Gratuity Receiving Assembly

Abstract

A gratuity receiving assembly for receiving and acknowledging tips includes a housing, which defines an interior space. A slot is positioned in the housing. An audio module is engaged to the housing, is positioned in the interior space, and can broadcast an acknowledgement. A sensor is engaged to the housing, is positioned in the interior space, proximate to the slot, and can detect insertion of a tip through the slot into the interior space. The sensor is communicatively engaged to the audio module so that the sensor is enabled to signal the audio module upon insertion of the tip through the slot. The audio module thus broadcasts the acknowledgement upon receipt of the tip.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A gratuity receiving assembly comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space;   a slot positioned in the housing;   an audio module engaged to the housing, positioned in the interior space, and being configured for broadcasting an acknowledgement; and   a sensor engaged to the housing, positioned in the interior space proximate to the slot, and being configured for detecting insertion of a tip through the slot into the interior space, the sensor being communicatively engaged to the audio module, such that the sensor is enabled for signaling the audio module upon insertion of the tip through the slot, wherein the audio module is configured for broadcasting the acknowledgement upon receipt of the tip.   
     
     
         2 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is cuboid. 
     
     
         3 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is positioned in a top of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the audio module comprises:
 a battery;   a data storage module;   a microphone;   a speaker;   a switch; and   a microprocessor, the microprocessor being operationally engaged to the battery, the data storage module, the microphone, the speaker, and the switch, wherein the switch is configured for switching for signaling the microprocessor for actuating the microphone for recording the acknowledgement to the data storage module, such that the microprocessor is enabled for selectively actuating the speaker for broadcasting the acknowledgement to a person proximate to the housing upon receipt of the tip.   
     
     
         5 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 4 , further including:
 a cutout positioned in the housing proximate to the battery, wherein the cutout is configured for accessing the battery; and   a panel selectively engageable to the housing for closing the cutout.   
     
     
         6 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 1 , further including:
 an aperture positioned in the housing, wherein the aperture is configured for accessing the interior space for removing the tip; and   a plate hingedly engaged to the housing proximate to the aperture, such that the plate is positioned for selectively closing the aperture.   
     
     
         7 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 6 , further including a lock unit engaged to the plate and being selectively engageable to the housing for securing the plate over the aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the aperture is positioned in a back of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 6 , further including:
 a base unit;   a void positioned in the base unit, the housing being positioned in the void;   a slit positioned in the base unit and aligned with the slot, wherein the slit is configured for insertion of the tip into the slot;   an opening positioned in the base unit and aligned with the plate;   a flap hingedly engaged to the base unit proximate to the opening, such that the flap is positioned for selectively closing the opening; and   a closure engaged to the flap and being selectively engageable to the base unit for securing the flap over the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base unit comprises a stuffed animal. 
     
     
         11 . The gratuity receiving assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit comprises a seated teddy bear. 
     
     
         12 . A gratuity receiving assembly comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space, the housing being cuboid;   a slot positioned in the housing, the slot being positioned in a top of the housing;   an audio module engaged to the housing, positioned in the interior space, and 
 being configured for broadcasting an acknowledgement, the audio module comprising: 
 a battery, 
 a data storage module, 
 a microphone, 
 a speaker, 
 a switch, and 
 a microprocessor, the microprocessor being operationally engaged to the battery, the data storage module, the microphone, the speaker, and the switch, wherein the switch is configured for switching for signaling the microprocessor for actuating the microphone for recording the acknowledgement to the data storage module, such that the microprocessor is enabled for selectively actuating the speaker for broadcasting the acknowledgement to a person 
 proximate to the housing upon receipt of the tip; 
   a cutout positioned in the housing proximate to the battery, wherein the cutout is configured for accessing the battery;   a panel selectively engageable to the housing for closing the cutout;   a sensor engaged to the housing, positioned in the interior space proximate to the slot, and being configured for detecting insertion of a tip through the slot into the interior space, the sensor being communicatively engaged to the audio module, such that the sensor is enabled for signaling the audio module upon insertion of the tip through the slot, wherein the audio module is configured for broadcasting the acknowledgement upon receipt of the tip;   an aperture positioned in the housing, wherein the aperture is configured for accessing the interior space for removing the tip, the aperture being positioned in a back of the housing;   a plate hingedly engaged to the housing proximate to the aperture, such that the plate is positioned for selectively closing the aperture;   a lock unit engaged to the plate and being selectively engageable to the housing for securing the plate over the aperture;   a base unit, the base unit comprising a stuffed animal, the base unit comprising a seated teddy bear;   a void positioned in the base unit, the housing being positioned in the void;   a slit positioned in the base unit and aligned with the slot, wherein the slit is configured for insertion of the tip into the slot;   an opening positioned in the base unit and aligned with the plate;   a flap hingedly engaged to the base unit proximate to the opening, such that the flap is positioned for selectively closing the opening; and   a closure engaged to the flap and being selectively engageable to the base unit for securing the flap over the opening.