EP0783291A1 - Child's musical dummy and method of manufacturing same - Google Patents

Child's musical dummy and method of manufacturing same

Info

Publication number
EP0783291A1
EP0783291A1 EP95930400A EP95930400A EP0783291A1 EP 0783291 A1 EP0783291 A1 EP 0783291A1 EP 95930400 A EP95930400 A EP 95930400A EP 95930400 A EP95930400 A EP 95930400A EP 0783291 A1 EP0783291 A1 EP 0783291A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shield
dummy
holding ring
musical
child
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP95930400A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0783291B1 (en
Inventor
Frank Müller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mueller Trading V Frank Mueller
Original Assignee
Mueller Trading V Frank Mueller
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mueller Trading V Frank Mueller filed Critical Mueller Trading V Frank Mueller
Publication of EP0783291A1 publication Critical patent/EP0783291A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0783291B1 publication Critical patent/EP0783291B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J17/00—Baby-comforters; Teething rings
    • A61J17/10—Details; Accessories therefor
    • A61J17/101—Emitting means, e.g. for emitting sound, light, scents or flavours
    • A61J17/1011—Emitting sound, e.g. having rattles or music boxes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J17/00—Baby-comforters; Teething rings
    • A61J17/001—Baby-comforters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a child's musical dummy of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
  • EP-A1-0,185,614 and GB-A-2,231,274 disclose musical dum ⁇ mies or comforters, in which the electro-acoustic means adapted to play a suitable tune are activated by chewing action and changes in the level of ambient light, respec ⁇ tively.
  • the tune-playing means are controlled - more or less consciously - by the child alone, whilst in the latter case, the operative condition of the tune-playing means depends on the level of ambient light, so that they may easily be started inadvertently, when the dummy is placed somewhere with a lower level of illumination or in total darkness, such as in a handbag.
  • the object of the present invention to provide a child's musical dummy of the kind referred to initially exhibiting improved control facilities, and this object is achieved with a child's musical dummy of said kind, which according to the present invention also comprises the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1.
  • the operation of the tune-playing means may be controlled by simply moving the holding ring towards and away from the music position, an action that can easily be carried out by any person caring for the child, and also by the child, provided that the child's motory functions are developed to a sufficient degree.
  • the present invention also relates to a method of manu ⁇ facturing a child's musical dummy according to the in ⁇ vention, and this method comprises the steps set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 5.
  • Figure 1 is a side view showing the dummy in the as-muld state ready for use
  • Figure 2 is an exploded view of the dummy shown in
  • Figure 1 the holding ring being turned 90° to show its shape
  • Figure 3 at an enlarged scale shows the music panel used in the dummy of Figure 1 prior to encap ⁇ sulation
  • Figures 4-6 show various stages in the process of manu ⁇ facturing the dummy according to Figure 1.
  • the child's musical dummy shown in the drawings comprises the following parts, known per se; - a shield 1 of moulded plastic material, a hollow teat 2 of rubber or rubber-like material, a holding ring 3 of moulded plastic material, and a connecting piece 4, in the assembled state shown in Figure 1 interconnecting the previously mentioned parts, so that the parts 1, 2 and 4 are rigidly interconnected, while the holding ring 3 is hinged to the connecting piece 4 so as to be movable between three positions A, B and C.
  • position B may be termed a pulling position and the positions A and C rest positions - depending, of course, on the orien ⁇ tation of the dummy in the child's mouth.
  • position A may be termed a music position, as in this position, it activates an electronic music-producing circuit supplying sound power to a tiny loudspeaker, to be described below.
  • Position C may be termed a silent rest position, while position B as before is a pulling position.
  • Embedded in the part of the holding ring 3 most distant from the connecting piece 4 is a permanent magnet 5 adapt ⁇ ed to influence the music-producing circuit, when the holding ring 3 is in the music position A shown in Figure 1.
  • the music-producing circuit is part of a music panel 6 that can be seen in Figures 2-6, but not in Figure 1, as in the assembled state of the dummy shown in Figure 1, it is completely embedded in the shield 1.
  • the music panel 6 shown in Figure 3 consists of a flat carrier panel 7, to which the following components are secured and interconnected by conductors drawn in heavy and thin black lines: - a battery 8 secured to the carrier panel 7 by a battery holder 9, a magnetically operable reed contact 10, a music chip 11 in the form of an integrated circuit capable of storing musical signals and, when ac- tivated by the battery 8 through the reed contact 10, to deliver these signals to a loudspeaker 12, preferably in the form of a cir ⁇ cular piezo-electric resonant disc inserted in a circular resonant chamber of the same diameter and having a narrow recess, in which the disc rests, forming an air chamber on both sides allowing the disc to vibrate and emit sound.
  • the carrier panel 7 has a central hole 13 for the con- necting piece 4. Additional holes (not shown) co-operating with ventilating holes (likewise not shown) in the shield 1 may be provided to reduce the danger of choking, if the child were to get the dummy in the throat.
  • the holding ring 3 is placed in the music position A - this may be done before or after in- serting the teat 2 in the child's mouth.
  • the reed contact 10 Due to the mag ⁇ netic attraction from the magnet 5, the reed contact 10 will close, thus supplying power from the battery 8 to the music chip 11, the latter delivering the music through the loudspeaker 12, preferably for a period limited by suitable circuitry in the music chip 11, so that renewed activation is necessary, if more music is desired.
  • the said magnetic attraction will exert a retaining force in the holding ring 3, but it is ad ⁇ visable to place the dummy in such an orientation that the holding ring 3 extends downwardly from the connecting piece 4, so that the force of gravity will contribute to holding the ring 3 in the music position A.
  • Another pos ⁇ sibility is to arrange the pivot joint between the holding ring 3 and the connecting piece 4 to have a limited degree of friction, so that the holding ring 3 will remain in any set position.
  • the music facility may be omitted by simply turning the holding ring 3 and the connecting piece 4 about the letter's axis relative to the shield 1, so that the magnet 5 is prevented from activating the reed contact 10.
  • FIGS 4-6 illustrate the process of making the music panel 6.
  • Figure 4 shows the "naked" carrier panel 7 with conductors and the requisite holes for the battery 8 and the battery holder 9,
  • Figure 5 shows the components in place and inter ⁇ connected as shown in Figure 3
  • Figure 6 shows the finished music panel 6 with the components 8, 10, 11 and 12 embedded in corresponding encapsulations 18, 20, 21 and 22, respectively, of which 18, 20 and 22 are also visible in Figure 2.
  • the finished music panel 6 is incorporated in the shield 1, such as by placing the panel in the mould, in which the shield is cast or moulded.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Magnetic Treatment Devices (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For Music (AREA)
  • Seasonings (AREA)

Abstract

In a child's musical dummy, in which an electronic tune-playing arrangement (not shown) is embedded in the shield (1) and adapted to be controlled from the outside, the main novel feature is that the tune-playing arrangement comprises a magnetically operable contact (not shown), adapted to close the supply circuit to the tune-playing arrangement, when the holding ring (3) is moved to a music position (A), in which a magnet (5) embedded in the ring (3) actuates the contact.

Description

CHILD'S MUSICAL DUMMY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a child's musical dummy of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND ART
EP-A1-0,185,614 and GB-A-2,231,274 disclose musical dum¬ mies or comforters, in which the electro-acoustic means adapted to play a suitable tune are activated by chewing action and changes in the level of ambient light, respec¬ tively. In the former case, the tune-playing means are controlled - more or less consciously - by the child alone, whilst in the latter case, the operative condition of the tune-playing means depends on the level of ambient light, so that they may easily be started inadvertently, when the dummy is placed somewhere with a lower level of illumination or in total darkness, such as in a handbag.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a child's musical dummy of the kind referred to initially exhibiting improved control facilities, and this object is achieved with a child's musical dummy of said kind, which according to the present invention also comprises the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1. With this arrangement, the operation of the tune-playing means may be controlled by simply moving the holding ring towards and away from the music position, an action that can easily be carried out by any person caring for the child, and also by the child, provided that the child's motory functions are developed to a sufficient degree.
As will appear from the explanation in the detailed part of this description, it is possible to give a musical dummy according to the present invention substantially exactly the same external shape as a conventional dummy. Thus, any packages or holders adapted for use with con¬ ventional dummies can be used with musical dummies accord- ing to the present invention.
The present invention also relates to a method of manu¬ facturing a child's musical dummy according to the in¬ vention, and this method comprises the steps set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 5. By proceeding in this manner, it is possible to manufacture musical dummies, the sensitive parts of which are doubly protected against fluids entering or leaving, so that any risk of corrosion of the sensitive parts or of e.g. battery fluid leaking out is avoided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following detailed portion of the present descrip- tion, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment of a child's musical dummy according to the invention shown in the drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side view showing the dummy in the as- sembled state ready for use,
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the dummy shown in
Figure 1, the holding ring being turned 90° to show its shape, Figure 3 at an enlarged scale shows the music panel used in the dummy of Figure 1 prior to encap¬ sulation, and Figures 4-6 show various stages in the process of manu¬ facturing the dummy according to Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The child's musical dummy shown in the drawings comprises the following parts, known per se; - a shield 1 of moulded plastic material, a hollow teat 2 of rubber or rubber-like material, a holding ring 3 of moulded plastic material, and a connecting piece 4, in the assembled state shown in Figure 1 interconnecting the previously mentioned parts, so that the parts 1, 2 and 4 are rigidly interconnected, while the holding ring 3 is hinged to the connecting piece 4 so as to be movable between three positions A, B and C.
In the previously known dummies, the three positions A, B and C have no special significance, except that position B may be termed a pulling position and the positions A and C rest positions - depending, of course, on the orien¬ tation of the dummy in the child's mouth.
In the dummy according to the present invention, however, position A may be termed a music position, as in this position, it activates an electronic music-producing circuit supplying sound power to a tiny loudspeaker, to be described below.
Position C, on the other hand, may be termed a silent rest position, while position B as before is a pulling position. Embedded in the part of the holding ring 3 most distant from the connecting piece 4 is a permanent magnet 5 adapt¬ ed to influence the music-producing circuit, when the holding ring 3 is in the music position A shown in Figure 1. The music-producing circuit is part of a music panel 6 that can be seen in Figures 2-6, but not in Figure 1, as in the assembled state of the dummy shown in Figure 1, it is completely embedded in the shield 1.
The music panel 6 shown in Figure 3 consists of a flat carrier panel 7, to which the following components are secured and interconnected by conductors drawn in heavy and thin black lines: - a battery 8 secured to the carrier panel 7 by a battery holder 9, a magnetically operable reed contact 10, a music chip 11 in the form of an integrated circuit capable of storing musical signals and, when ac- tivated by the battery 8 through the reed contact 10, to deliver these signals to a loudspeaker 12, preferably in the form of a cir¬ cular piezo-electric resonant disc inserted in a circular resonant chamber of the same diameter and having a narrow recess, in which the disc rests, forming an air chamber on both sides allowing the disc to vibrate and emit sound.
The carrier panel 7 has a central hole 13 for the con- necting piece 4. Additional holes (not shown) co-operating with ventilating holes (likewise not shown) in the shield 1 may be provided to reduce the danger of choking, if the child were to get the dummy in the throat. When it is desired that the child's dummy as shown emits musical sounds, preferably of a kind having a calming effect on the child, the holding ring 3 is placed in the music position A - this may be done before or after in- serting the teat 2 in the child's mouth. Due to the mag¬ netic attraction from the magnet 5, the reed contact 10 will close, thus supplying power from the battery 8 to the music chip 11, the latter delivering the music through the loudspeaker 12, preferably for a period limited by suitable circuitry in the music chip 11, so that renewed activation is necessary, if more music is desired. At the same time, the said magnetic attraction will exert a retaining force in the holding ring 3, but it is ad¬ visable to place the dummy in such an orientation that the holding ring 3 extends downwardly from the connecting piece 4, so that the force of gravity will contribute to holding the ring 3 in the music position A. Another pos¬ sibility is to arrange the pivot joint between the holding ring 3 and the connecting piece 4 to have a limited degree of friction, so that the holding ring 3 will remain in any set position. The music facility may be omitted by simply turning the holding ring 3 and the connecting piece 4 about the letter's axis relative to the shield 1, so that the magnet 5 is prevented from activating the reed contact 10.
Figures 4-6 illustrate the process of making the music panel 6.
Figure 4 shows the "naked" carrier panel 7 with conductors and the requisite holes for the battery 8 and the battery holder 9,
Figure 5 shows the components in place and inter¬ connected as shown in Figure 3, and Figure 6 shows the finished music panel 6 with the components 8, 10, 11 and 12 embedded in corresponding encapsulations 18, 20, 21 and 22, respectively, of which 18, 20 and 22 are also visible in Figure 2.
When forming the encapsulation 22 for the loudspeaker 12, care is taken to avoid filling the air chamber on both sides of the piezo-electric loudspeaker disc, as this would compromise the correct functioning of the loudspeaker.
After completion of the process, the finished music panel 6 is incorporated in the shield 1, such as by placing the panel in the mould, in which the shield is cast or moulded.
LIST OF PARTS
A music position
B pulling position
C silent rest position
1 shield
2 teat
3 holding ring
4 connecting piece
5 permanent magnet
6 music panel
7 carrier panel
8 battery
9 battery holder
10 reed contact
11 music chip
12 loudspeaker
18 encapsulation
20 encapsulation
21 encapsulation
22 encapsulation

Claims

C L A I S :
1. Child's musical dummy of the type comprising a) a plane or slightly curved shield (1), b) a bulbous teat (2) projecting from one side of said shield (1), c) a holding ring (3) hinged to the opposite side of said shield so as to be movable between a first position (A), in which it contacts said shield (1) at a first location, a second position (B), in which it extends substantially at right angles to said shield (1), and a third position (C), in which it contacts said shield (1) at a second location sub¬ stantially diametrically opposite said first loca- tion, d) electro-acoustic means (11,12) for producing and emitting musical sounds, and e) activating means (5,10) for making said electro- acoustic means (11,12) operative or inoperative, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in f) that said activating means comprise f1) a magnetically operable contact (10) in the power- supply circuit of said electro-acoustic means (11, 12), said contact (10) being adapted to be closed by f2) a magnet (5) secured to or embedded in said holding ring (3), when the latter is in said first position (A).
2. Dummy according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r- i z e d in that said magnetically operable contact (10) is an encapsulated reed contact.
3. Dummy according to claim 1 or 2 and of the kind in which the holding ring (3) is hinged to a connecting piece (4) received in a central opening in the shield (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connecting piece (4) may be turned against friction relative to the shield, so that it may be set in different angular posi- tions spaced sufficiently that in at least one of them, the magnet (5) is prevented from activating the contact (10).
4. Dummy according to claim 1 or 2 and of the kind in which the holding ring (3) is hinged to a connecting piece (4) received in a central opening in the shield (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hinge con¬ nection between the holding ring (3) and the connecting piece (4) has sufficient friction to hold the holding ring (3) in any set position relative to the connecting piece (4).
5. Method of manufacturing a child's musical dummy according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, c h a r- a c t e r i z e d by the following steps a-c: a) the components of the electro-acoustical means, as well as the associated power supply (battery) and the magnetically operable contact are placed on a carrier panel of substantially the same shape as but somewhat smaller than said shield, and the requisite electrical connections established (Figures 4 and 5), b) the components of the assembly resulting from step a are encapsulated in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner (Figure 6), and c) the assembly resulting from step b is embedded in the dummy's shield, preferably by being placed in a mould, in which said shield is cast or moulded.
6. Child's musical dummy according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it has been manufactured using the method according to claim 5.
EP95930400A 1994-09-30 1995-09-01 Child's musical dummy and method of manufacturing same Expired - Lifetime EP0783291B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK113194A DK171358B1 (en) 1994-09-30 1994-09-30 Babysuit with music
DK113194 1994-09-30
DK1131/94 1994-09-30
PCT/DK1995/000352 WO1996010384A1 (en) 1994-09-30 1995-09-01 Child's musical dummy and method of manufacturing same

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0783291A1 true EP0783291A1 (en) 1997-07-16
EP0783291B1 EP0783291B1 (en) 1999-01-27

Family

ID=8101371

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95930400A Expired - Lifetime EP0783291B1 (en) 1994-09-30 1995-09-01 Child's musical dummy and method of manufacturing same

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0783291B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE176148T1 (en)
AU (1) AU3379895A (en)
DE (1) DE69507625T2 (en)
DK (1) DK171358B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2130640T3 (en)
GR (1) GR3030064T3 (en)
WO (1) WO1996010384A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4038820A1 (en) * 1990-12-05 1992-06-11 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag PROXIMITY SWITCH FOR FERROMAGNETIC METAL PARTS OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3982574A (en) * 1975-05-07 1976-09-28 Rodolfo Edmundo Bianchi Flexible portable dispensing container
GB2319883B (en) * 1996-12-02 2000-11-08 Douglas Alexander Mctavish Musical dummy
GB2322805A (en) * 1997-03-07 1998-09-09 Wynford Charles Bater Teething device
GB2451652A (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-11 Beverley Jane Hanson-Shaw Musical dummy

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1188947A (en) * 1984-11-28 1985-06-18 Claudette Hubert Musical pacifier
GB2231274A (en) * 1989-05-12 1990-11-14 Peter Dimitrios Poullos Child's dummy
EP0536636A1 (en) * 1991-10-10 1993-04-14 Shin Jong-Hyun Infant pacifiers with a diaphragm melody generator

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9610384A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4038820A1 (en) * 1990-12-05 1992-06-11 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag PROXIMITY SWITCH FOR FERROMAGNETIC METAL PARTS OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0783291B1 (en) 1999-01-27
AU3379895A (en) 1996-04-26
DE69507625D1 (en) 1999-03-11
GR3030064T3 (en) 1999-07-30
DK113194A (en) 1996-03-31
ATE176148T1 (en) 1999-02-15
WO1996010384A1 (en) 1996-04-11
DE69507625T2 (en) 1999-09-30
DK171358B1 (en) 1996-09-16
ES2130640T3 (en) 1999-07-01

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