Patent Publication Number: US-8118510-B1

Title: Talking electronic assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to electronic devices that play one of a series of prerecorded phrases when activated. More particularly, the present invention relates to such electronic assemblies encased in a tubular housing, such as a pen housing or a flashlight housing, where batteries are vertically stacked to power the assembly. 
     2. Prior Art Description 
     There are many novelty items, such as dolls and stuffed animals, that contain electronics for broadcasting audible messages when activated. The audible messages can be spoken words, phrases, sound effects and/or music. 
     With advances in microcircuitry, electronic modules capable of broadcasting prerecorded audible messages have become increasingly small. Electronic modules now exist that are so small that they can easily be placed inside small objects such as pens and jewelry. When such electronic modules are placed in a small object, the electronics modules are typically powered with small disc batteries, which are commonly called watch batteries or button cell batteries. In order to obtain the voltage and power needed to operate many electronics module multiple button cell batteries are often used. Typically, the button cell batteries are stacked atop one another in a battery well. 
     A problem associated with small button cell batteries is that the batteries are disk-shaped, having a diameter that is far larger than the height of the battery. Due to this configuration, button cell batteries cannot be dropped into a battery well in the same manner as traditional cylindrical batteries. If a button cell battery is dropped into a battery well, the button cell battery often turns upside down or lands propped on one edge. Either configuration makes the battery inoperable. 
     In order to solve this problem, very complex battery compartments have been designed to hold a stack of button cell batteries. For example in German patent disclosure No. 202.19.971.1, a talking pen is disclosed. The electronics within the pen are powered by a stack of button cell batteries. However, the batteries are factory packed in a sealed housing. This prevents the batteries from being replaced. It also prevents the batteries from being recycled or disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 7,314,325 to Chang, entitled Pen And Electronic Device Assembly, another talking pen assembly is disclosed. In this assembly, the button cell batteries are held in a specialized battery housing having a removable side access panel. Although the battery housing does permit access to the batteries, access is very complex. The battery housing must first be removed from the assembly. The battery housing must then be opened to reach the batteries. The complexity of the battery chamber makes it unlikely that a user of the product will change the batteries or attempt to remove the batteries prior to disposing the device. 
     A need therefore exists for an improved design for holding button cell batteries in a stacked configuration in a small electronic device, wherein the batteries are easy to replace, easy to remove and are held in a proper orientation. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an electronic assembly that produces audile signals, such as prerecorded phrases, when activated. The electronics assembly is part of a secondary device, such as a pen, utensil, jewelry or similar small object. 
     The electronics assembly includes a housing having a first end and an opposite second end. A battery casing is disposed within the housing. The battery casing is sized to retain a plurality of concentrically stacked button cell batteries. 
     An electronics module is provided within the housing producing audible signals. A spring extends from the electronics module into the battery casing and biases the button cell batteries into a stacked configuration. The electronics module is powered, in part, by electricity flow through said spring from the button cell batteries. 
     A secondary object, such as a necklace chain, writing implement or the like, attaches to the first end of the casing. An activation button extends from the opposite second end of the casing. The activation button is used to selectively activate the electronics module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention configured as a talking pen; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing optional secondary attachments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the present invention can be configured as many small handheld objects, such as a bookmark, the present invention is particularly well suited for handheld objects that are generally cylindrical in shape. Accordingly, multiple exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. The primary embodiment shows the invention configured as a pen. The secondary embodiment shows that the present invention can be configured as a pendant, spoon, or cosmetic case. Such embodiments are exemplary and are selected merely to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. Accordingly, the selected exemplary embodiments should not be considered limitations on the scope of the claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a talking pen assembly  10  is shown. The talking pen assembly  10  has a three-part housing  12  that includes an activator housing section  14 , a central housing section  16  and a writing implement housing section  18 . The three housing sections  14 ,  16 ,  18  mechanically interconnect to form the overall housing  12 . 
     The writing implement housing section  18  holds a pen tip  20  and an ink reserve (not shown). In this manner, the talking pen assembly  10  can function as a pen. It will be understood that the pen tip  20  can be replaced with a felt tip marker point, mechanical pencil point or any other writing implement. 
     The activator housing section  14  includes a push button  22  that can readily be pressed by a person holding the talking pen assembly  10 . An electronics module  30  and the batteries  28  are held within the talking pen assembly  10 . When the push button  22  is pressed, the internal electronics module  30  is activated and the electronics module  30  broadcasts an audible signal. The audible signal can be heard emanating out of perforations  23  that are formed in the push button  22 . 
     Referring now solely to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that a chamber  24  is provided inside the central housing  16 . A battery casing  26  is provided that is sized to fit the chamber  24 . The battery casing  26  is defined by a cylindrical wall  27  that is closed at its bottom end by a battery contact  32 . The chamber  24  is concentrically disposed around an imaginary axis  33  that extends longitudinally through the center of the talking pen assembly  10 . 
     The battery casing  26  is sized to hold at least three button cell batteries  28  in a stacked configuration. When the battery casing  26  is placed inside the chamber  24 , both the battery casing  26  and the stacked configuration are symmetric around the imaginary axis  33 . In the shown embodiment, the battery casing  26  is made of a conductive material. The battery contact  32  at the bottom of the battery casing  26  is in electrical contact with the battery casing  26 . 
     A position spring  25  extends below the battery casing  26 . The position spring  25  biases the battery casing  26  toward the open end of the chamber  24 . However, the position spring  25  allows the battery casing  26  to freely float inside the chamber  24 . It will therefore be understood that the battery casing  26  can move reciprocally within the confines of the chamber  24 , provided a force is provided that overcomes the bias of the position spring  25 . 
     The position spring  25  extends beyond the bottom of the battery casing  26 . At the opposite side of the battery casing  26 , a coil spring  29  attaches to the battery casing  26 . The coil spring  29  extends beyond the top of the battery casing  26 . The coil spring  29  contacts the exterior of the battery casing  26  and extends a short distance beyond the open end of the battery casing  26 . The coil spring  29  makes electrical contact with the exterior of the battery casing  26 . It will therefore be understood that the battery casing  26 , the battery contact  32 , and the coil spring  29  all share the same electrical bias. 
     The electronics module  30  has a peripheral contact  36  and a central contact  38  through which it is powered. The electronics module  30  is powered when the peripheral contact  36  and the central contact  38  are coupled to opposite terminals of the button cell batteries  28 . The peripheral contact  36  is located on a peripheral edge of the electronics module  30 . The central contact  38  is located in the center of the bottom surface of the electronics module  30 , along the central imaginary axis  33 . The electronics module  30  is held within a rigid support  35 . The rigid support  35  is connected to the activator housing section  14 . A conductive band  31  is disposed around the rigid support  33 . The peripheral contact  36  of the electronics module  30  is electrically connected to the conductive band  31 . 
     The electronics module  30  contains known circuitry that broadcasts an audible signal when activated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the central contact  38  of the electronics module  30  is coupled to a spring  40 . One end of the spring  40  is affixed to the central contact  38 . When assembled, the spring  40  is biased against the stack of button cell batteries  28 . This creates a direct electrical connection between the central contact  38  and the stack of button cell batteries  28 . 
     The spring  40 , presses against the stack of button cell batteries  28  and biases the button cell batteries  28  against the battery contact  32  at the bottom of the battery chamber  24 . Adversely, the position spring  25  biases the battery casing  26  and the button cell batteries  28  upwardly against the spring  40 . This ensures good electrical contact on both sides of the stack of button cell batteries  28 . It also ensures good contact between the button cell batteries  28  in the stack. 
     The combined biases of the spring  40  and the position spring  25  ensure that the button cell batteries  28  lay flat in the battery chamber  24  and do not stand on edge. 
     The activator housing section  14  attaches to the central housing section  16  using a mechanical connection, such as threads. It will therefore be understood that the button cell batteries  28  can be accessed merely by separating the activator housing section  14  from the central housing section  16 . Once this is done, the electronics module  30  and spring  40  pull out of the battery chamber  24 . The batteries  28  can therefore be simply dumped out of the battery chamber  24 . As a consequence, the stack of button cell batteries  28  can be simply installed, removed and replaced. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen, that when assembled, the conductive band  31  surrounding the electronics module  30  contacts the coil spring  29  that protrudes above the battery chamber  24 . The conductive band  31  is electrically coupled to the peripheral contact  36  on the electronics module  30 . This brings the peripheral contact  36  into direct electrical contact with the bottom of the stack of button cell batteries  28 . 
     An on/off switch  44  is affixed to the electronics module  30 . A plunger  46  is disposed atop the on/off switch  44 . The plunger  46  is biased away from the on/off switch  44  by a return spring  48 . When the push button  22  is manually pressed it pushes the plunger  46  against the on/off switch  44  in opposition of the return spring  48 . This activates the on/off switch  44 , changing the operational state of the on/off switch  44 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the activator housing  14  and central housing  16  are shown assembled into a talking assembly  50 . The talking assembly  50  contains the same components and operates in the same manner as has previously been explained. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , there is no writing implement housing. Rather, secondary assemblies are used in place of the writing implement housing. In the shown embodiment, the exemplary secondary assemblies include a necklace attachment  52 , a spoon head  54 , and a cosmetic container  56  for lip gloss. Each of these secondary assemblies has a connection feature  58 , such as threads, that is received and engaged by the talking assembly  50 . The talking assembly  50  can therefore be a talking pendent on a necklace, a talking base for a spoon, or the talking base to a cosmetic case. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many changes to those embodiments. For instance the shape and size of the casing can be varied as a matter of design choice. Furthermore, many secondary objects, other than have been illustrated, can be attached to the talking assembly. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.