Abstract:
The electronic mobile is mountable to a crib through an adjustable arm where the height and length can be adjusted. The device includes a central operating unit with built in MP3 player with USB port, timer, colorful lights, baby monitor baby unit, electric motor as well as baby monitor remote unit, and two speakers. The MP3 player, timer, colorful lights and electric motor can be operated either manually or through remote control. The built in baby monitor baby unit links to the baby monitor remote unit, allowing two ways communications. At the base of the mobile there are several animal figures attached using a hook and safety latch. The central operating unit is detachable from the adjustable arm and mobile, and the unit can be powered by battery or the AC/DC adaptor with cord that runs inside the adjustable arms.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/316,126, filed on Mar. 22, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an improved remote control musical mobile integrated with a MP3 player with USB port, timer, baby monitor, motorized mobile, colorful lights and adjustable arm. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Toy mobiles entertain the baby and even promote development of the baby&#39;s mind. Studies show that colorful shapes enhance color differentiation and stimulate visual recognition and development. Music mobiles produce different sounds to develop the baby&#39;s hearing capacity and ability to differentiate sounds. The invention combines music, color and baby monitoring together to present a new generation of baby music mobiles. 
         [0006]    The related art describes a number of devices that can be used to stimulate an infant or newborn&#39;s brain activity and visual activity and a number of devices that can be used to monitor the baby while the parents are not in the same room as the baby. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,047 issued to Kachel outlines the use of lighted fiber optic mobile. The crib mobile wherein the objects or characters attached to its appendages, or any point on the appendages, can emit active twinkling or sequencing colorful light. It uses optic fibers to transmit light form a light source in the mobile&#39;s central housing to the objects or characters, or a given location on the appendages. The light is made active and colorful at the output end of the optic fibers by placing a light influencing slide between the light source and the input end of the revolving optic fibers that are routed from the appendages and are grouped together in front of the light source. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,786 issued to McCormick outlines the use of continuous play musical mobile. The mobile, which is operated by a motor, is mounted to the crib or playpen by means of a resilient shaft that will move under the influence of vibrations from the motor, thereby imparting another type of motion to the mobile. In addition a tape recorder or sound chip is incorporated into the device so parents can play soothing music to the infant. The recorder or sound chip is voice activated and has a mode switch which allows a parent to operate the mobile upon hearing noise, to turn the mobile manually, or to turn the mobile off. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,360 issued to Fearon et al. outlines the use of infant musical mobile that utilizes a compact disc and cassette player. The mobile is also mounted on the side of the infant&#39;s crib or playpen and has a variety of ornaments that hang over the infant. The mobile can be used to play continuously or can self-actuate in response to the infant&#39;s sounds or movements. There is also an infrared remote control used with device as well. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,049,968 issued to Fitzgeald et al. outlines a baby monitor system with a remote monitoring unit communicable with a baby unit a soothing unit is provided. The baby unit is responsive to receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted from the remote monitoring unit and the remote monitoring unit is responsive to receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted from the baby unit. 
         [0011]    The devices described in the Khamphilavong et al., the Kachel patent, the McCormick patent, the Fearon et al. patent, and the Fizgeald et al. patent utilize various features regarding the movement of the music mobile, the remote control of the music mobile, and monitoring of the baby while parents or caregivers are not in the same room as the baby. The devices described in these patents are very useful and can be improved in so many ways that are really needed per today&#39;s technology. It would be beneficial to provide baby music mobile equipped with MP3 and other functions so that parents can program and play variety of songs and music for any desired duration, in the same time parents can monitor the baby while they are not in the same room with the baby. It would be of further benefit to enhance baby color differentiation and visual ability while enjoying the soothing music. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention relates to an improved remote control musical mobile integrated with a MP3 player with USB port, timer, baby monitor, motorized mobile and colorful lights and adjustable arm. 
         [0013]    The first object of the invention is to incorporate a built in MP3 player into the central operating unit. The MP3 player will come preloaded with popular baby songs. The unit will also have the capability to connect to a PC via USB port and upload music. The MP3 player will have a button interface and have the ability to be remotely controlled via the remote control, both allowing volume and song selection. The central operating unit is detachable so as to make it easy to upload music. The central operating unit can be made of various shapes with different colors to further attract baby&#39;s attention. Being detachable, the central operating unit can be used as a music player as the baby grows older. 
         [0014]    The second object of the invention is to make the mobile arm adjustable. With infants growing, their seeing distance is changing, and infants intend to grab the toys, thus there becomes a need to adjust the arm&#39;s height, encouraging infants to reach out and further developing motor skills. 
         [0015]    The third object of the invention is to integrate a microphone, a small transmitter and receiver into the central operating unit. There is also a remote monitoring unit which remotely monitors the baby. When the baby makes a noise or cries, the signal will go to microphone and be transmitted to the remote monitoring unit so parents or caregivers can be notified. The remote monitoring unit will allow the parent or caregiver to talk to the baby, comforting the baby as if the parent or caregiver were with him/her. A mute switch on the remote monitoring unit, allows the parent or caregiver to turn off the signal going to the baby monitoring unit, so that way unwanted background noise can be muted during times of a noisy background, such as a TV, kitchen appliances, washing machines, etc. 
         [0016]    The fourth object of the invention is to provide a remote control for the central operating unit, allowing the unit to be turned on or off, shuffle music, change volume, change light intensity, and/or set the timer. 
         [0017]    The fifth object of the invention is to put a built in timer on the central operating unit. The timer will control the MP3 player, the motorized mobile rotation, and the colorful lights. The baby monitor can only be turned on or off by manual selection, versus using remote control. 
         [0018]    The sixth object of the invention is to incorporate a motorized mobile to rotate the mobile. Being motorized, parents won&#39;t have to worry about winding the mobile, thereby providing parents the ability to control the mobile operation at designated time period set forth in the timer. The mobile&#39;s motor is controlled by the timer either remotely or by manually setting the timer using front panel controls. 
         [0019]    The seventh object of the invention is to integrate colorful lights on the bottom of the central operating unit with the ability to shut off manually or while in the on position turn off by the timer. The lights will be dimly lit with the capability to slightly change the intensity as well as with the ability to turn off completely. The light will pass through the moving parts of the mobile creating a shadowing effect. The lights will help pacify the baby while they listen to music and watch the moving parts under the central operating unit. 
         [0020]    The eight objective is the use of DC to power the musical mobile. The musical mobile arm is comprised of plastic conduits and the DC cord passes up through plastic conduits to connect and supply power to the central operating unit. The conduit not only provides extra protection against electrical hazards, but also prevents strangulation hazards. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0021]      FIG. 0  is an environmental, perspective view of a electronic remote control musical mobile integrated with a MP3 player with USB port, timer, baby monitor, motorized mobile, colorful lights and adjustable arm according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of the front and back of central operating unit according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the adjustable support arm according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views of the remote control. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are perspective views of the remote monitoring unit of baby monitor 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a simplified block diagram of the musical mobile according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings. 
         [0029]    The present invention is a remote control musical mobile integrated with a MP3 player and USB port, timer, adjustable arm, baby monitor, motorized mobile and colorful lights with main embodiments central operating unit A depicted in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1  B, and adjustable arm B depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , it is a perspective view of the remote control music mobile central operating unit A according to the present invention. The central operating unit A of the remote control musical mobile is comprised of a MP3 player, USB port, timer, baby monitor, motorized mobile and colorful lights. Item  109  is the MP3 player screen,  107  is the start or pause button,  106  is next button,  110  is previous button, and  108  is the stop button. Above item  109  is the MP3 volume adjuster  111 . Volume adjuster  111  also serves as the MP3 manual on/off push button. The MP3&#39;s volume and song selection can also be controlled by remote control (details about the remote control will be discussed in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The MP3 on/off function can also be controlled manually or by the timer. Item  113  is the timer screen and  114  is the start button for the timer. When button  114  is pressed, a maximum of 120 minutes will be present on screen  113 ; when button  114  is pressed again, the minutes will be reduced by 10 minutes; and so on until reduced to zero minutes. The timer function  114  can also be set by remote control (details about the remote control will be discussed in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The MP3 player comes with a standard USB cable  128  shown in  FIG. 1B , where it connects to USB port  127 . USB port  127  allows the parents or caregivers to upload music of their choice. The musical song selection and volume can be selected manually or through the remote control (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The MP3 sound exits through speakers  101  on left and right sides of the central operating unit A. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 1A ,  103  is an infrared receiver which receives signals from the remote control infrared signaling device  301 , shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  which directly controls the timer  114 , MP3 player volume  111 , colorful lights  105 , and indirectly controls the motorized mobile  104  through the timer  114 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , the built in colorful lights  105  can be manually shut off by using on/off switch  117 . Power to the colorful lights can also be controlled by the timer  114  or the remote control (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The colorful lights  105  are LEDs with multi colored plastic lenses. The colorful lights  105  intensity can be manually adjusted by using light intensity adjuster  118  or by remote control (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The  118  adjuster also allows the lights to be turned off altogether, if desired. The colorful lights on/off function  117  can also be controlled by remote control (shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , the built in baby monitor baby unit microphone  119 , and remote monitoring unit (shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) which can be turned on/off by baby monitor switch  124 . The microphones  119 , will pick up noises from the baby and a built in transmitter will transmit the signal to the receiver known as the remote monitoring unit (shown in  FIGS. 4A  and  4 B). The baby monitor is the only function that cannot be operated via the timer or remote control. Only on/off switch  124  can operate the baby monitor on/off function. The remote monitoring unit (shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) volume can be controlled by a volume wheel  407  (shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). Remote monitoring unit has an AC/DC adaptor shown in  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  and a battery compartment as an option to allow the parent greater range of movement. The remote monitor&#39;s signal strength is indicated by a green or yellow light  408 . A parent or caregiver can talk to the baby using the remote monitoring unit through microphone  403 , and speaker  404  which allows baby sounds to be received from the baby monitoring unit  FIG. 1A . The remote monitoring unit depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  transmits the signal to the baby unit&#39;s receiver built in the central operating unit A, allowing a method of two communication between parent or caregiver and the baby. There is also a mute switch  409 , allowing the parent or caregiver to mute any sounds from the parent or caregiver&#39;s end and thereby avoiding disturbing the baby. 
         [0034]    As shown in the  FIG. 1A , inside the central operating unit A there is a built in motor  104 , which is used to rotate the animals hanging through the hook under the central operating unit A. Compared with traditional mobiles, parents won&#39;t have to worry about winding the mobile, thereby providing endless mobile operation set forth in the timer  114 . The motor  104 , is controlled by setting the timer via remote control timer button  309  on the remote control shown in  FIG. 3A , or by manually setting the timer by using front panel button  114 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , under the central operating unit A there is a base where microphone  119  is built in. The base houses the bottom hook  121 . The hook,  121 , has a safety latch,  120 , to prevent the mobile piece C from inadvertently unhooking and falling onto the baby. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1B , the back of the central operating unit A has rubber foot pads  124 , for placement on the unit&#39;s back while detached and uploading MP3&#39;s. There is also a DC inlet  125  on the back of the central operating unit A and a battery compartment  126 , allowing remote use. USB port connection  127  is shown on top of the unit. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the musical mobile is attached to the crib by the fastener,  201 , which fastens arm B to the baby crib or a piece of furniture. The arm B is comprised of three plastic conduits as shown in the  FIG. 2 . Plastic conduit items  1  and  2 , work together to adjust the height of the arm. There are three openings,  202 , in each of the plastic conduits  2  and  3  to allow for adjustment. Plastic conduit  2 &#39;s diameter is smaller than plastic conduit  1 , so plastic conduit  2  is put inside of the plastic conduit  1 . Likewise, conduit  3 &#39;s diameter is smaller than conduit  2 . Pins  205  and  207  are spring loaded which allow retraction and insertion, while ensuring a safe locking position, and also prevents the bolt from getting lost. The other side of the plastic conduit  3  is a hook,  212 , connecting the adjustable arm to central operating unit A. There is a safety latch,  211 , on the hook  212 , which prevents inadvertent falling of the central operating unit A. The three plastic conduits  1 ,  2  and  3  allow the DC power cable,  208 , provided from AC/DC power adaptor  213 , to safely pass up through to the DC inlet  125  on the back of the central operating unit A shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3A ,  302 , is the button to turn on or off the central operating unit A. Item  301  is the infrared signaling device to send signal to central operating unit A. Timer button,  309  is used to control timer  114 ,  FIG. 1A . Item  303  is for adjusting MP3 volume,  304  is for play/pause of MP3,  310  for stopping playing MP3,  311  for previous music, and  312  for next music.  305  for turning on colorful lights,  306  for turning off colorful lights,  307  for reducing lights intensity and  308  for increasing colorful light&#39;s intensity. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3B  shows the back of the remote control,  313  is battery compartment. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4A  shows baby monitor&#39;s remote monitoring unit,  401  is the antenna which sends and receives signals to and from the baby monitoring unit within central operating unit A. Item  402  is the power button for turning on/off the remote monitor unit. Item  403  is a microphone which inputs voice for transmission to the baby monitoring unit in central operating unit A. Item  404  is the speaker which allows parent or caregiver to hear baby&#39;s noise or cries. Item  407  is a volume adjuster and item  408  shows signal strength coming from the baby monitor unit within central operating unit A. Item  409  is a mute switch allowing muting of any sounds from remote end. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4B  shows the back of baby monitor remote monitoring unit. Item  405  is the battery compartment and item  406  is the DC inlet where the AC/DC adaptor connects as shown in  FIG. 4C . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a simplified block diagram of the present invention of electronic remote control music mobile. 
         [0043]    It should be understood that although the MP3 player is used as one of illustrated embodiment of central operating unit A, other means may be employed, for instance, through USB connector, the central operating unit A can be connected to a home computer or blue tooth-technology. Furthermore, as the central operating unit A can be detachable, the central operating unit can be made of various forms and can be used as a decoration item, such as to sit on a dresser or table in the room or hang on to the wall. 
         [0044]    While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.