GB2131999A - Recording reproduction apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In recording/reproduction apparatus particularly suited for operation by a very young baby, several different recordings are provided, each having a separate reproduction means, for example, two tape cassette players loaded with different tape recordings. Operation of the individual tape players is controlled by manually operated switches which function as separate pause controls. Alternatively reproduction may be by a stereophonic tape player with separate recordings for each of the two channels. The switches are operated by differently coloured pull handles suspended over a baby's cot within reach of a supine baby. Thus, a baby can listen to either recording, by pulling one or the other of the handles. The switches are biased towards an "off" position so that the tape players operate only while the corresponding handle is pulled and are interconned so that the tape players are energised only one at a time. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Recording reproduction apparatus The invention relates to recording reproduction apparatus, particularly apparatus which it will be possible for a baby to operate from about three months of age.

The object of the invention is to provide apparatus capable of reproducing one of several available recordings, which themselves may be easily changed in order to accommodate an individual's preference. It is further an object to provide a control arrangement for the apparatus which is suitable for use by a baby lying in his cot so that the baby may entertain himself by operating the apparatus as and when desired.

According to the invention there is provided recording reproduction apparatus comprising a plurality of recordings and recording reproduction means arranged to selectively reproduce the recordings by slective energisation of the reproductions means by manually operable selection means including a plurality of switches, each of which is biased to a first or de-energising state and is capable of being manually operated to a second energising state, and the switches are interconnected with the reproduction means so that each reproduction means is energised by a different switch combination in order that a recording may be selected and reproduced while the selection means is operated to hold the corresponding switch combination.

The invention and how it may be carried into practice will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to a preferred form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment using dual tape-cassette player, Figure 2 illustrates the preferred positioning of a remote control selection means suitable for a baby, for the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a mutaully exclusive switching circuit for the dual tape player of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a second embodiment based upon a stereo tape player adapted for bi-track operation, and Figure 5 shows the control switching arrangement for operation of the apparatus of Figure 4.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the recordings are tape cassettes and the recording reproduction means comprises two cassette tape players 1, 2 which are securely mounted side by side in a supporting cradle 3 which in turn is clamped to the headboard 4 of a baby's cot. The cradle 3 has two inverted U-shaped supports which are hung over the horizontal upper edge of the headboard 4. One limb of each of the U-shaped support is provided with a thumb screw clamp 7, 8 respectively which may be tightened to secure the cradle in position.

Extending horizontally from the uppermost part of the supports 5, 6 respectively are two horizontal beams 9, 10 which project over the area of the cot to a position vertically above the general area of a baby's upper body and within reach of a supine baby. From the arms 9, 10 hang strings or rods 11, 12 which have at their lower extremities handles 13, 14 respectively within easy reach of a baby lying upon the cot mattress and form the remote selection means.

The other end of the strings 11, 12 are connected to a switching arrangement, which will be further described below with reference to Figure 3, in which the strings are attached to the toggle mechanism of two switches which control operation of the tape players 1,2. In the apparatus being described the handles 13, 14 are relatively large diameter rings made of brightly coloured plastics material, preferably different colours, and are suspended by similarly coloured strings, in order that a baby may quickly and easily distinguish between them.

The reproduction means in this embodiment consists of two personal portable tape players, each of which is always loaded with a different cassette, containing mono or stereo recordings as preferred.

The tape players may have integral speakers or may be wired to separate speakers, not shown.

Referring now to Figure 3 the previously mentioned switches 15, 16 operated by pull handles 13, 14 respectively are connected in the energising circuits oftape motor drives 17, 18 of the tape players. Thus, each switch 15, 16 effectively acts as a "pause" control for its corresponding player. The power circuit is completed by connection through the switches to a common or individual battery unit, or a mains supply unit.

Each of the switches 15, 16 has two sets of contacts, a first set of "normally-open" contacts, and a second set of "normally-closed" contacts. The two pairs of contacts of each switch are operated by a common toggle mechanism which is biased towards its starting position and operates preferably in the break-before-make mode. The "normally-open" contacts of one switch are connected in series with the "normally-closed" contacts of the other switch.

Thus, if neither string is pulled both circuits include an "open" pair of contacts so that neither tape motor drive 17, 18 is energised. When one string is pulled the contacts of the switch to which it is connected change state so that one circuit now includes two "closed" contacts and the other circuit includes two "open" contacts. The tape motor drive contained in the circuit including the two "closed" contacts is thus energised with the result that the corresponding recording is played, when the string is released the switch returns to its "normal" or starting positions and the motor is de-energised. When the other string is pulled the other switch charges state and energises the other tape drive so that the alternative recording is played. In this way either of the two recording is selected.If both strings are pulled both switches change state and neither circuit can be completed so that both tape motor drives remain unenergised and neither recording is played.

In operation of the apparatus, the supporting cradle 3 together with its two tape players 1,2 would be mounted on the headboard of cot as shown with the arms 9, 10 extending over the sleeping area of the cot with the strings 11, 12 supporting the handles 13, 14 within easy reach of a baby lying in the cot.

Each tape player 1,2 is loaded with a cassette having recorded thereon a different recording of say music, nursery rhymes, or anything else as desired. The baby may now play either one of the tapes by pulling the apropriate handle, the tape player then continues to play for as long as the baby pulls on the handle, as soon as he released the handle the tape motor drive is de-energised.

The baby may play either recording selectively merely by pulling the appropriate handle. He is thus able to express a preference for a particular recording by repeatedly pulling one handle, or alternatively his dislike for a recording by refraining from pulling the appropriate handle, long before he may be able to express a preference verbally.

Reference will now made to Figure 4 and 5, showing another form of the invention in which like parts are given like reference. In this embodiment in place of the two tape players of Figure 1 there is only a single stereophonic tape payer 40 which may reproduce either a single stereophonic recording or alternatively a choice between two separate recordings one on either of the two separate stereo channels. The latter arrangement, as distinct from stereophonic sound reproduction, is referred to as "Bi-track" recording. The apparatus is operated in an identical way by the baby by pulling one or the other of the strings, but these are connected to an entirely different control switching arrangement illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 5 the stereo tape player has only a single motor drive 50 which has a power control path including two parallel paths through the switches connected to strings 11,12 and each of which contains a pair of "normally-open" contacts in the one switch and a pair of "normally-closed" contacts in the other switch. As before, when neither string is pulled each current path includes a normally-open set of contacts so that no current is supplied to the motor 50, when one of the strings is pulled one or the other of the current paths now contains two sets of closed contacts, so that the motor 50 is energised whicheverstring 11,12 is pulled.However, each switch now also contains a third pair of contacts 51, 52, which in both cases, are "normally open These are connected in the sound output circuits of the stereo amplifier 53. In parallel with the contacts 51,52 are switches 54,55 respectively, and a third switch 56 is connected so as to be capable of bridging the pwoer input to the two stereo channels.

The switch 56 is connected so as to be capable of bridging the power input to the two stereo channels.

The switches 54, 56 and 55 are arranged to be open, open and closed respectively for "bi-track" operation and to be closed, closed and open in the stereo mode of operation. These three switches 54, 55 and 56 may be ganged together for common switching between bi-track and stereo modes of operation.

In the bi-track mode, when the switches 54, 55 are open, one or the other of contacts 51 or 52 corresponding to the string which is being pulled will be closed to connect either the left or right stereo channel respectively. In stereo operation both switches 54 and 55 are closed, rendering contacts 51 and 52 inoperative, so that both left and right channels are connected.

In the above described arrangements the control switches are all connected in the power lines to the tape motor drives and are thus effectively "pause" controls, all other electronic components, including the amplifiers, are preferrably continuously powered in order to avoid the intrustion of noisy power-on "glitches" when the pull switches are operated. It is also preferred, for safety reasons, to power the tape player(s) either from a battery or via a mains adaptor providing a battery voltage level output, e.g. volts dc at 300 ma maximum. In this way mains leads and other connections carrying mains voltage supplies can be kept well away from baby and his cot.

Alternatively the tape players may be battery operated.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may be used with any form of recording, the embodiment described employs tape recordings in the form of cassettes and employs conventional commercially available cassette players as reproduction means. Equally well, disc recordings my be employed with appropriate reproduction means, also other forms of recordings for example video tapes, cassette or reel-to-reel tapes or any other form of recording may be employed as the recorded medium.

In a third embodiment of the invention, which is not ilustrated in the drawings, the apparatus includes a tape player adapted for multi-track operation. In particular a single tape recording carries three separate recorded tracks and the selection means is capable of switching between reproduction means associated with each track. In this arrangement there is one tape recorder, with only one sound channel and speaker, and a sufficient number of recording detectors, i.e. sensing heads, to reproduce all three recording tracks. The switches in the selection means are operated to cause the sensing heads to be energised individually. Each may have a separate pull handle but in the preferred form there are two pull handles connected to switches interconnected, in a similar manner to that described above, so that each handle pulled on its own operates one track reproducing means and the third track is reproduced when both handles are pulled simultaneously.

Claims (10)

1. Recording reproduction apparatus comprising a plurality of recordings and recording reproduction means arranged to selectively reproduce the recordings by selective energisation of the reproduction means by manually operable selection means including a plurality of switches, each of which is biased to a first or de-energising state and is capable of being manually operated to a second energising state, and the switches are interconnected with the reproduction means so that each reproduction means is energised by a different switch combination in order that a recording may be selected and reproduced while the selection means is operated to hold the corresponding switch combination.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the selection means comprises a pull-handle connected to the moving part of a biased switch.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 adapted to be attached to a baby cot and wherein the pull-handles are mounted so as to be suspended over the cot mattress and within reach of a baby lying on the mattress.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each of said switches has a pair of normallyopen contacts connected in a control circuit of each reproduction means and a pair of normally-closed contacts in each of the other control circuits whereby one of the reproduction means is energised when only the one switch having corresponding normallyopen contacts is operated and all reproduction means are de-energised when any other number of switches are operated.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the recordings are sound recordings of the tape or disc type and the reproduction means are of corresponding type.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 adapted to operated in a bi-track mode in which two reproduction means are formed by the separate channels of a stereophonic recording reproduction means, the control switching arrangement includes two switch each of which has a pair of normally-open contacts connected to control energisation of the two stereophonic sound output channels respectively, and further contacts connected to energise a recording drive motor when either switch is operated by the remote selection means.

7. Apparatus according to Claims 6 further including ganged changeover switches connected in parallel with said biased switch contacts in the stereophonic sound channels to permit normal reproduction of stereophonic recordings when either switch is operated.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 3 adapted to reproduce a selected one of three tracks of a single tape recording wherein the reproduction means comprises first, second and third recording sensing means, and the selection means includes first and second switch means interconnected to energise the first recording sensing means when the first switch is operated, the second recording sensing means when the second switch is operated and the third recording sensing means when the first and second switches are operated simultaneously.

9. Recording reproduction apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,2 and 3 of accompanying drawings.

10. Recording reproduction apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.