Patent Application
20210322889
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The disclosure relates to comforting devices and more particularly pertains to a new comforting device for soothing and comforting a user.
The prior art relates to comforting devices. Prior art comforting devices may comprise stuffed animals configured to emit pulsating sounds and sounds for entertainment.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a shell, which defines an interior space. The shell is pliable and thus is configured to be grasped by a user. A filler, which is resiliently compressible, is positioned in and substantially occupies the interior space. An audio module is positioned in the interior space and is configured to selectively emit a first sound, which mimics a heartbeat, and a second sound, which mimics a respiratory sound, such as breathing sounds and snoring. The audio module is configured to broadcast the first sound and the second sound to comfort the user.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
An audio module 18 is positioned in the interior space 14 and is configured to selectively emit a first sound, which mimics a heartbeat, and a second sound, which mimics a respiratory sound, such as breathing sounds and snoring. The audio module 18 is configured to broadcast the first sound and the second sound to comfort the user.
The audio module 18 comprises a housing 20, which defines an internal space 22, as shown in
The battery 24 may be rechargeable. A port 30 is engaged to the housing 20 and is operationally engaged to the battery 24. The port 30 is configured to engage a charging cord (not shown) to operationally engage the battery 24 to a source of electrical current to charge the battery 24. The present invention also anticipates the battery 24 being replaceable.
The shell 12 has an aperture 32 positioned therein proximate to the housing 20. The aperture 32 is configured to allow access the port 30. A flap 34 is engaged to the shell 12 proximate to the aperture 32 and is configured to selectively engage the shell 12 so that the flap 34 covers the aperture 32, as shown in
A controller 38 is engaged to the shell 12 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 26. The controller 38 is positioned to modulate at least one parameter of at least one of the first sound and the second sound. For example, the controller 38 may modulate a volume or a tempo of the first sound to mimic a variety of heartbeats. The controller 38 also may modulate a volume or content of the second sound to provide, for example, loud snoring, soft snoring, deep breathing sounds, or normal breathing sounds.
The controller 38 may comprise a button 40, which is depressible, as shown in
A plurality of ballasts 42 is engaged to the shell 12 and is positioned in the interior space 14. The ballasts 42 are configured to weight the shell 12. The mass of the shell 12 bearing on the user can provide a sense of companionship, which is beneficial in a variety of circumstances, such as loss of a loved one, separation, and the like. The plurality of ballasts 42 may comprise ballasts 42 that are positioned in legs 44, arms 46, a rump 48, and a head 50 of the shell 12, as shown in
In use, the shell 12 is grasped by the user and broadcast of the first sound and the second sound is initiated and controlled via the controller 38.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
