Patent Abstract:
A novelty device that makes humorous statements when a person is having a bowel movement in a confined bathroom. The device includes an automated character, such as a bird in a birdcage, a skunk with a gasmask or some other character. Within the device is a gas sensor for detecting at least one gas emitted during a bowel movement. The device also includes a speaker for transmitting an audible message. When gases from a bowel movement are detected, audible statements are transmitted and synchronized movements are effected in the automated character.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to amusement devices that make humorous statements when activated. More particularly, the present invention relates to the configuration of such amusement devices and the mechanisms used to activate such amusement devices.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art Statement  
           [0004]    The prior art is replete with different types of amusement devices that contain voice synthesizer circuitry that is used to make humorous statements when activated. Such prior art devices have been built into greeting cards, toy dolls, pillows and near countless other varieties of novelty items.  
           [0005]    However, with most such prior art amusement devices, the amusement device must be manually activated by a person manipulating the amusement device. For example, if voice synthesizer circuitry is added to a doll, the circuitry is typically activated when the doll is squeezed in a certain area or otherwise manually manipulated. If voice synthesizer circuitry is added to a greeting card, the circuitry is activated when the greeting card is opened.  
           [0006]    Since most prior art amusement devices must be manually activated, the broadcasting of a message by the voice synthesizer circuitry is often anticipated. For example, when a child wants a doll to speak, that child purposely squeezes the doll and expects to hear the doll speak. However, as is well known in comedy, timing is everything. It is often much more humorous to have a novelty item begin to broadcast a message when a person is not expecting it rather than when a person is expecting the broadcast.  
           [0007]    In order for a novelty device to broadcast a message without physical manipulation, that novelty device must contain some type of passively activated controller. Most often, the passively activated controllers used in toys and other amusement devices are timers, motion detectors and sound detectors. Timers activate the device at a preselected time. Motion sensors activate the device when movement near the device is detected. Sound detectors activate the device when sound is detected around the device.  
           [0008]    Timers are not often used in novelty items that are intended to be humorous. This is because the proper timing of when a novelty device should activate is too hard to predict. Furthermore, the novelty device could activate when no one is around, thereby quickly draining batteries. Adversely, novelty devices with motion sensors and sound detectors are commonly used. However, they too have limitations. There is a fine line between a novelty device that is funny and a novelty device that is annoying. Novelty devices with motion detectors can detect whether or not a person is approaching, however, the novelty device cannot tell in what activity that person is engaged. Furthermore, such novelty devices with motion detectors cannot tell the difference between an approaching person or the family pet. As such, by activating at the wrong times, novelty devices with motion detectors can quickly become annoying. Similarly, novelty devices with sound detectors cannot tell the difference between a person&#39;s voice and a voice on the television. Therefore, such novelty devices also commonly activate at the wrong times and become annoying.  
           [0009]    The present invention is a novelty device that passively detects when a person in a bathroom is having a bowel movement and provides humorous statements appropriate for the occasion. Since the location and activity of the person can be accurately ascertained when the novelty device is activated, the ability of the novelty device to be perceived as humorous is greatly increased. This new novelty device and its associated method of use are set forth in the specification and claims presented below.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention is a novelty device that makes humorous statements when a person is having a bowel movement in a confined bathroom. The device includes an automated character, such as a bird in a birdcage, a skunk with a gasmask or some other character. Within the device is a gas sensor for detecting at least one gas emitted during a bowel movement. The device also includes a speaker for transmitting an audible message once such gases are detected.  
           [0011]    To use the novelty device, the novelty device is placed in a bathroom. In the bathroom, the device samples the ambient air. If gases associated with a bowel movement are detected, the novelty device begins to emit humorous statements regarding the bodily function being performed in the bathroom. The emitted statement can be accompanied with synchronized movements in the automated character. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention novelty device; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic components of the present invention novelty device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    Although the present invention device can be configured in many different amusing ways, such as a toy skunk, a toy soldier in a gas mask, a toy toilet, a roll of toilet paper or the like, the present invention device is presented as a toy bird in a small bird cage. Such a configuration is merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation as to the appearance the present invention device can take.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention amusement device  10  is shown. In this embodiment, the present invention device  10  is configured as a canary  12  in a birdcage  14 . The configuration of a canary  12  in a birdcage  14  was selected because canaries were often used by miners to detect the presence of gas in coalmines. As such, the image of a canary in a birdcage already provides the impression that the device  10  is a gas detector.  
         [0017]    The present invention device  10  contains a cage base  16  that forms the floor of the birdcage  14 . The cage base  16  contains much of the electronics used in the device  10  as well as the batteries that power the device  10 . On the exterior of the cage base  16  are located a gas intake aperture  18 , a speaker aperture  19  and the operating controls of the device  10 . The operating controls include an on/off switch  20 . The operating controls may also include an optional volume control  22  and a message selection switch  24 .  
         [0018]    The presence of the gas intake aperture  18  on the cage base  16  enables ambient air to diffuse into the cage base  16  for detection. As will later be explained, a gas sensor that senses gas emitted with a bowel movement is present within the cage base  16 . The speaker aperture  19  in the cage base  16  enables sound generated by an internal speaker to be clearly heard outside of the cage base  16 .  
         [0019]    Within the birdcage  14  is perched an artificial canary  12 . To operate the present invention novelty device  10 , the device  10  is placed in a bathroom at some point close to the toilet. When turned on, the device  10  samples the air surrounding the device  10  using an internal gas sensor. When elevated levels of methane are detected, or other gases emitted with human waste, the novelty device  10  activates automatically. Once activated, a humorous audible message is broadcast. The massage may say “What a stench! Somebody open the window! There are rules against cruelty to animals!” A countless number of messages can be used. The messages can be simple and benign or can be highly X-rated.  
         [0020]    If the canary  12  in the birdcage is mechanically articulated, the canary  12  can be caused to move when the device  10  is activated and the message is broadcast. The canary  12  may drop over dead. Alternatively, the canary  12  can flap its wings and its beak can move in synchronization with the audible message being broadcast.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the present invention device  10  contains a processor  30  that controls the electronic functions of the device  10 . A gas detector  32  is coupled to the processor  30 , wherein the processor  30  monitors the signal output of the gas sensor  32 . When the gas sensor  32  detects a concentration of gas over a predetermined threshold level, the signal sent to the processor  30  by the gas sensor  32  is used as a triggering signal by the processor  30 . The triggering signal causes the processor  30  to change the state of the overall device from a dormant state to an activated state.  
         [0022]    The gas sensor  32  is preferably a methane detector. There are many methane gas detectors commercially available. Most any of these methane gas detectors can be adapted for use with the present invention device  10 . However, human waste contains many gases besides methane that are found only in the air of a confined bathroom while being used. Any sensor can be used that is capable of rapidly detecting elevated levels of any of these other gases.  
         [0023]    A small optional draw fan  34  may be provided near the gas sensor  32 . The draw fan  34  can be used to actively draw ambient air past the gas sensor  32 . In this manner, elevated waste product gases can be more rapidly detected.  
         [0024]    The processor  30  activates an audio signal driver  36  once the gas sensor  32  detects elevated levels of gas. The audio signal driver  36  causes an audio message to be broadcast from a speaker  38 . The audio message can be a fixed message or can be one of several messages that are retrieved from a memory  39 . The message can be randomly retrieved from the memory  39  or can be preselected using the optional message selection switch  24 .  
         [0025]    Furthermore, if the canary  12  is mechanically articulated, the processor  30  activates the movement motors  40  that are interconnected to the canary  12 . The movement motors  40  can cause the bird to drop dead, flap its wings, move its head or create any other type of movement.  
         [0026]    As has been previously stated, the use of a canary  12  in a cage is merely exemplary and the present invention device  10  can be manufactured into many different configurations. The configurations can be humorous, such as a skunk in a gas mask. Alternatively, the configurations can be inconspicuous, such as a candle or a fake roll of toilet paper that would hardly be noticed on a bathroom counter. Rather, it should be understood that the heart of the present invention is an electronic assembly that can rapidly detect gases emitted with a bowel movement. The electronic assembly is embodied in an automated character or object. Once the gas is detected, an audible message is broadcast and movement is created in the character or object.  
         [0027]    It will be understood that the present invention novelty device that is described and illustrated is merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the shown embodiment. All such alternate embodiments and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined below in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6