US4862438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pillow/audio system combination
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-10-29
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2007-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A pillow/audio system combination functioning as both a pillow and an audio system. A substantially rectangularly-shaped pillow casing has stuffing material therein. An audio signal generating device such as a tape recorder is provided within the pillow casing along with a speaker and a battery for providing audible sound. Switches are provided at the corners of the pillow and are connected to the signal generating device for energizing and deenergizing the same. A battery jack is provided on the pillow casing for recharging the batteries therein. An audio jack is also provided on the pillow casing for connecting to a piggyback pillow having therein a speaker, which also generates audible sound via the signal received through the audio jack and an audio extension cord. A pocket is provided within the pillow casing for housing the various components of the audio system.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Fry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R5/00; H04R5/02; H04R5/023; A; A47; A47G; A47G9/00; A47G9/10; A47G9/1045; G; G11; G11B; G11B31/00; G11B33/00; G11B33/02; G11B33/06; A47G2009/006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S5/00; Y10S5/904; Y10S5/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A pillow audio system combination comprising: a pillow casing defining a cavity therein, yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity; an audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating an electrical audio signal; a speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal; a battery disposed in said cavity and connected to said audio signal generating means for providing electrical power thereto; switch means connected in series with said battery and said audio signal generating means for selectively energizing and deenergizing said audio signal generating means by applying a compressive force to said switch means, said switch means disposed in said cavity and said compressive force being applied through said casing; and, an audio jack connected to said audio signal generating means for receiving said electrical audio signal from said audio signal generating means, said audio jack extending through and connected to said casing;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A pillow audio system combination comprising: a pillow casing defining a cavity therein, yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity; an audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating an electrical audio signal; a speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal; a battery disposed in said cavity and connected to said audio signal generating means for providing electrical power thereto; switch means connected in series with said battery and said audio signal generating means for selectively energizing and deenergizing said audio signal generating means by applying a compressive force to said switch means, said switch means disposed in said cavity and said compressive force being applied through said casing; and, an audio jack connected to said audio signal generating means for receiving said electrical audio signal from said audio signal generating means, said audio jack extending through and connected to said casing;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said casing is substantially rectangular-shaped and said switch means is disposed in a corner thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said corner of said pillow casing whereat there is disposed said switch means further includes a glow-in-the-dark patch portion whereby said corner whereat said compressive force is required for energizing and deenergizing said audio signal generating means can be seen in the absence of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said switch means includes two push-on push-off switches in parallel with one another and in series with said battery and said signal generating means, each of said switches thereby capable of causing the energizing or deenergizing of said signal generating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said switch means includes two single pole double throw switches connected in series with one another whereby said signal generating means is capable of being energized or deenergized at any particular time through either of said single pole double throw switches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising a second speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means and disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising timer means connected to said audio signal generating means for deenergizing said audio signal generating means after a preset period of time after said audio signal generating means has been energized via said switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination of claim 1 further including a piggyback pillow comprising: a piggyback pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity of said piggyback pillow casing; a piggyback speaker disposed in said cavity of said piggyback pillow casing; a piggyback audio jack connected to said piggyback speaker and leading through and connected to said piggyback pillow casing; and, an audio signal extension for connecting to and between said audio jack and said piggyback audio jack whereby said audio signal is received by said piggyback speaker for generating audible sound in response thereto within said piggyback casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said electrical battery is rechargeable and further comprising a battery jack connected in series with said rechargeable battery and leading through and connected to said casing whereby said rechargeable battery is recharged by connecting a recharging unit to said battery jack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising a pocket in said casing having an opening in said casing leading to the outside thereof; a zipper disposed at the opening of said pocket for selectively sealing and unsealing said pocket; and, wherein said audio signal generating means is disposed in said pocket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 10 further comprising a flap member connected to said casing substantially near and along said zipper, said flap lying over said zipper and connected to said casing at its other end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising a pillow cover having an opening, said pillow audio system combination received within said pillow cover through said opening, said pillow cover further including a handle attached thereto whereby said pillow cover and pillow audio system combination may be easily transported.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said handle includes an elongate strap and wherein said handle attachment includes a snap connector at each end of said strap having releasable male and female parts, one of said parts attached to said strap and the other of said parts attached to said pillow cover whereby said strap handle is attachable to said pillow cover by applying sufficient compression force to said male and female parts of said connectors to snap said parts together and wherein said strap and pillow cover are detachable from one another by applying sufficient pulling force to said strap handle to unsnap said male and female parts of said connectors from one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said audio signal generating means includes an audio tape player.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said audio signal generating means includes a radio receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
A pillow/audio system combination comprising: a pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity; an audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating an electrical audio signal selected from a group consisting of an audio tape player or a radio receiver; a speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal; a battery disposed in said cavity and connected to said audio signal generating means for providing electrical power thereto; and, two push-on push-off switches connected in series with said battery and said audio signal generating means and in parallel with one another, said switches disposed within said pillow casing whereby said audio signal generating means is selectively energized and deenergized by applying a compressive force to said switches through said casing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
A pillow/audio system combination comprising: a pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity; an audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating an electrical audio signal selected from a group consisting of an audio tape player or a radio receiver; a speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal; a battery disposed in said cavity and connected to said audio signal generating means for providing electrical power thereto; and, two push-on push-off switches connected in series with said battery and said audio signal generating means and in parallel with one another, said switches disposed within said pillow casing whereby said audio signal generating means is selectively energized and deenergized by applying a compressive force to said switches through said casing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
The combination of claim 16 further comprising an audio jack connected to said audio signal generating means for receiving said electrical audio signal, said audio jack leading through and connected to said casing and further including a piggyback pillow comprising: a piggyback pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity of said piggyback pillow casing; a piggyback speaker disposed in said cavity of said piggyback pillow casing; a piggyback audio jack connected to said piggyback speaker and leading through and connected to said piggyback pillow casing; and an audio signal extension for connecting to and between said audio jack and said piggyback audio jack whereby said audio signal is received by said piggyback speaker for generating audible sound in response thereto within said piggyback casing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein said electrical battery is rechargeable and further comprising a battery jack connected in series with said rechargeable battery and leading through and connected to said casing whereby said rechargeable battery is recharged by connecting a recharging unit to said battery jack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
156 words
The combination of claim 16 further comprising a pillow cover having an opening, said pillow/audio system combination received within said pillow cover through said opening, said pillow cover further including a handle attached thereto whereby said pillow cover and pillow/audio system combination may be easily transported, wherein said handle includes an elongate strap and wherein said handle attachment includes a snap connector at each end of said strap having releasable male and female parts, one of said parts attached to said strap and the other of said parts attached to said pillow cover whereby said strap handle is attachable to said pillow cover by applying sufficient compression force to said male and female parts of said connectors to snap said parts together and wherein said strap and pillow cover are detachable from one another by applying sufficient pulling force to said strap handle to unsnap said male and female parts of said connectors from one another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein said pillow casing is substantially rectangularly-shaped having four corners, at least one of said switches disposed substantially near at least one of said pillow corners.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
155 words
A pillow/audio system combination comprising: a pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity; an audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating an electrical audio signal; a speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal; a battery disposed in said cavity and connected to said audio signal generating means for providing electrical power thereto; and, two single pole double throw switches connected in series with one another and with said battery and said audio signal generating means, said switches disposed in said pillow casing, said switches requiring a compressive force to switch between respective poles thereof, whereby said audio signal generating means is selectively energized and deenergized at any particular time through either of said single pole double throw switches by applying a compressive force to said switches through said casing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
155 words
A pillow/audio system combination comprising: a pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity; an audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating an electrical audio signal; a speaker electrically connected to said audio signal generating means disposed in said cavity for generating audible sound in response to said electrical audio signal; a battery disposed in said cavity and connected to said audio signal generating means for providing electrical power thereto; and, two single pole double throw switches connected in series with one another and with said battery and said audio signal generating means, said switches disposed in said pillow casing, said switches requiring a compressive force to switch between respective poles thereof, whereby said audio signal generating means is selectively energized and deenergized at any particular time through either of said single pole double throw switches by applying a compressive force to said switches through said casing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
130 words
The combination of claim 21 further comprising an audio jack connected to said audio signal generating means for receiving said electrical audio signal, said audio jack leading through and connected to said casing and further including a piggyback pillow comprising: a piggyback pillow casing defining a cavity therein; yieldably-resilient stuffing material disposed in said cavity of said piggyback pillow casing; a piggyback speaker disposed in said cavity of said piggyback pillow casing; a piggyback audio jack connected to said piggyback speaker and leading through and connected to said piggyback pillow casing; and, an audio signal extension for connecting to and between said audio jack and said piggyback audio jack whereby said audio signal is received by said piggyback speaker for generating audible sound in response thereto within said piggyback casing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 21 wherein said electrical battery is rechargeable and further comprising a battery jack connected in series with said rechargeable battery and leading through and connected to said casing whereby said rechargeable battery is recharged by connecting a recharging unit to said battery jack.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
156 words
The combination of claim 21 further comprising a pillow cover having an opening, said pillow/audio system combination received within said pillow cover through said opening, said pillow cover further including a handle attached thereto whereby said pillow cover and pillow/audio system combination may be easily transported, wherein said handle includes an elongate strap and wherein said handle attachment includes a snap connector at each end of said strap having releasable male and female parts, one of said parts attached to said strap and the other of said parts attached to said pillow cover whereby said strap handle is attachable to said pillow cover by applying sufficient compression force to said male and female parts of said connectors to snap said parts together and wherein said strap and pillow cover are detachable from one another by applying sufficient pulling force to said strap handle to unsnap said male and female parts of said connectors from one another.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 21 wherein said pillow casing is substantially rectangularly-shaped having four corners, at least one of said switches disposed substantially near at least one of said pillow corners.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |