The present invention relates to a speaker cover used to cover a speaker in order to prevent rain and the like from falling on an operation portion including operation nobs, connectors, and the like when the speaker is used outdoors.
A speaker includes a diaphragm that is cone-shaped, for example, an actuator made up of a magnet and a coil for causing the diaphragm to vibrate, a housing for containing sound emitted from the rear of the diaphragm, and the like. When this speaker is used outdoors, it is necessary to prevent it from become wet with rain.
JP H9-205694A discloses a drip-proof speaker box. This patent document discloses that in this drip-proof speaker box, cable terminals for the connection of speaker cables are arranged in a recessed portion of the speaker box, and a cover for covering the speaker box is attached thereto via an elastic member made of rubber, sponge, flexible plastic, or the like, thus preventing the cable terminal portions of the speaker box from becoming wet with rainwater or the like, and making it possible to reliably prevent rust and connection failures.
JP 2012-109715A discloses a speaker in an electronic terminal device, in which the speaker unit is built into a water resistant protective case made of a synthetic resin molding.
The speaker box and protective case disclosed in these patent documents are capable of protecting a speaker from rainwater according to their drip-proof or waterproof specifications, but also have complex structures and tend to become heavy when the size of the speaker increases. Also, since the box or case itself is given a drip-proof or waterproof structure, consideration is not given to removing the box or case during use when the weather is clear or in an environment in which waterproofing is not required.
The present invention has been achieved in light of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a speaker cover having a simple structure that can be attached to a speaker as necessary and prevent rain and the like from falling on an operation portion.
A speaker cover according to the present invention is a speaker cover for attachment to a speaker that includes a housing having a plurality of side surfaces and a ceiling surface, and an operation portion provided on one of the side surfaces, the speaker cover including: a cover body having a plurality of side surface portions covering the side surfaces of the speaker, and a ceiling surface portion connected to the side surface portions and covering the ceiling surface of the speaker; an open portion provided in the cover body and configured to expose the operation portion of the speaker; and an overhang portion provided above the open portion and protruding from the cover body.
The cover body has a structure including the side surface portions and the ceiling surface portion, and does not have a bottom surface portion, and thus can be placed over the speaker. In this case, even if cables are connected to the speaker, the cover body can be removably attached to the speaker without being hindered by the cables. By exposing the operation portion of the speaker through the open portion of the cover body placed over the speaker, operations can be performed on the operation portion from outside the cover body. Since the overhang portion is provided above the open portion, it is possible to prevent the operation portion from becoming wet with rain or the like. Also, if the speaker includes an electrical circuit such as an amplifier, heat generated by the electrical circuit needs to be released to the outside, and since the space inside the cover body is open to the outside through the open portion, heat emitted from the speaker can be released to the outside through the open portion.
Note that the overhang portion may be provided so as to protrude from the upper edge of the open portion, or it may be provided so as to extend the ceiling surface portion of the cover body.
In the speaker cover according to the present invention, a side wall portion that protrudes from a surface of the cover body may be provided on each of two side portions of the overhang portion so as to extend downward from a lower surface of the overhang portion.
The two side portions of the overhang portion are supported from below by the side wall portions, and even if the overhang portion is formed using a relatively flexible material such as fabric, the protruding position of the overhang portion can be stably maintained. Also, since the side wall portions also protrude from the cover body likewise to the overhang portion, three sides of the open portion are surrounded by the overhang portion and the side wall portions, and it is possible to prevent the intrusion of rain and the like on these three sides of the open portion.
In the case of these side wall portions as well, the side wall portions may be provided so as to protrude from side edges of the open portion, or may be provided so as to extend the side surface portions of the cover body arranged on the two lateral sides of the open portion.
Note that the overhang portion may have a hanging portion that hangs down from the protruding end portion of the overhang portion. The provision of the hanging portion makes it possible to reliably prevent the intrusion of rain and the like into the open portion.
Also, instead of providing the hanging portion, an obstructing portion that obstructs a portion of the open portion below the overhang portion may be provided between the two side wall portions, with a gap between it and the overhang portion.
In the speaker cover of the present invention, it is preferable that the overhang portion is displaceable between a protruding position of protruding from the cover body and an obstructing position of being arranged along the cover body, and is provided with a size large enough to be able to obstruct the open portion when in the obstructing position.
When the speaker is not in use, for example, the overhang portion can be caused to hang down in the obstructing position so as to obstruct the open portion, thus making it possible to prevent dust and the like from attaching to the speaker, and protect the speaker during transport and the like.
In the speaker cover in which the cover body has side wall portions, it is preferable that the overhang portion and the side wall portions are displaceable between a protruding position of protruding from the cover body and an obstructing position of being arranged along the cover body, and in the obstructing position, at least one of the overhang portion and the side wall portions, or a combination of at least two out of the overhang portion and the side wall portions is provided with a size large enough to obstruct the open portion.
Putting the overhang portion and the side wall portions in the obstructing position when the speaker is not in use, for example, makes it possible to cover the open portion.
Also, if the side wall portions protrude outward when the overhang portion protrudes from the surface of the cover body, the overhang portion can be supported from below by the side wall portions, and the protruding position of the overhang portion can be stably maintained.
In the speaker cover of the present invention, it is preferable that the side wall portions each have a protruding length greater than or equal to half the width of the open portion, an opening portion in communication with the upper portion of the open portion is configured to be formed between the overhang portion and the upper portions of the side wall portion by pointing the lower portions of the protruding ends of the side wall portions toward each other, and the overhang portion and the side wall portions forming the opening portion are configured to be latched to the upper end portions of the side wall portions and the two side portions of the overhang portion.
If the two side wall portions are opened halfway, the lower portions of the protruding ends thereof are pointed toward each other, and the upper end portions thereof are latched to the two side portions of the overhang portion, a chimney-shaped space having a triangular horizontal cross-section can be formed by the two side wall portions in front of the open portion, and since an opening portion is formed at the upper end portion of the space, heat can be effectively released from the speaker to the outside through the opening portion.
Note that in the case where the speaker cover of the present invention is formed from fabric or the like, the fabric may have a mesh structure or be formed using a waterproof material or a water repelling material that repels water drops, or be coated with a water repelling resin.
A speaker cover of the present invention can cover a speaker with the simple operation of being placed over the speaker, can be attached to a speaker as necessary and prevent rain or the like from falling on an operation portion, and has a simple structure.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Example of Speaker
First, the following describes a speaker on which a speaker cover of the present invention is used. As shown in
The portion of the rear surface 2b of the housing 2 that is provided with the jacks and the like is called an operation portion 9, and the intake holes 7 and the exhaust holes 8 are also provided in the operation portion 9. Normally, the operation portion 9 is provided on the rear surface 2b of the housing 2, but there are cases where it is provided on a surface other than the rear surface 2b, such as the side surface 2c or 2d, and also cases where the operation portion is provided at position below the diaphragm 3 on the front surface 2a where the diaphragm 3 is exposed. In the present invention, the front surface 2a, the rear surface 2b, and the side surfaces 2c and 2d are all called side surfaces. Note that the installed state can be changed. For example, in the case where the side surface 2c is placed on the installation surface, the side surface 2d becomes the ceiling surface of the present invention, and the front surface 2a, the rear surface 2b, the ceiling surface 2e, and the bottom surface become the side surfaces of the present invention.
In the examples shown in the figures, a rectangular recessed portion 11 is formed in the rear surface 2b of the housing 2. The audio cable jack 4, the power cable jack 5, the operation nob 6, the intake holes 7, and the exhaust holes 8, which are representative examples of members provided in the operation portion 9, are provided in the recessed portion 11. Although not shown in the figures, an amplifier and the like are arranged inside the housing 2, and an exhaust fan is provided on the inward side of the exhaust holes 8. As shown in
The following describes various embodiments that can be applied as a speaker cover used on the speaker 1.
First Embodiment
A speaker cover of a first embodiment includes a cover body that has a cuboid external shape and surrounds the housing 2 of the speaker 1. An open portion that exposes the operation portion 9 is formed in one of the side surface portions of the cover body, and an overhang portion and side wall portions are formed so as to protrude from the upper edge and side edges of the open portion. These portions will be described in detail below.
The cover body 22, the overhang portion 24, and the side wall portions 25 are formed from a fabric or board material. Although there are no particular limitations on the fabric or board material, one example is a fabric material that is made by weaving fibers made of a synthetic resin such as polyester, and is then given a waterproof coating using polyvinyl chloride or the like.
The cover body 22 has side surface portions 22a and 22b that surround the four sides of the housing 2 of the speaker 1, and a ceiling surface portion 22c that covers the top (i.e., the ceiling surface 2e) of the housing 2. The cover body 22 does not have a bottom surface, and therefore can be placed over the speaker 1.
The open portion 23 provided in the cover body 22 is formed by removing a major portion extending from the bottom of one of the side surface portions (the rear surface portion) 22b, while leaving the upper end portion and the two side portions remaining. Also, the overhang portion 24 and the two side wall portions 25 protrude outward from this side surface portion 22b, and the upper ends of the side wall portions 25 are connected to respective side ends of the overhang portion 24. Accordingly, the overhang portion 24 and the two side wall portions 25 function as a hood that surrounds the open portion 23 on three sides not including the lower side.
Although
Note that it is preferable that the material constituting the speaker cover 21 is thick in order to protect the speaker 1 from impacts and the like. Also, since the side surface portion 22a on the side opposite to the open portion 23 (i.e., the front surface portion) is the surface where the diaphragm 3 is arranged when the cover body 22 is placed over the speaker 1, it is preferable that the material constituting the front surface portion has a reduced thickness or is a mesh material or the like in order to not hinder the emission of sound from the diaphragm 3.
When the speaker cover 21 is placed over the speaker 1, the open portion 23 is aligned with the operation portion 9 of the speaker 1 such that the operation portion 9 of the speaker 1 is exposed through the open portion 23, and three sides of the operation portion 9 are surrounded by the overhang portion 24 and the two side wall portions 25. Although the audio cable 12 and the power cable 13 are connected to the speaker 1 as previously described, the cables 12 and 13 do not interfere with the cover body 22 when the speaker cover 21 is placed over the speaker 1 since the open portion 23 reaches the lower end of the cover body 22.
Due to covering the speaker 1 with the speaker cover 21, the operation portion 9 of the speaker 1 is surrounded on three sides by the overhang portion 24 and the side wall portions 25. This enables preventing rain and the like from falling on the operation portion 9 even if the speaker 1 is used outdoors or the like. Of course, since the operation portion 9 is exposed through the open portion 23, there is no impairment to performing various operations. Also, since the intake holes 7 and the exhaust holes 8 are also exposed, the release of heat from the housing 2 of the speaker 1 is not hindered. Accordingly, the speaker cover 21 can be removably placed over the speaker 1 even while the cables 12 and 13 are connected.
Variation of First Embodiment
The speaker cover 21 of the first embodiment, in which the overhang portion 24 and the side wall portions 25 protrude from the open portion 23 of the cover body 22, can have the structures shown in
With a speaker cover 31 according to a variation shown in
With a speaker cover 35 according to another variation shown in
With each of the speaker covers 21, 31, and 35 shown in
Among these variations, in the case where the side surface portions 22a on the two sides of the cover body 22 and the side wall portions 25 below the overhang portion 24 are formed as flush and continuous surfaces, one of the four sides of the cover body 22 is open over the entire width, thus making it easy to place the speaker cover 21 over the speaker 1.
Second Embodiment and Variations
Although the side wall portions 25 are provided so as to be continuous with the overhang portion 24 in the first embodiment, only the overhang portion is provided in a speaker cover of a second embodiment. The following describes the second embodiment and variations thereof in detail.
With a speaker cover 41 shown in
In a speaker cover 42 shown in
The speaker covers 41 and 42 shown in
Even with this structure in which only the overhang portion 24 protrudes from the upper end of the open portion 23 of the cover body 22, the operation portion 9 can be effectively protected from becoming wet with normal rain or the like falling from directly above when there is little wind.
In an embodiment in which the side wall portions are not provided below the overhang portion 24, and only the overhang portion 24 is provided, by forming the overhang portion 24 so as to extend over the entire width of the side surface portion 22b of the cover body 22, in the side surface portion 22b provided with the overhang portion 24, it is possible for the portion below the overhang portion 24, excluding the upper end portion of the cover body 22, to serve as the open portion 23.
Also, if the overhang portion is constituted by a flexible fabric, it can be hung down so as to obstruct the open portion 23 when the speaker is not in use. A configuration is possible in which the fabric is rolled up and held at the upper end of the open portion 23, and the rolled fabric functions as the overhang portion.
Also, instead of being rolled up, a configuration is possible in which the curtain 47A is folded in half, thirds, or the like and held to the upper end of the open portion 23 with a fastener such as a hook and loop fastener, such that the folded curtain 47A functions as an overhang portion. It is sufficient that the rolled up overhang portion or folded overhang portion is fixed to the cover body 22 using a detachable fastener 48, cord, or the like so as to prevent the overhang portion from hanging down. Instead of using a hook and loop fastener, a cord, or the like, a configuration is possible in which the overhang portion is held in the protruding position by, for example, one end of rod-shaped members made of a metal, a rigid resin, or the like being fixed to the two side edges of the open portion 23, and the other ends of the rod-shaped members being latched to the protruding end portion of the overhang portion.
Also, a configuration is possible in which, in order to hold the overhang portion in the state of obstructing the open portion 23 as shown in
The present invention also encompasses a configuration in which the overhang portion can be displaced between a protruding position in which it protrudes from the cover body and an obstructing position in which it hangs down along the cover body, and in this case, it is sufficient that the overhang portion is large enough to obstruct the open portion of the cover body when in the obstructing position.
Third Embodiment
In a speaker cover of a third embodiment, side wall portions that do not reach the bottom end of the cover body and are approximately half the length of the open portion are provided on both side ends of the overhang portion.
A speaker cover 51 shown in
With both the speaker covers 51 and 53, side wall portions are not provided in the lower portion of the open portion 23, and it is possible to favorably ensure the flow of air from the surroundings into the intake holes 7.
Note that in the speaker cover of the third embodiment as well, a configuration is possible in which by forming the overhang portion 24 so as to extend over the entire width of the side surface portion 22b of the cover body 22, in the side surface portion 22b provided with the overhang portion 24, only the upper portion of the cover body 22 is left remaining, and the side wall portions 52 are formed so as to be flush and continuous with the side surface portions 22a of the cover body 22.
Fourth Embodiment
In a speaker cover of a fourth embodiment, the speaker cover of the first embodiment is used as a base, and a front wall portion that connects the lower portions of the two side wall portions is provided.
In a speaker cover 61 shown in
The hanging portion 26 may be vertically connected to the protruding end of the overhang portion 24 in the speaker cover 61 shown in
Furthermore, a configuration is possible in which by arranging the two side wall portions 25 so as to be flush with and extend the two side surface portions 22a of the cover body 22, and forming the overhang portion 24 so as to extend over the entire width of the side surface portion 22b of the cover body 22, the opening portion 63 may be formed over the entire width of the side surface portion 22b of the cover body 22.
Fifth Embodiment
As can be understood from this series of figures, the protruding length (length in the width direction) of the two side wall portions 25 is greater than or equal to half the width of the open portion 23 formed in the one side surface portion 22b of the cover body 22, and in the obstructing position shown in
When the overhang portion 24 and the side wall portions 25 are put in the protruding position, as shown in
Note that although the two side portions 24a are provided on the overhang portion 24, a structure is possible in which side portions are provided on the sides of the side wall portions 25 that oppose the overhang portions 24, and these side portions of the side wall portions 25 are folded inward and support the overhang portion 24 from below, or are latched to the overhang portion 24 from above using fasteners.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the side wall portions 25 of the first embodiment shown in
Also, although the example of attaching the band 32 is shown in
Also, although these fasteners or the fasteners in fifth embodiment are used, fasteners are not necessarily required, as long as the band portions or the side wall portions and the overhang portion can be latched together.
Furthermore, a pocket capable of housing small items such as cables may be provided on a portion of the cover body.
1 Speaker
2 Housing
3 Diaphragm
6 Operation nob
7 Intake hole
8 Exhaust hole
9 Operation portion
12 Audio cable
13 Power cable
21 Speaker cover
22 Cover body
22
a Side surface portion
22
b Side surface portion
22
c Ceiling surface portion
23 Open portion
24 Overhang portion
24
a Two side portions
25 Side wall portion
26 Hanging portion
31 Speaker cover
32 Band
33 Adjustment portion
35, 41, 42, 45 Speaker cover
47A Curtain
47B Overhang portion
51 Speaker cover
52 Side wall portion
53, 61 Speaker cover
62 Obstructing portion
63 Opening portion
71 Speaker cover
72 Fastener
73 Opening portion
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014-181184 | Sep 2014 | JP | national |
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3865429 | Barker | Feb 1975 | A |
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5474185 | Franke | Dec 1995 | A |
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6430954 | Smith | Aug 2002 | B1 |
D620703 | Jacobs | Aug 2010 | S |
20110174570 | Freed | Jul 2011 | A1 |
20150296282 | Fujioka | Oct 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
09205694 | Aug 1997 | JP |
2012109715 | Jun 2012 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160069100 A1 | Mar 2016 | US |