Prenatal Learning Device and Method

The invention relates to a method for prenatal education and communication including the use of devices for transmitting sonic vibrations to a fetus while in the womb. The device permits the parent to determine what, when and how much is transmitted.

It has long been recognized that the human fetus, after a certain point in its development, will respond to external stimuli such as tapping on the mother's abdomen. It is further known that, as the fetus nears full development, the fetus will imitate patterns of vibration which are transmitted to it. However, no one has heretofore conceived for systematically communicating with and educating a baby in its mother's womb, especially in the manner encompassed by the present invention.

The present invention comprises a method and device for systematically educating and communicating with a baby in its mother's womb. Means for broadcasting a message, music or other desired sounds to the baby are located within means for positioning the broadcast means adjacent the mother's womb.

Preferably, the positioning means includes sound insulation means for minimizing the transmission of sound anyplace but to the womb. Also preferably, educational or like messages are prerecorded for broadcast to the baby, whereby the mother can be occupied in other pursuits while the message is being broadcast to the baby.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the written specification and appended drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the intended use and location of the invention by the mother;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the inside surface of the belt for supporting the unit;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic view of a modified arrangement incorporating this invention;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic view of a further modified arrangement incorporating this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, partially sectional view of the mounting of a typical speaker.

In the preferred embodiment, the device of the present invention includes a belt 10 to be worn around the abdomen of the mother (FIG. 1). Belt 10 has a pocket 13 in which a broadcasting device is placed (FIG. 3). The broadcasting device could be any of a number of different types, such as a miniature tape player, a compact radio receiver or simply a compact speaker wired to a remote signal source. Between this unit and the mother's body a layer 15 of suitable material, such as by an envelop-like flap so lined, is provided so that the unit will not create a hard, concentrated source of pressure against the mother's abdomen. However, the material of this layer has to be selected from materials which will not absorb and thereby not transmit the sonic vibrations, especially the soft, less penetrating sounds that are associated with soothing melodies such as lullabies.

The length of belt 10 is such that it can be wrapped about the user's abdomen and secured by suitable means such as strips 11 of fastener material such as Velcro, a trademark of Velcro USA Inc., Manchester, New Hampshire. Snap fasteners, buttons or the like could be substituted for Velcro. The ends of the belt on which the fastener strips are mounted are narrowed to form straps to facilitate use and reduce bulk. The central section 12 of the belt, that being the portion which will overlie the abdomen when in use, is thicker and wider than the rest of the belt. Substantially centered in this section is a recessed pocket 13. The pocket is provided to support the source of the sonic vibrations which are the object of this invention. The size and shape of the pocket may vary, depending upon the equipment which will be mounted in the pocket. The particular equipment, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a compact, cordless cassette player 14. Preferably, it is so constructed that its vibration source or transducer faces the inside surface of the belt. The walls of the pocket hold the player in place. The pocket is closed by a fabric cover or flap 15 hinged at the top and secured in closed position by suitably positioned strips 16 of material such as Velcro.

The belt must be of soft material and capable of readily flexing and of being easily shaped to conform to the user's body. Further, at least that portion of it which forms the flap 15 must be capable of transmitting sound waves rather than absorbing them. An example of a construction which has been found satisfactory is an outer envelop of a fine, closely woven fabric consisting of a mixture of about 65% polyester and 35% cotton similar to a percale. The envelope has a filling or polyester fibers, such as those used as the filler in pillows. After the filling has been placed in the envelop, the belt is tufted or quilted to stabilize the position of the filling. It has been found that a thin layer of the polyester fibers in the flap does not interfere with the transmission of the sonic vibrations through the flap.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the invention in which a small radio receiver 20 is substituted for the cassette player 14. The receiver 20 is powered by batteries which may be stored in the player or in a separate pouch the mother may wear elsewhere. The receiver 20 may have its own built-in speaker or, as illustrated, the speaker may be a separate unit and may even consist of a pair of speakers 21 to provide a stereophonic effect. When the speakers are separate units, they are mounted inside a protective shell 22 which has flanges 23 secured to the inside face of the inner layer of fabric forming the belt's envelop by Velcro 24 (FIG. 6). Other detachable means of securing the shell include snap fasteners or buttons. Whatever attachment means is used, it should permit the speaker and its protective shell to be removed so the belt can be laundered or dry cleaned. The protective shell is preferably a molded plastic component molded from a suitable material such as polypropylene or styrene. The wires connected to the speaker should lay on the surface of the pocket under the flap so that they also are removable with the speaker. The mounting of the speaker within the shell would be such as not to adversely affect the speaker's ability to produce the desired sound. Accomplishing this is conventional practice in the art of audio reproduction.

When a radio receiver is used as indicated in FIG. 4, the receiver 20 is preferably low powered to avoid reception of extraneous and unwanted signals. The source of the radio signals can be a very low powered transmitter 31 located in the same room or living quarters. The transmitter 31 may obtain its program from a tape deck or the like 32. The system illustrated in FIG. 4 has the advantage of keeping to a minimum the bulk and weight of the belt and its related equipment which the mother must carry. At the same time, the mother is free to move about and do whatever she wants or needs to do without interfering with the actual function of the equipment in delivering sound vibrations to the fetus.

FIG. 5 illustrates another modification in which the belt only mounts one or a pair of speakers. These speakers are connected by cable 39 to a signal source, such as a cassette player 40. The player can be carried by the mother or it can be worn by the mother as a separate pack. The signal source is made disconnectable by a cable plug 41. Once again, the speaker should be removably mounted to the belt and the cable to the signal source should be on the surface behind the flap covering the pocket and should emerge from behind the flap at a suitable point for connection to the signal source.

In the case of each of the equipment arrangements which have been described, the mother has full control of the timing and length of the sound program transmitted. The mother also has control of the content and, in some cases, may be able to make some assessment as to the effect of the transmissions on the fetus. The audio level is very low. Thus, in many cases, the mother can be using this invention without people around her being aware of that fact, particularly if the filler in the belt behind the speaker is of a sound absorbing material. The invention can be practiced using simple, compact and relatively inexpensive equipment and can be used repeatedly.

The belt could be so made that it will accommodate any of the equipment combinations which have been described. Thus, it could have a central pocket for either the cassette player or the radio receiver and a pair of spaced pockets for the separate speakers. Only those pockets would be used at any one time which are required by the equipment then in use. All of the equipment could be located in a single pocket or various items of the equipment could be located in separate pockets.

In use, educational messages or soothing messages are communicated to the baby by means of the broadcast device. Prerecorded educational tapes can be employed in the broadcast device. Professional taped educational messages could be used. Alternatively, the mother and father themselves could tape educational messages with their own voices. Such messages could comprise the A, B, C's, the presentation of simple words, the presentation of numbers, and etc. Nursery rhymes could be broadcast. Soothing music can be played. Soothing messages by the mother and father can be prerecorded and communicated to the baby.

By using prerecorded messages, the mother is free to go about her day's work while the baby is being educated or lulled to sleep in its mother's womb. By providing adequate sound insulation, the sound of the broadcast device is directed only towards the baby in the womb and is not heard by the mother or others around her.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention and several modifications of it, it will be understood that other modifications can be made without departing form the principles of the invention. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless the claims, by their language, expressly state otherwise.