Mobile entertainment system and method

• US 20060052167A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keith Heavenridge, Lou Woolf, Michael Lehmann Boddicker
• Original Assignee: Keith Heavenridge, Lou Woolf, Michael Lehmann Boddicker
• Inventors: Boddicker, Michael Lehmann, Heavenridge, Keith, Woolf, Lou
• Application Number:
  US11/054,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/005 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/435 Gensound percussion, i.e. generating or synthesising the sound of a percussion instrument; Control of specific aspects of percussion sounds, e.g. harmonics, under the influence of hitting force, hitting position, settings or striking instruments such as mallet, drumstick, brush, hand spint percussion G10H2230/231

Abstract

A system of and method for installation and use thereof that provides for application of karaoke system components applicable mobile environments, including integrated or retrofittable components in a manner that allows vehicle occupants to selectively utilize in combination a karaoke system together with audio and related operating systems to provide an integrated karaoke system.

Claims

1. In an entertainment system for a motor vehicle comprising a first sound source which produces a first output signal, a second sound source of recorded music which produces a second output signal, a switch coupled to the first sound source and the second sound source for selecting one of said first and second signals and passing said selected signal to a third signal output, at least one loudspeaker and circuit means for connecting said third signal output to said loudspeaker, the improvement comprising at least one percussion input mounted to a control surface of the motor vehicle arranged to be mixed with a separate input and to produce a fourth output signal in response thereto, an electronic mixer circuit being coupled to said connecting means to supply the mixed signal to the loudspeaker.

2. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least two input transceivers present in the system, each arranged to receive the voice of a different occupant of the vehicle.

3. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic signal output from each transceiver is coupled to said mixer circuit.

4. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the percussion input is mounted to a steering wheel of the vehicle.

5. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the percussion input is mounted immediately adjacent the rim of the steering wheel.

6. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the percussion input is mounted on a spoke of the steering wheel.

7. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the percussion input is mounted on a hub of the steering wheel.

8. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a steering wheel cover for encompassing at least a circumferential portion of the steering wheel, supporting said at least one percussion input.

9. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of percussion inputs.

10. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the steering wheel cover is removably secured to the steering wheel.

11. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of said percussion inputs is selectively positionable.

12. In an entertainment system comprising a sound-generating communication device which produces a first output signal, a source of recorded music which produces a second output signal, a switch coupled to the communication device and the recorded music source for selecting one of said first and second signals and passing said one signal to a third signal output, at least one loudspeaker and circuit means for connecting said third signal output to said loudspeaker, the improvement comprising at least one percussion input arranged to be mixed and to produce a third output signal in response thereto, an electronic mixer circuit being coupled to said connecting means to supply the mixed signal to the loudspeaker.

13. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the communications device is a radio.

14. An entertainment system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the transceiver is a percussion input device.

15. An improvement for use in connection with an audio system operatively in a mobile environment, the audio system including a sound generator, at least one loudspeaker and circuit means for connecting output from the sound generator thereto, the improvement comprising a percussion input transceiver arranged to be mixed with output from the sound generator for supplying the mixed signal to the loudspeaker.

16. The input device as recited in claim 15, wherein the control surface is a steering wheel of the vehicle.

17. The input device as recited in claim 15, wherein the sound generator is selected from the group including a radio receiver, a pre-recorded media player, and live vocal input.

18. The input device as recited in claim 15, wherein the input device is operatively linked with the audio system by wireless link.

19. The input device as recited in claim 22, wherein the mobile environment is selected from the group including vehicles designated to travel by land, sea and air.