Patent Abstract:
A light switch cover plate having mechanism for recording and playing back an audio sample through a speaker when the light switch is turned either on or off. Several messages can be recorded and they can be played back serially or randomly.

Full Description:
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/685,609 to David E. Bachschmid and Robert C. Smallwood filed on Jul. 24, 1996, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to a light switch having an audio recording feature. More particularly, the present invention relates to a single unit cover plate for a light switch which can replay one or more audio samples when the light switch is turned on or off. The device may have recording capability. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various devices exist which play an audio recording upon performance of a certain action. For example, it has become common for automobiles to play a recording when the lights are left on after the key has been removed, or when a door is ajar after the key is inserted; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,947,812; 4,222,028; 4,346,364; 4,383,241; and 4,839,749. 
     Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,120 and 4,100,581 disclose devices which attach to a door and which play a tape upon movement of the door. U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,060 is similar, but further activates an automatic telephone answering machine to playback a prerecorded message upon operation of a doorbell. 
     None of these devices, however, permit the user to record a message which plays back upon activation or deactivation so a light swatch. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a device. 
     Another object is to provide a device which can record multiple messages or audio samples, and play them back in serial fashion. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can record multiple messages or audio samples, and play them back in random order. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a switch plate for a light switch which supports components to permit replay of audio samples after the light switch is turned on or off. The cover plate being retrofittable to an existing light switch. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the present invention in which a switch plate cover for a light switch is provided and contains an audio assembly which will play a message through a speaker when the light switch is turned either on or off. There can be different messages for the on or off positions, or several messages in serial fashion. The messages can be prerecorded using the speaker as a microphone and controlled by a separate switch in the assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other attributes of the present invention will be described with respect to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the second embodiment of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the light switch cover plate device  10  has the dimensions of a standard light switch cover plate. The device  10  illustrated in FIG. 1 is for a single light switch. Other configurations for multiple switches can be provider. The light switch  100  to which the cover plate device  10  is attached can control a light socket or light fixture in a manner similar to standard light switches. 
     The light switch cover plate device  10  has a speaker  20  through which the messages or audio samples are played. A lever switch  30  is provided adjacent to the light switch  100 . The light switch  100  extends through a hole  32  in slide  34 . The slide  34  moves up and down with the switch  100 , activating the lever switch  30 . A second switch  40  is provided to initiate recording of a message or audio portion or sample. 
     In operation a user presses switch  40  to record an audio sample. He or she than speaks into the speaker  20 , which acts as the microphone to receive the audio sample. A separate microphone  45  may be provided. When the light switch  100  is thrown to activate or deactivate the light, the slide  34  moves the lever switch  30  and the prerecorded audio sample will be played through the speaker  20 . 
     The device  10  may be used to record multiple messages, which will then be played back in serial fashion. The messages may be reminders, motivation messages, or musical pieces. In addition the device  10  can be a message such as “Mommy loves you.” and be replayed when a child turns out the light to go to bed. Such a recording can reassure a child when one or both parents are away or have not come home before the child&#39;s bedtime. 
     The device  10  contains a PC board  50  to which the lever switch  30  is connected. The PC board  50  has a digital memory chip  60  which contains the audio samples in digital form. The PC board  50  is powered by four AAA batteries  70 . The microphone  45  and speaker  20  are also connected to the PC board  50 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a second embodiment is illustrated in which the audio samples are prerecorded in the digital memory chip, and the microphone  45  and switch  40  are eliminated. 
     Having described the preferred embodiment of the light switch with audio recording and playback feature in accordance with the present invention, it is believed that the modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art n view of the foregoing description, such as playing back multiple messages in random order, or providing a separate microphone from the speaker. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications, and charges are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7