EP0783291B1

EP0783291B1 - Child's musical dummy and method of manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: EP0783291B1
Application number: EP95930400A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frank Müller
Original assignee: Mueller Trading V Frank Mueller
Current assignee: Mueller Trading V Frank Mueller
Priority date: 1994-09-30
Filing date: 1995-09-01
Publication date: 1999-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-01
Also published as: DK113194A; GR3030064T3; AU3379895A; ES2130640T3; EP0783291A1; DK171358B1; DE69507625T2; WO1996010384A1; ATE176148T1; DE69507625D1

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

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 dummies 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, respectively. 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 conventional dummies can be used with musical dummies according to the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a child's musical dummy according to the invention, 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 description, 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 assembled 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 encapsulation, and
Figures 4-6: show various stages in the process of manufacturing 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 orientation 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 adapted 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 activated by the battery 8 through the reed contact 10, to deliver these signals to
a loudspeaker 12, preferably in the form of a circular 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 connecting 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 inserting the teat 2 in the child's mouth. Due to the magnetic 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 advisable 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 possibility 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 latter'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 interconnected 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

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 substantially diametrically opposite said first location,

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,
characterized 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).
Dummy according to claim 1, characterized in that said magnetically operable contact (10) is an encapsulated reed contact.
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), characterized in that the connecting piece (4) may be turned against friction relative to the shield, so that it may be set in different angular positions spaced sufficiently that in at least one of them, the magnet (5) is prevented from activating the contact (10).
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), characterized in that the hinge connection 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).
Method of manufacturing a child's musical dummy according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, characterized by the following steps a-c:

a) the components of the electro-acoustical means, as well as the associated power supply 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.
Child's musical dummy according to any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that it has been manufactured using the method according to claim 5.