{{Short description|Sound activated electrical switch}} {{About||the 2017 film|The Clapper (film)}} thumb|right|240px|The Clapper with a cord plugged in at bottom The '''Clapper''' is a sound-activated electrical switch,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=twIzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UggGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6224%2C2334666 | title=A tale of useless toys | date=January 10, 2003 | work=The Free Lance-Star | accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref> sold since 1984 by San Francisco, California based Joseph Enterprises, Inc. Joseph Pedott marketed the clapper with the slogan "Clap On! Clap Off! The Clapper!".<ref>{{cite book|last=Harry|first=Lou|title=As Seen on TV: 50 Amazing Products and the Commercials that Made Them Famous|year=2002|publisher=Chronicle Books|location=California|isbn=978-1-931686-09-9|pages=90–91|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8_sMBcCVqEC&dq=%22the%20clapper%22%20clap%20on&pg=PT93|author2=Stall, Sam |chapter=The Clapper}}</ref>
The Clapper plugs into a U.S.-type electrical outlet, and allows control of up to two devices plugged into the Clapper.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=1059890 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030224025853/http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=1059890 | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 24, 2003 | title=The Clapper: Does It Work? | work=KCBD News | date=December 25, 2002 | accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref> An upgraded model, known as the '''Clapper Plus''', includes a remote control function in addition to the original sound-based activation.<ref name="Gizmodo">{{cite web | url=https://gizmodo.com/5624015/the-21st-century-clapper | title=The 21st Century Clapper | website=Gizmodo | date=August 30, 2010 | accessdate=24 December 2013 | author=Lam, Brian}}</ref>
Although meant to activate by clapping, The Clapper can inadvertently be triggered by other noises like dogs barking for example.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ktre.com/story/16366556/the-clapper-does-it-work | title=The Clapper: "Does It Work?" | work=KTRE News | accessdate=24 December 2013}}</ref>
==Patent== The smart Clapper was invented by Carlile R. Stevens and Dale E. Reamer, and issued U.S. Patent #5493618, had its application filed on May 7, 1993, and was granted on February 20, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|title=Method and apparatus for activating switches in response to different acoustic signals|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5493618|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== * {{cite news | url=https://www.courant.com/2005/02/06/thumbs-down-for-the-clapper/ | title=Thumbs Down For The Clapper | newspaper=Hartford Courant | date=February 6, 2005 | access-date=24 December 2013 | author=Kauffman, Matthew | archive-date=2013-12-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225062910/http://articles.courant.com/2005-02-06/business/0502060305_1_clapper-plugs-auld-lang | url-status=live }}
== External links == {{External media|float=right|width= |video1= [https://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/clap-clap-off-clapper-8099269 "Clap On! Clap Off! The Clapper"]. ABC News. July 16, 2009.|video2= }} * [https://chia.com/products/the-clapper Official site]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapper}} Category:Switches Category:Products introduced in 1984 Category:Home automation