Patent Application
20060124382
The present invention relates to the enclosure for a receiver unit of a radio or other audio signal source use which is specifically designed to fit into a corner and provide sound quality which is improved by such corner placement. The envelope and angularly displaced speaker output location geometry featured in the invention provide an enhanced stereophonic sound quality which fills the room or other space with perimeter emanating sound having richer and fuller sound quality, particularly in the lower frequency ranges. In addition, the generally round cylindrical envelope enclosure shape of the invention is such that it fits more tightly into a corner or recess than conventional square, trapezoidal or rectangular shaped radio enclosures.
Radios are well known devices. More specifically, small and portable radio devices are commonly found in most homes or businesses. Conventional radio enclosure devices, however, are typically configured in a rectangular or other geometric shape having at least two parallel sides with the speaker(s) typically mounted on the frontal surface of the radio. This common design has two inherent disadvantages in that the envelope shape can become cumbersome and when placed in an out of the way corner, the generally rectangular shape does not efficiently fit into the corner recess but instead, leaves a great deal of space between the back of the radio and the inside corner. Such a poor fit results in user dissatisfaction as the radio then projects outwardly from the corner walls to an undesireable extent. Additionally, the frontal mounting of the speaker outlet ports, when used with the small and relatively inexpensive speakers typically found in conventional radios results in poor sound quality and a lack of bass, commonly referred to as tinney sound. Overcompensation for this tinney sound by adjustment of the tone control to emphasize the lower frequency response only increases the distortion of the speaker output sound.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a compact enclosure which will fit more tightly into an inside corner recess and the placement of which into a corner provides improved perceived sound quality to the user.
The present invention provides for an audio enclosure constructed to fit within a corner recess. The invention includes at least two speakers which are mounted inside the enclosure. These speakers are mounted tangentially and perpendicular to the inner surface of speaker outlet ports radially disposed inside the enclosure shell in the front half quadrant of the enclosure. These speaker outlet ports are positioned at an obtuse angle with respect to the vertical centerline of the front circumferential surface of the audio enclosure, as typically perceived by the user.
The present invention satisfies the needs for a small personal size radio which will fit into an inside corner with less residual open space between the rear face of the radio and the inside corner vertex than a conventional radio with a singularly coplaner elongated rear surface. When placed into an inside corner, the present invention will present the user with a lesser projection from the vertex to the radio front surface then conventional desk or portable radios.
The present invention also satisfies the need for a small personal size radio having a sound quality which is enhanced and otherwise perceptibly improved when placed into an inside corner of a room.
Referring to
As illustrated in
The preferred embodiment may also include switches or dial controls for typical functions associated with a radio, well known to those skilled in the art, and as depicted in
As is well known to those skilled in the art, the preferred embodiment of the Comer Audio Enclosure may operate from an external power source or alternatively may rely upon a battery source for the power supply. As illustrated in
As shown in
While the preferred embodiment is shown as a round object, there is no reason the structure must be entirely round. It could be oval shaped and still achieve the desired purpose of enhanced sound quality and corner fitting. Similarly, the enclosure may have some flat surfaces, for example, as a hexagonal shape, and still achieve these two purposes. The enclosure may have one or more horizontal flat surfaces about its circumference and still be within the shapes contemplated by this invention, for example, if the designer wishes to have the face plate or a portion of the rear surface become a flat horizontal surface, tangentially oriented with respect to the diameter of the enclosure.
The outer surfaces of the enclosure, having relatively smooth surfaces, are well-suited for application of art work, logos and graphics for advertising and promotional purposes.
