TECHNICAL FIELD

In a particular non-limiting aspect, the present invention relates to baby mobiles.

BACKGROUND ART

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and broad consistory statements herein.

There is a commercially available cot mobile which is attachable by a long arm to the square railing of a cot, and has a mobile portion which is intended to hang above a baby lying in the cot. The mobile produces movement and sound in order to stimulate the baby's senses., However, there are several limitations to such commercially available mobiles.

For instance, the commercially available mobile has a very small predetermined number of tunes which it is capable of playing when the mobile is switched on. This is a significant drawback as babies quickly lose interest and development is impaired with exposure to same and repetitive environmental stimuli. Moreover, the use of tunes alone may lead to a more limited development of the baby's senses and cognitive skills than the use of a more broad ranging set of audio tools such as those involving language and educational programs. The carer of the baby is also limited to using the audio which is provided by the manufacturer during operation of the mobile, and so has no ability to moderate or choose their own audio which they believe to be most suitable for the baby.

Another disadvantage with the commercially available mobile relates to its limited attachment capabilities in being attachable only to the square railing of a cot, meaning that the mobile is not suitably placed for stimulating the baby's senses when the baby is moved to a location outside of the cot. Thus, it may be advantageous to provide a new mobile which reduces, limits, overcomes, or ameliorates some of the problems, drawbacks, or disadvantages associated with prior art devices, or provides an effective alternative to such devices.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention the invention may provide a mobile for a baby comprising:

- a head member, at least a part of which is adapted for movement or emission of light or sound;

- a suspension arm for suspending the head member;

- a mounting member for mounting the suspension arm on or to an appliance or furniture;

- an audio mechanism for transmitting or receiving audio signals from, or accessing media or audio files or programs stored on, an external peripheral device; and

- a speaker for producing sound synthesized from the audio signals transmitted or received from, or audio files or programs accessed on, the external peripheral device.

The head member may be adapted for movement.

The mobile may comprise a device holder for holding a mobile audio playing device. The device holder may be attached to, attachable to, or integrally formed with, the mounting member.

The device holder may be adapted for removable attachment to the mounting member. The device holder may be interchangeable with another device holder adapted to hold a different mobile audio device.

The mounting member may be removably connectable to the suspension arm.

The head member may be movably connectable to the suspension arm. It may be hung from the suspension arm. Suitably, it may be pivotably or rotatably connected to the suspension arm. The head member may rock on the suspension arm.

The mobile may comprise a power source. The power source may be comprised by the head member or the mounting member.

The mobile may comprise a rotating mechanism adapted to cause rotation of the head member. The rotating mechanism may be comprised by the head member. The rotating mechanism may comprise a motor.

The head member may comprise a light source visible from beneath the head member when activated. The light source may be activated on rotation of the head member by a rotating mechanism. The light source may be adapted to flash and/or emit multiple wavelengths of visible light.

The mobile may comprise a processor. The processor may be comprised by the head member. The processor may comprise an electronic circuit.

The electronic circuit may be connected with a printed circuit board.

The electronic circuit may be connected with the power source.

The electronic circuit may be connected with the rotating mechanism. The rotating mechanism may comprise a motor.

The electronic circuit may be connected with the audio mechanism and speaker.

The electronic circuit may be connected with the light source.

The audio mechanism may comprise an audio cable member. The audio cable member may comprise a device jack adapted for insertion into an audio port of the audio playing device.

The audio cable member may extend from the head member through the majority of the length of the suspension arm. In another form, the audio cable member may extend from the head member and along the majority of the length of the suspension arm. The device jack may be located proximate the device holder.

The audio cable member may comprise multiple audio cables. For instance, the audio cable member may comprise a first audio cable which extends through the head member and a second audio cable which extends through the suspension arm. The first audio cable may comprise a jack that is connectable with a port at the beginning of the second audio cable, which itself ends as the device jack.

The head member may comprise hanging decorations adapted to swing on movement of the head member or on user interference.

The head member may comprise a hanging arm adapted for connection with the suspension arm.

The hanging arm may comprise an outer portion and an inner portion.

The outer portion may be adapted for rotatable connection with the suspension arm. The outer portion may be adapted to rotate with respect to the suspension arm.

The inner portion may be adapted to avoid rotation whilst the outer portion rotates with respect to the suspension arm. The inner portion may be adapted for passage of the audio cable member there through.

The head member may comprise a housing adapted for connection with the hanging arm.

The housing may comprise an outer portion and an inner portion.

The outer portion of the housing may be adapted for connection with, hanging from, or rocking on the outer portion of the hanging arm,

The inner portion of the housing may be adapted for connection with the inner portion of the hanging arm.

The inner portion of the housing may be adapted to avoid rotation whilst the outer portion of the housing rotates.

The mobile may comprise a USB port for connection of a peripheral device. Examples of peripheral devices which may be plugged into the USB port include portable media or audio players, mobile phones, tablets and flash drives. With the peripheral device plugged into the USB port, the mobile may be adapted to play audio files or programs stored on or accessible via the peripheral device.

The mobile may comprise a display. The display may be adapted to show user options for playing or accessing media or audio files or programs stored in the mobile. The display may be adapted to show user options for playing or accessing media or audio files or programs on or accessible via the peripheral device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described non-limitative embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first mobile in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the audio connection pathway from the processor to a mobile audio device;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a mounting member for mounting on a square railing and a separate device holder which is attachable to the mounting member;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounting member for mounting on a round railing and a separate device holder which is attachable to the mounting member;

Fig. 5 shows the positioning of the battery power source in the head member;

Fig 6 is a perspective view showing the connection between the suspension arm and the hanging arm of the head member just prior to connection, with the inset showing a magnified front sectional view of the encircled components;

Fig. 7 is a front sectional view of the components of Fig. 6 with the suspension arm and hanging arm connected;

Fig. 8 is a front sectional diagrammatic view illustrating internal and external portions of the hanging arm and head member housing;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a second mobile in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the second mobile; and

Fig. 1 1 is an x-ray perspective view illustrating a circuit comprising power and data componentry. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first mobile, generally designated 2, comprising:

- a head member 4,

- a suspension arm 6 for suspending the head member 4 and being rotatably connected therewith,

- a mounting member in the form of a mounting bracket 8 for

mounting the suspension arm 6 on or to appliances or furniture 10,

- a device holder 18 for holding a portable audio playing device 14,

- an audio mechanism in the form of an audio cable member 12 suitable for transmitting audio output signals from the portable audio playing device 14, and

- a speaker 16 (see Fig. 2) connected with the audio cable member 12, the speaker 16 being adapted to produce sound in response to the audio output signals from the audio playing device 14.

Referring to Figure 2, the mobile 2 comprises an electronic circuit which comprises or is adapted to connect with:

- a printed circuit board 22 with processing unit,

- a power source comprising 3 x 1.5 V AA batteries 20 (see Figure 5),

- the audio cable member 12, speakers 16, and audio player 14,

- a rotating mechanism comprising a motor 24,

- an on/off switch 54, and

- a light source 26 (see Figure 5).

The head member comprises:

- a hanging arm 28, the top end of which is rotatably connectable to the suspension arm 6,

- a housing 30 which is movably connected with the bottom end of hanging arm 28,

- a decoration hanger 32 which surrounds and attaches to the

housing 30, and - hanging decorations 34 which hang from and are moveable along the decoration hanger 32.

The housing 30 takes a Saturn-like appearance, having top and bottom dome shaped portions, 42 and 44 respectively, projecting above and below, and being attached to, a central ring portion 46. Much of the electronic circuit is contained within the housing 30.

The decoration hanger 32 comprises an outer hanging ring 48 which is spaced from and surrounds the central ring portion 46 of the housing 30, and four spaced support arms 50 which connect the outer hanging ring 48 to the central ring portion 46.

The hanging decorations 34 comprise soft toys 36 (which in this case include teddy bears), suspension strings 38, and attachment balls 40. The attachment balls define diametric passages that enclose the hanging ring 48 so that the hanging decorations 34 are able to hang from and are slidable along the hanging ring 48.

Figure 5 shows the top portion 42 of the housing 30 from beneath, as separated and opened out from the bottom and central ring portions, 44 and 46 respectively, which are shown from above. Arrows 52 illustrate how the top portion is screwably attached to the inner ring, and arrows 54 illustrate how an on/off switch box 56 of the top portion 42 loosely fits in a box recess 58 of the central ring portion 46.

The view from beneath of the top dome portion 42 shows three battery recesses containing triple-A batteries 20 arranged triangularly around a central light globe 60.

The hanging arm 28 and the suspension arm 6 are shown in close proximity just prior to connection in Figure 6, and following connection in Figure 7.

The hanging arm 28 comprises a tubular outer shaft 62, and a tubular inner shaft 64 which passes through the central circular lumen 74 of the tubular outer shaft 62. The tubular inner shaft 64 defines a central circular audio lumen 76 The top end of the tubular outer shaft 62 comprises a hanging clip head member 66 which itself defines an external circular recess 68 beneath external circular clip rim 70.

The top end of the tubular inner shaft 64 enlarges to form a square nut head member 72 that centrally defines a circular nut lumen 78 which is a continuation of the central circular audio lumen 76.

An internal rim 80 projects into the lumen at the junction between the square nut head member 72 and the remainder of the inner shaft 64.

In the hanging arm 28, the audio cable member 12 passes up through the central circular audio and nut lumens, 76 and 78 respectively. In its passage through the inner shaft 64, the audio cable member 12 comprises a hanging audio cable 82 through which wires 84 pass. The hanging audio cable 82 terminates at its top end in a head member which is anchored by the internal rim 80 and has a jack 86.

The top end of the suspension arm 6 terminates in a suspension head member 88 which itself defines an internal circular recess 90 above internal circular clip rim 92, and an internal collar 94. The head member 88 of the suspension arm 6 defines a quadrangular space 96 between the internal collar 94 and the internal recess 90. The quadrangular space 96 is a continuation of a central circular audio lumen 98 which passes through the suspension arm 6.

In the suspension arm 6, the audio cable member 12 passes through the central circular audio lumen 98 and quadrangular space 96. Here, the audio cable member comprises a suspension audio cable 100 that terminates in a head member 102 which is surrounded and held in position by the internal collar 94, and comprises an audio port 104 which projects into the quadrangular space 96 and is adapted to receive the jack 86.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the hanging arm 28 is connected with the suspension arm by passing the square nut head member 72 of the hanging arm 28 up into the quadrangular space 96 of the suspension arm 6. This enables the external clip rim 70 to clip into the internal circular recess 90, and the internal clip rim 92 to clip into the external circular recess 68. At the same time, the parts of the audio cable member 12 passing through the hanging arm 28 and suspension arm 6 are connected by insertion of audio jack 86 into port 104. The reverse of this process may also be used to disconnect the hanging arm 28 from the suspension arm 6 along with respective parts of the audio cable member 12.

The connection enables rotation of the outer shaft 62 of the hanging arm whilst the inner shaft 62 of the hanging arm, the suspension arm 6, and audio cable member 12 avoid rotation. Such an arrangement limits twisting and damage of the audio cable member 12 during rotation of the outer shaft 62.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown the join between the bottom end of the hanging arm 28 and the housing 30. As illustrated, the housing 30 comprises an external wall 130 that is visible from the outside when the head member 4 is assembled, and an internal wall 132 that is surrounded by the external wall 130 and, the internal wall 132 defining an internal compartment 140 in which the internal componentry is situated.

The top of the external wall 130 defines an external circular top opening 34 through which the lower end of the hanging arm 28 passes. At its bottom end, the outer shaft 62 of the hanging arm curves around and up to form a pair of hooks 136 upon which the top end of the external wall 130 adjacent the circular top opening 134 hangs and rocks with movement.

The top of the internal wall 132 defines an internal circular top opening 138 through which the hanging audio cable 82 passes into the interior of the housing 30. The bottom ends of the inner shaft 64 of the hanging arm are attached to the top of the internal wall 132 of the housing where it bounds the internal circular top opening 138.

The electric motor 24 lies within the internal compartment 40 and has a rotary shaft 142 which rotates on powering on of the motor. Surrounding the upper portion of the rotary shaft 142 is a threaded member 144 which articulates with the teeth of a cog wheel 146. Two rotating arms 148 ^" extend between and interconnect the cog wheel 146 and the outer shaft 62 of the hanging arm 28. The motor 24 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 22 by wires 150.

Two types of mounting brackets 8 are shown in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. The mounting bracket 8a of Figure 3 defines a square recess 106 which is adapted for receipt of square railing 10 on appliances or furniture (see Figures 1 and 2), whilst the mounting bracket 8b of Figure 4 defines a round recess 108 which is adapted for receipt of round railing such as that sometimes found on cots. Each of the mounting brackets, 8a and 8b, also has: an arm attachment portion for telescopically receiving suspension arm 6, a device holder 18 in the form of a mobile phone holder 1 12, and a plurality of holes 1 14 adapted to receive pins or screws.

A device holder 18 in the form of a mobile tablet holder 1 16 is also shown as a separate component defining its own holes 1 14 for passage of pins or screws,

The suspension arm 6 comprises:

- a hollow proximal upright portion 120, the base of which is

receivably and removably connectable to the arm attachment portion 110 of the desired mounting bracket 8, the proximal upright portion 120 defining and exit foramen 124 proximate the region of attachment with the mounting bracket 8,

- a hollow curved intermediate portion 122 which is connectable at its proximal end to the top end of the proximal upright portion 120, and

- a hollow L-shaped suspending portion 1 18 attachable to the curved intermediate portion 122 at its proximal end, the distal end of the suspending portion 118 being connectable with the hanging arm 28.

The suspension audio cable 100 of the audio cable member 12 extends through the suspension arm 6 via the hollow shafts of the L-shaped suspending portion 1 18, curved intermediate portion 122, and proximal upright portion 120, before exiting through the exit foramen 124, proximate which point the suspension audio cable 100 terminates in a device jack 26. The hanging audio cable 82 of the audio cable member 12 extends down through the hanging arm 28 and into the housing 30 of the head member where it connects with the printed circuit board 22. Two speaker audio cables 130 extend from the printed circuit board 22 to respective speakers 16.

The mobile 2 may be assembled in the following manner:

- An item of furniture or appliance 10 is chosen on which the mobile 2 may suitably be mounted.

- If the item of furniture or appliance 10 has a square railing for attachment, such as in Figures 1 and 2, then mounting bracket 8a with square recess 106 is selected for mounting on the railing. Alternatively, if the item of furniture or appliance 10 has a round railing such as may be found on the edge of a cot, then mounting bracket 8b with round recess 108 is selected for mounting on the railing.

- The selected mounting bracket 8 is mounted on the railing 10 by placing the recess over the railing and then fastening the bracket to the railing via screws or pins through fastening holes 1 14. If the user wishes for the mobile 2 to be able to play music or sound from a tablet device such as an iPad then, before screwing or pinning the mounting bracket to the railing, holes 1 14 of the mobile tablet holder 1 16 should first be aligned with holes 1 14 of one side of the mounting bracket 8. The screws or pins should then be passed through the aligned holes in order to fasten the mounting bracket 8 with tablet holder 1 16 to the railing 10.

- With the bracket 8 mounted on the railing 10, the suspension arm 6 (with suspension audio cable 100 running therethrough) is attached to the bracket 8 by fittingly inserting the base of the proximal upright portion 120 into the recess of the arm attachment portion 1 10. A screw or pin is then passed through arm attachment hole 128 in order to secure the proximal upright portion 120 in place. - The top of the hanging arm 28 is then push clipped into the free end of the suspending portion 118 of the suspension arm 6, which action also causes connection of the hanging audio cable 82 with the suspension audio cable 100.

The mobile may be operated to play music, sound, or educational audio programs in the following manner:

- If the audio signal is desired to come from a hand-held audio

player 14 such as a mobile phone then the device is inserted into the device holder 18 of the mounting bracket 8, whereas if it is desired that the audio signal be sent from a larger audio player 14 such as a tablet device then that device is lodged in the more appropriately sized holder 116.

- The dangling device jack 126 at the proximal end of the

suspension audio cable 100 is plugged into a head member phone port of the audio player 14.

- A music or audio program is selected for playing by the audio player 14.

- The mobile 2 is switched on via the on/off switch 54, causing the audio signal being sent from the audio player 14 to be played by speakers 16.

- Switching on of the mobile 2 also causes the rotary shaft 142 and threaded member 144 of the motor 24 to rotate. This turns the cogwheel146 with rotating arms, leading to rotation of the outer shaft 62 of the hanging arm 28. Thus, the external wall of the housing 130 which hangs atop the hooks136 of the outer shaft 62 is caused to rock and rotate whilst the inner shaft 64, internal wall of the housing 132, and internal compartment 140 housing the componentry avoid rotation. At the same time the light begins to flash with the switching on of the head member's power source.

The location of the mobile 2 may be varied by simply detaching the suspension arm 6 from the mounting bracket 8 and then reattaching the suspension arm to another mounting bracket 8 mounted elsewhere. ln a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile comprises an input device and display screen present in the external wall of the housing 30, as well as a USB port which is accessible in the external wall of the housing 30 and is adapted for connection of a peripheral device such as a USB flash drive. The USB port, input device, and display screen each form part of the electronic circuit and are each connected by wires to the printed circuit board.

When the flash drive is plugged into the USB port and the mobile is switched on, files on the flash drive are displayed on the screen. The user is then able to use the input device to scroll through the files and select the media or audio file or files that they wish to play.

In another embodiment of the invention, the audio cable member 12 comprises a USB jack or port instead of, or in addition to, each of the audio jack 86, audio port 104 and device jack 126. This enables peripheral devices such as flash drives, mobile phones and tablets to be connected by a USB connection to the audio cable member 12 proximate the device holder 18 or proximal end of the suspension arm 6.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, there is shown a second mobile, generally designated 200. Some features of the second mobile 200 alike to the first mobile 2 have been referenced with the same numerals. The second mobile 200 comprises:

- a head member 4, a part of which is adapted for rotational

movement,

- a suspension arm 6 for suspending the head member 4,

- a mounting member, comprising a base housing 212 and a

mounting bracket 8, for mounting the suspension arm 6 on or to an appliance or furniture 10,

- a device holder 18 for holding a portable audio playing device 14 (see also Fig. 1 1 ),

- an audio mechanism in the form of an audio cable member 12 suitable for transmitting audio output signals from the portable audio playing device 14, and - a speaker 16 (see Fig. 1 1 ) connected with the audio cable member 12, the speaker 16 being adapted to produce sound synthesised from the audio output signals transmitted from the audio playing device 14.

Referring to Figure 1 1 , the mobile 200 comprise*s a circuit. The circuit may be adapted for the generation, manipulation, or transmission, of information or electricity. The circuit comprises or is adapted to connect with:

- a printed circuit board including processing unit 22,

- a power source comprising 3 x 1 .5 V AA batteries 20,

- the audio cable member \ 2, speaker 16, and audio player 14,

- a rotating mechanism comprising a motor 24,

- an on/off switch 54,

- a mute/loud switch 232,

- a light source 60, and

- power and/or data cabling 150, the power cabling directly or

indirectly connecting the power source 20 with the other components of the circuit, the data cabling directly or indirectly connecting the processing unit 22 with other components of the circuit.

The head member 4 of the second mobile 200 is intended to be suspended above a baby's head when lying on its back, the head member being adapted to offer visual stimulation for the baby, including change stimulation by virtue of component motion and variable light emission. The head member 4 comprises a head housing 208 connected to the suspension arm 6, and decorations 202 hanging from and attached to the housing 30.

As seen in Figure 10, the head housing 208 comprises a top external dome portion 204, a bottom external dome portion 206 with central raised area 240, an inner dome portion 234 with central aperture 242, a rotatable disc 236, and a base cap 238.

The top external dome portion 204 is removably connected with the suspension arm 6 and remains stationary. The inner dome portion 234 is affixed to the top dome portion 208, rim to rim, and also remains stationary. The disc 236 fits into, and on to an internal rim of, the central aperture 242 of the inner dome portion 234 so as to form a rotational sliding connection. The disc is also attached above to the rotary shaft 142 of the motor 24 (see Fig. 1 1 ), thereby causing sliding rotation of the disc 236 in aperture 242 during motor activation. The disc 236 is further attached below to the central raised area 240 of the bottom external dome portion 206 by virtue of three screws. Thus, rotation of the disc causes concomitant rotation bottom external dome portion 206 to which the decorations 202 are attached. The base cap 238 is clipped on to the underside of the bottom external dome portion 206, thereby hiding the raised portion 240 and attachment screws from the outside observer.

Unlike the housing 30 of the first mobile, head housing 208 contains only the motor 24 and light source 60 along with some power cabling 150, whilst the remaining componentry of the circuit is found elsewhere. The motor 24 is adapted to cause rotation of the bottom portion 206 of the housing with respect to the top portion 204 which remains still.

A pair of power cables 150 extends through the length of the suspension arm 6, with each of the cables ending in male-female

connections 210 at opposite ends of the suspension arm 6. The respective male-female connections 210 unite and electrically connect the distal end of the suspension 6 with the head member housing 208, and the proximal end of the suspension arm 6 with the base housing 212.

As seen in Figure 10, each end of the suspension arm has a female connector 216 with holes 218, the female connectors 216 being adapted for connection with respective male connectors 220 of the head housing 208 and base housing 212, whereby the holes 218 of the female connectors 216 receive pins 222 of the male connectors 220.

Unlike in the first mobile 2 wherein much of the electrical componentry is stored in the housing 30 of the head member, in the second mobile the base housing 212 contains the printed circuit board with processing unit 22, the batteries 20, the speaker 16, the on/off switch 54, the mute/loud switch 232, further power/data cabling 150, and part of the audio cable member 12 which then passes through hole 214 and continues on outside of the housing 212. These connections 210 are locked by catches 224 of the female connectors hooking into recesses 226 of the male connectors. A catch 224 may be withdrawn from its respective recess 226 by pressing in an unlocking tab 228, thereby unlocking the male-female connection 210 for separation thereof if desired.

As seen in Figure 10, the rear of the base housing 208 defines a clip recess

214 for clipping on to a clip member 216 of the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket 8 of the second mobile 200 defines a square recess 106 which is adapted for receipt of a square cot railing 10. Further, the mounting bracket defines multiple device holders 18 in the form of a pair of mobile phone holders 1 12 comprising recesses in the top of the bracket, and a mobile tablet holder 1 16 comprising a netted pocket at the rear of the bracket.

While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). The present invention is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the broad consistory statements. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and consistory statements herein. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components to be grouped therewith.