Patent US4936780A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4936780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch sensor alpha-numeric blocks
Assignee: Vtech Ind LLC
•
Filing: 1989-01-31
•
Granted: 1990-06-26
•
Expires: 2009-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A series of educational blocks for teaching children the correct sounds of each letter of the English language as well as rudimentry words. Touching or depressing a surface of the block provided with particular indicia thereon would produce a sound corresponding to this indicia. This sound is produced utilizing a solid state memory and an associated speech synthesizer.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary A. Cogliano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:39
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/062; G09B17/00; G09B17/003; G09B17/006; A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2448; A63F2009/247; A63F2009/2476; A63F9/0098; A63F9/06; A63F9/12; A63F9/1204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A talking block comprising: a cube provided with dissimilar indicia on at least two outside surfaces of said cube; a plurality of switches connected to each of said outside surfaces provided with indicia, each switch connected to a separate outside surface; a solid state printed circuit provided with a non-erasable memory, said printed circuit included in the interior of said cube and connected to each of said switches; a speech synthesizer provided in the interior of said cube and connected to said solid state memory; and a speaker connected to said speech synthesizer for producing a sound associated with said indicia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A talking block comprising: a cube provided with dissimilar indicia on at least two outside surfaces of said cube; a plurality of switches connected to each of said outside surfaces provided with indicia, each switch connected to a separate outside surface; a solid state printed circuit provided with a non-erasable memory, said printed circuit included in the interior of said cube and connected to each of said switches; a speech synthesizer provided in the interior of said cube and connected to said solid state memory; and a speaker connected to said speech synthesizer for producing a sound associated with said indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The talking block in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said switches is capacitive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The talking block in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said switches is pressure sensitive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A series of talking blocks, each talking block comprising: a cube provided with dissimilar indicia on at least two outside surfaces of said cube; a plurality of switches connected to each of said outside surfaces provided with indicia, each switch connected to a separate outside surface; a solid state printed circuit provided with a non-erasable memory, said printed circuit included in the interior of said tube and connected to each of said switches; a speech synthesizer provided in the interior of said cube and connected to said solid state memory; and a speaker connected to said speech synthesizer for producing a sound associated with said indicia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A series of talking blocks, each talking block comprising: a cube provided with dissimilar indicia on at least two outside surfaces of said cube; a plurality of switches connected to each of said outside surfaces provided with indicia, each switch connected to a separate outside surface; a solid state printed circuit provided with a non-erasable memory, said printed circuit included in the interior of said tube and connected to each of said switches; a speech synthesizer provided in the interior of said cube and connected to said solid state memory; and a speaker connected to said speech synthesizer for producing a sound associated with said indicia.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The talking block in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of said switches is capacitive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The talking block in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of said switches is pressure sensitive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US491833A
Cited
US2315793A
Cited
US2879685A
Cited
US3101556A
Cited
US3087259A
Cited
US3382588A
Cited
US3491461A
Cited
US3460838A
Cited
US3768179A
Cited
US4651613A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-25 | 1993-12-25 | 1994-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-25 | 1997-12-25 | 1998-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-25 | 2001-12-25 | 2002-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |