a mechanical attachment device  905  to attach the decorative ornament  120  to the fabric article  100  via non-magnetic means. The mechanical attachment device  905  may be a hook or a loop that mechanically couples to a mechanical fastener  910  attached to the fabric article  100 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , these mechanical fasteners  910  may be pegs that are attached to the front of the fabric article  100 , thus allowing the user to hang the decorative ornaments  120  on the fabric article  100 . In another embodiment, the mechanical attachment device  905  and the mechanical fastener  910  may be implemented with hook-and-loop fastener strips that attach to the back side of the decorative ornaments  120  and to the front side of the fabric article  100 .  
         [0041]     As used herein, the term “fabric” means cloth, felt, woven material, or any other material resembling one of the foregoing in appearance or tactile properties.  
         [0042]     A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made and that other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.