Bizarre Patents
Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8064817 | Multimode recording and transmitting apparatus and its use in an interactive group response system A network of terminals, where each terminal is operable by a student in a group as a response apparatus, is in contemporaneous communication with a teacher station. The modes of operation include visual, i.e. hand writing, hand drawing and typing, as well as audio, ... | 11/22/2011 |
| 7333768 | Apparatus and method for sound storage and retrieval A system for the storage and retrieval of audio files includes an audio storage and retrieval device and a label with an encoded memory storage address. The audio storage and retrieval device includes a memory for storing a plurality of audio files where each stored... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7278584 | Portable electronic music devices with convenient or foldable transaction cards Convenient transaction cards are provided that may be attached or interconnected with portable electronic music devices, such as MP3 players, the iPod™ digital music device, and other like portable electronic music devices. The transaction cards may be foldable to... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7272563 | Personal computer and scanner for generating conversation utterances to a remote listener in response to a quiet selection A user conducts a telephone conversation without speaking. It does this by moving the participant in the public situation to a quiet mode of communication (e.g., keyboard, buttons, touchscreen). All the other participants are allowed to continue using their usual au... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7267371 | Written correspondence kit A correspondence kit and method for continued and repeated mailing or sharing or exchanging of a journal between two or more participants. The kit includes a journal of blank writing pages, multiple mailing envelopes, a primary sending envelope and accessories such ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7243824 | Holder for a portable wireless instrument A holder for a portable wireless instrument has a pocket portion to contain the portable wireless instrument. The wireless instrument has a vibration function announcing an incoming call. A band portion fastens the pocket portion on an arm of a wearer. A vibration t... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7240442 | Folding magazine insert A sound-producing folding insert for a magazine is disclosed. A foldable support structure comprises a primary page and a secondary page. The secondary page is folded upon itself to form a pocket that retains a sound emitting means. The sound emitting means includes... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7234253 | Advertising/promotional display system with integral sound generating means By providing a pre-printed housing member which automatically expands from a flat, generally two-dimensional configuration into a three-dimensional promotional display and also incorporating a sound generator which is activated simultaneously with the movement of th... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7228189 | Synchronized streamed playback and recording for personal computers A method is provided for synchronizing an audio capture program with a streamed audio file. The method comprises receiving at least one selection request from a user connected to a server device, the transmission of a program from the server device to the user clien... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7224934 | Talking book employing photoelectronics for autonomous page recognition Systems and methods of creating talking books that employ photo-electronics to realize autonomous page recognition, are provided. More particularly, systems and methods are provided for employing one or more light sensing components (e.g., photoresistors, phototrans... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7222797 | Multimedia gift card A promotional tool and a vehicle used to distribute products, information, gift certificates, prepaid phone cards, and coupons for businesses, corporations, retail establishments, universities, and sales personnel. A customized gift card displays professionally crea... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7188068 | Method and apparatus for data reception An integrated receiver decoder (IRD) includes a receiver and an MPEG audio decoder for receiving and decoding a compressed digital broadcast signal. A first output terminal connects to a bi-directional data communication line according to a first digital interface s... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7174010 | System and method for increasing completion of training Improving the frequency with which agents complete training in a call center or other constituent contact environment. Agents working in call centers are typically given periodic training to improve their skills. Training breaks are scheduled at various times throug... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7167100 | Apparatus for leaving message on refrigerator An apparatus for leaving a message on a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus can be mounted on the refrigerator so as to broadcast a voice upon opening a door of the refrigerator. A control unit for processing and controlling the voice is mounted on the main bod... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7152840 | Book holder A book holder removably attachable to a vehicle or structure such as a stroller, walker, wheelchair or car seat for mobile applications. The book holder for holding a book or drawing surface in a usable position thereon for by the occupant of the vehicle. The book h... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7149316 | Microcontroller having an on-chip high gain amplifier A microcontroller includes a wide band, high gain amplifier on-chip capable of driving a 32 ohm speaker. The amplifier is controllable by the microcontroller processor to either enable or disable the amplifier and switch between multiple modes of power. In one embod... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7149690 | Method and apparatus for interactive language instruction A method and apparatus for interactive language instruction is provided that displays text files for processing, provide key features and functions for interactive learning, displays facial animation, and provides a workspace for language building functions. The sys... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7044742 | Emergency reporting apparatus An emergency reporting apparatus is provided which is capable of easily acquiring passenger information necessary at the time of an emergency report and reporting as deputy for a passenger in the case of an emergency. The emergency reporting apparatus, in a training... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7006995 | Secure distribution of digital data A secure digital data distribution system (100) for preventing unauthorized access to digital data. The system utilizes an identification system module (116) embedded in a digital storage media (114) to grant authorization to media players (1... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6980120 | Universal remote control with digital recorder An improved universal remote control unit (URC) for home entertainment units. The URC has the typical remote controller module for controlling appliances such as TV, stereo, VCR or DVD. Additionally, the URC has a built-in digital recorder module for recording the c... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6966032 | Audio assisted setup apparatus and method An audio assisted setup apparatus and method include providing a set of audio instructions stored in a memory, and presented to a computer purchaser to assist in setup of a computer system. The apparatus is activated automatically upon a triggering event, and runs b... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6925358 | Toy robot and control system therefor A toy robot system includes a toy robot and a surface over which the robot can move. The surface is constructed from a number of modules of various types that may be joined together. Each module (except for spacer modules) includes at least one track segment along w... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6746246 | Method and apparatus for composing a song Songs are defined by a song template comprising at least one track comprising a sequence of measures and a plurality of audio samples allocated to the or each track. At least two songs are played to an audience, which responds indicating the popularity of each song.... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6668156 | Print media receiving unit including platform and print media A print media receiving unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the print media receiving unit comprises a platform that includes a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine. The spine may be disposed in a spine receiving portion in the p... | 12/23/2003 |
| 6589116 | Game with sounds and systems for its implementation The essence of the game with sounds consists in manipulation with game elements, each element containing a fragment of a sound sequence of musical compositions and (or) literary works. A player's task is to restore the integral sound image of original sou... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6506967 | Prerecorded musical arrangement teaching assembly and method A method is provided for training different members of a musical group to perform a selected rendition of a musical work. The method comprises providing a pre-recorded media with a plurality of tracks relating to the musical work. One track includes a pro... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6482564 | Electronically active primer layers for thermal patterning of materials for electronic devices The present invention provides an active primer that includes an electronically active material dispersed in a binder. The active primer can be disposed between a thermal transfer donor sheet and a receptor to assist selective thermal transfer of a materi... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6449460 | Teaching method and kit A method and kit for teaching disabled students, such as children with developmental delays and disabilities such as autism, through music. The method makes extensive use of an illustrated song book and individual sound recordings of appropriate songs wit... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6366758 | Musical cube An apparatus for facilitating an understanding and recognition of polyphonic and orchestral music in infants and small children includes a housing, a speaker within the housing, a plurality of input devices such as buttons positioned on the housing; and a... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6336028 | Software function adding method An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which it is possible to pre-warn the consumer who is trying to purchase contents that cannot be written on the PD that the contents cannot be written on the PD. Based on the PD writability infor... | 01/01/2002 |
| 6287560 | Audio or image processing system Provided is an audio or image processing system capable of realizing virtual cooking such that a child may comprehensively enjoy and learn cooking in general while following the cooking steps. The audio or image processing system to be used for playing a ... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6199076 | Audio program player including a dynamic program selection controller An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6167233 | Device for recording multiple discrete messages for a book A recording device that is coupled to a book. The recording device records, saves and plays back a plurality of discrete messages. An archival control disables and enables the device, thus permitting the user to ensure that no new messages will be acciden... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6155835 | Programmable apparatus A base unit has a microprocessor onboard and is programmable via a keypad. A drive is operable in accordance with a program input into the microprocessor in order to provide motive power to move the movable element. The base unit may be derived from a tel... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6080034 | Multi-cultural doll A multi-cultural doll is provided including a color changing mechanism situated therein for changing a color of the doll to simulate persons of various cultures.... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6079985 | Programmable sound and music making device An electronic sound and music making device includes a memory that stores a plurality of sound segments, such as musical notes, animal noises, etc., a keypad having a series of keys, each of each indicates and is associated with a different one of the sto... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6027428 | Automated method and apparatus for providing real time personal physical fitness instruction A system providing for personalized real-time instructions for physical fitness training. A data storage medium stores data comprising a set of instructions for physical fitness training on one or more tracks. A playback device reads the instructions stor... | 02/22/2000 |
| 6029042 | Educational audio playback device including hidden graphical images located below pivoting button elements A novel educational audio playback device is disclosed which, in the preferred embodiment, is in the shape of a simulated telephone. On the body of the apparatus are a plurality of buttons, each of the buttons having a hinged cover mounted thereon. These ... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5903869 | Stick-on microchip recording and reproducing apparatus temporarily fastenable in selectable locations for message conveyance-, audio mail-, product promotion-, or self-reminder purposes A stick-on audio microchip recorder/playback product for message conveyance-, audio mail-, product promotion and self-reminder purposes. The product enables a user to record a personal (or business-oriented) message or self-reminder, and non-permanently f... | 05/11/1999 |
| 5903266 | Audio setup and use instructions In a data processing system with built in audio capability, audio setup instructions are provided. Delivery of the instructions begins after the system is plugged in. Once a video connection has been established, the audio instructions may be supplemented... | 05/11/1999 |
