GB2344739A - Eating utensil with sound emitting means - Google Patents

Abstract

A utensil such as a spoon comprises a waterproof body having a first aperture 20 in its wall in which sound emitting means 19 is located in a watertight manner and a second aperture 24 in the wall in which means associated with actuation of the sound emitting means is located in a watertight manner. The sound emitting means 19 may be a diaphragm speaker operable by a piezo-electric device controlled by a circuit board 15 and battery 17 in response to a light sensitive transducer 26 beneath a transparent window 25 in the aperture 24. The transducer 26 is actuated by a user placing a hand in a correct position on the utensil handle which obscures the window 25, thus causing everyday noises to be emitted. Means may be provided to vary the noises.

Description

SOUND EMITTING DEVICE This invention relates to a sound emitting device. Such a device is useful as a domestic utensil to encourage the use of the utensil, or a manner of use of the utensil, in an appropriate fashion typically by a child.

A number of devices have been proposed adapted to provide a sound or musical output.

US Patent 2 800 825 (Toussant) describes a relatively elaborate musical spoon involving a flat table ware piece having a handle including a recess extending the length of the handle, an enlarged portion on the forward portion of said piece having a threaded socket therein, a threaded screw upon said handle detachably secured in said socket, a cover for said recess detachably secured upon said handle and a control element for a musical element located in said recess pivotally mounted upon said cover. Such a device is not readily cleaned and involves relative movement between parts of the spoon with the consequence of wear and leakage.

European Patent Application 0 613 644 (Ratzon) discloses a-cutlery piece such as a spoon or the like comprising a food holding portion and a handle and having an electronic means capable of providing a transient audio or visual output signal when one or both of the faces of the food holding portion is exposed to light after a period of darkness. The Application describes a complex device with a number of components which need to be detachable from one another.

UK Patent Application 2 026 309 (Digirolamo) describes an implement such as a fork, knife or spoon for assisting people in developing better eating habits is detachably attached to a hollow handle and comprises window openings at the top side of the handle, diodes of two different colours being visible at the window openings. Circuitry, including a battery and an on/off switch for causing the diodes to be alternately turned on and off at predetermined intervals, is provided in the handle. Alternatively an audible signal may indicate a desirable eating pattern. The Application provides a utensil in at least two parts of which one part can indicate the passage of time either visually or aurally.

US Patent 5 075 970 (Albert) describes a complex utensil which emits emulated human speech comprising a hollow tube terminating in a utensil head at one end; a power source fitted inside the tube; a speech synthesiser semi-conductor chip fitted inside the tube and connected by electrical circuit means to the power source; an amplified semi-conductor chip fitted inside the tube and connected by electrical circuit means to the speech synthesiser semi-conductor chip ; and speaker means fitted inside the tube and connected by electrical circuit means to the amplifier semi-conductor chip. The power source can be enabled to power the speech synthesiser chip to emulate human speech which is amplified and emitted from the speaker means. The patent does not provide for a water tight utensil and the use of a speech emulator involves a need for providing for programming the emulation and for switching the speaker output on and off.

According to the present invention there is provided a sound emitting device comprising: a waterproof body in the form of a working utensil; a working region of the body whereby the body can function as a working utensil; a holding region of the body whereby the device is manipulated at least when using the working region; a sound generating means located within the body; a sound emitting region located in, or forming a closure for, a first aperture in the wall of the body so as to provide, a watertight closure for the first aperture and drivable by the sound generating means; a control means for causing the sound generating means to move between an operating and a quiescent state; and a control operating means located in, or operable by way of, a second aperture in the wall of the body member; the control operating means providing a watertight closure for the second aperture.

Typically the sound generating means and its associated control means provide for the generation of a series of sounds by way of the sound emitting region in a repeatable or a randomised sequence. It is envisaged that the sounds in the sequence would not be musical sounds but noises in a family such as: noises experienced indoors or outdoors during a given day or animal noises or noises from, say, various types of vehicle or transport.

Typically the sound generating means can be piezo electric component powered by means of the battery to displace the diaphragm to cause it to generate the required sound.

The control means and the control operating means can be adapted so as to operate only when the holding region and/or the working region are used in what can be defined as a correct manner. To that end the control means can incorporate sensors or other means to regulate or modify operation of the sound generating means.

The invention provides a utensil which can be readily and repeatedly cleaned, typically by means of a dishwasher, without damage to the device.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a domestic utensil of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section.

The figures variously show a spoon 11 having a waterproof body 12. Bowl 13 is located at one end of the spoon and is manipulated in use by way of handle 14.

The handle 14 is hollow and contains a miniaturised circuit board 15 including a first electronic circuit 16 of chips. Battery 17 serves to power the sequence 16 which is coupled to a piezo-electric device 26 (also powered by the battery 17) which serves to drive the diaphragm speaker 19 to produce the required sound output. The diaphragm speaker 19 is secured in first aperture 20 in underside wall 21 of handle 14. The diaphragm speaker 19 is anchored around its periphery 22 to the first aperture 20 while having a central region 23 which can be displaced by the piezo electric device 26 on receiving the necessary voltage signal fed from sequence 16. The speaker diaphragm 19 serves not only to provide for the output of sound but also to act as a watertight closure for the first aperture 20. The speaker 19 is located in a part of the handle which, with the spoon 11 in normal usage, would not be occupied by the hand of a user in a way that could impede motion of the diaphragm and so prevent it producing the required sound.

Second aperture 24 in the wall of handle 14 is closed in a watertight manner by a transparent window 25. Beneath window 25 there is provided a light sensitive transducer 26 coupled to a second electronic circuit 27 on the board 15. The second circuit 27 provides for regulation of the sound output from first circuit 16.

In this case when the handle is held in an approved fashion the window 25 is obscured (while the loudspeaker aperture is not) and the transducer 26 acts to cause the first circuit sequence 16 to generate a predetermined series of sounds from speaker 19. Alternatively the sounds of the series can be generated in random order. In use the sound output will continue until the window 25 ceases to be obscured and ambient light again falls on the transducer 26. The sound generation from speaker 19 is then terminated. When not in use the sound output is terminated (pulsed off) so as not to generate sound when no sound output is required and so saving battery power, The embodiment makes use of one switch accessible by way of one window 25. However more than one switch can be used to input control signals to the first electronic circuit 16 or the second circuit 27. Such additional control inputs could include regulating which of a series of sounds should be reproduced, whether a given sound should be repeated and modification of a sound or a series thereof. Additional inputs could also provide for operational program modification of the device.

The spoon 11 of the embodiment provide a utensil which does not involve the provision of moving parts (saving the speaker 19) and provides a utensil which is readily kept clean such as by way of a dish washer.

Typically the sound emitting means and its associated control means provide for the generation of a series of sounds in a repeatable or a randomised sequence. It is envisaged that the sounds in the sequence would not be musical sounds but noises in a family such as noises experienced indoors or outdoors during a given day or animal noises or noises from a family of sound generators such as various types of vehicle. Typically the sounds can be ones that are likely to be of significance or will necessarily be experienced by a child in an environment outside the home. Operation of the embodiment in a'correct' manner provides for each sound in the series to be emitted in an approved fashion.

Failure to operate in an approved fashion can be responded to in various ways. The sound generation can be caused to stop. Alternatively other sounds to be generated.

Apart from responding to being held in an approve fashion the control means can include sensors or other control elements serving to modify operation of the sound generating means. These can include temperature, further light sensitive or even sound sensitive elements.

The described spoon 11 is of unitary construction. However it can-be made in separable parts so that the handle and its included circuitry are in one self contained part and the working region of the utensil (such as spoon bowl, fork prongs, knife blade or pusher head) can be a second self contained component.

In view of the low power consumption when the device is in use it is assumed that the battery 17 can be sealed in on manufacturing the device and will last for the effective life of the device.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS 1 A sound emitting device comprising: a waterproof body in the form of a working utensil; a working region of the body whereby the body can function as a working utensil; a holding region of the body whereby the device is manipulated at least when using the working region; a sound generating means located within the body; a sound emitting region located in, or forming a closure for, a first aperture in a wall of the body so as to provide, a watertight closure for the first aperture and drivable by the sound generating means; a control means for causing the sound generating means to move between an operating and a quiescent state; and a control operating means located in, or operable by way of, a second aperture in the wall of the body member; the control operating means providing a watertight closure for the second aperture.
2. 2 A sound emitting device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sound generating means and its associated control means provide for the generation of a series of sounds by way of the sound emitting region in a repeatable or a randomised sequence.
3. 3 A sound emitting device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the sequence of noises is in a family comprising: noises experienced indoors or outdoors during a given day; or animal noises ; or noises associated with vehicles or transport systems.
4. 4 A sound emitting device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sound or noise generating means comprises a piezo electric component powered by means of the battery to displace the diaphragm to cause it to generate the required sound.
5. 5 A sound emitting device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means and the control operating means are adapted to operate only when the holding region and/or the working region are used in what can be defined as a correct manner.
6. 6 A sound emitting device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means incorporates a sensor or other means to regulate or modify operation of the sound generating means.
7. 7 A sound emitting device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.