US3857191A - Visual-audio device - Google Patents

Abstract

A picture frame with a picture of a person mounted therein, a housing secured to the rear of the frame and a sound producing mechanism mounted in the housing for reproducing utterings made by the person. The sound producing mechanism includes a length of tape on which utterings made by the person are recorded and a tape storing and driving mechanism for driving the tape in a path along which a tape pickup head is situated. An amplifier is electrically connected between the tape pickup head and a speaker; and a switch is connected to the sound producing mechanism for energizing and de-energizing the same.

Description

United States Patent [191 Sadorus 1 Dec. 31, 1974 Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 113,564, Feb. 8,

1971, abandoned.

George P. Sadorus, Decatur, 111.

[52] U.S.Cl 40/28.l, 360/2, 360/109,

360/193 [51] Int. Cl. G091 27/00 [58] Field ofSearch 40/28.l, 28.2, 28.3;

3,661,395 5/1972 Ban 274/4 A 3,691,312 9/1972 Peterson 40/28.1

FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1 15,731 7/1929 Austria 40/28.1

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant E.raminer.lohn F. Pitrelli Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lockwood, Dewey, Zickert & Alex [57] ABSTRACT A picture frame with a picture of a person mounted therein, a housing secured to the rear of the frame and a sound producing mechanism mounted in the housing for reproducing utterings made by the person. The sound producing mechanism includes a length of tape on which utterings made by the person are recorded and a tape storing and driving mechanism for driving the tape in a path along which a tape pickup head is situated. An amplifier is electrically connected between the tape pickup head and a speaker; and a switch is connected to the sound producing mechanism for energizing and de-energizing the same.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUBEB31 I914 5.857. 191

SHEET10F 3 INVENTOR GEORGE F. SADORUS ATT'YS.

PATENTEDBEB31 IBM 3.857. 191

sum 2 or PATENTEDBEB31 1974 3' 857 19-1sum 3 or 5 1 VISUAL-AUDIO DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 113,564 filed Feb. 8, 1971, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements and innovations in a combined picture frame and sound producing mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a picture frame with a picture of a person therein with a housing secured to the rear of the frame and having a sound producing mechanism therein for reproducing utterings made by the person.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to utilize a sound producing means in conjunction with the showing of a picture, such as the picture projected from a slide projector. Examples of picture slide holders for holding a slide and an endless tape on which a message or sound is recorded are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,580 issued to J. L. Metz on Apr. 6, 1965 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,154 issued to D. M. Harvey, et al. on Oct. 4, 1966.

It has also been proposed to provide a three dimensional marine picture with means for moving a three dimensional ship in the picture to effect a pitching motion thereof with the means also producing sounds, incidental to the pitching motion of the ship, such as creaking motions and/or music. Such a three dimensional marine picture is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,366 issued to P. Van Zanten on Feb. 27, 1968.

However, a combined picture frame with a picture or photograph of a person mounted in the frame, a housing secured to the rear of the frame and a sound producing mechanism mounted in the housing for reproducing utterings made by the person has not been available. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame with a picture or photograph of a person mounted in the frame, a housing secured to the frame and a sound producing mechanism mounted in the housing for reproducing utterings made by the person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined picture frame, picture, housing, and sound producing mechanism as described above in which the housing serves as a means for supporting the picture frame in a generally upright position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined picture frame, picture, housing and sound producing mechanism as described above and in which the sound producing mechanism can receive and store endless tapes of different lengths so that utterings of different durations made by the person can be reproduced by the sound producing mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combined picture frame, picture, housing and sound producing mechanism as described above and in which the sound producing mechanism is battery powered, utilizes a tape on which utterings made by the person are recorded and includes at least one drum on which a portion of the tape is stored with the drum also serving as part of a means for driving the tape in a predetermined endless path.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a device which constitutes a permanent visualaudio recording of a particular person which is characterized by: its efficient utilization of space; its economic utilization of commercially available inexpensive components; its ease of manufacture and assembly; and its reliability whether frequently or infrequently used.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the present invention reference may now be had to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a picture frame with a picture mounted therein and constituting one illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. I viewed from a rear corner thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to show some of the mechanisms within the housing;

FIG. 4 is a view of the interior of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a self-contained visual-audio recording constituting a second embodi ment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the recording shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, partially in section and partially in elevation, taken online 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view on line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing the working mechanism of the recording; and

FIG. 9 is an electrical circuit diagram of the working mechanism of the recording.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 in greater detail, the picture frame of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1. As shown, a picture 11 of aperson 12 is mounted within thepicture frame 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be apparent that a casing orhousing 14 is secured to the rear of theframe 10 and, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, forms a means for supporting theframe 10 in a generally upright position. A sound producing mechanism, generally indicated at 16 in FIGS. 3 and 4, is mounted within thehousing 14. The sound producing mechanism is operated by apush button switch 18 which in the illustated embodiment is mounted on and protrudes through therear wall 19 of thehousing 14. Thesound producing mechanism 16 includes an endless magnetic tape 20'having a substantial portion thereof received and supported on two parallel spaceddrums 21 and 22, each rotatably mounted, respectively, on a pair ofidentical brackets 23 secured to aninner wall 24 of thehousing 14. Each of thedrums 21 and 22 has a plurality of spaced circular grooves thereon, indicated at 25 ondrum 21 and at 26 ondrum 22, in which thetape 20 is received when the tape is coiled around thedrums 21 and 22 as best shown in FIG. 4. The remaining portion of theendless tape 20 is trained or guided over two spools orwheels 27 and 28 rotatably mounted on theinner wall 24. One of the spools, namelyspool 28, is mounted on ashaft 30 which is releasably fixed in aslot 32 in theinner wall 24 and releasably held in place by a knurled thumb nut 34 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The adjustable mounting of thespool 28 permits thesound producing mechanism 16 to utilize continuous endless tapes of different lengths merely by changing the position of thespool 28. In this respect, it will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment one of thegrooves 25, 26 on each of thedrums 21 and 22 does not have tape received therein. Accordingly thespool 28 can be repositioned for mounting a longer or shorter tape on thedrums 21 and 22. Preferably, anidler roller 38 is mounted on theinner wall 24 in a position where it can engage thetape 20 for tensioning the same as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Agear 40 is fixed to one end of thedrum 21 for being driven by aworm gear 41 on ashaft 42 of anelectric motor 43. Themotor 43 is suitably mounted on aside wall 44 of thehousing 14. It will be understood that thetape 20 is driven by reason of the friction between thetape 20 and thedrum 21, as thedrum 21 is rotated by themotor 43, and that thedrum 22 is a free rotating drum which is driven by thedrum 21 by reason of the friction between thedrum 22 and the driventape 20.

Preferably, and as best shown in FIG. 4, the sound producing mechanism includes apower supply 46 which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes at least onebattery 48, as shown in FIG. 4. Thepower supply 46 is electrically connected to themotor 43 for energizing the same.

The sound producing mechanism16 also includes atape pickup head 50, a felt tape-supportingpad 52 positioned beneath thetape pickup head 50, aspeaker 54, and anamplifier 56 which is electrically connected between thetape pickup head 50 and thespeaker 54 and which is energized by thepower supply 46. In the illustrated embodiment, thetape pickup head 50 andamplifier 56 are mounted on theinner wall 24 of thehousing 14 and thespeaker 54 is secured to theside wall 44. It is to be understood that the components of thesound producing mechanism 16 can be of conventional known construction and can be purchased commercially.

It will be understood that a portion of theside wall 44 of thehousing 14 adjacent thespeaker 54 is provided with perforations or openings, partially indicated at 58 in FIG. 3. Also, it is to be understood that the perforations can be located at a different location. For example, the perforations can be located along thebottom margin 59 of the frame as indicated at 60 in FIG. 1.

Preferably, a portion of thehousing 14, such as therear wall 19, is detachable so that one can easily remove this housing portion for replacing thebatteries 48.

Operation of the sound producing mechanism is controlled by theswitch 18 which is interconnected with thepower supply 46, theelectric motor 43 and theamplifier 56. If desired theswitch 18 can be of the time delay type which, when actuated, will energize thesound producing mechanism 16 for a predetermined period of time at least equal to the duration of the recorded utterings on thetape 20.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, utterings made by theperson 12 in the picture 11 mounted within theframe 10 are recorded on a piece of tape. Then the ends of the tape are spliced together to form a continuous endless tape such as thetape 20. The tape is then mounted in thesound producing mechanism 16 within thehousing 14 so that the recorded utterings made by theperson 12 in the picture 11 mounted in theframe 10 can be reproduced as desired.

It will be understood that obvious modifications and variations can be made to the combined picture frame, picture, housing and sound producing mechanism of the present invention. For example, instead of having apower supply 46 mounted within the housing, thesound producing mechanism 16 can be energized from a conventional 110 volt AC source. Alternatively, thepower supply 46 can include a battery charging device and constitutea rechargeable power-pack.

Referring to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-9, the front elevation of this selfcontained audio-visual recording indicated generally at is comparable to the front elevation shown in FIG. 1. However, the mechanical and electrical construction and components of therecording 70 are quite different from those of therecording 10 shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1-4.

Therecording 70 comprises apicture frame 71 which may either be formed of wood, as indicated, or molded from plastic or fabricated from metal. Theframe 71 extends rearwardly a substantial distance on all four sides so as to provide a rearwardly opening cavity in the frame which is indicated at 72 (FIG. 7). Theportrait 73 of an actual person is secured in the front of theframe 71 behind a piece ofglass 74 in the usual manner. Accordingly, from the front thepicture 73 appears to be a picture or portrait of the particular person in a conventional frame.

Therecording 70 has arear cover 75 which is generally dish-shaped and includes a flat or planar rectangularrear wall 76 having four integral sides extending forwardly at an angle therefrom and terminating in acontinuous flange 77 which mates with the rear surface of theframe 71. The planarrear wall 75 is provided with perforations in the area P in registration with a loud speaker on the interior. Four screws 7878 provide an efficient and satisfactory method of securing therear cover 75 to theframe 71. The forwardly opening cavity 80 (FIG. 7) provided by therear cover 75 together with therearwardly opening cavity 72 provided by theframe 71 afford adequate space for housing the mechanical and electrical components of the self-containedaudiovisual recording 70. However, all of these components are mounted within therear cover 75 in a particular manner or arrangement.

Therear cover 75 may be formed of any desired material such as plastic or metal but desirably is molded from colored plastic (e.g. Plexiglas) on a quantity production basis at low cost. A flatrectangular plate 81 which may be formed of rigid plastic (FIG. 7) is cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the lower interior of the rearplanar wall 76 and supports a rectangular mountingplate 82 on four comer posts 83-83 in spaced relation with therear wall 76.

Amagnetic tape cassette 84 of known commercial type is mounted flat-wise on the front side of theplate 82 by means of apivot pin 85. Thecassette 84 contains an endless length ofmagnetic tape 86 suitably supported therein on spools one of which indicated at 87 is rubber covered and serves as the cassette drive spool. It will be understood that the particular construction of thecassette 84 does not form any part of the present invention.

Atension spring 88 serves to press thedrive pulley 87 of thecassette 84 into frictional driving engagement against adrive shaft 90 which projects forwardly through a bearing in the mountingplate 82 and the opposite end of which is journaled in another bearing in theplate 81. The portion of thedrive shaft 90 between theplates 81 and 82 serves to mount agrooved fly wheel 91 as shown in FIG. 7. Thespring 88 is anchored at one end on ascrew 92 projecting forwardly from the mountingplate 82 and at the opposite end it is hooked into anotch 93 in the side of thecassette 84.

A ma neti tape Pickup el jitfilsnow W n cial type is mounted on the front side of theplate 82 so as to have its tape engaging surface positioned to engage thetape 86 in the usual and known manner. The tape of themagnetic pickup head 94 has a pair of leads or conductors 95-96 extending therefrom. Thepickup head 94 is suitably mounted on the mountingplate 82 by a smallplastic support block 97 so as to be at the proper elevation for engaging thetape 86.

Asmall DC motor 100 of known commercial type is mounted on the mountingplate 82 to one side of thecassette 84 and serves to drive thetape cassette 84 in known manner. Themotor 100 is of such size and dimension as to partially project into the space orcavity 72 provided by theframe 71. Themotor 100 has a drive shaft projecting rearwardly therefrom which carries a small groovedpulley 101 so as to receive a roundendless belt 102 which passes over the groove in the 'flywheel 91. The conductors or leads from themotor 100 are indicated at 103 and 104.

In addition to the components or parts that have already been mentioned there are also mounted on the interior of therear cover 75 above theplates 81 and 82 aspeaker 105, a standard 9volt battery 106, two standard 1.5 volt dry cell batteries 107-107, anamplifier 108 and aswitch 110. Theswitch 110 has a manipulating projection 111 which projects rearwardly through a suitable opening in therear cover 75 as shown in FIG. 6.

Thespeaker 105 is of known type and desirably is cemented to the inner face of the planarrear wall 76 by means of suitable adhesive. Theamplifier 108 is a three-stage audio amplifier of known commercial type and is cemented to therear wall 76. Thebatteries 107 are held in place between the upwtanding spring arms of aclip 112 cemented to the planarrear wall 76. Thebattery 106 is retained in aclip 113 which is cemented to one of the inclined rides of thecover 75.

The electrical components are interconnected in conventional known manner as shown in the wiring or circuit diagram in FIG. 9. It will be understood that when theswitch 110 is actuated to its on" position thebattiers 107 serve to actuate themotor 100 while theamplifier 108 is energized bybattery 106. Thetape 86 is continuously driven in the one direction and utterings of the person shown in thepicture 73 that have been recorded on the tape are played in a continuous manner as long as theswitch 110 is in the on position.

With the foregoing arrangement of components the center of gravity of the audio-visual recording 70 is relatively low being below the vertical center line. This makes for stability when theunit 70 is rearwardly inclined on a standard 114.

I claim:

1. A personalized visual-audio recording of a particular person, comprising, a combination picture frame and housing having picture-receiving frame at the front and a rear wall, a picture of said person mounted facing frontward in said frame, a mounting plate supported within said housing in spaced parallel relation with respect to said picture and rear wall, and sound producing means within said housing for reproducing utterings made by said person, comprising, a tape cartridge pivotally mounted flatwise on the front side of said mounting plate and containing a magnetic tape on which said utterings are recorded and a drive pulley adapted to be driven by frictional engagement with a fly wheel shaft, an electric motor mounted on the front side of said mounting plate and having a drive shaft projecting rear wardly therefrom, a pulley mounted on the rearward end of said motor drive shaft, a fly wheel mounted on a fly wheel shaft journaled between said rear wall and said mounting plate and having a portion frictionally engageable with said cartridge drive pulley, spring means biasing said cartridge toward said fly wheel shaft and said cartridge drive pulley into driving engagement with said shaft, a tape pickup head mounted on the front side of said mounting plate in signal pickup engagement with said tape, a speaker mounted on said rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, amplifier means mounted on said planar rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, a switch mounted on said housing, electrical conductor means interconnecting said switch, motor, pickup head and amplifier in circuit relationship with a current source.

2. A personalized visual-audio recording of a particular person, comprising, in combination, a picture frame have interconnected sides which provide a rearwardly opening cavity, a picture of said person mounted in the front portion of said frame, a dished cover on the rear of said frame providing a forwardly opening cavity and having a planar rear wall generally parallel with said picture, and a mounting plate supported within said cover in spaced parallel relationship with a portion of said planar rear wall, said picture frame and said cover combining to form a housing, and sound producing means mounted within said housing for reproducing utterings made by said person, said sound producing means comprising, a tape cartridge pivotally mounted flatwise on the front side of said mounting plate and containing an endless magnetic tape on which said utterings are recorded and a drive pulley adapted to be driven by frictional engagement with a fly wheel shaft, an electric motor mounted on the front side of said mounting plate with a portion extending into said rearwardly opening picture frame cavity and having a drive shaft projecting rearwardly through said mounting plate, a pulley mounted on said motor drive shaft intermediate said planar rear wall and said mounting plate, a fly wheel mounted on a fly wheel shaft journaled between said planar rear wall and said mounting plate and having a portion extending forwardly through said mounting plate to frictionally engage and drive said cartridge drive pulley, spring means pivoting said cartridge toward said fly wheel shaft and biasing said cartridge drive pulley into driving engagement with said shaft, a tape pickup head mounted on the front side of said mounting plate in signal pickup engagement with said tape, a speaker mounted on said planar rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, amplifier means mounted on said planar rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, dry cell batteries mounted on the interior of said dished cover for powering said motor and amplifier, switch means mounted on said dished cover, and conductors electrically interconnecting electrical components.

Claims (2)

1. A personalized visual-audio recording of a particular person, comprising, a combination picture frame and housing having picture-receiving frame at the front and a rear wall, a picture of said person mounted facing frontward in said frame, a mounting plate supported within said housing in spaced parallel relation with respect to said picture and rear wall, and sound producing means within said housing for reproducing utterings made by said person, comprising, a tape cartridge pivotally mounted flatwise on the front side of said mounting plate and containing a magnetic tape on which said utterings are recorded and a drive pulley adapted to be driven by frictional engagement with a fly wheel shaft, an electric motor mounted on the front side of said mounting plate and having a drive shaft projecting rearwardly therefrom, a pulley mounted on the rearward end of said motor drive shaft, a fly wheel mounted on a fly wheel shaft journaled between said rear wall and said mounting plate and having a portion frictionally engageable with said cartridge drive pulley, spring means biasing said cartridge toward said fly wheel shaft and said cartridge drive pulley into driving engagement with said shaft, a tape pickup head mounted on the front side of said mounting plate in signal pickup engagement with said tape, a speaker mounted on said rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, amplifier means mounted on said planar rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, a switch mounted on said housing, electrical conductor means interconnecting said switch, motor, pickup head and amplifier in circuit relationship with a current source.

2. A personalized visual-audio recording of a particular person, comprising, in combination, a picture frame have interconnected sides which provide a rearwardly opening cavity, a picture of said person mounted in the front portion of said frame, a dished cover on the rear of said frame providing a forwardly opening cavity and having a planar rear wall generally parallel with said picture, and a mounting plate supported within said cover in spaced parallel relationship witH a portion of said planar rear wall, said picture frame and said cover combining to form a housing, and sound producing means mounted within said housing for reproducing utterings made by said person, said sound producing means comprising, a tape cartridge pivotally mounted flatwise on the front side of said mounting plate and containing an endless magnetic tape on which said utterings are recorded and a drive pulley adapted to be driven by frictional engagement with a fly wheel shaft, an electric motor mounted on the front side of said mounting plate with a portion extending into said rearwardly opening picture frame cavity and having a drive shaft projecting rearwardly through said mounting plate, a pulley mounted on said motor drive shaft intermediate said planar rear wall and said mounting plate, a fly wheel mounted on a fly wheel shaft journaled between said planar rear wall and said mounting plate and having a portion extending forwardly through said mounting plate to frictionally engage and drive said cartridge drive pulley, spring means pivoting said cartridge toward said fly wheel shaft and biasing said cartridge drive pulley into driving engagement with said shaft, a tape pickup head mounted on the front side of said mounting plate in signal pickup engagement with said tape, a speaker mounted on said planar rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, amplifier means mounted on said planar rear wall to one side of said mounting plate, dry cell batteries mounted on the interior of said dished cover for powering said motor and amplifier, switch means mounted on said dished cover, and conductors electrically interconnecting electrical components.

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