AU705635B3

AU705635B3 - Comfort apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU705635B3
Application number: AU96119/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony John Pinkstone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-07
Filing date: 1998-12-07
Publication date: 1999-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2000-05-27

Description

movement and/or sound sensing means for sensing movement and/or sound in the proximity of the night light; and response means operatively associated with the sensing means for providing a visual and/or audible response.

In one embodiment, the body may be manufactured from a transparent or a translucent material and wherein the body portion may be adapted to enclose or cover the illuminating

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t* *e means. In addition, the body may be constructed from various glass or plastics materials and may be manufactured by a moulding or a vacuum forming process.

In an alternative embodiment, the illuminating means may be adapted to project light onto the body and wherein the external surface of the body may be adapted to reflect light which strikes same. For example, the body may be painted bright colours or covered with reflective materials.

9ee to: In still other embodiments, the body may be constructed 9rr S.O from a variety of luminous materials or covered by luminous 990* paints.

The animate or inanimate creation may include a person or an animal, whether they be real or imaginary, or some t o. lifeless object such as a machine, ie. a robot or a weapon.

The animate or inanimate creation may be represented in an active, attacking or protective pose. For example, the

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body may resemble a tiger in a stalking pose or a person holding a weapon such as a mallet.

99 The illuminating means may include a light source such as a light bulb, fluorescent tube or a light emitting diode and wherein the light source may be operatively connected to a source of electrical power, such as a battery, or may include connection means for connecting the light source to mains electricity.

In another aspect this invention relates to comfort apparatus including: a body which resembles either an animate or an inanimate creation; sensing means associated with said body which is adapted to sense movements and/or sounds generated by a person; response means associated with said body which is adapted to provide a visual and/or an audible response, and control means which controls the output of said response *000 means resulting from input received from said sensing means.

055000 S"The animate or inanimate creation may include a person ooeoo or an animal, whether they be real or imaginary, or some lifeless object such as a machine, ie. a robot or a weapon.

gooS The animate or inanimate creation may be represented in an active, attacking or protective pose. For example, the body may resemble a tiger in a stalking pose or a person holding a weapon such as a mallet.

0 The body may be luminous or selectively illuminated and wherein in the later case there may be provided illuminating 0 0 means for illuminating said body. For example, as stated s& previously,the illuminating means may include a light source such as a light bulb, fluorescent tube or a light emitting diode and wherein the light source may be operatively connected to a source of electrical power, such as a battery, or may include connection means for connecting the light source to mains electricity.

The sensing means may be a motion sensor and wherein the person may be a sleeping child. In one embodiment, the motion sensor may be programmed to detect excessive movement of the child such as may occur if the child, who had been previously sleeping, were to sit up suddenly in a frightened state.

In other embodiments the sensing means may be a noise sensor and may be programmed to sense a child's cries and/or particular words/phrases. For example, the sensing means may sense when the name used to describe the comfort apparatus is OS e..

spoken by the child.

oooto :~~The response means may include an audible alarm and/or message emission means. The alarm may include music such as music a child may find soothing.

The message emission means may be adapted to play a prerecorded message and wherein for example, there may be provided a cassette on which said message is recorded and a cassette player or an electronic chip operatively connected to appropriate sound amplification means.

In other embodiments the message emission means may be capable of interacting with the child. For example, the message emission means may include an electronic chip which includes in its memory data corresponding to a plurality of messages and is programed to provide output corresponding to selected messages only upon receipt of certain input signals.

For example, the comfort apparatus may be called a name such as "Mash" and wherein the child may ask "Mash" if there are any monsters in his bedroom. The sensing means, having detected the child's question may then elect to encode all or selected parts of the question and transmit the corresponding data and/or corresponding signals to the control means, such as a microprocessor, where upon it may be processed and an appropriate response shall be emitted by the interactive message emission means, such as "Mash is on guard no monsters can be found." In order that this invention may be more easily oF S understood and put into practical effect, reference will now ,o S•o be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a front view of comfort apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, and 0 FIG. 2 is a side view of the comfort apparatus illustrated in figure 1.

0 Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a comfort apparatus 10 which may be used to provide comfort to a child who is afraid of o..2 sleeping at night because they believe that there are monsters lurking about their bedroom.

The comfort apparatus 10 includes a translucent body 11 manufactured from a plastics material. The body 11 resembles a tiger in a prone or stalking pose and wherein the tiger is carrying a mallet 12 as if to suggest that the tiger is stealthily approaching a monster it wishes to hit with said mallet.

The body 10 includes an internal cavity, not shown, in which there is located a light bulb which may be operatively and selectively connected to a source of electrical power using an electrical cord, not shown. The energised light bulb may be used to illuminate the body 11 whereby it may glow in a darkened room.

In other embodiments the light bulb may be operatively connected to a rechargeable battery and wherein the need to *0o0 recharge same may be used to teach the child in a fun manner 000000 the need to care for their property while instilling in them .0 a sense of responsibility. Furthermore, the light bulb and 6 to any switches used to control same may be securely housed within the body such that they are tamper proof.

The cavity also houses sensors including a microphone, not shown, which are operatively connected to a microprocessor and interactive message emitting means including an electronic chip which includes in its memory 0 data corresponding to a plurality of discrete messages. The o o chip is programed to provide output corresponding to selected messages upon receipt of certain input signals received from the microprocessor.

In use, the comfort apparatus 10 may be placed on the floor of a child's bedroom and switched on such that the body 11 is illuminated by the electric light bulb housed within.

When used for the first time, it is envisaged that the comfort apparatus 10 will ask the child for their name. This may occur in response to the placement of the child's hand on a selected portion of the body 11. For example, the message emission means may emit the following message: "My name is MASH the original monster masher. What is your name?" The child may respond with his or her name. For example, my name is Jon.

The apparatus 10 may respond with the message: *0*e "Mash is on guard and will protect Jon while he is S0 asleep from monsters. Mash scanning the room for f 0 monsters. Jon there are no monsters in your room. It 0.60 I. is safe for Jon to go to sleep." While scanning the room for monsters, coloured lights may illuminate the tiger's eyes.

The brightness or intensity of the light emitted by the illuminated body may be arranged such that it will not 00 0 interfere with the child's sleeping pattern and in some embodiments may include adjustment means for adjusting the too**: lights brightness/intensity. The light emitted by the illuminated body when placed on the floor or a table may also be sufficient to light up selected portions of the floor thereby enabling the child or someone else to identify any hazards which may hinder them when walking about the room.

Should the child be cry out to MASH during the night, the apparatus may be programmed to respond with the following message: "Jon, MASH is on guard. There are no monsters in your 8 room. It is safe for Jon to go to sleep." It is believed that an illuminated body, which a child can see in a darkened room and which takes the form of a creation represented in a pose that suggests the creation is looking for or chasing monsters will console a child which is scared of monsters and such like. It is also believed that the interactive messages which the preferred apparatus is capable of delivering will enhance the comfort provided by 0s*@eo S" the apparatus.

e Sfo0 It is further believed that the illuminated body which a• takes the form of a creation represented in a strong or protective pose will also provide comfort and security to persons, including children, who are afraid of the dark, shadows or being alone. The interactive nature of the :15 illuminated apparatus may also encourage a bonding process *5 0 between the child and the apparatus which in turn may assist

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the child to overcome feelings of loneliness and the like.

Repeated use of the illuminated apparatus may also make the transition to bedtime easier and encourage a healthy routine behaviors which may include nightly interactive conversations with said apparatus. As a consequence, both the child, and their parents, are less likely to be disturbed while sleeping and may therefore enjoy a better quality of life and be less irritable.

It is also believed that use of the illuminated apparatus will demonstrate to the child that the parent cares for them and has the ability to solve their problems. This can in turn can be used to build upon the trust the child has for their parents which may be reflected in the new found confidence displayed by them.

The illuminated apparatus may also supplement or replace the comfort and reassurance derived from a family pet which by way of example may have died or which may not be allowed .0 to sleep in the child's bedroom.

The illuminated apparatus may also be used to provide r0 security and enjoyment to children in hospitals, hospices and camps who do not have the company of their parents.

06 It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations :-45 thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this 0 invention as is herein before defined in the appended claims.

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THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A responsive night light including:a body which resembles either an animate or an inanimate creation represented in either an attacking or protective pose; illuminating means for illuminating the body; movement and/or sound sensing means for sensing movement and/or sound in the proximity of the night light; and response means operatively associated with the sensing means for providing a visual and/or audible response.

0 2. A night light as claimed in Claim i, wherein the body is translucent and the illuminating means is DATED THIS TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF February, 1999.

ANTHONY JOHN PINKSTONE

BY

PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS.

BY