GB2477113A

GB2477113A - Light activated musical drinks vessel

Info

Publication number: GB2477113A
Application number: GB1000994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Pearce; Lance Rees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-22
Filing date: 2010-01-22
Publication date: 2011-07-27
Also published as: GB201000994D0

Abstract

A musical dunks vessel comprises a sound generating means 12, a USB port 17a and a two way shortwave radio communication system 13. The sound generating means has a light sensitive activation means 11 directed through a transparent vvall 18 and a shutter means 21 movable through two positions to vary the intensity of light incident on the light sensitive activation means so that when a threshold level is passed the sound generating means 12 is activated causing the vessel to emit music. The sound generating means may be permanently attached to the vessel or mounted in a housing 13 permanently fitted to the underside of the vessel. Alternatively the sound generating means may be detachable from the vessel body. The activation means may be directed through a transparent wall 18 which faces downwards. The shutter means 21 may be rotatably or slidably mounted to the sound generating assembly and may be detachable. In a second embodiment the shutter means 21 may comprise a cap (15 Fig.2) movable between a first screwed on and a second screwed off position. The wireless system and USB port may be used to alter the musical sounds in the drinks vessel.

Description

Musical Drinks Vessels 1 This is a further development of a previous application GB 2346315 as previously filed. This invention relates to musical drinks vessels suitable for trainer cups or the like.

Trainer cups are known for use by young children to bridge the gap between use of babies feeding bottle and use of a normal cup or glass. Typically, trainer cups comprise a cup or mug provide with a lid having a mouthpiece associated therewith, usually in the form of a spout.

Trainer cups are often the childs first step in learning to feed itself after a babys feeding bottle, however many children find it difficult to progress from a feeding bottle to a trainer cup, owing to the comfort that is provided by a babys feeding bottle.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide something on the trainer cup, which will provide comfort as well as something which will help the child to take the cup. Musical feeding bottles are known for providing comfort to babies whilst feeding. Typically, such known musical baby bottles comprise a container for holding liquid and an electrically or mechanically operated music generated device, It is important to wash and sterilise babies feeding bottles, however a disadvantage of this is that the immersion in water and steam or sterilising fluid can damage the music generating device, US Patent no. 4678093 discloses a musical baby bottle comprising a container having an electrically operated generated device sealed in its base.

The device is activated by the means of a mercury tilt switch which may let in water or moisture.

A disadvantage of mercury tilt switches is that mercury is poisonous and furthermore the music generating device will only remain active as long as the baby is moving, which is not always the case when the baby is feeding. Another disadvantage is that it is not possible to turn the device off/say whilst the bottle is being carried in a bag and thus the music can be played at undesirable times, which is both embarrassing and annoying. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a musical drinks vessel comprising a hollow body for holding the drink and sound generating assembly having an electrically operated sound generating device and short range two way radio communication system and usb port on an integrated circuit board sealingly sealingly mounted therein, said device having a light sensitive activation means directed through a transparent wall of assembly, The drinks vessel further comprising shutter means on the opposite side of said wall for moving between first and second positions in which the amount of light incident on the activation means is different. The advantage of the new development is that the two way short range radio communication system allows music and sounds to be changed, that is uploaded and downloaded as preferred, as is the case of the usb port to do the exact same function.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view in perspective of an embodiment of musical trainer cup in accordance with this invention, and figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective of an alternative embodiment of musical trainer cup in accordance with this invention.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a musical trainer cup comprising a conventional cup -shaped body formed of moulded plastics material having a sound generated assembly fitted to its underside A lid (not shown) having a mouthpiece in the form of a spout is provided for fitting to the top of the body of the cup.

The sound generating assembly comprises an electrically operated sound generated device of the type used in novelty greeting cards having a printed circuit board 11 including an an integral photodiode a piezo-electric loudspeaker 12 attached to the circuit board by wires in use and a two way short wave wireless communication system and usb port mounted on the circuit board the photodiode activates the device in the event that the amount of light is incident thereon exceeds a predetermined level.

The sound generating device is mounted in a recess formed in the underside of a circular plastics housing 17 of the assembly which is arranged to snap engage with a lip 16 that extends around the underside of the body of the cup 10. The external diameter of the housing 17 corresponds with the external diameter of the body of the cup 10. A circular window 18 of transparent plastics is fitted to the underside of the housing, in order to seal the sound generating device in the recess. Alternatively the recess in the housing 17 may be filled with a transparent thermosetting plastics material which encapsulates the sound generating device.

The printed circuit board 11 is mounted such that the photodiode therein is facing downwardly through the transparent windowl8.

A circular cover 19 for the housing is snap engaged to the underside of the housingl7. The cover 19 comprises an aperture 20, which is disposed in line with the photodiode.

A disc 21 is rotatably mounted in a circular recess formed in the underside of the cover 19. An actuate aperture 22 is formed in the disc 2lat a point radially outward of its centre.

The sound generating device can be activated by rotating the disc 21 to a position in which the aperture 22 is aligned with the aperture 20 in the cover 19 and with the photodiode, thereby allowing light to reach the photodiode through the aligned apertures 20,22.

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The device 11 emits music, such as a nursery rhyme when it is activated the device can also emit parents voices and noises heard in the womb we have found that this helps to comfort children as well as providing a form of amusement the device could also emit the alphabet and times table helping the child to learn and take to the use of a trainer cup more quickly.

The device is deactivated by rotating the disc 21 to a position in which it obscures the photodiode. Alternatively, the device 11 can be deactivated by standing the cup on a surface, such as light is shielded from the photodiode whilst the cup is being carried away from the home, the disc 21 can be rotated to the position in which it obscures the photodiode, in order to prevent music from being played and to preserve the battery.

The assembly can be detached from the body 10 of the cup, whilst the latter is being washed and sterilised, in order to prevent the music from being played and in order to prevent the assembly from being damaged by the sterilising liquid or steam.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the musical trainer cup and like parts are given like reference numerals. The drinks cup again comprises a conventional cup shaped body portion 10 formed of plastics material having a sound generating assembly fitted to its underside.

The sound generating assembly comprises a similar sound generating device mounted inside a recess formed in the underside of a plastics housing 13 of the assembly, which is arranged to snap-engage with a lip 16 that extends around the underside of the body of the cup 10 A circular window 14 of transparent plastics material seals the sound generating device in the recess of the housing 13 The sound generating device is mounted such that the photodiode thereon is directed downwardly through the window 14.

The housing 13 of the assembly is externally screw threaded and an internally screw threaded cap 15 of opaque plastics material is provided for fitting to the housing 13 in order to obscure the window 14.

The cap 15 is normally screwed to the housing 13, when the cup is not in use. The cap 15 is opaque and thereby light is prevented from illuminating the photodiode. The sound generating device can be activated by unscrewing the cap 15, so that light illuminates the photodiode 12 through the window 14 in the bottom of the housing 13.

The device can be deactivated either by standing the cup on the surface, such that the lights shielded from the photodiode or by refitting the cap 15.

The assembly can again be detached from the body 10 of the cup, whilst the latter is being washed or sterilised. The aperture 17a is shown as the access to the usb port in the recess of the housing 17.