Patent Application
20130259283
The present disclosure relates generally to audio output devices, such as speakers. More specifically, this disclosure relates to audio output devices that include two or more speaker units, such as a stationary speaker unit and a portable speaker unit, that are configured to be used together and to be used separately from one another.
Portable speakers are often used with portable electronic devices, such as MP3 players (e.g., dedicated audio devices, such as the IPOD® portable digital music player available from Apple, Inc., etc.), smart phones, tablet computing devices, laptop or notebook computers, PDAs, CD players, and the like. To be portable, the speakers are normally compact and lightweight.
Being compact and lightweight, portable speakers provide reduced space for audio components. Additionally, because they are often transported and/or used in a variety of conditions, portable speakers are frequently damaged. Since their useful lives may be limited, and so they can be economically replaced, portable speakers are often produced with low cost components. Furthermore, to reduce power consumption and extend battery life, lower power components may also be used. As a result of size, cost, and/or power considerations, portable speakers generally do not include certain audio components that could provide an output quality, volume or intensity comparable to a larger, stationary speaker.
When the user is on-the-go, the portability and low power consumption and/or volume of a portable speaker may be useful or even desirable. However, although the quality, volume our output intensity of a portable speaker may be acceptable to some people under some circumstances, because of their generally low quality, volume and/or output intensities, their use is often impractical or undesirable in a variety of other environments, such as in a large room in a home or office. In such environments, a user wanting a high quality audio experience, to amplify sound or to increase volume may want an audio system with larger, less portable, and/or more powerful components. Thus, users who want to benefit from portability under some circumstances, but high quality, volume and/or output intensity in other situations, typically have to purchase multiple audio output devices.
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to audio systems with multiple speaker units that are separable and separately useable, but may also be used together. Such an audio system may also be referred to herein as a “multi-speaker system.” An audio system of this disclosure includes two or more speaker units configured to be used separately or together in a manner that provides flexibility for audio, or sound, output in a number of different environments and under a number of different circumstances. In some embodiments, an audio system may include a pair of speaker units, including a stationary speaker unit and a portable speaker unit. The speaker units of such an audio system may be modular. Each speaker unit may include one or more individual speakers. The speaker units may be configured to be physically, wirelessly, or otherwise operably coupled with one another.
In a more specific embodiment, a audio system may include a portable speaker unit, which may be operated in conjunction with, or separate from, a stationary speaker unit. In some embodiments, the portable speaker unit may receive audio signals (e.g., digital signals carrying data, analog signals, etc.) from an audio source. The speaker units may be physically coupled, such as by connecting the speaker units using an adapter or port or nesting the portable speaker unit at least partially within the stationary speaker unit, and establishing electrical communication between corresponding leads. Alternatively, the speaker units may be wirelessly connected or otherwise communicate with each other via a wireless communication protocol.
When the portable speaker unit is coupled with the stationary speaker unit, physically or wirelessly, or the portable speaker unit is otherwise used with the stationary speaker unit, the portable speaker unit may pass at least a portion of the audio signals (e.g., the data, etc.) received from the audio source to the stationary speaker unit to output sound. When the portable speaker unit is disconnected from the stationary speaker unit, the portable speaker unit may directly output sound. In some embodiments, the stationary speaker unit may receive an audio signal and pass at least a portion of the audio signal to the portable speaker unit to output sound and/or the stationary speaker unit may output at least some of the sound itself.
A first speaker unit of a multi-speaker system may include a coupling element, such as a feature, for receiving, but not necessarily engaging, a second speaker unit of the multi-speaker system. The coupling element may comprise a speaker mount configured to selectively receive or otherwise engage the second speaker unit. The speaker mount may comprise an integrally formed part of the first speaker unit, it may be connected to the first speaker unit using fasteners, by therein, or it may be associated with the first speaker unit in any number of other ways. In a specific embodiment, the speaker mount may include a recess or receptacle within a body of the first speaker unit. Such a recess or receptacle may have a shape and configuration corresponding to all or a portion of the body of the second speaker unit.
According to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the speaker mount of a multi-speaker system may be configured to enable the second speaker unit to at least partially nest with the first speaker unit. In some cases, one of the speaker units may include a stationary speaker unit designed or otherwise configured to provide a high quality, high volume, and/or high intensity sound output, while the other speaker unit may be designed or otherwise configured for portability and, thus, comprise a portable speaker unit with a lower quality, lower volume or lower intensity audio output. The speaker units may each have a speaker body.
The speaker mount of a multi-speaker system may seamlessly or substantially seamlessly (e.g., with a discernable boundary, coordinating features, etc.) integrate the first and second speaker units. A speaker mount optionally mounts the second speaker unit in a manner that is flush with one or more exterior surfaces of the first speaker unit. Multiple sections, materials, or segments of the first speaker unit may also match corresponding portions of the second speaker unit such that the second speaker unit visually blends with the first speaker unit when the first and second speaker units are assembled with one another.
One or both of the first and second speaker units may include user interface controls. Such controls may be on an exterior of a body of one or both of the first and second speaker units. Example interface controls may control volume, power on/off functions, audio device discovery, audio device syncing, equalizer functions, or other operations of the first and/or second speakers.
A multi-speaker system may include a physical (e.g., by way of wires, connectors, etc.) or wireless audio input for receiving audio signals from a selectively connectable audio source. The audio source may include a portable or stationary audio input device. One or both of the first and second speaker units may include an audio input configured to receive audio signals directly from the audio source. In some embodiments, the second speaker unit (e.g., a portable speaker unit, etc.) includes the audio input and, thus, receives audio signals from the audio source. The second speaker unit may act as an audio bypass by providing some or all of the received data from the audio signals to the first speaker unit (e.g., a stationary speaker unit, etc.), which provides a sound output. Such a bypass may occur when the first and second speakers are selectively coupled to one another. Alternatively, or in addition, the second speaker unit may output sound.
During operation, the first and second speaker units (e.g., portable and stationary speaker units, respectively, etc.) may operate independently and/or in a coordinated manner. In one embodiment, the first and second speaker units are configured to operate independently from one another when one of the speaker units (e.g., the portable speaker, etc.) is selectively uncoupled from the other speaker unit (e.g., the stationary speaker unit, etc.). In another embodiment, the first and second speaker units are configured to operate in a coordinated manner when coupled with one another. In still another embodiment, one speaker unit (e.g., the portable speaker unit, etc.) may be configured to pass audio signals or data to the other speaker unit (e.g., the stationary speaker unit, etc.) when the speaker units are coupled. Optionally, the first and second speaker units may be configured to selectively operate in each of independent and coordinated modes. In this regard, a switching component may be included in some embodiments of a multi-speaker system. A switching component may determine whether to send the audio signals or data to one or both of the first and second speaker units and to cause one or both of the first and second speaker units to output sound. In some cases, the switching component may evaluate whether a direct and/or physical connection exists between the portable speaker unit and the stationary speaker unit at a speaker mount or other coupling element.
In another aspect, a method for using a multi-speaker system with an audio source is disclosed. Such a method may include coupling at least two speaker units with one another. Coupling may include physical attachment, wireless coupling or any other suitable type of coupling. As an example, such a method may include inserting a first speaker unit into a receiving portion of a second speaker unit. The first speaker unit can be portable relative to the second speaker unit. A communicative link (wired or wireless) can be established between an audio input device and at least one of the first or second speaker units. In establishing the communicative link, the first and second speaker units may operate in a coordinated manner to output audio signals or data received from the audio input device. In some embodiments, the first speaker unit can be selectively removed from the second speaker unit, which may result in the first and second speaker units ceasing to operate in a coordinated manner.
Other aspects, as well as the features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
In order to describe the manner in which features and other aspects of the present disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of certain subject matter will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope and that, while drawn to scale for certain embodiments, such drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale for all embodiments, various embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to audio systems and, more particularly, to speaker systems that can be used in conjunction with an audio source to play or otherwise output sound, or audio signals from a variety of different speaker units, separately or in one or more different combinations. Examples of audio sources may include, but are not limited to, portable or stationary components. By way of illustration, portable audio input devices may include any number of devices, including, without limitation, digital media players (e.g., an ITOUCH, IPOD, etc.), smart phones, e-readers (e.g., a KINDLE or NOOK e-reader), laptop computing devices, so-called “slate” or “tablet” computers (e.g., an IPAD, XOOM, PLAYBOOK, or GALAXY TAB tablet computing device). Stationary audio sources may include desktop computers, televisions, optical disk players (e.g., DVD, BLU-RAY, etc.), set-top-boxes, audio receivers, stereos, audio recording equipment, or other devices that generally remain in one physical location during use.
The principles and uses of the teachings of the present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the disclosure. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure and embodiments related thereto can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that aspects of the present disclosure can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description below.
If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, feature, aspect, or the like, that does not preclude there being exactly one or more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a,” “an” or “the” element, such reference is not to be construed that there be only one of that element. It is further to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included, but may be optional or non-essentially included in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Absent language indicating that any component is essential or required, such component should also be understood to be optional or non-essentially included.
Methods of the present disclosure may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from, known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the present disclosure belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but, rather, as illustrative only.
Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present disclosure belong, unless otherwise defined. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.
Directional or relative terms such as, but not exclusively including, “bottom”, “below”, “top”, “above”, “back”, “front”, “left”, “right”, “rear”, “forward”, “up”, “down”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, and the like as used herein do not necessarily indicate, for example, that a “bottom” component necessarily be placed below a “top” component, that a component that is “below” is necessarily “below” another component, or that a component that is “above” is necessarily “above” another component. As such, directions, components or both may be flipped, rotated, moved in space, placed in a diagonal orientation or position, moved horizontally or vertically, or similarly modified. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that such example terms are to be used herein for exemplary purposes only, and primarily relative to the illustrations in the appended figures, to illustrate example relative positioning or placement of certain components, to indicate a first and a second component or to do both.
As shown in
In additional or other embodiments, a physical connection between the first and second speaker units 102, 104 may be provided. As shown in
As discussed herein, the first and/or second speaker units 102, 104 may be linked to an audio source (e.g., audio source 106, etc.) in a manner that enables audio signals or data to be transmitted from the audio source 106, and processed (if the audio signals or data is digital to generate an analog audio signal) and amplified and output as sound by one or both of the first and second speaker units 102 and 104 of the multi-speaker system 100. The audio source 106 may communicatively link to one or both of the first and second speaker units 102, 104. In one embodiment, for instance, the audio source 106 may be physically and/or communicatively linked to the second speaker unit 104. Such communication may be facilitated physically; for example, with a wire, connector, adapter, or the like. Alternatively, such communication may occur wirelessly; for example, with a set of communicating wireless receivers/transmitters in the audio source 106 and/or the second speaker unit 104. Regardless of the particular configuration, when the audio source 106 is connected to the second speaker unit 104, the second speaker unit 104 may process audio data, amplify an audio signal and/or output sound based on the audio signals or data from the audio source 106. In some cases, at least some audio signals or data received by the second speaker unit 104 may be transmitted to the first speaker unit 102. The first speaker unit 102 may receive audio signals or data from the second speaker unit 104 and store, process, amplify, or otherwise use the received audio signals or data. Thus, in some cases, the second speaker unit 104 may act as a relay to the first speaker unit 102. While acting as a relay, the second speaker unit 104 may continue to output sound, or its output may be turned off, enabling the first speaker unit 102 to provide all of the sound output.
In other embodiments, the audio source 106 may instead couple to the first speaker unit 102. For instance, one or more wireless transmitter/receivers may be included in the first speaker unit 102 to receive data from the audio source 106 and, optionally, to transmit data to the audio source 106. Alternatively, or in addition, a physical link, such as a connector, adapter or wire may be provided to physically connect the audio source 106 to the first speaker unit 102. Such a physical link may enable the transmission of audio signals or data in one or both directions between the audio source 106 and the first speaker unit 102. In still additional embodiments, the audio source 106 may couple to both of the first and second speaker units 102 and 104.
In at least one embodiment, the multi-speaker system 100 may be configured for use in a stationary environment. For instance, a user of the multi-speaker system 100 may be located in a particular location (e.g., a home, an office, etc.), and the multi-speaker system 100 remains generally stationary within that location. In some cases, the multi-speaker system 100 may also move, such as where the location is a vehicle; however, the multi-speaker system 100 may nonetheless be considered stationary because it remains in a relatively fixed location relative to its enclosure (e.g., the vehicle itself, etc.).
When the user is within the same location as the multi-speaker system 100, the user may connect the audio source 106 to the multi-speaker system 100 in any conventional manner and/or any other manner described or learned from this disclosure. Audio data stored or accessed by the audio source 106 may be transferred, as audio signals, to the multi-speaker system 100. The multi-speaker system 100 may then process and/or amplify the audio signals or data and output sound in a desired manner (e.g., at a desired volume, with desired sound characteristics, etc.). In one embodiment, the multi-speaker system 100 may selectively use one or both of the first and second speaker units 102, 104. In at least one embodiment, while the second speaker unit 104 is connected to the first speaker unit 102, the multi-speaker system 100 may automatically or upon user selection provide sound output solely through the first speaker unit 102 or the second speaker unit 104. In other embodiments, both the first and second speaker units 102, 104 may be used simultaneously (e.g., speakers may provide output for different audio channels, etc.).
As discussed herein, the first and/or second speaker units 102, 104 may also be movable relative to each other. In one embodiment, for instance, the second speaker unit 104 may be smaller and/or more lightweight relative to the first speaker unit 102. In such an embodiment, the second speaker unit 104 can optionally be detached or disengaged from, or otherwise uncoupled from, the first speaker unit 102. An example manner of uncoupling the second speaker unit 104 from the first speaker unit 102 is illustrated in
In detaching the second speaker unit 104 from the first speaker unit 102, a user may enable the multi-speaker system 100 to be operated asynchronously. As an illustration, the second speaker unit 104 may be lightweight, small in size, or otherwise configured to be portable relative to the first speaker unit 102 and/or a structure containing the first speaker unit 102. A user may, for instance, carry the second speaker unit 104 while exercising, while going to or from work, while on a vacation, or for any number of other occasions. While on-the-go, the user may be able to connect the audio source 106 to the second speaker unit 104 without using the first speaker unit 102, and indeed without even being near the first speaker unit 102. Thus, purely by way of example, a user could use the portable second speaker unit 104 while at work to play music or other audio data stored in a multimedia device (e.g., audio source 106, etc.). The multimedia device may be portable and, when the user returns home, the user can play the corresponding audio through the more stationary, first speaker unit 102. Optionally, the first speaker unit 102 can be operated without the portable second speaker unit 104 connected or linked thereto. In other embodiments, a dedicated device may be connected to the first and/or second speaker unit 102, 104. For instance, at an office, a user may connect a computer to the second speaker unit 104, while the first speaker unit 102 may remain at home, where a user may connect a multimedia system that includes a set-top-box, audio receiver, optical disk player, stereo and/or television to the first speaker unit 102. Of course, at any time, the user may also return the portable second speaker unit 104 to the home location and connect the second speaker unit 104 to the first speaker unit 102.
As discussed herein, an audio source 106 may take any number of forms and may connect to the first and/or second speaker units 102, 104 in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the audio source 106 may include a wireless transmitter. An illustrative wireless transmitter may be configured to communicate using a standard or proprietary protocol with either one of the first and second speaker units 102, 104. Such a wireless transmitter may also broadcast data or otherwise communicate with both the first and second speaker units 102, 104 and/or other devices at the same time. In other embodiments, the audio source 106 may couple to the first and second speaker units 102, 104 using a physical connection. An example of a suitable connection may include an audio wire with mono or stereo jacks on one or both ends thereof. A jack may, for instance, be connected to an audio output port of the audio source 106 and connected to an audio input port of the first speaker unit 102 or the second speaker unit 104. Other physical connections may also be used.
In certain embodiments, the first and/or second speaker unit 102 (
The user interface components 110, 112, 114 may take any number of different types as well. In
Although the user interface components 110, 112, 114 are illustrated on
It should be appreciated in view of this disclosure that one or more components of a multi-speaker system such as that disclosed herein may be configured to provide power to operate certain other components. Indeed, in some embodiments, one or both of the first and second speaker units 102 and 104 may each have different components requiring power, and optionally having different power requirements. The first speaker unit 102 of
The power requirements may be satisfied by including or connecting the first and second speaker units 102, 104 to a suitable power supply. In one embodiment, for instance, the first speaker unit 102 may include a plug or adapter to allow the first speaker unit 102 to be connected to a standard wall outlet for power. Optionally, such a power system may be the only power input system provided for the first speaker unit 102, although in other embodiments battery or other power input systems may alternatively or additionally be included in one or both of the first and second speaker units 102 and 104. In some embodiments, the second speaker unit 104 may be powered by or through the first speaker unit 102. For instance, one or more electrical leads may connect the first speaker unit 102 to the second speaker unit 104. Power received by the first speaker unit 102 may be provided to the second speaker unit 104. Optionally, the second speaker unit 104 may include a battery or other power storage element that can be charged by the first speaker unit 102. In other embodiments, a battery or other power supply of the second speaker unit 104 may be removable and replaceable, or may be charged by means other than the first speaker unit 102. In some cases, the first and/or second speaker units 102, 104 may also provide additional power capabilities. For instance, the audio source 106 may include a rechargeable battery. By connecting the audio source 106 to the multi-speaker system 100, the rechargeable battery may be charged. In another embodiment one or both of the first and second speaker units 102 and 104 may include a USB output or other power output that can enable the charging of other electronic devices, such as an audio source 106.
Turning now to
Optionally, the audio source 206 includes a wireless transmitter, and can communicate wirelessly with one or both of the speaker units 202, 204. In other embodiments, a hardwired or other physical connection may be used, as illustrated by the dashed lines in
The speaker units 202 and 204 are shown in
The embodiment shown in
To convey information to the speaker units 302, 304, the multi-speaker system 300 may include a receiving circuit 316. The receiving circuit 316 may include components for receiving audio signals or data from an audio source. In some embodiments, the receiving circuit may receive audio signals or data wirelessly (e.g., using the wireless interface 324) and/or using a hardwired or other physical connection (e.g., using a physical connector 326). Such a receiving circuit 316 may thus operate in any number of different manners. In some cases, the wireless interface 324 may receive a wireless signal. Such a signal may be according to any number of other protocols (e.g., AirPlay, Bluetooth, 802.11, radio frequency, near field communication, etc.). A physical connector 326 may also have any suitable construction, and can include standard or proprietary connectors or protocols. In some cases, other interfaces or combinations of different types of interfaces may be used. In at least one embodiment, for instance, a vibration sensor may be provided as part of the receiving circuit 316. Such a sensor may detect vibrations produced by an audio source 206 (
Optionally, the receiving circuit 316 may communicate with a switching circuit 318. In general, the switching circuit 318 may generally be used to identify or control where audio information is output. Based on the operation of the switching circuit 318, for instance, audio data may be transmitted to the stationary speaker unit 302, the portable speaker unit 304, or both.
The switching circuit 318 can operate autonomously or as a result of user input. In one embodiment, for instance, the portable speaker unit 304 may be removable from the stationary speaker unit 302. When the portable speaker unit 304 is removed, the switching circuit 318 may automatically indicate that audio data received by the receiving circuit 316 should be sent to the portable speaker unit 304. When the portable speaker unit 304 is then reconnected to the stationary speaker unit 302, the switching circuit 318 may automatically determine that all or some of the audio data should be transmitted to the stationary speaker unit 302. It should also be appreciated that the opposite may hold true and the switching circuit 318 could optionally determine that, when the portable speaker unit 304 is disconnected from the stationary speaker unit 302, audio information should be conveyed to the stationary speaker unit 302.
Regardless of when data is output to each of the speaker units 302, 304, optional stationary and portable amplifier circuits 320, 322 may be used to amplify sounds passed to respective speaker units 302, 304.
As discussed previously herein, a multi-speaker system may include multiple speakers that are optionally physically separable from one another. Accordingly, in some embodiments, components of a speaker system such as the multi-speaker system 300 depicted by
In particular,
In other embodiments, components may be otherwise distributed. In
In at least some embodiments, the multi-speaker system 500 may enable use of the portable speaker unit 504 when detached from the speaker body (see, e.g., speaker body 103 shown in
The embodiment in
In some embodiments, the switching circuit 518 may also act as a bypass mechanism for a default connection. For instance, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi-speaker system 500 may be configured to transfer audio information, by default, to a particular speaker unit 502 or 504. When operating as a bypass mechanism, the switching circuit 518 may detect when specified conditions are present. If such conditions are met, the bypass mechanism may bypass the default configuration and allow data to be transferred to an alternative or additional speaker unit. If the conditions are not met, the default configuration may be used.
As an example, the switching circuit 518 may detect when bodies of the portable speaker unit 504 and stationary speaker unit 502 are connected. When the bodies are not connected, audio data received by components of the portable speaker body may by default be directed to the portable speaker unit 504. If, however, the bodies are connected, the switching circuit 518 may bypass such default configuration to send all or some of the audio data to the stationary speaker unit 502.
While embodiments of the present disclosure are described in relation to a system including two speaker units—namely one stationary speaker unit 502 and one portable speaker unit 504—it should be appreciated that such a system is merely illustrative and any number of other configurations may be provided. For instance, in at least one embodiment, multiple portable speaker units are provided. In such a system, each of the multiple portable speaker units may be removed from a central location, which is perhaps a larger or more stationary speaker unit. The multiple portable speaker units could be distributed around a room or other location. Such a configuration could allow multiple speaker units to be used to provide surround sound, without the need to run wires and hardwire or permanently secure speakers at particular locations. Such a system could even be entirely portable to provide a portable surround sound system. When such components can all be interconnected to a single central unit, the portability and convenience of the system can be increased.
Regardless of the particular configuration of a multi-speaker system, such a system can be used in any of myriad applications. For instance, a portable speaker unit may be removed from a larger speaker unit and used in a vehicle or at the office. While in the vehicle or office, a user may connect a phone thereto to amplify received audio and provide speakerphone capabilities with enhanced and/or amplified audio. In some embodiments, for example, the portable speaker unit, stationary speaker unit or both may include a microphone, thus enabling a user to provide audio input to the speaker via the user's voice, which can then be communicated back to the user's phone. A laptop, tablet, or other device may also be used to allow stored or streamed audio information, radio data, or other information to be passed through and amplified by the portable speaker unit.
In view of the multiple applications and embodiments disclosed and contemplated by the disclosure herein, it should be appreciated that no particular configuration or construction is required. Indeed, any number of configurations, materials, and the like may be used to design or produce a multi-speaker system of the present disclosure. According to at least some embodiments, a multi-speaker body may thus be produced from different materials including one or more of polymer, organic, metal, alloy, composite, or other materials. Indeed, in the embodiment shown in
Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure or of any of the appended claims, but merely as providing information pertinent to some specific embodiments that may fall within the scopes of the disclosure and the inventions of the appended claims. For instance, the term “stationary” may be used to describe a portion of a multi-speaker system for use with an audio input device. The term “stationary” is not intended to have a specific meaning requiring that a structure be immovable or permanently affixed in a precise location. Rather, a “stationary” element may instead be more stationary relative to another component which may be considered to be more “portable” or have increased “portability.” In some embodiments, both the “portable” and “stationary” speaker units may be easily moved, transported and used in a variety of locations, including indoors, outdoors and with or without access to electrical wall outlets.
Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. In addition, other embodiments of the present disclosure may also be devised which lie within the scopes of the disclosure and the appended claims. The scope of the present disclosure is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. All additions, deletions and modifications to example embodiments, as disclosed herein, that fall within the meaning and scopes of the claims are to be embraced by the claims.
A claim is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) for the benefit of priority to the May 25, 2012 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/651,640 for MODULAR SPEAKER SYSTEM, COMPONENTS OF A MODULAR SPEAKER SYSTEM, AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME (the “'640 Provisional Application”). The entire disclosure of the '640 Provisional Application is, by this reference, incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61651640 | May 2012 | US |
