Patent Application
20090245567
This application includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to speakers and speaker systems and more particularly, to controls for controlling the operation of speakers and speaker systems.
Compact speakers and speaker systems provide a number of advantages to the owners of such systems. For example, compact speakers may be used to produce ultra portable audio systems. The small size and light weight of the speakers allows the construction of a small, light weight audio system. Compact speakers are also useful in scenarios where space is limited, for example, desktop speakers for a personal computer system.
However, small speakers often have insufficient surface area for important controls, such as on/off switches or volume controls. Even if there is sufficient space on the unit, placing controls on the unit may aesthetically undesirable. Previous solutions have involved hiding conventional controls behind access panels or using reduced size components. Such solutions may be completely unworkable in the case of very small speakers, and invariably increase manufacturing costs.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved speaker control which overcomes one or more limitations of the prior art.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method of placing controls, such as on/off and/or volume or other controls, on compact speakers where such controls can be easily accessed and used.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of placing controls, such as on/off, volume, or other controls, on compact speakers in a manner that is unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing.
It is a yet another object of the invention to reduce the manufacturing cost for placing controls on compact speakers by eliminating, inter alia, the need to hide one or more controls behind panels that open and close.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a twisting ring control for a compact speaker. The ring is rotatably mounted on the speaker encircling the speaker baffle. When the ring is rotated in one direction, the ring causes the speaker to be switched off, and when the ring is rotated in the opposite direction, the ring causes the speaker to be switched on.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a compact speaker with a twisting ring control, including a speaker housing, a speaker baffle, and a ring rotatably mounted on the speaker housing encircling the speaker baffle. When the ring is rotated in one direction, the ring causes the speaker to be switched off, and when the ring is rotated in the opposite direction, the ring causes the speaker to be switched on.
In yet another embodiment, the invention is a compact speaker with a twisting ring control. The speaker has a housing, with an approximately circular opening with an assembly locking rib on an edge of the circular opening. The speaker has a baffle mounted on or within the circular opening of the housing. The speaker baffle has a receding locking notch and a projecting interference notch. The locking notch engages the assembly locking rib to lock the speaker baffle in a fixed position. The speaker has a ring rotatably mounted on the speaker housing and encircling the speaker baffle. The ring has a receding on-position notch, and a receding off-position notch. When the ring is rotated in one direction such that the off-position notch engages the interference notch, the speaker is switched off. When the ring is rotated in the other direction such that the on-position notch engages the interference notch, the speaker is switched on.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The invention provides an apparatus and method that uses a speaker grill surround ring to provide on/off and/or volume or other controls in products such as ultra portable speakers where conventional controls are undesirable or are aesthetically unacceptable.
Referring first to
The twistable ring 160 has an projecting travel limit stop 162 a receding on-position notch 164 a receding travel clearance notch 166 and a receding off-position notch 168. As shown, the interference notch 144 is engaged in the on-position notch of the twist ring. In the “on” position, the assembly locking rib 142 is engaged with the travel limit stop 122 of the speaker housing 120 and the interference notch 144 of the speaker baffle 140 projects into the on position notch 164 of the twisting ring 160. The travel limit stop 122 of the housing 120 prevents the twisting ring 160 from being turned further clockwise.
Referring next to
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, in other embodiments, the twisting ring may be permitted free travel between the “on” and “off” positions, and incorporate a self molded geared section mated with a pinion mounted on a shaft actuated component or components to control volume or other functions. Furthermore, while the invention is well suited to use in compact speaker systems, it could also be used with full-sized speaker systems.
