INTERACTIVE BOOK COVERING

Abstract

An interactive book covering is provided. The interactive book covering includes a backer, one or more securing mechanisms for securing the backer to a cover of a book, one or more flaps coupled to the backer and configured to fold over a front cover of the backer, and one or more picture holders coupled to the backer, each picture holder being configured to secure one or more pictures.

Claims

1. An interactive book covering, comprising: a backer; one or more securing mechanisms for securing the backer to a cover of a book; one or more flaps coupled to the backer and configured to fold over a front cover of the backer; and one or more picture holders coupled to the backer, each picture holder being configured to secure one or more pictures.

2. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more batteries configured to power one or more electric components coupled to the backer.

3. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more electric components include: a memory configured to store one or more audio recordings; a processor configured to send the one or more audio recordings to a speaker; and the speaker configured to play the one or more audio recordings.

4. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more electric components include a microphone configured to record one or more audio files.

5. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more electric components include one or more light sources.

6. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more flaps, when folded over the front cover of the backer, cover the one or more picture holders.

7. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are selectively removable from the cover of the book.

8. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are foldable.

9. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are rigid and configured to enable the cover of the book to be inserted into an opening formed by the one or more securing mechanisms.

10. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms include an adhesive.

11. An interactive book covering, comprising: a backer; one or more securing mechanisms for securing the backer to a cover of a hook, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are selectively removable from the cover of the book; one or more electric components coupled to the backer, wherein the one or more electric components include: a memory configured to store one or more audio recordings; a processor configured to send the one or more audio recordings to a speaker; and the speaker configured to play the one or more audio recordings; one or more flaps coupled to the backer and configured to fold over a front cover of the backer; and one or more picture holders coupled to the backer, each picture holder being configured to secure one or more pictures.

12. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 11, further comprising one or more batteries configured to power the one or more electric components coupled to the backer.

13. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more electric components further include a microphone configured to record one or more audio files.

14. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more electric components further include one or more light sources.

15. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more flaps, when folded over the front cover of the backer, cover the one or more picture holders.

16. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are foldable.

17. The interactive book covering as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are rigid and configured to enable the cover of the book to be inserted into an opening formed by the one or more securing mechanisms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an interactive book covering having folded flaps, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of an interactive book covering having unfolded flaps, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a front view of an interactive book covering having unfolded flaps, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a front view of an interactive book covering having unfolded flaps, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a front view, and internal components, of an interactive book covering having unfolded flaps, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a front view of an interactive book covering 100 having folded flaps 120 (FIG. 1) and a rear view of an interactive book covering 100 having unfolded flaps 120 (FIG. 2) are illustratively depicted, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] According to an embodiment, the interactive book covering 100 includes a backer 110, one or more flaps 120, and one or more securing mechanisms 130.

[0035] The interactive book covering includes one or more flaps 120 coupled to the backer 110 such that the one or more flaps 120 are able to fold and unfold around the area at which the flap 120 and backer 110 are coupled. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the flaps 120 are in the shape of wings and are reverse images of one another. However, other shapes may also be used to make the flaps 120 and the flaps need not be mirror images of each other.

[0036] When in the folded position, the flaps 120 in FIGS. 1-5 overlap such that one flap 120 is on top of the other flap 120. In other embodiments, the flaps 120 may be of a shape configured to not overlap when in a folded position. Also shown in FIGS. 1-5, the interactive book covering 100 includes two flaps 120. According to various embodiments, the interactive book covering 100 includes one or more flaps, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

[0037] The interactive book covering 100 includes one or more securing mechanisms 130. These securing mechanisms 130 are configured such that the interactive book covering 100 can be secured to a surface, such as the cover of a book. According to an embodiment, the securing mechanism 130 includes an adhesive. According to an embodiment, the securing mechanism 130 includes a pliable material configures to enable a user to bend one or more securing mechanisms 130 around a surface to secure the interactive book covering 100 to the surface. According to an embodiment, the securing mechanism 130 includes a rigid surface configured to enable a surface, such as the cover of a book, to slide through a gap formed by the securing mechanism 130, securing the interactive book covering 100 to the surface. According to an embodiment, the securing mechanisms 130 are selectively removable from the book or other surface.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, front views of an interactive book covering 100 having unfolded flaps 120 are illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The one or more flaps 120 are capable of unfolding, revealing the front portion of the backer 110. According to an embodiment, the front portion of the backer 110 includes one or more picture holders 140, a user interface 150 for playing and/or recording an audio file, and a series of holes 160 placed over a speaker/microphone 162 (shown in FIG. 5), and a trigger 170 for activating one or more functions of the speaker/microphone 162. According to an embodiment, the user interface 150 includes a button.

[0040] According to an embodiment, a user uses the button 150 to initiate a recording of an audio file. For example, the user may hold the button 150 down and speak into the speaker/microphone 162. The audio recording is saved in a memory in a circuit board 180 (shown in FIG. 5).

[0041] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the picture holder 140 is oval in shape and includes one or more securing mechanisms 142 for holding the picture in place. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the picture holder 140 includes a sleeve for inserting a picture. It is noted, however, that any suitable picture holder 140 may be used for securing one or more pictures or other media, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

[0042] According to an embodiment, at least one picture holder 145 is located on an inner portion of one or more flaps 120. A picture holder 145 on the inner portion of a flap 120 is visible only upon positioning the flap 120 in an unfolded position.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 5, a front view, and internal components, of an interactive book covering 100 having unfolded flaps 120 is illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the trigger 170 is attached to a circuit board 180, the circuit board 180 including at least a power source (such as, e.g., a battery), a memory, and a processor. According to an embodiment, when the flap 120 is placed in an unfolded position, the trigger 170 closes a circuit, triggering the circuit board 180 to send a pre-recorded audio file through a connector 170 (e.g., a wire) to the speaker/microphone 162, triggering the speaker/microphone 162 to audibly play the audio file.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the internal components are located between a front portion and rear portion of the backer 110 and are not clearly visible to a user through the backer 110.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the circuit board 180 may include a wireless data receiver (such as, e.g., a Bluetooth or Wifi adapter), enabling a user to wirelessly transfer one or more audio files to the memory in the circuit board 180. The circuit board may include these and other electric components. These electric components may, e.g., also include and/or power one or more light sources 190 (shown in FIG. 3). The light sources 190 may be positioned on or within the backer 110 in any location suitable for the lighting of a specific object or objects and may include any suitable light source (e.g., a light emitting diode).

[0047] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, and the are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective another, when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms including and having are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0048] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.