Infant simulation system for pregnancy deterrence and child care training

Abstract

An infant care simulation system for use in teaching individuals the realities, responsibilities and constraints inherent in caring for young babies. The system also demonstrates the special problems of drug-dependent babies. Basically the system includes a doll having the shape and weight of a young baby and accessories of the sort used with such a baby. The doll and accessories are assigned to an individual for an extended period such as several days. A sound system and electronic circuitry are included within the doll to generate sounds simulating a baby crying at selected intervals for selected time periods. A spring loaded key or other manual switch is provided so that the individual can turn off the crying sound by holding the key in an off position. Preferably the key is secured to the assigned individual in a way preventing it being given to another person. Indicators showing rough handling, improper positioning of the doll, periods before a response is made to a crying signal, etc. are provided. Mechanisms demonstrating the characteristics of a drug-dependent baby are included. The overall system also includes accessories, such as car seats, strollers and diaper bags that are to be taken everywhere with the doll.

We claim: 
     
       1. An infant care simulation system for use by an individual in simulating early parenthood which comprises: a doll having approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   means within said doll for generating sounds simulating a baby crying;   crying interval timer within said doll for randomly starting said crying sounds within a selected time range;   crying duration timer within said doll for randomly setting crying sound duration within a selected time range;   quieting means for actuation only by an assigned individual to quiet said crying sounds; and   said quieting means requiring continuous .[.actuation.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.by the assigned individual during said crying sound duration.   
     
     
       2. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said quieting means comprises a key means secured to said assigned individual which must be engaged with said quieting means in said doll during said crying sound duration to maintain said doll quiet. 
     
     
       3. The infant care simulation system according to claim 2 wherein said key is secured to a bracelet around the wrist of the assigned individual, which bracelet can only be removed by being cut. 
     
     
       4. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means for sensing the position of said doll and for actuating said crying sound generating means if the doll is in a position other than on its back when said quieting means is actuated and in a position other than its stomach or side when the crying sound means is not actuated. 
     
     
       5. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means within said doll for indicating rough handling of the doll. 
     
     
       6. The infant care simulation system according to claim 5 wherein said means for indicating rough handling includes an inertial means that changes state upon an instance of rough handling and generates a visible signal indicating rough handling and a window in said doll through which said visible signal can be observed and means to initiate crying sounds for a selected interval. 
     
     
       7. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means for generating sounds simulating a baby crying in response to loud sounds in the vicinity of the doll. 
     
     
       8. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means for selectively causing the doll to tremble when crying to simulate a drug-dependent baby. 
     
     
       9. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means for delaying the quieting of the crying sound for a short period when feeding is begun to simulate a drug-dependent baby. 
     
     
       10. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said doll is anatomically correct and is formed from plastic material simulating the skin of a human baby. 
     
     
       11. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said system further includes accessory equipment to be kept with said doll at all times by said assigned individual, said equipment selected from the group consisting of car seats, strollers, diaper bags and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means within said doll, inaccessible to the assigned individual, for selecting the range of time between crying sound periods and for selecting the range of crying sound duration. 
     
     
       13. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means within said doll, inaccessible to the assigned individual, for selecting the volume of said crying sound. 
     
     
       14. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating crying sounds comprises a recording of a human baby crying and means for playing that recording. 
     
     
       15. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including at least one first light and means to energize said light in response to failure to actuate said quieting means within a selected time after initiation of a simulated crying period and a second light and means to actuate said second light in response to rough handling of the doll. 
     
     
       16. The infant care simulation system according to claim 15 where in said at least one first light includes a plurality of different colored light emitting diodes which are energized by said actuation means after different periods of time have elapsed between initiation of a simulated crying period and actuation of said quieting means. 
     
     
       17. The infant care simulation system according to claim 1 further including means to indicate tampering with the components within said doll. 
     
     
       18. An infant care simulation system for use by an individual in simulating early parenthood which comprises: a doll having approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   means within said doll for generating sounds simulating a baby crying;   crying interval timer within said doll for randomly starting said crying sounds within a selected time range;   crying duration timer within said doll for randomly setting crying sound duration within a selected time range;   quieting means for actuation only by an assigned individual to quiet said crying sounds;   said quieting means requiring continuous .[.actuation.]. .Iadd.engagement .Iaddend.by the assigned individual during said crying sound duration; and   recording means within said doll for indicating the time between initiation of a crying interval and actuation of said quieting means.   
     
     
       19. A method for training a person in proper child care and for familiarizing the person with the burdens of caring for a young baby wherein the person to be trained performs the steps of: taking custody of the following items:   a doll including means for generating sounds simulating a baby crying, timing means for randomly starting said crying sounds and for causing said sounds to continue for preselected durations and a quieting means receiver requiring continuous manual actuation;   at least one item of baby-related equipment selected from the group consisting of car seats, strollers, diaper bags; and   quieting means for connection to said quieting means receiver to quiet the doll during the connection period;   .[.takes.]. .Iadd.taking .Iaddend.the doll and said item of equipment wherever .[.he/she goes.]. .Iadd.they go.Iaddend.;   utilizing said items of equipment as with an actual baby;   whenever a crying period begins, engaging said quieting means; and   manually maintaining said quieting means in operative connection to said quieting means receiver to quiet the doll for the duration of a crying period.   
     
     
       20. The training method according to claim 19 wherein said doll further includes means for sensing position of the doll and for actuating said crying sound generation when the doll is in other than a particular position under predetermined conditions and includes the further step of said person placing said doll in said particular position during said predetermined conditions to quiet said doll. 
     
     
       21. The training method according to claim 19 wherein said doll further includes means for indicating rough handling of the doll and further including the step of said person handling the doll in a manner preventing said rough handling indicating means from being actuated. 
     
     
       22. The training method according to claim 20 wherein said doll further includes means for actuating said crying sound generating means in response to loud sounds in the vicinity of the doll and further including the step of said person actuating quieting means by eliminating said loud sounds. 
     
     
       23. The training method according to claim 19 wherein said doll further includes means for recording and indicating time between initiation of crying and actions by said person to end the crying period and further including the step of said person reviewing indicated time periods with an instructor. .Iadd. 
     
     
       24.  An infant care simulation system for simulating early parenthood which comprises: a doll having approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   means within said doll for generating sounds simulating a baby crying;   crying interval timer within said doll for starting said crying sounds at intervals;   crying duration timer within said doll for setting duration of said crying sounds; and   quieting means to quiet said crying sounds; wherein the interval timer within said doll randomly starts said crying sounds within a selected time range. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. An infant care simulation system for use by an individual in simulating early parenthood which comprises:   a doll having approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   means within said doll for generating sounds simulating a baby crying;   crying interval timer within said doll for starting said crying sounds at intervals;   crying duration timer within said doll for setting duration of said crying sounds;   quieting means to quiet said crying sounds; and   said quieting means requiring continuous actuation during said crying sound   
     
     
        duration. .Iaddend..Iadd.26.  An infant care simulation system for simulating early parenthood which comprises: a doll having approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   means within said doll for generating sounds simulating a baby crying;   crying interval timer within said doll for starting said crying sounds at intervals;   crying duration timer within said doll for setting duration of said crying sounds;   quieting means to quiet said crying sounds; and   a recording means within said doll for indicating the time between initiation of a crying interval and actuation of said quieting means.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.27.  A method for training a person in proper child care and for familiarizing the person with the burdens of caring for a young baby wherein the person to be trained performs the steps of: taking custody of the following items:   a doll including means for generating sounds simulating a baby crying, timing means for starting said crying sounds at intervals and for causing said sounds to continue for certain durations and a quieting means receiver requiring manual actuation;   quieting means for connection to said quieting means receiver to quiet the doll;   taking the doll wherever the he/she goes;   engaging said quieting means whenever crying sounds begin; and   manually engaging said quieting sounds in operative connection to said   
     
     
        quieting means receiver to quiet the doll. .Iaddend..Iadd.28.  A method for training a person in proper child care and for familiarizing the person with the burdens of caring for a young baby wherein the person to be trained performs the steps of: taking custody of the following items: a doll including means for generating sounds simulating a baby crying, timing means for starting said crying sounds at intervals and for causing said sounds to continue for certain durations and a quieting means receiver requiring continuous manual actuation;   quieting means for connection to said quieting means receiver to quiet the doll;     taking the doll wherever they goes;   engaging said quieting whenever crying sounds begin; and   manually engaging said quieting sounds in operative connection to said quieting means receiver to quiet the doll for the duration of a crying period. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The training method according to claim 28 wherein said timing means starts said crying sounds at random intervals. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. An infant care simulation system, comprising:   (a) a doll having the approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   (b) a means within said doll for generating a crying sound simulating a baby crying;   (c) a means for starting said crying sound; and   (d) a means for causing the doll to tremble when crying to simulate a drug-dependent baby. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The infant care simulator of claim 30 further comprising: (i) a crying sound duration timer within said doll for setting duration of said crying sound, and (ii) a quieting means to quiet said crying sound. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. An infant care simulation system, comprising:   (a) a doll having the approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   (b) a recording system within said doll for sensing and recording information useful for reviewing the care provided by an assigned individual throughout a selected period; and   (c) a means for indicating unauthorized tampering with said recording   
     
     
        system during said selected period. .Iaddend..Iadd.33.  An infant care simulation system, comprising: (a) a doll having the approximate shape and weight equivalent to a young baby;   (b) an internal system within said doll, including: (1) a means for generating a crying sound simulating a baby crying; and   (2) a means for starting said crying sound;     (c) a quieting means to quiet said crying sound; and   (d) a means for indicating unauthorized tampering with said internal system. .Iaddend.