Patent Publication Number: US-2007111632-A1

Title: Stuffed toy or other shaped member with an audio communication device disposed therein

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates, in general, to stuffed toys or other stuffed shapes and, in particular, this invention relates to a stuffed toy or other stuffed shape with an audio communication device capable of playing at least one of a prerecorded message and a message recorded by the owner of the stuffed toy disposed therein.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, various type of stuffed toys, such as animals, and other stuffed shapes have been known and sold commercially. Some of these stuffed animals have also been sold with prerecorded sounds. Nevertheless, none of these prior art type stuffed toys, or animals, capable of playing such prerecorded messages have been specifically designed for special preselected themes.  
      Additionally, to the best of applicants knowledge, these prior art type stuffed toys, or animals, have not been equipped to allow different personal messages to be recorded thereon, for example, by a parent to a child to remind them to do certain predetermined chores and/or just to tell them that the parent loves them.  
      Also, applicant is not aware of any predetermined stuffed shapes being available with any type of message playback capability.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a preselected stuffed toy having an audio communication device disposed therein. Such preselected stuffed toy includes a body having a head portion including a face of a predetermined size, shape, and configuration, a torso portion of a predetermined size, shape, and configuration, and a plurality of limb members. The stuffed toy further includes a first means mounted within such body portion for activating a prerecorded message. Further, a second is means mounted within such body portion for playing the prerecorded message. There is, also, a third means mounted within such body portion for recording a user generated message. A fourth means is mounted within such body portion for activating such user generated message. The stuffed toy further has a fifth means mounted within such body portion for playing the user generated message. A sixth means is provided for supplying electrical power to such first means for activating such prerecorded message and to the second means for activating such recording device and such user generated message. The final essential element of the present invention is a seventh means for amplifying such prerecorded message and such user generated message when such first means and such second means are activated whereby such preselected stuffed toy will audibly transmit either the prerecorded or such user generated message.  
      According to a second embodiment of the present invention the preselected stuffed toy can be replaced by a preselected stuffed shape such as a heart.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a preselected stuffed toy, or other stuffed object, which exhibits the capability to each of play a prerecorded message, record a personal message thereon and to play such recorded message at a later time.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a preselected stuffed toy, or other stuffed object, which is capable of playing recorded messages in which the messages can be directed to preselected themes.  
      Still another object of the present invention is to provide a preselected stuffed toy, or other stuffed object, which is capable of playing recorded messages and wherein the recorded messages can be educational.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a preselected stuffed toy, or other stuffed object, which is capable of playing recorded messages and is relatively easy to use.  
      A further another object of the present invention is to provide a preselected stuffed toy, or other stuffed object, which is capable of playing recorded messages and is relatively inexpensive to produce.  
      It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a preselected stuffed toy, or other stuffed object, which is capable of playing recorded messages and wherein the volume of the messages being played can be controlled.  
      In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention that have been described with some degree of specificity above, it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the instant invention, particularly, when such detailed description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a presently preferred embodiment of the electronic circuitry which enables both prerecorded messages to be played as well as recording personal messages thereon;  
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are illustrations of a presently preferred stuffed toy having such electronic circuitry disposed therein and showing locations of preselected logos disposed on predetermined spots of such stuffed toy;  
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of a presently preferred stuffed shape having such electronic circuitry disposed therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Prior to proceeding to a more detailed description of the instant invention, it should be noted that identical components which have identical functions have been designated with identical reference numerals through the several views illustrated in the drawing Figures for the sake of clarity and understanding.  
      Now reference is made, more particularly, to  FIGS. 1-4 . Illustrated therein is a preselected stuffed toy, generally designated  10 , equipped with an at least one audio communication system, generally designated  20 , disposed therein. Such preselected stuffed toy includes a body portion having a head portion  12  having a face  14  of a predetermined size, shape, and configuration. The body portion further includes a torso portion  16  of a predetermined size, shape, and configuration and a plurality of limb members  18 .  
      The audio system  20 , according to the present invention, includes a first means  22  mounted within such head portion  12  or torso portion  16  of such body for activating a prerecorded message and a second means  24  is also mounted within such head portion  12  or torso portion  16  of such body for playing said prerecorded message.  
      In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention such first means  22  is selected from one of an on and off switch and a button. Such on and off switches and buttons are well known in the art and are therefore not described in any further detail here. It is most preferred to use an on and off switch in the instant invention.  
      Further, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the second means  24  will be an audio recorder having each of a predetermined size, shape, and design.  
      A third means  28  is likewise mounted within such head portion  12  or torso portion  16  of such body for recording a user generated message and a fourth means  28  is mounted within such head portion  12  or torso portion  16  of such body for activating the user generated message. There is a fifth means  32  mounted within such head portion  12  or torso portion  16  of such body for playing the user generated message.  
      A sixth means  34  electrically connected to provide electrical power to the first means  22  for activating such prerecorded message and to such second means  24  for activating such recording and playing the user generated message. It is presently preferred that such sixth means  34  electrically connected to provide electrical power to such  22  first means for activating the prerecorded message and to the second means  24  for activating such recording and playing such user generated message is at least one battery (not shown) and that such battery be the kind which can be recharged.  
      In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the preselected stuffed toy will further include a seventh means  36  for amplifying such prerecorded message and such user generated message when such first means  22  and such second means  24  are activated, whereby such preselected stuffed toy  10  will audibly transmit at least one of the prerecorded and the user generated message.  
      Also, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the configuration of such face portion  14  and such torso portion  16  is an animal. Such animal is at least one of a breed of cat  38 . In this invention it is preferred at the present time that such preselected stuffed breed of cat  38  will further include at least one logo  40  and preferable two such logos  40  reading Kissy Kat.  
      Preferably, one of such at least two logos  40  reading Kissy Kat will be disposed on a preselected rump area and a second one of the at least two logos will be disposed somewhere on a front portion of such preselected breed of cat  38 .  
      According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user generated message will be directed to a child and such user generated message is selected from the group consisting of requesting a chore be done and an expression of endearment.  
      In another embodiment of the present invention, it is equally preferred to provide a preselected stuffed shape  42  equipped with an at least one audio communication device  20 . Such preselected stuffed shape  42  will include a body member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size.  
      Such body member is preferably at least one red heart although there may be a plurality of hearts connected together.  
      In this embodiment of the invention the user generated message is selected from one of endearment, birthday, anniversary, wedding, holiday, get well soon and sympathy messages.  
      In accordance with the patent statutes both a presently preferred and a number of alternative embodiments of the invention has been shown and described in detail above, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various additional changes in the form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit other requirements without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.