Patent Application
20060285320
The present invention relates generally to portable power supplies such as portable electric generators and portable air compressors and, more particularly, to portable power supplies providing integrated audio sources such as AM/FM radios, CD players, and two-way radios.
Portable power supplies such as electrical generators and air compressors are typically used at home or on a construction job site to power tools used in construction such as saws and nail guns. Because they are designed for portability, these power supplies are readily moved from one location to another and are typically placed in proximity to persons using the associated tools or other powered devices. Whether at home or on the job site, it is not uncommon for individuals to also bring AM/FM radios, CD players or other audio devices to the work site in order to provide music or other diversion to pass the time more enjoyably. Because an individual will often carry tools while moving a compressor, for example, from one location at a work site to another, he or she must often return to the original location to retrieve the audio player. Alternatively, the individual may simply increase the volume setting on the audio player to broadcast sound to a larger working area. Unfortunately, this may contribute to the overall noise level of a job site and may annoy or distract other workers.
It would be advantageous, therefore, for a portable power supply to be provided with one or more audio devices integral to the power supply body or housing so that the source of audio could readily remain in proximity to the user as the power supply is moved from one location to another.
A portable power supply such as an electrical generator or air compressor may include a support surface, such as a housing panel, adapted to receive and hold in place an integrated audio source such as an AM/FM radio, CD player, two-way communication radio, or device using random access memory for storage of audio data such as an MP3 player. A primary vibration dampening element such as a gasket is interposed between the cover or case of the audio source and the housing of the power supply in order to dampen vibrations caused by moving elements of the power supply such as an engine, motor, pump or associated moving parts. In addition, the vibrations caused by the power supply may be at least partially isolated from the housing by interposing secondary vibration dampening elements between the housing and the moving elements. Additional vibration dampening elements, such as pliable, rubber-like feet attached to the power supply, aid in dampening vibrations generated by the engine, motor or pump and therefore reduce the vibrations transmitted to the audio source. Through the use of dampening elements to isolate the audio source from the housing, and the moving elements from the housing, audio sources sensitive to vibration, such as radios and CD players, may be used even in association with power supplies known to generate significant vibration.
Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention.
As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Referring now to
As illustrated, the pump 10 and motor 5 are bolted to a bracket 30 that is further attached to the frame 20 or housing 25. The bracket 30 may comprise a U-shaped piece of rigid material such as steel having a horizontal base 35 and upwardly extending arms 40 and 45. After positioning the pump 10 between the bracket arms 40 and 45, the pump 10 is attached to the bracket 30 by screwing bolts or machine screws through holes 47 in the bracket arms 40 and 45 into tapped holes 50 in the sides of the pump 10.
The bracket 30 is attached to the frame 20 or housing 25 using a vibration dampening connector 55 (see detailed, cross sectional view in
In attaching the bracket 30 to the frame 20, the upper rod 60 is passed through a hole 90 in the lower surface of the bracket base 35 and threaded through an upper nut 85 proximate to the upper surface of the bracket base 35. The nut 85 is tightened until the cushion 70 abuts the lower surface of the base 35. The lower rod 65 is passed through a hole (not shown) in the frame 20 and then similarly secured in place through engagement with a lower nut 97. The nut 97 is tightened until the cushion 70 abuts the surface of the frame 20.
It should be appreciated that certain embodiments of a pump 10 could be directly attached to the frame 20 without the need for a bracket 30, in which case the vibration dampening connectors 55 would attach directly to the pump 10 or pump motor 5 housing, the innovation being the provision of vibration dampening means between the pump and the other structural elements of the compressor 1.
The audio device, such as a radio 95, typically includes a cover plate 100 that is secured to the housing 25 (see
To further enhance the vibration and shock absorbing qualities of the gasket assembly 110, springs 160 may be positioned between each of the cover 100, upper rigid gasket 120, pliable center gasket 115, and lower rigid gasket 125 so that the bolts 130 pass through the center of the springs 160 as the radio 95 and gasket assembly 110 are secured to the housing 25.
In an alternative embodiment in which a compact disc (CD) player 165 is integrated with the compressor 1 (see
Further vibration dampening may be achieved by providing cushioned feet 215 (see
In yet a further embodiment of an audio air compressor 1, a radio 235 with a digital station display 237 is integrated with the compressor through attachment to the compressor housing 25. It has been observed that radios with digital displays, versus mechanical dials, are somewhat less prone to deleterious effects of pump vibration such as loss of tuning. Therefore, a vibration-absorbing gasket may be omitted particularly if cushioned feet 215 are utilized to support the compressor 1. In the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
It should be appreciated that the present invention may be practiced with power supply devices other than air compressors, such as electrical generators, and that various audio devices may be employed in addition to radios and CD players as audio generating devices advance in the arts. In particular, it is foreseen that an audio device using random access storage media, such as an MP3 player, may be used in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60691146 | Jun 2005 | US |
