GB2463643A

GB2463643A - Audio emitting wallet

Info

Publication number: GB2463643A
Application number: GB0816982A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Wilkinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-17
Filing date: 2008-09-17
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Also published as: GB0816982D0

Abstract

A wallet or like product, e.g. (purse or handbag) when opened emits a sound. The wallet, purse or handbag, will house an internal electronic circuit e capable of recording 10 seconds of audio via a 3.5mm line in jack socket. The circuit comprises of a self contained recording and playback module, control circuitry, battery, amplifier and a speaker. Wires a,b from the circuit board go to metal clasps f,g on the wallet. When the clasps are broken open to get into the wallet, the control circuitry activates the playing of the recorded audio. This is then amplified and then emitted through the speaker. The playing sequence can be restarted at any time by briefly touching the two metal clasps. The circuit also incorporates a miniature switch c, which can turn off the play function at any time.

Description

Audio Emitting Wallet

Background of idea

The idea for my invention first came to me whilst with friends, they often joke at my expense whenever I get my wallet out to pay for things, typically for a round of drinks.

They joke, at the fact my wallet is not seen out too often, and either pretend to catch moths from the opening of it, or comment that they can hear it creaking from here. Thus this formed the basis for my invention, a wallet that squeaked and groaned open, a bit like an old hinged door. This product will in mostly likelihood be considered as a novelty, but it could also serve as a reminder device, whereby you could record a reminder of an event you need to do.

Advantages The advantages of this product are that it can make a joke at a personal item that often gets jocularity especially from friends and family. Another advantage is that the device could be used to record a personnel reminder. For example, "remember to pay gas bill". The product could also be used as a form of security, such products already exist on the market, but in theory an alarm could be recorded if the wallet were to opened.

Description of operation

I set about designing an electronic circuit that could reproduce a pre-recorded sound, and then play it back whenever the wallet was opened. The trigger to play the sound comes from the unlatching of the wallet's metal clasp. The resultant recording being played via a speaker inside the wallet. Wires are connected to the wallets metal clasps, and then back to the internal circuit, from this circuit a speaker is connected. The circuit also incorporates a 3.5mm jack plug, so external sounds can be recorded just like a "line in" device. A 5 volt battery powers the circuit, the recording and playback module incorporates its own battery supply.

The playing back of the sound can be inhibited at any time, without loosing the recorded data, by turning the battery supply of by means of a miniature switch. This will be located in a convenient place on the wallet.

This system as outlined above is capable of being housed inside the wallet, at present the prototype product is housed in a redundant loose change pouch in the wallet.

It could however also have its own compartment in the wallet, thus there would be no reduction in the functionality of the wallet.

A circuit designed by myself was constructed onto a circuit board small enough to fit inside a wallet. Drawing 1 should now be viewed to aid further understanding in particular figure 1.

All functions and components of my design can be found on the circuit board, there are however two exceptions. The first are the wires which go to the metal clasps. One wire travels in the wallet lining to the female clasp "a", the other wire which is also hidden in the wallet lining goes to the male clasp "b". The second exception is the switch c", which can turn on or off the circuit. Two wires travel in the wallet lining to the underside of the wallet "d", here they connect to a miniature switch. Figure 2 shows the wallet closing over in half, thus parts "f" and "g" come together. Figure 3 shows the wallet locked closed by the engagement of "f" and "g", audio from the circuit now stops.

What follows now is a description of operation. Schematic drawing 2 should be viewed. In the wallets closed state, the circuit can be considered to be at rest, i.e. no sound is emitted. The wallets metal latch clasp forms a normally made switch that once broken by the user, removes positive voltage from Qi. Thus the input to QI is now low, so it switches off, and the output becomes positive. The output from QI is then amplified by Q2, these transistors now form a Darlington pair arrangement. The output from Q2 now powers a normally open relay "i". The normally open contacts now close together; wires are attached to the normally open contacts and then onto the play contacts on the recording and playback module circuit board "k".

The recording and playback module board then plays back the pie recorded sound.

The sound however is first amplified. The amplifier circuit "I" is made from a 386 audio amplifier IC, 1 OOuf capacitor, 10k resistor and a 15k resistor. The sound is then finally emitted from a miniature speaker "m". The recorded sound will only ptay once, it can be stopped at any time or restarted by closing the metal clips of the wallet and than opening them, thus triggering the above cycle again.

To record a sound, the wallet must be opened, i.e. metal clasps not touching. A microphone or other line in device can now bee plugged into the 3.5mm female jack socket. To "save" the sound to the recording and playback module the record contacts must be touched together. A sound can be 10 seconds long and can be stopped at any time be releasing the recording contacts "n". A Light Emitting Diode (LED) uO1 briefly illuminates to signify that the recorded time has come to an end.

Future development It is my hope to further develop this product, and would therefore like the following to be considered in this patent proposal. I would develop the following; means easily replacing the batteries, improved sound quality, a function for an inbuilt microphone in the wallet, thus widening the possibilities for recording and scope to include other devices worked around the same principle (see drawing 3).

Claims

Patent Claims 1. To state that all the following claims should take into account that when referring to "wallet", I also mean for it to imply to other similar items that hold money to include "purse" and "handbag".
2. To claim that my patent idea, a waflet, which is held together closed by a metal clasp and when said clasp is opened, triggers the playing of pre-recorded audio from an internal circuit.
3. An audio emitting wallet circuit capable of delivering the statement made in claim 2.
4. An audio emitting wallet according to claim 2, which can record audio in the form of a line in device or direct microphone connection, all made via the 3.5mm jack connection.
5. An audio emitting wallet according to claim 2, which will trigger claim 3, to start when the metal clasps are opened / separated.
6. The complete circuit as per claim 3, to be housed in the wallet, the complete circuit should be considered so as to include, battery supply, circuit components, circuit board and speaker.
7. That the development and future of this product should include the proposed changes as stated in future development section.